Tour de France 2011′s Grand Finish at the Champs-Elysées

 Englishman, Mark Cavendish – for winning the “Green Jersey” (points competition) …

Spaniard, Samuel Sanchez was awarded the polka dotted jersey (king of the mountains) and the white jersey (young rider classification) went to Pierre Roland of France. 

A total of 3.4 million euros was given away. Prize winnings are usually divided among the members of the winning teams.

By the time this finished it was almost 8:00 p.m. Can you imagine how some people – the spectators – had been there for about 9 hours? I was! I went out thinking that the event was going to commence at 12:00 noon. Not quite, I found out as it was scheduled for 4:00 p.m. I made some friends and we were all right next to the barricade – a prime spot. I hesitated to leave it. I asked my new-found friends to watch my place and I left to get some folding chairs and food. That turned out to be a smart move. 

In the hours that passed, we got to see the progression from part of the preparation to the final stage- le tour d’honneur (the victory lap). 

The center divider was being completed.