Froome joins ranks of legends

Chris Froome crossed the line arm-in-arm with his Team Sky team-mates as he joined the elite club of three-time Tour de France winners, while Andre Greipel won the final stage in Paris yesterday.

Froome, already Britain’s only multiple-Tour winner, is one of just eight men – not counting the disgraced Lance Armstrong – to have won three or more tours, and will have his sights set on record five-time winners Jacques Anquetil, Miguel Indurain, Bernard Hinault and Eddy Merckx.

Froome, who had been able to enjoy a glass of champagne on the 113km stage from Chantilly, met his wife Michelle and baby Kellan just after the finish line as the celebrations began. In his podium speech, Froome thanked his team and family before paying tribute to the victims of the terrorist attack in Nice on Bastille Day, midway through the tour.

“This tour has obviously taken place against the backdrop of terrible events in Nice and we pay our respects, once again, to those who lost their lives in this terrible event,” he said.

“These kind of events put sport into perspective but they also show why the values of sport are so important to free society. Vive le Tour et Vive la France.”

The 31-year-old had effectively sealed victory by staying upright on Saturday’s stage 20 to Morzine ahead of yesterday’s largely processional stage.

With a four-minute advantage he was able to enjoy the moment with his team-mates as others finished ahead, although the final general classification retained the time gaps from Saturday night.

That meant Froome won the tour by 4min 5sec from Frenchman Romain Bardet. German Greipel pipped world champion Peter Sagan to the line in the traditional sprint on the Champs-Elysees.