CHELMSFORD-BORN Ian Stannard (Sky Procycling) became the first rider from Essex to finish the world's biggest – and toughest – annual sporting event when he crossed the finishing line of the 100th anniversary edition of the Tour de France on the Champs-Elysees in Paris late on Sunday evening.
Not only was the youngster fulfilling the lifelong dream of every pro rider by taking part in and finishing La Grande Boucle but he'd also played a key part in helping his team leader Chris Froome to his first Grand Tour win, which was Sky's second successive Tour victory after Sir Bradley Wiggins became the first Briton to do it in 2012.
For Stannard – who is usually known as a specialist in the one-day Classics – to finish an event as arduous as the Tour de France paid back for all the hours he and his team-mates had put in training. They had started planning their assault on the Tour in November and December 2012 and practised in Tenerife.
The final 133kms from Versailles into a dusk finish in Paris, traditionally a parade stage until the riders hit the Champs-Elysees for the first time when the racing really kicks off.
But as it was the 100th edition of the race the organisers had done everything possible to make this year's finish all the more spectacular, including the closing laps going round the Arc de Triomphe for the first time.
For Sky and Froome though it wouldn't be a safe win until they'd crossed the finishing line and this they did – linked arm in arm – just under a minute after German sprinter Marcel Kittel had taken his first Parisian win.
Shortly after crossing the finishing line, Ian said: "This is great.
"The sun is setting, we've won the Tour de France and we've got the yellow jersey. It's pretty awesome.
"The Tour is massively stressful and I'm quite thankful it's all over to be honest.
"I can sit back and enjoy it now a bit and I'm looking forward to doing that with my team-mates and a few beers."
And racing on the Champs-Elysees?
"It was really nice. The last time around the Champs-Elysees is a real treat with all the sprinters on the final stage.
"It's pretty special for them to win so it's as hard to stay in position and to look after Chris than it is in the Alps."
Of the 169 riders who finished the race out of 198 starters, Stannard finished in 135th place. He was tired and looking forward to a well-earned break away from all the stress. His last three weeks were intensive but the training and commitment that got him to the race in the first place also took their toll.
