PARIS: Chris Froome said he felt “incredible” after winning his second Tour de France title following Sunday’s 21st and final stage to Paris.

Briton Froome, 30, crossed the line on the Champs Elysees arm-in-arm with his Sky teammates to clinch a second Grand Boucle crown following his 2013 success.

“This is such a great race, what can I say? I feel a lot of emotion,” said Froome after a Tour in which he was doused with urine, spat at, insulted and accused of cheating.

“Of course it was a very, very difficult Tour, both on the bike and off it. I’m so happy to be here in yellow.

“There were a few difficulties, a few extra stresses outside of the race but that’s cycling in 2015.

“I’m happy to be in this position to speak for cycling today.” Germany’s Andre Greipel won the stage, his fourth this year and 10th in total, ahead of Frenchman Bryan Coquard and Alexander Kristoff of Norway.

Colombian Nairo Quintana finished second overall with his Spanish Movistar teammate Alejandro Valverde taking third, his best finish at the Tour at the age of 35.

“I’m not disappointed at all, I’ve confirmed my ability and my status within the team,” said Quintana.

“I’m only 25 so I have many more opportunities to try to win the Tour.”

Rain had rendered the cobbles at the finish on the Champs Elysees dangerous so organisers neutralised the race from the moment it reached Paris.

It meant the official timing was stopped just after riders passed the finishing line for the first time ahead of 10 laps of the famous Parisian avenue.

It allowed Froome and his teammates — wearing a black kit with the traditional blue stripe replaced by a yellow one in hommage to their leader’s feat — to finish in a straight line, arm-in-arm, over a minute after the stage winner.

Having already won the Tour in 2013, finishing in the same way but then because his lead to Quintana — second that time as well — was sufficiently large to allow him to do so, Froome became the first Briton to win the Grand Boucle for a second time.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2015

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