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Tour de France: Chris Froome wins third title

By The Sports Xchange
(From L to R) Peter Sagan of Slovakia, Chris Froome of Great Britain, Adam Yates of Great Britain and Rafal Majka of Poland celebrate on the presentation podium after the Tour de France in Paris on July 24, 2016. Photo by David Silpa/UPI
1 of 3 | (From L to R) Peter Sagan of Slovakia, Chris Froome of Great Britain, Adam Yates of Great Britain and Rafal Majka of Poland celebrate on the presentation podium after the Tour de France in Paris on July 24, 2016. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo

Defending champion Chris Froome completed his third Tour de France title in four years after safely negotiating his way through Sunday's mostly ceremonial finish on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

Froome became Britain's first three-time winner when he crossed the line, arm-in-arm with his teammates, to complete the three-week race.

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The Kenyan-born British rider also won the Tour in 2013 and 2015.

"Thanks for your kindness in these difficult times. You have the most beautiful race in the world. Vive le Tour, Vive la France," Froome told the crowd in French during the trophy ceremony, referring to the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and Nice.

"Of course these kinds of events put sport into perspective but they also show why the values of sport are so important to free society."

Froome beat Romain Bardet of France by two minutes and 52 seconds with Colombia's Nairo Quintana in third, 3:08 back. Britain's Adam Yates was fourth, 3:29 behind.

"To Michelle my wife and my son Kellan, your love and support make everything possible. Kellan, I dedicate this victory to you," Froome said from the winner's podium.

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Froome becomes just the eighth rider to win at least three Tours de France, joining Belgium's Phillipe Thys, Louison Bobet of France and American Greg LeMond at three.

With disgraced American Lance Armstrong's seven wins between 1999-2005 expunged from the record books after he admitted to doping, the record of five Tour wins is held jointly by Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault, Belgium's Eddy Merckz and Miguel Indurain of Spain.

Andre Greipel of Germany won the 21st and last stage over the mostly flat 70-mile leg that concluded with eight laps of a circuit in downtown Paris, finishing on the cobblestones below the Arc de Triomphe.

Greipel edged Peter Sagan of Slovakia, with Alexander Kristoff of Norway crossing third.

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