Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas made history when he became the first Welshman to win the Tour de France as the 21-stage event concluded on the Champs-Élysées in Paris today.
His team now possess their sixth yellow jersey in seven years after Thomas and fellow Britons Bradley Wiggins and four-time champion Chris Froome’s victories.
Thomas climbed from seventh place overall after stage 2 to alternating between third and fourth place on the following three stages.
Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas made history when he claimed his maiden Tour de France win in Paris today. Photo: ASO/Pauline Ballet
The 32-year-old stood on the second step of the podium after the sixth stage and remained there for the next four days.
It was during stage 11 that he climbed to the top after winning atop La Rosière. He managed to secure that place for the next nine stages, which ultimately saw him become this year’s champion.
On the final stage, which featured a 116km route from Houilles to Paris, Thomas held a one-minute-and-51-seconds lead over Team Sunweb’s Tom Dumoulin.
The 2018 champion’s teammate Froome, who started the race hoping to claim a fifth title, finished in third place overall.
Thomas, who won the Criterium du Dauphine last month, felt emotional after taking the title.
“It’s just overwhelming. I didn’t think about it all race, and now suddenly I’ve won the Tour,” he said.
Bora-Hansgrohe’s Peter Sagan finished in the green points jersey, Quick-Step Floors’ Julian Alaphilippe in the polka dot king of the mountains jersey and AG2R La Mondiale’s Pierre Latour in the white best young rider jersey.
Mitchelton-Scott’s Daryl Impey was the highest placed South African after finishing in 46th position overall.
The final stage victory went to UAE Team Emirates’ Alexander Kristoff who beat Trek-Segafredo’s John Degenkolb and Groupama-FDJ’s Arnaud Demare into second and third respectively in a sprint for the line.
