Gallery: Excitement on the Champs Elysées

One of the most famous boulevards in the world, the Champs Elysées has witnessed 45 years of Tour finales.

Today is Bastille Day all around France. And for the first time since I moved here, I am not actually covering the Tour de France. The traditional military parade down the Champs Elysées is being carried out in a restricted setting. And for the riders of the Tour de France, well, they will have to wait a couple of weeks more before they have a chance to ride down this majestic avenue, on the final day of the Tour. So today we look back on the traditional final stage of the world’s biggest bike race, the stage that Les Champs offers, and some of the riders who have been its principal actors.