Froome cruises to third title

Thirty-one-year old Christopher Clive Frome OBE reaches the finish line of the 21-stage race, in Paris become the first British rider to defend the Tour de France 2016, as he cruises to third title.

The team Sky rider, who won the 2013 and 2015 races, is the first man to defend his title in more than 20 years.

“It’s like the first time. It’s amazing. Every time it’s special,” Kenyan born Froome said.

 He had built up a lead of more than four minutes over the previous 20 stages and tradition follows that the yellow jersey is not attacked on the final stage. Froome finally beat Bardet of France by four minutes and five seconds with Colombia’s Nairo Quintana in third and Britain’s Adam Yales fourth. Sunday’s stage to Paris began with a ride from Chantilly, in northern France, with the winners of the four main jerseys leading the peloton. Froome used the podium speech to reflect on the attack in Nice that killed more than 80 people on Bastille Day. He also thanked his wife Michelle and dedicated the victory to his seven-month-old son Kellan.