Britain’s Chris Froome was crowned Tour de France champion for the second time in his career as Andre Greipel picked up his fourth win of the race with an emphatic victory on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, writes Felix Lowe.

Sodden weather in the French capital meant the final times for the race’s 21st and last stage were taken when the peloton crossed the finish line for the first time ahead of 10 laps of the famous city circuit on the Champs-Elysees. The decision gave 30-year-old Froome the luxury of being able to sit up, keep out of the sprinters’ melee and savour the finishing straight with his Sky team-mates.

The eight riders linked arms and finished in a chain as Froome celebrated the second Tour win of his career two years after his maiden victory in 2012.

Moments earlier, Lotto-Soudal sprinter Greipel confirmed his position as the fastest man on the race with a bullish win in the showpiece bunch sprint to deny Frenchman Bryan Coquard (Europcar) and Norway's Alexander Kristoff (Katusha). Greipel powered past his rivals in the home straight to secure the fourth win of his career and deny sixth-place Mark Cavendish (Etixx-QuickStep) what would have been a fifth career win in Paris.

“This is just the most awesome place to win a bike race,” said 32-year-old Greipel after the first Champs-Elysees win of his career.

“It’s amazing – what I’ve always dreamed of. I must thank my team-mates, who got me in the right position, as well as my parents, trainers, colleagues and everyone who has made a difference.”

Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde of the Movistar team safely finished the final stage to join Froome on the final podium with the Colombian taking second place in the general classification at 1min 12sec and the Spaniard finishing third at 5:25.

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