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The Tour – live reports from behind the scenes

Join journalist as she takes us on the toughest cycling race in the world, speaking to those that make it happen – from stars of the show to the tireless team of organisers who allow those stars to shine

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Week 4

The final stage of the Tour starts out as ceremonial, with riders toasting and posing for photos as they ride along but once they hit the Champs-Elysees it’s back on, as concludes her reports from the Tour for 2021

Read Sophie's Dispatch

The route

Riders

450

Support staff members

3,484

Total number of km on the route this year (21 stages)

Mountain passes or climbs or hills and finishes at altitude

Flat stages

“My perseverance is apparent. Even though I’m not at the front fighting it out, I can see the bigger picture. This is a stepping stone to get back to my former level”

WHO WILL WIN THIS YEAR'S TOUR DE FRANCE?

showed a humility rare among champions when, after winning three stages and a second consecutive Tour title, he was asked to share his favourite moment of the race, revealing it was seeing Directeur Sportif back in the team car on Saturday, following his recent cancer treatment. “He’s taught me a lot,” said Pogacar. “More about life than cycling.”

highlight of the week

Lowlight of the week

After such an incredible comeback Tour, it felt crushingly disappointing - from a British point of view - that was beaten by on Champs-Elysee and unable to make that stage record his own.

Picture Gallery

quote of the week

Brought to you by

Designed and produced by Telegraph Media Group Creative director: Matthew Brant Illustration: Jia-yi Liu Picture editor: Nicola Duffy Project manager: Tom Gadd Commissioning editor: Jim Bruce-Ball Web editors: Caroline Stacey & Vanessa Woodgate

ŠKODA AUTO is supporting the Tour de France this year for the 17th time in a row as the official main partner. The company is providing up to 250 vehicles for the organisation and race management of the cycling event, including the command vehicle ('Red Car') for Christian Prudhomme.

Week 4

Credit: A.S.O. Charly Lopez

Credit: A.S.O. Aurelien Vialatte

Credit: A.S.O. Charly Lopez

The Tour de France never fails to deliver stunning shots. We will post the best images from behind the scenes here every week

Hilly stages

Mountain stages

Summit finishes

Time trial (Stage 20)

Credit: A.S.O. Charly Lopez

Credit: A.S.O. Pauline Ballet

Sophie Smith

Tadej Pogacar

– Chris Froome

Credit: Goding Images

Credit: A.S.O. Pauline Ballet

Credit: A.S.O. Aurelien Vialatte

Credit: A.S.O. Pauline Ballet

Credit: Goding Images

Credit: A.S.O. Pauline Ballet

Credit: Goding Images

Credit: Goding Imagrs

Credit: Goding Images

Sophie Smith

Nic Dlamini

Credit: Goding Images

Credit: A.S.O. Aurelien Vialatte

Credit: A.S.O. Pauline Ballet

Credit: A.S.O. Aurelien Vialatte

Credit: A.S.O. Charly Lopez

Credit: A.S.O. Pauline Ballet

Credit: Goding Images

Credit: A.S.O. Aurelien Vialatte

Credit: A.S.O. Pauline Ballet

Credit: A.S.O. Aurelien Vialatte

Credit: A.S.O. Charly Lopez

Credit: A.S.O. Pauline Ballet

Credit: Goding Images

Credit: A.S.O. Aurelien Vialatte

Credit: A.S.O. Pauline Ballet

Credit: A.S.O. Aurelien Vialatte

Credit: A.S.O. Charly Lopez

Credit: A.S.O. Pauline Ballet

Allan Peiper

Michael Matthews

Credit: Goding Images

Credit: A.S.O. Aurelien Vialatte

Credit: A.S.O. Pauline Ballet

Credit: A.S.O. Charly Lopez

Credit: A.S.O. Pauline Ballet

Credit: Goding Images

Credit: A.S.O. Aurelien Vialatte

Credit: A.S.O. Pauline Ballet

Credit: A.S.O. Charly Lopez

Credit: A.S.O. Pauline Ballet

Credit: Goding Images

Credit: A.S.O. Aurelien Vialatte

Credit: A.S.O. Pauline Ballet

Credit: A.S.O. Charly Lopez

Credit: A.S.O. Pauline Ballet

Sophie Smith

Michael Matthews

Mark Cavendish

Wout van Aert

Allan Peiper

Cavendish

Credit: Goding Images

Credi: Goding Images

Credit: Goding Images