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news
Chris Froome wins 2015 Tour de France (Eurosport TV still)Chris Froome wins Tour de France as Andre Greipel takes sprint in Paris
Chris Froome of Team Sky has become the first British rider to win the Tour de France twice, on an afternoon when André Greipel of Lotto-Soudal won what is often called the sprinters’ world championship in Paris – his fourth stage win in this year’s race, confirming his status as the best of the fast men in this year's 102nd edition.
It's the third British victory in the past four editions, with Froome, winner in 2013, having finished runner-up to former team mate Sir Bradley Wiggins the previous year.
With a heavy downpour in the French capital earlier in the day causing a number of crashes in La Course, the women’s race won by Anna van der Breggen, race organisers ASO decided to take the final times of the 102nd edition of the Tour on the first crossing of the finish line.
Usually, a Tour de France winner-in-waiting would have to wait until passing under the 3km to go banner to be assured of their victory, but that decision to take the timings earlier meant Froome was less panicked than he might otherwise have been when a brown McDonald’s bag got lodged in his rear wheel with 10km left.
As it was, he swapped bikes - a second yellow Pinarello, the colour of the maillot jaune also replacing the blue on the Rapha kit his colleagues sported today as they led him into Paris at a sedate pace following the stage start in Sevres, with the typical last-day photocalls and end-of-term feeling.
Ordinarily, once the yellow jersey is led across the finish line for the first time, racing begins in earnest, but it wasn’t until the third of nine 7km laps that a rider made a move, and it was Sylvain Chavanel of IAM who did so.
Subsequently, three riders - Kenneth van Bilsen of Cofidis, Bretagne Seche Environnement’s Florian Vachon, and Lampre-Merida’s Nelson Oliveira got away at the head of the race.
Greipel’s Lotto-Soudal team kept the break on a tight leash, but inside the final 2km no one team was taking on the leadout, with a scrappy sprint beckoning.
But then, coming on to the Rue de Rivoli ahead of the flamme rouge, Katusha came to the front, and their sprinter Alexander Kristoff tore out of Place de la Concorde and seemed set to win.
He finished third, however, as both Greipel and Bryan Cocquard of Europcar, second, passed him at the end of one of the more closely fought sprints the most famous finish line in cycling has seen in recent years.
Mark Cavendish, unbeaten here until 2013 when Marcel Kittel proved quickest, finished sixth.
Romain Bardet of AG2R-La Mondiale was in the polka dot jersey today, but the mountains classification was won by Froome.
The 24-year-old French hope did get to visit the podium, though, as the winner of this year’s overall combativity prize for exploits including his Stage 18 win at Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.
Froome, meanwhile, is the first Briton to win the classification since Robert Millar’s victory in 1984, and the first rider since Eddy Merckx in 1970 to win both the polka dot jersey and the maillot jaune for overall champion in the same year.
Peter Sagan of Tinkoff-Saxo meanwhile is confirmed as points champion for the fourth year running – unprecedented for a rider making just his fourth participation in the race – while Movistar’s Nairo Quintana, runner-up to Froome, is best young rider, just as he was in 2013.
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Chris Froome of Team Sky, winner of the 2015 Tour de France and King of the Mountains
The yellow jersey has a long history. I've always respected and honoured it. I've been proud of it every day I've had it. It's been long to reach this second win, step by step. So many things have happened since we started in Holland.
It's been stressful. We've had to fight, on the bike and off the bike. I feel better now because I wanted this picture of the podium so badly. That's why I wake up every morning to go and train.
I'm unable to say if this victory is nicer than last one. Winning the Tour de France once is incredible. To be here a second time means a lot.
Movistar’s Nairo Quintana, second overall and best young rider
I'm happy and excited. It's my second podium for my second participation. We also won the teams classification, which is very important for those who usually don't get rewarded. The podium is spectacular.
Compared with two years ago, this time I came as a sole leader and it adds value to my achievement.
In 2013, I was in a state of shock, I didn't understand what was happening. Now I'm more mature. I'm more of a leader. My career is going very well.
Peter Sagan of Tinkoff-Saxo, winner of the points classification for the fourth year in a row
It's been a hard Tour since the very first stages. The fight was hard and the points scale was different from last year's. The most important for me was to not have crashed.
I've done my best all year. I think I've done well. It's been a nice experience to do the Tour with someone like Alberto Contador, he's a big champion.
André Greipel of Lotto-Soudal on his first ever Champs-Elysées triumph
This is the most amazing place for winning a bike race. It's a dream coming true. I've claimed the biggest success of my career on the Champs-Elysées, in the capital of the sprint. I had tried four times before and I'm delighted that I've finally done it in 2015.
Nobody will be able to take this victory out of my record book. I've got it because of my family and trainers. I thank them, as well as my team Lotto-Soudal. We've had an amazing Tour de France.
We've won four bunch sprints out of five. It's been three weeks of happiness because of everyone's commitment. Greg Henderson who was injured has managed to come back to Paris. He played a part in our success. He was in the car today and he spoke to us through the radio.
As everyone could see, we took the control of the race when there was a breakaway. My team-mates have done everything for a bunch sprint finish. We didn't want to be at the front too early. I was a bit far behind in the last curve but I had the legs to finish it off.
Since I've been a pro cyclist, there hasn't been a single year in which I didn't see myself improving. I still feel young, even though this Tour de France has made me three weeks older. I'm in a good condition. I'm ready for new challenges in the future.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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27 comments
As a slight aside; whilst watching the live coverage at one point on a left hand corner the rear camera bike picked up riders taking an odd line and then a person stood in the middle of the road holding a white sheet with writing on it. It was only on screen for a second before the camera views switched, and I'm not sure if I'm imagining it.
Anybody else notice this?
Yes i did. It was not mentioned at all. Probably best as it will only encourage others to do it if it is given the oxygen of publicity.
Glad to see I wasn't imagining it.
As you say best not to give some people the oxygen of publicity, I expect they caught him and fed him to Bernard Hinault !!
Looks like it was reported in Australia. From the Syndey Morning Herald website
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cycling/tour-de-france/tour-de-france-2015-p...
How the riders avoided this idiot is incredible, goes to show how good at bike handling they are.
"As a slight aside; whilst watching the live coverage at one point on a left hand corner the rear camera bike picked up riders taking an odd line and then a person stood in the middle of the road holding a white sheet with writing on it. It was only on screen for a second before the camera views switched, and I'm not sure if I'm imagining it."
Congrats to Froome and Team Sky. As much as others like not to, I like and respect the guy. He's polite, incredibly determined, professional, and a good sport - see his exchange with Quintana after stage 20. I think that makes a great role model for kids watching the sport. Personally I am pretty confident he's clean, and of course hope that is the case. It seems like a minority are hoping it will prove not to be. I don't understand why you would want that.
And as for Thomas - what a guy!
Does anyone know who it was that crashed yesterday and was lying completely motionless in the road under his bike? It looked like someone from Trek but not 100% sure. Kind of concerning, really hope he's ok, whoever he was.
Yeah, I thought he handled the Armstrong (non) issue very intelligently as well. In a press conference in Utrecht he was asked his thoughts on Lance's participation in the one day ahead ride. Froome said something like 'I fully support any effort in the fight against the disease that killed my Mother' then he politely moved the questioning back to the race.
I thought it was very mature, honest and brave of him to say that.
yeah, we saw that too, what happened to the rider, looked like a hard off?
That was Stijn Devolder. According to Twitter, he's ok.
And Sep Van Marcke tweeted a pic of the sheet guy
Great race this year but a bit more TT next year please to make it a more 'all rounder' race
Those that thought it was poor and predictable must be world experts on cycle racing, their authoritative and astute comments are as outstanding as their own cycling successes.
Great race, really enjoyed the last three weeks. Can't wait for the Vuelta now.
I still struggle to get behind Froome as a 'British' winner, but I can easily get behind him as a worthy winner wherever he's from. It's simply not fair that he has been tried and judged as a doper with no evidence whatsoever beyond him being a great rider, just like dopers of the past once appeared to be. Good on him for his poise and his incredible skill.
I really need to hear condemnation of the appalling behaviour of many 'fans' from the TDF organisers now.
Froome is just as British as Bradly Wiggins and come to think of it Mo Farrah. So just what is your problem with this amazing guy ? ? ?
WELL DONE Chris and WELL DONE Team Sky you were bloody brilliant !
Did I say anything to suggest I have a 'problem' with Froome? I think he's an amazing cyclists, a true statesman for the sport and a genuinely nice guy. The fact that he's never lived in this country makes it harder for me to think of him as a true Brit, however, no matter what passport he carries. That is absolutely no criticism of him.
Top-level sportspeople competing internationally don't really 'live' anywhere though. It's not like Mark Cavendish commutes from the Isle of Man for races, and I doubt Andy Murray spends much time in the UK either.
Sure, you're right. The whole thing is cobblers, but I find it easier to identify with those two as Brits based on them being born and raised in the UK, but that too is silly nonsense.
I'll duck out now, as I never intended a discussion of Froome's identity when we should be celebrating his and his team's monumental achievement.
Froome is actually Kenyan. I should imagine he would have much preferred to hear the Kenyan national anthem on the podium in Paris, but then Sky wouldn't want that.
Fab result and a thoroughly deserved winner. Multiple grand tour winner and many more to come
...not half as disappointed as you are, right now.
Wonderful result for Chris Froome and the team. A brilliant display of tactical thinking, teamwork, athleticism and technical expertise - it's the complete package from Sir Dave's organisation and Froome. What next? Several of these Sky riders will be back fronting other teams and Froome, like Sir Bradley will become a great ambassador for the sport.
I'm full of admiration for the whole peleton (as usual), a brilliant 3 weeks. Notable protagonists, Quintana's mountain work (next winner?) Valverde's provocations, Porte's sacrifices and Thomas's brilliant support.
Mate if this wasn't the internet I'd think you were being sarcastic.
OK but not from me, life's too interesting for sham
LOL, you are going to be very disappointed in a few years' time when the truth finally emerges.
How would "the truth" as you call it change how the race was ridden? Did Sky not ride well as a team? Did Quintana not attack with panache in the Alps? Did Nibali not attack well? Did Froome not defend well when Movistar isolated him?
Clean or not, the racing was bloody brilliant.
Not sure it was. Sure Nibali attacked but no threat to Froome so he could let him go. As for NQ he left it too late. Maybe he did not have enough to attack on all four days but he left it too late IMHO to win and I think he knew he could not win.
Sure the last proper stage was exciting but the other, nah predictable.
Are you friends with French doper Jalabert who has been this source of much merde raking the last 2 weeks?
Greipel proved himself the top sprinter, Cav on messy finishes just short.
I just want to see Cav/Greipel/Kittel in one grand tour all fit and see the shootout then for the best sprinter of this generation.
I love Sagan's attitude and riding but he has to focus on something other than the green jersey his talent should be multiple GT stages. I wonder with Contondor obviously at the end of his career what Saxo may do ?
Froome obviously the deserved winner this time round with Sky likely to get stronger for next season with Kwiatoski and Landa joining as rumoured he should win a few more.