Best Stage Finishes in Tour De France History

Many people automatically think of Lance Armstrong when they think of the Tour de France cycling competition and Tour de France exciting race finishes. Armstrong has been a very strong and dominant force in this race in recent years, and has provided some of the most exciting Tour de France finishes in the history of the event. He has even overcome a personal battle with cancer to continue to compete at a world-class level in this very rigorous physical challenge.

The history of Tour de France exciting race finishes goes back to 1903 when the "tour", which translates to "route" in English, was a literal tour around the perimeter of France. In 1951 the race was changed to include a run up Mont Ventoux, a grueling stage of this already strenuous test of the human body's endurance. Although some reports are available from the pre-1951 era, most documented coverage of the best Tour de France stage finishes come after the mountain stage was added.

One of the best Tour de France stage finishes was not so much because of the stage winner, but because it included the first rider to reach the summit of Mont Ventoux. Lucien Lazarides broke out of the pack in this stage to beat the others to the top in 1951, losing the stage when he lost energy and lagged in the flats.

Another of the Tour de France exciting race finishes also happened in the 1950's. The year was 1958, and a rider from Luxembourg named Charly Gaul seemed to be the favorite to win as he charged up the mountain and continued to lead the pack, yet he conceded the yellow jersey to Raphael Geminiani. However, Gaul overcame this setback and went on to win the Tour de France a few days later.

Raymond Poulidor provided one of the most exciting Tour de France finishes in 1965. Although he was picked as the favorite to win the overall race, he narrowly won the mountain stage, crossing the finish line a mere 6 seconds ahead of Julio Jiminez. Poulidor would lose the race a few days later to Felice Gimondi, riding in his very first Tour de France.

The American Greg LeMond was a top contender in the 1990's and provided many of the best Tour de France stage finishes of that era. In 1991, he managed to finish just two seconds behind the leader of the 16^th stage of that race despite swollen feet, a six-rider crash, and a virus that had been affecting him for the last few years. This still stands as one of the most exciting Tour de France finishes.