Originally Posted by dtcdtcdtc:
“As a casual viewer of the Tour, why is it tradition not to challenge for the Yellow Jersey on the final stage ?
Seems odd”
Well it's almost always a flat stage into Paris so the opportunity for challenging isn't really there as the leaders team would chase down any attacks........much the same as happens on any flat stage if people near the top of the leader board try to get away
Plus........it's seen as something of a triumphant parade into Paris for the blokes who have survived the race..........so you get things like teams going to the front to take the applause and the jersey wearers riding together across the road, and there's always the photo opportunity of riders with a glass of champagne......
Once they hit the laps of the Champs Elysee the race takes off but the terrain isn't difficult enough to force gaps
At least once in recent history they have made the final stage a time trial where of course it's every man for himself and in that case everyone was challenging........