After three weeks of nasty weather and brutal mountain battles, the Tour de France has drawn to a close. Thousands of Danes line the Champs Elysees to cheer on Bjarne Riis, the country's first Tour winner. The larger story has two parts: the absence of Miguel Indurain on the podium, and the dominance of the Telekom team.

1997 Tour de France

Live race recaps: Stage 21 | Stage 20 | Stage 19 | Stage 18 | Stage 17 | Stage 16 | Stage 15 | Stage 14 | Stage 13 | Stage 12 | Stage 11 | Stage 10 | Stage 9 | Stage 8 | Stage 7 | Stage 6 | Stage 5 | Stage 4 | Stage 3 | Stage 2 | Stage 1 | Prologue

Stage 21: Vintage champion, Bjarne Riis

Stage 20: Ullrich pulls a fast one

Stage 19: French riders make one last stand

Stage 18: A stage without pictures

Stage 17: Indurain rides valiantly in defeat

Stage 16: Riis in yellow, Indurain concedes race

Stage 15: Veteran rider wins stage at his first Tour

Stage 14: Abdujaparov makes a great escape

Stage 13: A good day to be Danish

Stage 12: Frenchman feigns fatigue to win

Stage 11: Colombian climbs to victory

Rest day: Overthrow of the king?

Stage 10: A bit dull, but still dangerous

Stage 9: Weather shortens tour and Riis rolls

Stage 8: Berzin blasts Indurain into the dust

Stage 7: Big Mig bonks while LeBlanc bolts

Stage 6: Boogerd darts for glory. Armstrong out.

Stage 5: Winds blow Blijlevens home first

Stage 4: Saugrain leads huge break home

Stage 3: Zabel wins, Moncassin wears yellow

Stage 2: Cipollini rights yesterday's wrongs

Stage 1: Moncassin sprints for stage

Prologue: Alex Zülle wins a wet one

Mig watch: Indurain reveals Olympics decision

Motorola rumors: Sponsor talk at the chateau

The Fans: An encounter with two devoted Tour Heads

American honor: Even the French remember LeMond

Road story: In Holland, the passion for bikes is demure

Outside magazine: A bettor's guide (July 1996)

Looking back: Outside Online's '95 coverage