Monday, September 21, 2020

Stage 21 MANTES-LA-JOLIE>PARIS CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES - The Tour Comes Home.

Well, here we are, after three magical weeks the Tour has finally arrived in Paris. I’ll keep this short and sweet as by now we’ve seen the film many times over – the Sunday coffee ride into Paris followed by a crit race on one of the most famous streets on the planet and yes, they had the jets with the tricolour chemtrail!

For the last time Guillaume Brahimi made his way to the Plat du Tour kitchen and made a bowl of another French classic, onion soup.  Bravo Brahimi on your debut to the SBS Tour de France coverage, Gabs would be proud.

What an amazing Tour, Tasmania’s Richie Porte sealed his third place on the Paris podium, Primoz Roglic is the runner-up and how about Tadej Pogacar who just a day shy of his 22nd birthday won the yellow, the KOM and the white jersey for the best young rider. That is some birthday present but has anyone asked Pog if he’s peaked too early?

And too think Pogacar had only had ambitions to just get to the Tour. Chapeau to the Pog, he has a stellar career ahead of him.





Chapeau to Sam Bennett for winning the final stage (bad luck Caleb) and being the first Irishman to win the green jersey competition since Sean Kelly in 1989.

Chapeau to the SBS team who bring us this spectacle every year and chapeau to Robbie and Mattie as always. Big shoutout to Dr Bridie O’Donnell who has been such a great addition to the caravan of commentary team.

And the biggest chapeau to all on the Couch Peloton whether a first timer or a seasoned veteran for following my inane recaps every day.

This is the first edition of Le Wrap since the last in 2017. Extraordinary times called for a revisit. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed posting each day of the Tour but this will be it for now, but you never know I may come back in future years to cover the great race.

Finally, the Tour has given three weeks of joy in lockdown Melbourne. This is a race of perseverance and resilience. We fully understand that and with that we will win.

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