Unlike last year, my son did not accompany my wife and I to Paris and we stayed an extra day so that we were able to see the laps of honour etc. The weather was not very good and it rained off and on all day. My photographs are still terrible and those of Graham Watson are still brilliant. Go to his website (from the links page) and see some of his images. Why are Graham Watson's photographs apparently in sunshine and mine aren't?

The following took place on Sunday 24th July 2005 and, like the year before, was a unique experience for a now seven times winner of the TdF:

A brave (or insane) cameraman kneels down on the Champs-Elysées as the publicity caravan drives around him...

Jan Ullrich on his first pass along the Champs-Elysées with the peloton on Stage 21

The peloton on its first pass up the Champs-Elysées

Lance Armstrong rounds the barrier on the Champs-Elysées Stage 21
©Graham Watson

Lance Armstrong on the Champs-Elysées with the Discovery Channel team

Lance Armstrong on Stage 21 in Paris
     ©Graham Watson

The peloton on the Champs-Elysées Stage 21
©Graham Watson

The chase is on...

...and continues

Pierrick Fedrigo of Bouygues Telecom has a wheel change...

...and so does Stefano Garzelli of Liquigas-Bianchi...

...but help is close at hand...

...as well as additional advice...

..but all is well and off goes Stefano.

Joost Posthuma of Rabobank goes by.

Alexandre Vinokourov wins Stage 21
©Graham Watson

Discovery Team lap of honour.

Bruyneel. Leblanc and Armstrong - three very happy men.

2 men to retire after this TdF: Jean-Marie Leblanc and Lance Armstrong.

Last modified on 14 August 2005