Fourth Tour crown for jubilant Froome
Team Sky’s Chris Froome (centre) rides on the Avenue des ChampsÉlysées on the final stage of the Tour de France CHRIS FROOME savoured his fourth Tour de France title as Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen won stage 21 of the race in Paris.
Froome was able to enjoy the celebrations on the 103-kilometre stage from Montgeron to the Champs-Elysees before LottoNL-Jumbo’s Groenewegen won in a sprint from LottoSoudal’s Andre Greipel.
Groenewegen had time to ease off as the hard-charging Greipel left it too late, while stage 19 winner Edvald Boasson Hagen finished third.
Froome had effectively wrapped up his third straight Tour crown by extending his lead in Saturday’s time trial in Marseille.
But while the first half of the final stage to the capital is a time for celebration, the sprint on the ChampsElysees is arguably the most prestigious setting for any sprinter to win.
No better place then for Groenewegen to record his first career Tour stage victory.
For Greipel, second place spelled the end of a proud record - the 35-year-old had until now won at least one stage in every grand tour he took part in.
Norwegian Boasson Hagen took the last spot on the podium for the third time in this Tour, with the Team Dimension Data rider also having two second places to add to Friday’s win.
Froome’s final margin of victory over former teammate Rigoberto Uran was 54 seconds, making this the seventh-closest finish in Tour history.
Cannondale-Drapac’s Uran could celebrate his highest ever Tour finish, while AG2R La Mondiale’s Frenchman Romain Bardet finished third, two minutes and 20 seconds off Froome’s time.
Orica-Scott’s Simon Yates crossed the line to confirm his seventh place overall and the white jersey as the best young rider in the race.
Australian Michael Matthews sealed the green jersey in the points classification, with his French Sunweb team-mate Warren Barguil safe in the polka dot jersey as king of the mountains.
The stage began in Montgeron, where the first Tour started in 1903.
As is customary for the final day of the Tour, there was a jovial mood for the first 40 kilometres.
Team Sky had changed their blue stripe to yellow on the kit and team cars, while Froome rode a yellow bike as he clinked glasses of champagne with his teammates and directors in the car.
Waiting for the Team Sky rider at the finish line were his wife Michelle and young son Kellan.
In his post-stage interview Froome said: “I’m speechless, it is an amazing feeling, 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 hard-fought battle. A celebration is definitely overdue.”
Chris Froome now stands alone as the only four-time winner of the Tour de France. Four men have won five Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain.