The ride into Paris (Stage 21 TdF, Versailles > Paris Champs-Élysées, 133.5km (but not really))

Finally it was here, the last day of the Tour.

For many it was a day of mixed emotions - glad that the physical and mental exertions were coming to a close, but at the same time not wanting the journey to end or the all consuming 'bubble' to burst.

The last stage of the Tour of course would finish on the streets of Paris. Unfortunately for us Annecy, as beautiful as it is, is rather a long way from Paris... This meant the day started extraordinarily early, with a coach picking us up at 5am for our six hour transfer to our start point just outside of Paris. It was a pretty quiet coach journey. People catching as much sleep as they could.

Given that it was Bastille Day and large sections of central Paris would be closed off, including the Champs-Élysées itself, our route for the day had been slightly shortened (we wouldn't be doing the traditional laps around central Paris either) and would end at another iconic Paris landmark, the Eiffel Tower.

The shorter route was ideal for all the friends and family that wanted to show their support and ride a stage themselves. A large number of Linklaters riders/supporters made the trip out including Vicky, Nic, Caroline and even Dan's seven year old nephew, Ben, and his elderly father, Peter.

The Pros have arrive... (although note the non-cycling specific sunglasses)

Today was also only the second time I had seen Vicky in the past two months(!) and I had been looking forward to it for the whole of the preceding week.

Our meeting point (and starting point for the ride) wasn't the Palace of Versailles as for the pros, but a goat farm (really!) on the outskirts of Paris. It is seemingly quite difficult to find somewhere in (or even near) Paris that can feed a 100+ people and house all their bikes on Bastille Day.

Mark T getting to know the locals a little too well

The 'day trippers' had been at the goat farm for some time waiting for us to arrive and, after some brief hellos/reunions, set off before the rest of us, with the expectation that we would either catch the majority of them on the road or arrive at the day's only feed stop in Versailles at around the same time.

Being a goats farm, the lunch that was laid on for us consisted almost entirely of various types of goats cheese. Delicious, but hardly cycling fuel.

The first half of the ride passed through some lovely rolling countryside and even included a few climbs with switchbacks (17 switchbacks on one of them I am reliably informed), nothing too challenging and well within the capabilities of our extended party for the day.

It wasn't too long before we rolled into the first feed stop, just outside the Palace of Versailles, where we had taken over a huge area and general chaos was ensuing. It was here that we caught Vicky, Nic and Caroline and after waiting for the entire Hong Kong crew to regroup (and everyone else to leave) we set off into Paris together.

Feeding frenzy in Versailles

Team HK, fed and watered

At this point the roads started to get busier and it wasn't too long before traffic, traffic lights and a (wall of a) climb split to group. Vicky and I were separated and rode the rest of the way together, chatting and catching up.

We were soon directed through a barrier and onto a closed road leading towards the Eiffel Tower. A concert was being held there later that evening and we had the place, essentially, to ourselves.



Team HK; TdF done. Questionable framing....

Paris! Boom!

Much congratulating, hugging, shaking hands, kissing, photographing and posing ensued as everyone, from the Lifers through to those who had just ridden one or two stages, soaked up the atmosphere and sense of achievement.

Once the photo shoot had wrapped, the Linklaters group headed to a nearby cafe/bar and enjoyed a few beers in the sun whilst watching the world go by.

The day was rounded out by a party on the top floor of the Montparnasse Tower with its commanding views over all the major landmarks of Paris. Prime position for the Bastille Day fireworks with the Eiffel Tower as a backdrop. Impressive stuff...

And so, as the party continued into the night, another Tour de Force drew to a conclusion; another great experience with more unforgettable memories!

Look out for a Restrospective sometime soon....