The story of the 2019 Tour de France in photos

After 21 stages, a Tour de France champion has been crowned. Colombian Egan Bernal won the 2019 Grand Boucle, the first overall win at the biggest bike race in the world for the passionate South American cycling nation.

The French Grand Tour delivered stunningly exciting racing and suspenseful drama. Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe and Thibaut Pinot enlivened the race for the home crowd. The sprints were hotly contested. We were treated to crosswinds, breakaways and some unpredictable weather that changed the nature of the final stages.

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At the end of the Tour, the team that was favoured to win took home the top two steps on the podium but it’s how we got there that matters. Here is the story of the 2019 Tour de France in photos:

Greg van Avermaet took the races first polka dot jersey on terrain that suited him on the Muur van Geraardsbergen

Mike Teunissen was the surprise winner in Brussels with Sagan second.

Jumbo-Visma kept the momentum going in a dominant TTT win.

The Dutch team were only getting started.

In a stage tailor made for him, Julian Alaphilippe took yellow into Épernay.

Last year's polka jersey was the star of the race.

Elia Viviani got his madden Tour win on Stage 4.

Tim Wellens held the polka dot jersey from Stage 3 to 17.

Peter Sagan won a stage on his way to securing a historic seventh yellow jersey.

Dylan Teuns won on La Planche Des Belles Filles.

Alaphilippe didn't hold onto yellow but didn't loose time to his GC rivals.

Hugo Houle was riding in support of Jacob Fulgsang until the Danes abandon on stage 16.

Giulio Ciccone took yellow on Stage 5 but wouldn't hold it long.

Last year's dominant sprinter Dylan Groenewegen only took

Michael Woods Tour got off to a great start before crashes set him back with two broken ribs but he would ride to Paris.

Fan favourite Thomas de Gendt got a stage win into Saint-Étienne.

Julian Alaphilippe jumped away Stage 8 with Thibaut Pinot to take back the yellow jersey.

Daryl Impey took his first stage win on Stage 9 to Brioude.

Crosswinds made Stage 10 one of the most exciting of the race.

Wout van Aert taking the win was equally as exciting to watch.

Caleb Ewan took his first of three stage wins in Toulouse.

Simon Yates had increased freedom as his twin brother Adam slipped in the GC.

One of the biggest surprises of the race was Julian Alaphilippe winning the race's only ITT.

Thibaut Pinot took an emphatic French victory on the famed Tourmalet.

Simon Yates was once again on the top step in Foix.

The peloton crossed the famous Pont Du Gard Roman aqueduct during Stage 16.

Ewan carried momentum into the second week's sprints.

Matteo Trentin jumped away for a solo victory in Gap.

Nairo Quintana's Tour didn't go exactly as planned but he made up for it with a stage win.

Romain Bardet was another pre-race GC contender who switched his focus to polka dots.

Egan Bernal had an incredible ride and set himself up to take yellow on the weather shortened stage to Tignes.

On the races final mountain stage, which was only 59 km long, Vincenzo Nibali got a stage win.

The yellow jersey in the peloton on the Champs-Élysées.

Caleb Ewan was the races best sprinter and won in Paris.

A new name, but the same team won the Tour for the seventh time in eight years.

Rightfully, Julian Alaphilippe was nominated as the races most combative.

Bardet won polka dots after an otherwise disappointing race.

A record setting seventh green points jersey for fan favourite Peter Sagan.

Egan Bernal was the race winner and the best young rider at only 22-years-old.

Movistar won the best team award despite showing questionable team dynamics throughout the race.

The final podium with last years winner Geraint Thomas second and Steven Kruijswijk in third.

Three amazing weeks in France concluded under the lights on the Champs-Élysées.