Tour de France 2017 stage 21: Montgeron > Paris, 103 KM

[RedheadDane]

The race returns to the French suburb where the first stage of the first Tour de France began in 1903: Montgeron, southeast of the city. The depart réel was given outside the restaurant where it all began,- Le Reveil Matin, and that’s going to be the case this year too.

Yes, yes... I know! Froome has essentially won the Tour (though Landa might try to overtake Bardet for the last podium-spot), and it's gonna be a sprint, with Greipel - probably - being the big favourite.
No, what I'm asking are the real important questions:

What kind of shenanigans will the riders get up to?
Who will swap helmets - if only for a short while - with the moto-drivers?
Who will, jokingly, put champagne in their bidons? Or simply ride away with the entire champagne bottle from the car?
What kind of (silly) message will be written on the time-telling-board?
Who will attempt a - hopeless - breakaway on the Champs?

And, because this is a race-thread (sorta) here's a profile:

And a route-map:

(I know, this isn't anywhere near the standard of Silvergrenade's race threads...)

 

[silvergrenade]

I thought we didn't need a thread for today... :lol: :lol:

The Gorilla FTW!

 

[RedheadDane]

Why do you think I was more focused on the silly stuff, than the actually (tiny bit of) racing?
Everything doesn't have to be so serious all the time.

 

[spalco]

Btw. because there was some discussion about this in the stage thread - the rulebook doesn't mention bonus seconds at the intermediate sprints at all. Unlikely as it would be for Landa to win the intermediate sprint, something crazy would have to happen for him to take bonus seconds at the stage finish, if he even thought about trying.

 

[dusty red roads]

Didn't Valverde recently pip Purito at the post? Oh wait, that was most likely the Vuelta!!!!

 

[silvergrenade]

Re:

Why do you think I was more focused on the silly stuff, than the actually (tiny bit of) racing?
Everything doesn't have to be so serious all the time.

Sure..
Today would be incredibly fun...especially for the Froome fans.
Barrage of pics with Froome and Team Sky with Champagne and Beer Bottles coming up.. :lol:
Would have been nice to have Sagan, with him teaching Froome how to wheelie.

 

[RedheadDane]

I'm sure the other riders will get in on the fun as well.
Just imagine the impressive sight of the FDJ riders riding through Paris with all of... three riders.

 

[The Barb]

Looks like a good chance of rain which could make it a little more interesting than usual.

In any case, if Dylan van Groenewegen is not too tired from the mountains he may be the fastest rider remaining. For some reason I don't fancy Greipel's chances, particularly if conditions are treacherous in which case he is more likely to ride cautiously than most.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Let's hope that Landa attacks in Paris.

 

[Leinster]

De Ghent to attack after 5km. Barguil to lead the effort to reel him in on the 2nd last circuit of the Champs, and receive the combativity award for the day as a result.

Froome to stop for a pint at an English pub in the inner Paris suburbs. Aru to consider racing on without stopping to wait for the maillot jaune until Luke Rowe calls him out and asks Aru if he "wants to start summat."

FDJ to carry a barrel of wine on the roof of the team car in place of 6 of their spare bikes.

Matthews to miss out in the sprint as he posts up with 50m to go and Kristoff, EBH and Groenewegen all overtake him, but still lose out to Greipel in a photo finish.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Are there time bonuses at the intermediate sprint or does Landa need to hope for a Vino option or splits on the finish line?

 

[roundabout]

There are no time bonuses in the intermediate sprint.

 

[Alexandre B.]

It would be hilarious to see Voeckler and Zubeldia, two antithesis on screen, riding together in the first lap of the Champs-Elysées.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

It will be interesting to see if Uran tries hiding behind Froome on the podium as well.

 

[DNP-Old]

Glad this three week snooze fest is about to be over.

 

[Valv.Piti]

What a race this has been, lads. It will be capped off with a Nacer Bouhanni win.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Re:

De Ghent to attack after 5km. Barguil to lead the effort to reel him in on the 2nd last circuit of the Champs, and receive the combativity award for the day as a result.

Froome to stop for a pint at an English pub in the inner Paris suburbs. Aru to consider racing on without stopping to wait for the maillot jaune until Luke Rowe calls him out and asks Aru if he "wants to start summat."

FDJ to carry a barrel of wine on the roof of the team car in place of 6 of their spare bikes.

Matthews to miss out in the sprint as he posts up with 50m to go and Kristoff, EBH and Groenewegen all overtake him, but still lose out to Greipel in a photo finish.

Let's all try to be a little serious shall we?

Since when would De Ghent have the patience to wait a whole 5 kms to attack?

 

[kingjr]

Re:

Didn't Valverde recently pip Purito at the post? Oh wait, that was most likely the Vuelta!!!!

Yeah 2012, snatched the points jersey from him on the last stage. Still one of my favourite moments in recent cycling history.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Re: Re:

De Ghent to attack after 5km. Barguil to lead the effort to reel him in on the 2nd last circuit of the Champs, and receive the combativity award for the day as a result.

Froome to stop for a pint at an English pub in the inner Paris suburbs. Aru to consider racing on without stopping to wait for the maillot jaune until Luke Rowe calls him out and asks Aru if he "wants to start summat."

FDJ to carry a barrel of wine on the roof of the team car in place of 6 of their spare bikes.

Matthews to miss out in the sprint as he posts up with 50m to go and Kristoff, EBH and Groenewegen all overtake him, but still lose out to Greipel in a photo finish.

Let's all try to be a little serious shall we?

Since when would De Ghent have the patience to wait a whole 5 kms to attack?

Also there's no combativity reward on this stage, right? Cos I remeber Vanbilsen being pretty pissed when he found out last year

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Rain and neutralized GC looks pretty likely

 

[jsem94]

Come on Landakourov!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Well normally I would say Groenewegen, who had the fastest sprint speed in 3 stages, should win now. But on this particular finish I think it suits Hagen the most

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Hopefully Eddy will take his second stage win. Or Greipel to keep the streak alive

It would also be funny if Landa could overtake Bardet in GC.

 

[The Hegelian]

The Gorilla or Matthews.

I hope Greipal gets something for Lotto - empty handed after all that relentless De Gendt work.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

After this Tour, Froome is now the rider with the 4th (5th if you count Armstrong) most yellow jerseys, and only needs one more to jump into the top 3:

1. Merckx: 96
(Armstrong: 83)
2. Hinault: 75
3. Indurain: 60
4. Froome: 59
5. Anquetil: 50