It’s an indelible, yet unwritten law in the volumes of protocol defining the sport of road racing: The final day of the Tour de France is a celebratory procession to Paris. The goal is to honor, not contest, the leader’s jersey.
In France there’s a wild sprint on the Champs Elysees to the finish line, the stage winner earning a place on the podium just ahead of the overall top three. But the overall leader is protected by his team up front, far from the fray, usually sipping a glass of bubbly.
So, given all the Tour de France inspiration evident in the USA Pro Cycling Challenge — from the leader’s jersey color to the costumed lunatic fringe running alongside the cyclists — will the final approach be a parade or a successful breakaway to possibly change the podium order?
Race director Jim Birrell all but forecast a parade for at least the second half of the race. He expects any breakaway will be absorbed following the descent from Lookout Mountain.
He said it is “most likely” Saturday’s leader would hold on to the jersey through the finish.
“Lookout Mountain is going to be so far from the finish line that anything you gain is going to be gobbled up,” Birrell said. “But still a sprint is going to win the stage.”
When Levi Leipheimer reclaimed the leader’s jersey Thursday in Vail, he said he also expected Saturday’s results to stand the final day.
The 500-mile course was designed to highlight host towns, Colorado’s natural scenery, the altitude factor and the best television shots.
The highest elevations on remote stretches were most critical to the race. For the organizers, however, there is the need to balance crowd saturation with sponsor exposure, in both the starting and finishing settings of the final day.
Birrell has ample experience, having designed the Tour of California and former Tour of Georgia. The last day presented some challenges on the Colorado map.
“From Golden to Denver is only 15 miles on a direct route, so we had to come up with something to highlight Jefferson County, really capitalize on Lookout Mountain,” Birrell said.
While cyclists and spectators are expected to pack Lookout Mountain near the start, the biggest crowds will be reserved for downtown Denver.
By then, the field could be tightly grouped for the six laps of a 5-mile circuit along Speer Boulevard, with a cut across Colfax and a finish on Broadway next to the state Capitol.
Obviously, anyone with the keys to an office building along the route will get prime viewing opportunities.
Otherwise, Birrell suggested slightly uphill past the Capitol would be good viewing as the riders have to slow a bit. He won’t admit to a bad spectator spot along the final circuit.
With the smoothly paved street and wide finishing area on Broadway affording ideal sprint opportunities, Birrell said Denver provided conditions to allow the athletes to go all out.
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
