No city in France is more closely associated with the Tour de France than Paris. With the exception of the inaugural event in 1903, the race has finished in Paris every year.

And it will in 2008, too. A Tour of firsts (or at least in a long time) of no prologue, no time bonuses, and no defending titlist (among other first) will keep the tradition of arriving in Paris on the final Sunday in July.

The Paris finish has been in three locations, and since 1975 that’s been on the Champs-Elysees and before a yearly gathering usually estimated at one million.

The fans get their earlier, stake their spot and spend the days with friends and cheering the arrival of the weary group and the eights 6.5-kilometer laps around some of the most famous iconic sites of France.

The final stage of the 95th Tour de France begins in Etampes, after the riders
completed their only long transfer (about 240 km).

The field will ride 143 km (88.8 miles) and will face only two category 4 climbs situated back-to-back about 30 miles in the stage.

Etampes is known as “Little Venice” because of its 1,000 churches and small creeks. The group will leave eagerly with Paris less than four hours away. The course winds through the Chevreuse Valley and when it arrives in Paris the circuits will include fast-paced treks over the city’s cobblestones and with the cyclists zipping past the Louvre museum, Place de la Concorde and with the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe as backdrops.

Robbie McEwen (Silence-Lotto) of Australia has won final stage twice (1999 and 2002). He hasn’t won a Tour stage this year and he’s riding in the event for the 13th time and has 12 career stage wins. It might his day Sunday. Then again Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) of Norway would like to repeat his final-day stage win of 2006.