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Few sporting events, if any at all, have such a spectacular and beautiful final stage as the Tour de France does. This cycling race which mostly takes place during the month of July through all of France has its end at the Champs-Elysées, in Paris, an impressive stage that is quite fitting for the importance of this event.
The Tour de France is a cycling race that has been taking place since 1903. Le Tour, as it´s commonly known, gathers the best cyclists in the world, who prepare themselves all year long to be able to compete at the top of the leaderboard. Flat stages, mountain stages, single and team time trials… the different stages make up a varied route that crowns the most regular and complete cyclist at the end of the whole event.
Photo: Josh Hallett
This year, the Tour starts on the island of Corsica, in the city of Bastia, and the 19 teams that are taking part in it have arrived from many different places, such as Kazakhstan, United States or Luxembourg among many others. This year´s edition is made up by 21 stages, some of them in emblematic spots from the history of the race, such as the Mont Ventoux and Alpe d´Huez, the former on July 14th, French National Day, a very important day for the Tour every year.
The Tour will go through the Côte d´Azur, the Pyrenees, Normandy and Mont Saint-Michel, the centre of France, the French Alps and will end up in Paris. 21 fascinating stages that will culminate in the beautiful French capital. That´s why it´s not just a sporting competition but also a great way of seeing the different French landscape. In any case, seeing how the cyclists go past the Arc de Triomphe in Paris is a priceless experience that all sports fans should see at least once in their lifetime.
The English rider Bradley Wiggins will have a difficult task to defend his title of 2012 winner, since cyclists such as the Spaniard Alberto Contador and the Brit/Kenyan Chris Froome will make things very difficult for him. In any case, the Tour de France also recognises the best climber (red dot jersey), the best sprinter (green jersey), the best young rider (white jersey) and the most combative rider (red number), so there will be more than one award in play when they arrive in Paris.
The French capital transforms itself to receive the Tour every year and it´s undoubtedly one of the most important sporting events in France, alongside Roland Garros, so the atmosphere is amazing and you can breathe cycling in the air. The Tour of 2013 promises to be one of the most thrilling ones in recent years so don´t miss it and come and see it in person.
For more information, check out the race´s official website: http://www.letour.fr/
Find an apartment for rent in Paris and come and see the final stage of the Tour de France, an unforgettable experience for any cycling or sports fan. Also, you will be able to enjoy one of the most beautiful cities in the whole of Europe and visit all of its landmarks. Paris is unique in summer.
