Tour de France 2016: Chris Froome cruises to third title
Updated
2:58 PM EDT, Sun July 24, 2016
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Chris Froome of Team Sky celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 103rd edition of the Tour de France cycling race Sunday.
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The British rider had all but confirmed his third Tour title a day previously and made the most of Sunday's final stage.
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Froome drinks a glass of champagne as he rides at the start of the 113 km 21st and last stage of the 2016 Tour.
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Team Sky riders set off on the final stage of the 2016 at the end of 21 punishing stages that traversed France.
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The race began three weeks ago in Le Mont-Saint-Michel, France.
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The opening stage was won by Mark Cavendish of Great Britain and Team Dimension Data. Cavendish, a sprinting expert, crossed the finish line ahead of Marcel Kittel of Germany and Etixx-Quick Step and Peter Sagan of Slovakia and Tinkoff.
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But Cavendish would give up the overall leader's yellow jersey to Slovakia's Sagan (right) over the following stages.
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Froome made his move to the top of the pack on stage eight from Pau to Bagneres-De-Luchon.
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Mikel Nieve (right) of Spain and Geraint Thomas (2R) of Great Britain lead Chris Froome (3R) of Great Britain and Team Sky up the Col de Peyresourde alongside Nairo Quintana (left) of Colombia and Movistar during the 184km stage eight of Le Tour de France from Pau to Bagneres-De-Luchon on July 9.
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Fans of Nairo Quintana wait at the top of the Col du Tourmalet during stage eight.
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A happy Froome becomes reacquainted with the yellow jersey at the end of the stage.
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Stage 14 was the scene of remarkable drama as Froome, Bauke Mollema and Richie Porte collided with a broadcasters motorbike.
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Froome was forced to run part of the course as he waited for a replacement bike. The British rider initially lost time but race stewards later ruled he should be awarded the same finishing time as Mollema who was able to continue on his original bike after the crash.
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A pre Tour favorite consistently outshone by Froome, Colombia's Quintana rides during the 17 km individual time-trial of stage 18.
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There was more drama on stage 19 as Spain's between Albertville and Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc. Here, Daniel Navarro of Spain recovers from a nasty fall.
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Froome also suffered a painful and unexpected dismount as evidenced by a badly cut knee and torn jersey.
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But by stage 20 from Megeve to Morzine it was clear only a miracle or terrible luck could stop Froome from claiming a third Tour victory.