Caleb Ewan has had a tough Tour de France. Now, he may not like his new distinction in this years Tour de France of... Lanterne Rouge. He provisionally stands to finish last. It's not an official award in the Tour de France, but there is a reason to celebrate. It was in 1919 that the term lanterne rouge was coined. A reference to the rear of the trains which was indicated by a red light. The last place rider, in a way, does win, usually with post-Tour criterium cash prices and notoriety.
There is a new initiative from a business partner of the ASO. An online travel booking site offers to honor the red lantern (1000 euros) to the last rider in the general classification to remember that from the first to the last rider, all are to be congratulated. During the 21st and the last stage, it will be proposed to the last rider of the GC to be put forward. If the rider in question and his team agree, he will be able to climb on the podium in Paris.
Ewan would rather win the final stage in Paris but there is honor to be celebrated as the last cyclist on the Tour. It may not necessarily proud to finish last, but the last rider in GC is actually some sort of hero: to endure, not quit to finish the Tour de France.
Last year, in the 2021 Tour, Belgian Tim Declercq finished last over 5 hours behind Tadej Pogacar. Declercq, nicknamed the 'Tractor', had received a red lanern in a post-Tour criterium in Roeselare, not on the Grande Boucle. The story could be different this year, if he accepts it, the last of the classification will climb on the podium of the Champs Élysées.
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