Tour de France 2016 Favourites stage 21: Heavenly sprint on Champs Elysees

By definition, the last stage of the Tour de France goes to Paris. The first part is a bicycle parade with champagne and on occasional cigar. The second part is a thrilling criterium on the cobbled Champs-Elysees leading to an inevitable bunch sprint. (Slideshow route/profile)

Every sprinter dreams of winning a bunch sprint in La Grande Boucle. There is only one pleasure that tastes even better. Outsprinting the lot on the Champs-Élysées.

Last year André Greipel took the win in Paris and that way he ended a Cav/Kittel-hegemony, which had lasted for six years. Cavendish was the victor on the first four occasions, Kittel on the last two. Before Greipel and the Cav/Kittel intermezzo it was Belgian Gert Steegmans who powered to a Paris-victory. We’re talking 2008 here.

The best sprinter in the 2016 Four de France, Mark Cavendish, who pocketed four victories, left the race to chase his golden dream in Rio. Obviously this is good news for both Greipel and Kittel. The two Germans dominated the sprints in last editions, yet this year Kittel took one win and that was it.

Favourites 21st stage Tour de France 2016:

*** Marcel Kittel, André Greipel, Bryan Coquard
** Alexander Kristoff, Peter Sagan, John Degenkolb, Sondre Holst Enger
* Michael Matthews, Dylan Groenewegen, Davide Cimolai, Jacopo Guarnieri