Greig Leach

The planners of the route of the final stage of the 101st Tour de France to be raced in the United Kingdom sure wanted that final visuals to be a stunning lasting image. The final curve of the 201 kilometer stage from Cambridge to London took the peloton through the grand gates of Buckingham Palace leaving the final sprint to be contested on the ceremonial approach to the Palace. They did have a blueprint to work from, the finale was the same as the route used in the 2012 Summer Olympic Road Race. Many of the men in the peloton today had contested the same finale in the Olympics, though the winner of the Gold Medal, Vinokurov, is now the Director Sportif of Astana. He was equally pleased to be holding the Yellow Jersey today as he was to hold Olympic Gold then.