Froome wins fourth Tour de France

Team Sky’ Chris Froome made history by winning the Tour de France for a fourth time yesterday, widely regarded as his toughest Tour win yet.

The Team Sky leader, who described this year’s race as the “closest and most hard-fought battle”, sealed his victory on Saturday in a time trial, and rolled on to the ChampsElysees with team-mates in a largely ceremonial stage contested by sprint teams, rather than overall race leaders.

Dylan Groenewegen (LottoSoudal) won the stage in a final sprint in Paris, edging Andre Greipel over the line by a narrow margin.

“I’m speechless, it is an amazing feeling,” Froome said. “There is something magical about the Champs-Elysees when you have spent three weeks thinking about being here in this moment.

“It is amazing to see my wife and son again - it feels like more than a month on the road.

“Each time I have won has been so unique, such a different battle to get to this moment. They are all so special but this will be remembered as the closest and most hardfought battle.”

“A celebration is definitely overdue.”

Froome finished Saturday’s stage with a 54-second lead over his rivals - the narrowest to date. At the end of three weeks, 21 stages and more than 3,500km, Froome finished with a broad grin alongside his team-mates, who wore a special kit for the occasion with their usual blue stripe replaced by a yellow one.