Egan Bernal, 22, made history when he became Colombia’s first Tour de France winner in Paris today.
This year’s Tour de France champion Egan Bernal rides alongside defending champion and teammate Geraint Thomas, who placed second overall. Photo: A.S.O./Alex Broadway
The Team Ineos rider took the yellow jersey from Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) on stage 19, which was shortened due to dangerous weather conditions. The Frenchman had worn the yellow jersey for 14 of the 21 stages.
Bernal, who also won this year’s Paris-Nice and Tour de Suisse, only needed to cross the line today to win.
He eventually did so, placing 29th on the day.
Geraint Thomas (Team Ineos) and Steven Kruijswijk (Team Jumbo-Visma) claimed second and third overall respectively.
“Wow. It’s incredible. It doesn’t seem true,” said Bernal.
“I’ve won the Tour de France but I’m struggling to understand it all. I’ll need some days to realise what has happened.
“It’s the first Tour win for a Colombian and so everyone is so happy. I’m very proud to be the first Colombian to win the Tour. Now I want to go home, celebrate with my family and take it all in.”
The final stage finished beneath the Arc de Triomphe and saw Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) finish first, with Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jumbo-Visma) second and Niccolò Bonifazio (Total Direct Energie) third.
“When we rolled onto the Champs Elysees, I almost had tears in my eyes, it was such a surreal feeling. I can’t believe I just won the stage,” said Ewan.
Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) finished in the green points jersey, Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) in the polka dot king of the mountains jersey and Bernal in the white best young rider jersey.
Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott) was the highest placed South African after finishing 72nd overall.
View stage 21’s results here.
