<P> In 1974, Félix Lévitan, co-director of the Tour, and reporter Yves Mourousi suggested a finish on the Champs - Élysées . Mourousi directly contacted French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing to obtain permission . The first stage took place in 1975: this was a Paris - Paris stage of 25 laps (163.5 km). The Belgian Walter Godefroot won the sprint and Bernard Thévenet received the yellow jersey from the hands of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing . In 1977, French Alain Meslet became the first rider to win alone . Since 1978, the Tour launched from outside the city, only the end of the stage follows the route, and the number of laps has varied between six and eight, except for 2003, when the Tour commemorated the centenary of the event; 2013, to celebrate the 100th edition of the race and 2015, to celebrate the 40th finish on the Champs - Élysées, by having riders complete 10 laps of the circuit . </P> <P> Due to the high profile of the last day as well as its setting, the stage is prestigious . The overall Tour placings are typically settled before the final stage so the racing is often for the glory of finishing the Tour and, at times, to settle the points classification . </P> <P> Traditionally, the stage starts with champagne served by the race leader's team, on - the - road photo opportunities and joking around . As the riders approach Paris, the racing heats up as the sprinters and their teams begin the real racing of the day . When the riders reach central Paris, they enter the Champs - Élysées riding up the Rue de Rivoli, on to the Place de la Concorde and then swing right on to the Champs - Élysées itself . The riders ride now a total of 8 laps (up towards the Arc de Triomphe, down the Champs - Élysées, round les Tuileries and the Louvre and across the Place de la Concorde back to the Champs - Élysées). In past Tours, the riders would complete ten laps before the Tour was over . </P> <P> When a rider has reached a significant milestone over the course of the concluding Tour, it is customary for the peloton to let him enter the Champs - Elysées section of the stage in first place . Such an honor was bestowed upon American George Hincapie in 2012, in recognition of his final and record setting 17th Tour de France . </P>

Is the last stage of the tour de france a race