Chris Froome comes through the final stage of the Tour de France unscathed to clinch the championship for the second time of his career.
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Quintana jumped clear of the overall race leader on the slopes of the Alpe d’Huez climb, but he was unable to put enough distance between himself and Froome to overhaul the Briton in the general classification.
Joins Team Sky in 2010.
If it is like this year, then Quintana – a year older and wiser – might just be the better prospect, but if the race organisers decide to bring a long time trial back, particularly at the end of the race, then the smart money will be on Froome.
He finished well behind Greipel, whose dominance of the sprints continued, but it mattered not as Froome celebrated overall victory.
“It really was a tough today but at the finish it was incredible, an incredible feeling and emotion”, said Froome.
“There’s been so much going on in the background, away from the race, which could’ve taken a lot of focus away from what we needed to achieve”.
After three weeks of leg pain, heat, rain and intermittent abuse from roadside spectators, Froome and his main rivals are eager to reach the finish in Paris on Sunday. He did so with calm and patience, insisting that cycling has moved on from the “Wild West” era of Tours won with doping. Nairo Quintana is the only rider threatening Froome’s hopes of sipping Champagne on the Champs-Elysees: The Colombian is 2 minutes, 38 seconds behind in second place. Police said they didn’t suspect terrorism.
Froome has been tight-chested and had a cough since Tuesday’s second rest day, but insisted he had made no application for special medication.
He thanks his Sky Team for their support singling out Australian Richie Porte with a “wow”. “I think I lost the Tour during the first week”.
“There were definitely some moments where it was touch and go”.
“I had a little bit left to do the last kilometre and try to limit those losses”. Having set the goal in 2009 of nurturing Britain’s first Tour victor within five years, Sky has won three of the last four, with Bradley Wiggins in 2012 and now two with Froome.
“Chris is the most unbelievable competitor and polite, nice guy off the bike but on the bike he’s the most resilient character. He really is a true champion”.
Froome’s victory parade on Sunday will be especially sweet after he was booed and had urine thrown at him last week after a stage win in the Pyrenees raised doping suspicions in the French media.
“Did you ever blood dope or use blood transfusions to enhance your cycling performance?” And I believe Chris Froome is clean.
Froome certainly stood his ground on Saturday. The Colombian had vowed to attack from further out this time and sure enough his first dig came 60km from the finish on the monstrous Col de la Croix de Fer.
“I feel as if I’ve reached this point where I can ride at a good tempo, but I’m struggling to go any deeper than that”, added Froome, who became the second British victor of the King of the Mountains title in the competition’s 40-year history.
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Quintana said: “I gave it everything. I lost a minute-and-a-half, and that’s what cost me the Tour”.
