In the lantern light of the Champs-Élysées, when the first light of day drove the darkness of night over the French capital, Lachlan Morton stood barefoot on the splendid Paris boulevard and prepared for a champagne shower.

A swig, a proud smile - the adventure of a lifetime was over.

As a tribute to the early days of organized cycling, the pro from the EF Education Nippo team followed the tour as a whole. Alone, without hotels, with luggage on the bike, as your own mechanic, without rest days, without transfers. It is based on the first edition in 1903. “That era was exciting. Back then, the Tour Director wanted only one rider to reach the finish, ”said Morton before the start. “I know it's a big undertaking. And I'm not even sure it's even possible. ”That is exactly what he proved on this mild morning in Paris.

On his last stage, Morton covered a full 576 kilometers in a row. Towards the goal through the night, ignoring the tiredness. It was the last bow to the grand boucle pioneers at the beginning of the 20th century. “That is an unimaginable achievement. So inconceivably uncomfortable. But Lachy struggled in a way that few would have done. Sleep well my friend. Chapeau, ”tweeted his team boss Jonathan Vaughters. His racing team wrote: “Chapeau, Lachlan. Thank you very much for taking us on this adventure. ”Team boss Vaughters had already joked at the beginning of Morton's crazy tour:“ The therapy obviously didn't help. ”

Actually, the 29-year-old would have wanted to reach Paris on the day of the regular tour finals on Sunday.

For 5510 kilometers and over 65,000 vertical meters, however, he ultimately only needed 18 days, 220 hours in the saddle.

Morton fought his way across the Alps in well-cut sandals, conquered Mont Ventoux, overcame exhaustion in the Pyrenees and also drove the transfers between the stages himself. That was 2000 kilometers more than the professionals on his odometer.

The efforts should pay off, and not just for Morton.

As he drove by, he collected donations of over 420,000 euros for the World Bicycle Relief aid organization.

Morton will remain memories for life. The bike romantic was out and about as a “bike packer”. He stopped in cafes for lunch. His dinner mostly came from a can, warmed up with a small camping stove after several hundred kilometers at the end of the day. In this way he got to know the country and its people in a unique way. And there were moments like this: on a clear night, Morton reeled off kilometers and looked up at the sky. The sight was fascinating and confusing at the same time. “I thought there couldn't possibly be that many stars. In my head the sky turned into an artificial ceiling, "said Morton:" I had the feeling that now the point has come where I'm going crazy. "

The extremes for body and mind have always appealed to him.

Morton is at home on the gravel roads of the world, and drove across Australia and the Rocky Mountains with his brother.

Now the "Alt Tour".

“This was my dream for a long time,” said Morton: “I actually wanted to pull it off at the Giro 2020 - but I had to do it myself.” He has never competed in the Tour de France.

Since the tour started more than two weeks ago in Brest, however, he has gained experience that many colleagues in the peloton should envy him for.