Froome, who was competing in his first Tour de France since becoming a father, dedicated the victory to his son, Kellan.
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“I’ve won three and the novelty isn’t wearing off”, said Froome, as he celebrated this momentous success.
Froome will ride in the road race and the time-trial in Rio and try to emulate compatriot Bradley Wiggins’ Tour and Olympic double from four years ago.
Colombian Nairo Quintana, runner-up in 2013 and 2015 who was expected to push Froome to the limit, ended up a disappointing third, 3:08 off the pace.
It was Greipel’s first stage win in this Tour.
The Mont Ventoux stage provided the abiding image of this Tour de France – but not one that Froome or the organisers could ever have envisaged. “At the end of the day, we’re happy with a spot on the podium, a stage win and the team’s classification victory”.
He cycled with Chris Froome in Team Sky, helping Chris go faster by cycling in front of him and even gave him his bike when Froome’s broke after a fall.
The world champion won three stages, claimed the green points jersey for the fifth year in a row and was also named the race s most combative rider.
The first saw Yates knocked off his bike by an inflatable arch 1km from the finish of the seventh stage.
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 yesterday.
“It’s like the first time, it’s fantastic. He went a little bit ballistic with all the photographers, but it’s such an incredible feeling”. It feels like a privilege to be in this position.
The white jersey, for the best young rider, was awarded to Britain’s Adam Yates after he finished fourth in the overall standings. Yates was the first ever British victor of the white jersey. The truck attack on Nice did not noticeably thin the crowd that came to see Froome lead the race onto the Champs-Élysées circuit.
He said: “This tour has obviously taken place against the backdrop of awful events in Nice and we pay our respects, once again, to those who lost their lives in this bad event”.
“Of course these kind of events put sport into perspective, but they also show why the values of sport are so important to free society”.
For Greipel, who pipped world champion Peter Sagan on the line with Alexander Kristoff third, it was a second successive victory on the final stage and 11th stage win in total.
All eyes now must focus on the Olympics in Rio where some of these athletes will be going in just a few short weeks time.
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Before training again with the 2017 Tour in mind, Froome will take part in the Rio Olympics where he will be among the favourites for the road race and the time trial – an event he chose to contest six months ago.
