Bernal brings it home

Egan Bernal becomes Colombia’s first Tour de France champ at just 22.

PARIS — The skies over Paris were yellow, ignited by a glorious golden sunset. But the yellow that counted most was the iconic jersey that fit so snugly on the slim shoulders of Egan Bernal.

His crowning Sunday as the Tour de France’s youngest post- World War II champion, and its first from South America, heralded the birth of a new supernova in the cycling universe.

“I am the most happy guy in the world,” Bernal said.

Winning a Tour at age 22 immediately prompted the question: How many more might he win?

Get this: He’s younger than the Tour’s greatest champions — five- time winners Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain — were when they all were first crowned at the Tour.

The slightly built Colombian with a killer instinct on the road proved to be the strongest of the 176 strong men who started the 2,092- mile odyssey that delivered the most absorbing, drama- packed Tour in decades.

Cheered by Colombian fans who were partying even before he rattled up the cobblestones of the Champs- Elysees, Bernal crossed the finish line with teammate Geraint Thomas, the 2018 champion who finished second. Steven Kruijswijk completed what organizers said was the tightest podium finish in the race’s 116- year history, with just 1 minute, 31 seconds separating Bernal from Kruijswijk.

Keeping with tradition on the final day, the 155 riders who survived the Tour rode at a pedestrian pace and in a joyful atmosphere before hitting the ChampsElysees. Bernal chatted with French rival Julian Alaphilippe and raised a glass of champagne as he rode.

At the finish, Bernal fell into the arms of his family.

“I cannot believe it. It’s just incredible,” Bernal said.