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Published on Tuesday, 23 July 2013 22:22

Final Stage Review - Another winning Tip!

What a way to finish the Tour - a spectacular nocturne on the streets of Paris, culminating in a 70kmph sprint down the Champs-Élysées. And to make it all the better for me (and hopefully you too) a fantastic win for my tip of the day Marcel Kittel at a great price, along with my Greipel place bet and my two match bets!.

It was a fun-filled afternoon for most as the peloton rolled away from the stunning backdrop of Versailles, clinking champagne glasses and (trying) to light little 'Puritos' cigars. I say fun for some, but Vacancoleil must have wished they were 'en vacances' already though. First, Lieuwe Westra had to abandon with just hours left of the Tour with illness ('too sick to be on a bike') and then Lagutin crashed and fractured his finger, but made it to the finish.

David Millar did his best to light up the darkening streets of Paris, his break away showcasing once again what  a beautiful riding position he has on a bike and what great power he still has in his legs, holding off the pack for about 30kms. A few more attacks went, but needless to say, it came down to a sprint on the last lap. OPQS once again making a complete mess of it - Chavanel led at the 1km to go mark. He pulled off, next man in line then lasted about 100m before bailing, but then there was a Cannondale rider in Steegmans way. Lotto and Argos swept past and Kittel was delivered perfectly at the last corner with Cav struggling back in 5th. 

Kittel kicked hard and early and got a bike length lead that he held more or less all the way to the line for his fourth stage win of the Tour. Greipel and Cav came back at him in last 100m but neither had the speed to trouble the young sprinting superstar and my hat-trick of stage wins was landed. To cap today off, Greipel took a top 3 place at a pretty generous 8/11 and my two match bets also won, with Kittel beating Greipel and Kristoff beating Goss.

Chris Froome rode across the line arms around his team-mates shoulders, a worthy winner to a good Tour, one of the best in quite a few years. Froome fought off all-comers, either through his team's efforts (and in particular Richie Porte) or on his own when he had to.

"This is one yellow jersey which will stand the test of time" he declared in his podium speech and I really want to believe him. I never believed a word Armstrong said, I hope I'm right on this one too. And that's not coming from a Sky cheerleader, I'm far from it. I just want to believe that this tour was the closest we have bad to a 'clean' race in many, many years. The time gaps and broken bodies on the mountain tops says a lot to me.  As does Contador's 'disappointing' performance.. It may be a little less exciting but at least it's more believable.

Only one month to go to the Vuelta!