There aren't many races that honour the rider finishing in last place, but there aren't many races like the Tour de France. With 37 riders having abandoned the race already for various reasons, making it through every stage of the Tour is a monumental achievement in its own right.
Robbie explains for us the Lanterne Rouge, or "Red Lantern." Named after the red light that would hang at the rear of a train, a signal to the driver that all of the couplings were still attached, in cycling, the Lanterne Rouge is respected as the final rider to cross the line, and in doing so, will often receive more attention than those riders directly in front of them.
As the GC currently stands, FDJ rider Sebastian Chavanel is likely to be the Lanterne Rouge come Monday. Just in front is Svein Tuft of Orica-GreenEDGE, another possible candidate. These riders and all of the riders in the GC have overcome insurmountable odds, just to make it this far. They've avoided enormous crashes, battled sickness, and maintained a positive mindset over 18 stages of grueling tarmac in an attempt to make it to Paris.
He who finishes last is surely worthy of the title Lanterne Rouge, and he who finishes is surely a champion in his own right.
