PARIS – Briton Chris Froome cemented his status as one of the greatest Tour de France riders when he secured his third title yesterday after a three-week rocky ride.
Germany’s Andre Greipel won the 21st and last stage, a 113-km ride from Chantilly ending on the Champs Elysees.
The Team Sky rider survived two crashes and even a jog up a mountain road to add to his 2013 and 2015 triumphs to become the first rider to retain his title since Miguel Indurain in 1995.
“It would be my dream to keep coming back for the next five or six years and give myself the best opportunity of winning again,” said Froome.
“I can’t say the novelty is wearing off. It’s such an incredible event and to be in the yellow jersey is every cyclist’s dream and the biggest honour in our sport.
“I hope I can be back next year to fight for it again.”
Frenchman Romain Bardet finished second overall ahead of Colombian Nairo Quintana.
Pole Rafal Majka won the polka dot jersey for the mountain classification and his Tinkoff teammate, world champion Peter Sagan, clinched a fifth green jersey for the points classification.
Sagan, who won three stages, was also voted the most aggressive rider in the three-week race while Adam Yates showed Britain was full of resources, ending up fourth overall and winning the white jersey for the best Under-25 rider.
Another Briton, Mark Cavendish, also claimed four stages but he pulled out of the race on the second rest day to prepare for the Olympics, where he will be competing on the track. (BBC/Reuters)