Froome justifies odds to take fourth Tour title

It was Four de France for Chris Froome in Paris on Sunday as the British rider clinched his fourth Tour de France crown.

The Team Sky leader had been 6-4 favourite before the start in Dusseldorf but his chief ante-post rivals were unable to threaten.
Richie Porte (5-2) crashed out on stage nine, while Nairo Quintana (7-1) was a major disappointment, failing to win a stage and finishing 12th.

Fabio Aru was the main mid-race threat, cut to 5-2 after taking the yellow jersey when Froome cracked on the final climb to Peyragudes on stage 12, but the Italian champion faded to finish off the podium in fifth.

Runner-up Rigoberto Uran was a rank outsider at the start, with third-placed Romain Bardet a 22-1 chance.

Froome is 6-5 with Coral to make it five Tour de France wins next year and 5-2 to break the record of five wins shared by four riders – Jacques Anquetil, Eddie Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain.

King of the Mountains winner Warren Barguil had been a 66-1 chance to be the top climber, while the points classification went to 20-1 shot Michael Matthews after initial 1-2 favourite Peter Sagan and runaway leader Marcel Kittel, who had won five stages, failed to finish.

Sunday's final stage on the Champs-Elysees saw a superb long sprint for home by Dylan Groenewegen rewarded as he just held off Andre Greipel. The Dutchman had been 5-1 third favourite to win the finale.

Froome is 20-1 for BBC Sports Personality of the Year. He did not make the 16-strong shortlist after his 2016 Tour success.