Originally Posted by timmhaan
once it reaches the Champs-Elysées it's blazing fast. pretty much 30+ mph the whole way. the GC guys can really only keep from losing time. the sprinters will drive up the pace so high at the end that everyone else can really only coast in. any attemped breakaway by a top GC guy would be reeled very fast. so, yeah, it's a victory dance, but a very fast one.
Unless your name is Vinokourov, who got away to grab 5th place from Leipheimer last year. Rather unlikely that a tour winner would be decided by this unless they repeat the final stage Time Trial (like the one that Lemond won to claim the Maillot Jaune by 8 seconds).