Froome seals fourth Tour de France title, Groenewegen sprints to victory
Chris Froome sipped champagne and sprayed beer before sealing a fourth Tour de France title and Dylan Groenewegen sprinted to a first stage win in the prestigious race on the Champs-Elysees.
Only Eddy Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain have won the Tour more times than Froome after the Team Sky rider stayed out of trouble in the ceremonial 21st and final stage on Sunday.
The Brit has now won four of the last five editions of the most prestigious Grand Tour – including each of the last three – and was all smiles as he crossed the line with his team-mates in Paris.
Froome’s latest triumph, which he described as his “most hard-fought”, was by a margin of 54 seconds from Cannondale’s Rigoberto Uran and he effectively sealed it in Saturday’s time trial in Marseille.
Chris Froome: father first, bike racer second. The long road to Paris is all worth it. Cool jersey Kellan! #F4OOMEY pic.twitter.com/qXWddiF0Lk
— Team Sky (@TeamSky) July 23, 2017
The 32-year-old took a glass of bubbly from a Team Sky car around 20 kilometres into the 103km ride from Montgeron to the French capital and sprayed beer at his team-mates, who took a deserved sip or two early in the stage.
It was also a day to savour for Lotto NL–Jumbo’s Groenewegen, who hit the front in a thrilling sprint finish and held on to deny Andre Greipel, who left his final push a little too late.
Paris appartient à @GroenewegenD ! Dylan Groenewegen, king of Paris! #TDF2017pic.twitter.com/mSfv14jP55
— Le Tour de France (@LeTour) July 23, 2017
Edvald Boasson Hagen crossed the line in third as Dutchman Groenewegen experienced his finest hour and Froome celebrated with the Team Sky colleagues who have given him such incredible support before embracing his wife and son Kellan.
Michael Matthews also lapped up the final day of the race in the green jersey, Froome among the riders to offer his congratulations en route to Paris, with Warren Barguil already crowned King of the Mountains.
STAGE CLASSIFICATION
1. Dylan Groenewegen (Lotto NL-Jumbo) 02:25.39
2. Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal)
3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data)
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1. Chris Froome (Team Sky) 86:20:55
2. Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale) +0:54
3. Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) +2:20
POINTS CLASSIFICATION
1. Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) 370 points
2. Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) 234 points
3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) 220 points
KING OF THE MOUNTAINS
1. Warren Barguil (Team Sunweb) 169 points
2. Primoz Roglic (Lotto NL-Jumbo) 80 points
3. Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) 64 points
