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2015 Tour de France Stage 21: Froome takes second title, Van der Bregen and Greipel win on les Champs-Élysées

In a Tour de France of consolation and redemption, André Greipel (Germany/Lotto-Soudal), denied the green jersey, took solace in winning on the Champs-Élysées in Sunday's final stage of the race.

In a Tour de France of consolation and redemption, André Greipel (Germany/Lotto-Soudal), denied the green jersey, took solace in winning on the Champs-Élysées in Sunday’s final stage of the race. It was his fourth triumph on the race and 10th career stage win of the Tour. Chris Froome (Great Britain/Sky) wrapped up his second Tour victory.

First up on Sunday was the women’s La Course by Le Tour de France, a 91-km race consisting of 13-laps of the Champs-Élysées. It was a torrid time for the field on slick cobbles that caused multiple crashes. Numerous riders tried to get away, with Australian squad Orica-AIS attempting several moves. But it came down to an attack from Anna Van Der Bregen (The Netherlands/Rabo-Liv) on the final lap that eluded pursuit. Van der Bregen took the prize ahead of Belgian Jolien D’Hoore (Wiggle-Honda). The top Canadian was Joëlle Numainville of Bigla in 14th.

Then it was time for the procession that led to Chris Froome’s second coronation. The rain dampened the celebratory vibe, but the riders found plenty of time for champagne, photos and japery. Lampre’s Filippo Pozzato nabbed the final KOM point of the 2015 edition.

Because of the treacherous cobbles of the finishing circuit, it was determined that all riders’ times would be taken over the finish line of the first of 10 laps. Once the riders entered Paris proper, the pace remained languid. Sky led the field onto the Champs-Élysées. With the race ambling along at 30 km/h, there were rumours that laps would be cut.

It took a move from Astana and MTN-Qhubeka, followed up with Orica-GreenEdge’s effort, to wake up the race on the third lap. Andriy Grivko (Ukraine/Astana) claimed the final intermediate sprint of the 2015 Tour.

A few escapes flared off, but Lotto-Soudal brought them to heel. Svein Tuft, one place away from the lanterne rouge he won in 2013, made his annual surge up the cobbled road. The longest break of the day consisted of Lampre’s Nelson Oliveira (Portugal), Florian Vachon (France/Bretagne-Séché) and Kenneth Vanbilsen (Belgium/Cofidis). Rohan Dennis (Australia/BMC), the race’s first yellow jersey, joined them on the penultimate lap.

The Australian and Belgian were the last fugitives to surrender with 5-km to go. Many teams formed colour-blocks at the front, the squads without wins especially hungry.

Alexander Kristoff (Norway/Katusha) had the best lead-out, but Greipel had the power.

Froome becomes the sixth Tour winner to also take the King of the Mountains. As in 2013, Quintana finishes second to Froome, this time by 1:12 instead of 4:20. The Colombian also takes the white young riders’ jersey.

2015 Tour de France Stage 21
1) André Greipel (Germany/Lotto-Soudal) 2:49:42
2) Bryan Coquard (France/Europcar) s.t.
3) Alexander Kristoff (Norway/Katusha) s.t.
127) Svein Tuft (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) +0:23
128) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Cannondale-Garmin) s.t.

2015 Tour de France Final GC
1) Chris Froome (Great Britain/Sky) 83:19:15
2) Nairo Quintana (Colombia/Movistar) +1:12
3) Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) +5:25
4) Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Astana) +8:36
5) Alberto Contador (Spain/Tinkoff-Saxo) +9:48
6) Robert Gesink (The Netherlands/LottoNL-Jumbo) +10:47
7) Bauke Mollema (The Netherlands/Trek) +15:14
8) Mathias Frank (Switzerland/IAM) +15:39
9) Romain Bardet (France/Ag2r) +16:00
10) Pierre Rolland (France/Europcar) +17:30
40) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Cannondale-Garmin) +2:04:37
159) Svein Tuft (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) +4:48:08

Points jersey: Peter Sagan (Slovakia/Tinkoff-Saxo)
Mountains jersey: Chris Froome (Great Britain/Sky)
Young rider jersey: Nairo Quintana (Colombia/Movistar)
Most aggressive: Romain Bardet (France/Ag2r)
Team competition: Movistar