2015 Tour de France: Chris Froome finishes arm-in-arm with teammates to claim second title

CHRIS Froome said he felt “incredible” after crossing the line on the Champs Elysees arm-in-arm with his Sky teammates to win his second Tour de France title.

CHRIS Froome said he felt “incredible” after winning his second Tour de France title following the 21st and final stage to Paris.

The 30-year-old 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.

Chris Froome proved too strong for Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde.

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

“(Froome) is a great rival, he suffered a lot for his victory and was very strong -- he deserves it.”

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.

Quintana finished at one minute and 12 seconds overall with Valverde third over five minutes back.

Chris Froome said there were plenty of difficulties to overcome.

Last year’s winner Vincenzo Nibali finished fourth overall, ahead of two-time former champion Alberto Contador.

But on the final stage, a 109.5km run from the Parisian suburb of Sevres, Greipel emphasised his sprint superiority at this Tour.

The 33-year-old had already won the second, fifth and 15th stages in sprint finishes.

“I’m looking forward to a rest now,” said the Lotto-Soudal rider.

“This Tour de France has been amazing for Lotto-Soudal, in five bunch sprints we won four of them.”

Froome finished as king of the mountains -- only the sixth rider to finish in yellow and the polkadot jersey -- and Quintana, 25, was the best young rider as his Movistar outfit won the team competition.