Brit Froome wins third Tour de France title

Chris Froome came out the first Briton to win three Tour de France titles on Sunday.

The 31-year-old finished the overall 10,587km ride with a four minute and five seconds advantage to beat Frenchman Romain Bardet for the title, while the 2013 and 2015 runner-up Nairo Quintana was the third overall.

"It could have been the first one all over again, just the same kind of emotions," said Froome, who rated Sunday's victory no less thrilling than his first.

He linked arms with his Team Sky teammates as he crossed the finish line in Champs-Elysees, as his four-minute overall lead had made him unbeatable and the 113km final stage from Chantilly a pure procession.

The Briton, who finished just over a minute ahead of the 26-year-old Colombian Quintana last year, won two stages during the 21-stage race this time, taking his total roll to seven.

Froome is now a member of an eight-strong elite club of cyclists who have won the gruelling race three times - not counting the disgraced Lance Armstrong.

He paid tribute to the dead in the recent terror attack in Nice as he was honored at the Champs Elysees.

"A last word in French," he told the crowd. "Thank you again for your kindness in this difficult period for you. You have the greatest race in the world and it's a great honor to wear the yellow jersey.

"Vive le Tour et vive la France," said Froome.

Another Briton Mark Cavendish came out the most profiled rider with four stages victories, while the 23-year-old Adam Yates finished the fourth and won the young rider's white jersey competition. Endit