The moment of the penultimate stage of the race came just 2km from the line in Troyes, when local rider Francois Simon was caught by the chasing pack.

Simon is one of four brothers who have had professional cycling careers but he is the only one not to have won a stage in the Tour over the years.

Jerome won the ninth stage in 1988, Regis won stage 18 three years earlier and Pascal won stage 16 back in 1982.

Francois, who lives near the finish town of Troyes, has had a successful career too.

He won the French championship last year and also has a Tour of Italy stage win to his name.

But a stage victory in the greatest race of them all remains elusive.