Egan Bernal became the first Colombian to win the Tour de France when he retained the overall leader's yellow jersey after the 21st and final stage won by Caleb Ewan of Australia.
Egan Bernal celebrates winning the Tour de France. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The 22-year-old Bernal, the youngest rider to win the race in 110 years, gave Team Ineos - formerly Team Sky - their seventh title in the last eight editions.
He beat team mate and defending champion Geraint Thomas of Britain with Dutchman Steven Kruijswijk coming home third.
"It's incredible, I don't know what to say. I've won the Tour but I don't manage to believe it. I need a couple of days to assimilate all this," said Bernal.
"It's for my family and I just want to hug them. It's a feeling of happiness that I don't know how to describe it.
"This is the first Tour for us, Colombians. Many Colombians have tried before, we've had great cyclists in the past. But I'm the first one to win the Tour! Colombia deserves it."
Also the winner of the white jersey for the best Under-25 rider, Bernal did not win a single stage, but he was first at the top of the Col de l'Iseran when the 19th stage was stopped because of hailstorms and landslides in the Alps.
Kruijswijk's Jumbo-Visma team shone throughout the race, winning four stages through Dylan Groenewegen, Wout van Aert, Mike Teunissen and the team time trial.
New Zealand's George Bennett was also a part of that team, he finished 24th overall.
France's Julian Alaphilippe, who wore the yellow jersey for 14 days but cracked in the Alps and ended fifth overall, was the race's most exciting rider.
The world number one, who had looked to become France's first winner since Bernard Hinault in 1985, was voted this year's most aggressive rider after also winning two stages.
Slovakian Peter Sagan wrapped up a record seventh green jersey for the points classification, surpassing the previous mark he held jointly with German Erik Zabel.
Frenchman Romain Bardet won the polka dot jersey for the mountains classification, a consolation prize after dropping out of overall contention early on.
- Reuters
