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After a series of frustrating chess, Alexander Kristoff grabbed the victory on the last stage of the Tour de France, winning the gallop of moguls on the Champs Elysees in Paris. The Norwegian took two steps in 2014 but had to wait until the last leg of this year's edition to taste champagne again. He was close to the front when Belgian champion Yves Lampaert (QuickStep Floors) was caught up in the home stretch, then stepped out of John Degenkolb's (Trek-Segafredo) wheel to clinch victory.
Degenkolb was chased to the line by Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ), but hung for second place.
"It's a dream come true," Kristoff said. "I've been dreaming about this win for several years, I've been close [in Paris] many times before, but I have not managed to beat the fastest sprinters like Greipel, Kittel and Cavendish." I am happy
"I was a little far behind the tunnel, but I was with [teammate Roberto Ferarri]. Then Trek made a very good lead from behind and I managed to get John's wheel [Degenkolb]. I was in a very good place and managed to pbad John. In the last 20 meters, I knew I was going to win and I managed to do it. "
Race leader Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) crossed the finish line smiling broadly as he sealed his win, with reigning champion and four-time Tour winner Chris Froome at his side. congratulated his teammate Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb), the runner between them in the overall standings, also finished at the same time and took second place.
"It's amazing … I think that's It will take time to sink, "said Thomas." Normally, this step is really difficult, but I just seemed to float around. I had goose bumps there. It's surreal, it's the Tour de France. Being wearing it [the yellow jersey] is the stuff of dreams. "
He said his team had played a fundamental role in its success." It's the main thing for the entire three weeks, "he said." We went through difficult times together and we We crossed it. I owe them a lot. "
Thomas has come a long way since his first participation in 2007 when he was only 21 years old. He was the youngest runner in the race and finished second to last. "I have never suffered so much," he said. "Every day was a battle, I remember seeing the Eiffel Tower and getting on the Champs Elysees, it was a buzz on the other side of the camera lens." "
The last stage was marked by the usual celebrations for Thomas and the other jersey wearers, then a six-man group consisting of Silvan Dillier (Ag2R-La Mondiale), Taylor Phinney (EF Education First-Drapac) , Michael Schär (BMC Racing Team), Damien Gaudin (Direct Energie), Nils Politt (Katusha-Alpecin) and Guillaume van Keirsbulck (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), who clearly went for seven laps to go, had a half minute in advance, but were gradually brought back.
Politt had the leftmost while the peloton was closing and jumped just before the last lap, but was caught.Other attacks followed , including Lampaert's last attempt, but the sprinters should not be denied.
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How it was played:
The last stage of the Tour de France is still ceremonial, with the 1989 time trial in Paris which represents the last time that the jersey yellow has changed on the last step. It is usually a match for sprinters, with celebrations and big jumps that are starting to make way for the long distance races on the Champs-Elysees while the stage win is disputed.
Indeed the race is considered the unofficial world championships for sprinters, and almost always goes at a gallop. In the 44 years, the race ended on the Champs Elysees, it was a group race on 37 occasions. This statistic does not dissuade escapement specialists, who each year give a shot and greatly enliven the race to Paris crowds.
The stage begins at Houilles and covers 116 kilometers en route to Paris. It was completely flat, devoid of any categorized climb, and concluded with eight laps on the Paris circuit.
The wearers of the jersey were at the head of the business before the deployment, namely Geraint Thomas (Team Sky), the leader of the race, the green jersey Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe), the best climber Julian Alaphilippe (Bora-Hansgrohe) and the young rider leader Pierre Latour (Ag2r La Mondiale).
The most combative rider Dan Martin (Emirates United Arab Emirates), as well as Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) rider, were also present before the start.
After a relaxed descent and the time for Thomas to celebrate his victory with champagne, the race is heading towards the Paris circuit.
There Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Energie) attacked, the peloton happy to give him a little time in mind in what was the last stage of the Tour de France of his career. The Frenchman retired after a long professional career and was aggressive throughout the race.
After a lap in the lead, he was repulsed. Six riders then jumped. Silvan Dillier (Ag2R-La Mondiale), Taylor Phinney (EF Education First-Drapac), Michael Schär (BMC Racing Team), Damien Gaudin (Direct Energy), Nils Politt (Katusha-Alpecin) and Guillaume van Keirsbulck (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) ) worked hard and was 24 seconds ahead with seven laps remaining. Schär took the intermediate sprint, while behind the Groupama-FDJ team of Arnaud Démare was leading the race.
At six laps from the finish, the gap rose to half a minute, and it rose to 40 seconds with some 31 kilometers on the clock. Peter Sagan's Bora-Hansgrohe team helped Groupama-FDJ at this stage. Phinney had a mechanical problem and had to change the bike, but was able to return to the break with 20 kilometers left. He had remarkably rebounded following a major accident and fractures in his nose and orbits.
The preparations for a sprint
The team of Cofidis was determined to try to progress on the second place of Christophe Laporte, who was in the lead pack of the 18th stage and set out to run to the front of the pack. With 15 kilometers to go, the gap was 20 seconds, and sprinters like Sagan were getting closer to the front.
The same time gap persisted as they crossed the finish line to start the last two laps, 13.4 kilometers from the end. The break knew that the advantage was almost certainly enough to win the stage but, with jubilant crowds and more steps to worry about, they just dumped the tank, digging deeply and see what happened.
Cofidis and Groupama-FDJ continued to roll hard on the front. With 12 kilometers left Kevin Ledanois (Fortuneo-Samsic) attacked and was joined by Julian Alaphilippe (QuickStep Floors). The latter was one of the most aggressive runners in the race and had to win the best climber competition, but he also wanted to do something on the flat. However, the peloton quickly approached them, leaving the break ten seconds ahead with ten kilometers to go.
Politt had appeared to be one of the best runners of the break and he launched a solo move just before the eight-kilometer banner. The others continued but were caught just after the start of the last lap, while Politt stayed ahead.
Trek-Segafredo and Bora-Hansgrohe pounded him on the forehead and caught Politt in the descent after the Arc de Triomphe. The sprinters were fighting for the last three kilometers, but at 2.5 kilometers from the finish, Marco Marcato (UAE Emirates) jumped. It was revised by Daniel Oss (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Yves Lampaert (QuickStep Floors), who then dropped Oss inside the last kilometer.
The Belgian champion ran across Place du Concorde and led on the finish straight but was revised by John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo). Alexander Kristoff was on his wheel, however, and the Emirates rider from the United Arab Emirates pbaded to his left and grabbed the stage. Démare tried to overtake Degenkolb but had to accept the third.
Further back, Thomas rolled across the finish line alongside Froome, who congratulated his friend and teammate. After three weeks, 21 stages and 3,351 kilometers, the Welsh won the race.
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