Greipel celebrates his sweetest win yet

German powerhouse André Greipel sprinted to victory on the Champs-Élysées and claimed his fourth stage win of the 2015 Tour de France.

Andre Greipel takes an emotional win on the Champs-Élysées (Getty Images) Source: Getty Images Europe

The final stage from Sèvres and Paris started with a customary easy pace, but once the riders arrived in the centre of the French capital, the speed started to build.

At 109.5km, the final stage of the Tour was also the shortest. After a 40km run-up, riders covered ten laps of a seven kilometre circuit, which took them up along the Champs-Élysées and around the Arc de Triomphe.

The stage ended in the expected bunch sprint and André Greipel was once again the strongest. Chris Froome secured the overall victory which he happily added to his 2013 Tour title.

“This is really a dream that comes true to win here on the Champs-Elysées,” said Greipel, who suffered through the Alps just to make it to the start line one more time.

“The circumstances weren’t that good due to the rain, I’m not very keen on that. Also because of my crash in the previous weekend I was a bit scary, I still have some pain in my knee.

“The last few days were very tough for me, I had to give all I got to be at the start today. But the fourth victory is a fact and it’s incredible to add this one to my record.”

Andre Greipel celebrates his sweetest win yet (Getty Images) Source: Getty Images Europe

Due to bad weather conditions, which saw multiple crashes in La Course, the women’s race held on the Champs-Élysées circuit ahead of the men, the jury decided to neutralise the stage from the moment that the riders crossed the finish line for the first time. This meant that the general classification times were noted at that moment and Froome's victory was secured.

In the second lap, three riders decided to leave the peloton. The lead of Kenneth Vanbilsen (Cofidis), Nelson Oliveira (Lampre-Merida) and Florian Vachon (Bretagne-Séché Environnement) didn’t extend beyond 40 seconds because of the hard work of Lotto-Soudal at the front of the peloton.

Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) controlled the gap almost by himself, which allowed the long expected bunch sprint to occur.

Greipel was the fastest and won his fourth stage, proving that no one could do it better in this Tour.

“My team-mates did again an excellent job today,” said Greipel. “Thomas De Gendt, Tim Wellens, Tony Gallopin and Lars Bak really did their best to control the gap with the break.

“Adam Hansen, Marcel Sieberg and Jens Debusschere did the other preparations for the sprint. Even Greg Henderson came especially from Spain to encourage us.

“It was an emotional moment to experience this victory with them. There were only five sprint opportunities in this Tour, the fact that we win four of them is just indescribable.”