British Chris Froome wins 100th Tour de France

Nairo Quintana, the 23-year-old Colombian who secured second place behind Froome with an impressive win on Saturday's penultimate Stage 20, laughed as third-placed Joaquim Rodriguez tried to spark up a cigar in the saddle. The wind seemed to snuff out his lighter.

Neither Froome, Quintana nor Rodriguez have ever failed a drug test or been directly implicated in any of cycling's litany of doping scandals. That is an encouraging and notable departure both from the era of Lance Armstrong and many other Tour podiums before and since.

Froome's clear physical superiority made him overwhelming favorite going into the Tour and carried him through it. His winning margin of more than 5 minutes was the largest since 1997, when Jan Ullrich - who has since admitted to doping - beat Richard Virenque - who also confessed to using performance-enhancers - by 9 minutes and 9 seconds.

Armstrong had larger margins of victory than Froome but all seven of the Texan's wins were stripped from him last year for serial doping. In the Tour's official history book, his name has literally been crossed out.

As the first Tour champion since that shockwave, Froome rode through a barrage of doubt and skepticism, especially since his strength in the mountains and time trials reminded some observers of Armstrong and the way he and his team used to suffocate the race.

Froome's three stage victories - in the Pyrenees, on Mont Ventoux in Provence and in a mountainous trial trial - were the most for a Tour winner since Armstrong got five in 2004, results now annulled.

Team Sky rider and leader's yellow jersey holder Christopher Froome of Britain, winner of the centenary Tour de France cycling race, celebrates his overall victory with team mates after the 133.5km final stage, from Versailles to Paris Champs Elysees, July 21, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

Unlike some other riders who cut short questions about doping and bristled, Froome said he was happy to discuss the issue that has so poisoned his sport. He insisted he rode clean and said he, too, felt let down by his cheating predecessors.

Froome argued that his success demonstrates that cycling's anti-doping system _ now among the most rigorous, invasive and sustained of any sport _ must be working, because otherwise he wouldn't be able to win.

At 28, Froome is entering his peak years as a bike racer. His prowess on climbs and in time trials gives him the essential ingredients to win more Tours. At Sky, he's backed by one of the best-funded, organized and smartest teams.

With few exceptions, including the absent Giro d'Italia winner Vincenzo Nibali and Wiggins, the cream of cycling's grand tour riders raced in the 100th edition. That Froome beat them so handily suggests he'll again be the overwhelming favorite in 2014 _ in the 101st Tour that starts in Leeds, northern England.

Scottish rider David Millar, who completed his 12th Tour on Sunday, said one of Froome's strengths is that he is able to handle the very intense training needed to win the Tour without getting burned out by it.

"There's no reason why it shouldn't be. I think the sport's harder than it's ever been. In order to win, especially in the manner Chris in which Chris has done it, with the training ... You know, "He doesn't really get time off. It's very demanding physically and psychologically. But I'm not sure how long anybody can do that for," Millar said. "He's very Zen-like. I think that's his big advantage. That's the kind of juxtaposition he has. He has that ability to operate at a very high level, say scientifically, but stay serene and Zen-like. Whereas other guys, they don't have that ability to switch off."

Froome also had the sprinkling of good luck riders need to win the Tour. He only grazed his knee when he hit a kerb and fell at the start of the Tour, on Stage 1, and he avoided a pile-up that fractured the pelvis of his teammate, Geraint Thomas, who gritted his teeth and continued to Paris.

The Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees Avenue are illuminated with the colour of Tour de France winner yellow jersey after the 133.5km final stage of the centenary Tour de France cycling race from Versailles to Paris Champs Elysees, July 21, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

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