AKIPRESS.COM - Chris Froome became the eighth man to win the Tour de France at least three times after safely negotiating an uneventful final stage that ended in Paris, reported EuroNews.

Having held the leader’s yellow jersey since stage eight Froome dominated the race and cruised to victory winning his third title by just over four minutes from Frenchman Romain Bardet – Colombia’s Nairo Quintana was third.

He becomes the first rider to defend his title since Spaniard Miguel Indurain, who won five straight from 1991.

The final stage from Chantilly to the French capital was more of a procession with Team Sky sporting a livery with a golden stripe to celebrate their win.

The race proper only really began in Paris where the riders looking for that last bit of glory burst out to tackle the nine 6.8-km laps of the city center.

Inevitably the day’s action culminated in a bunch sprint down the Champs-Elysees and that was won by German sprint maestro Andre Greipel.

But the day really belonged to Froome and his fantastic Sky teammates who crossed over arm in arm for a well-deserved victory.