AFTER the beer and champagne celebrations, Chris Froome delivered a sobering and emotional message from the Tour de France winner’s podium on the Champs-Elysees on Sunday.

    Ten days after the Bastille Day truck attack in Nice that killed 84 people, Froome — a Kenyan-born British rider who often trains on the French Riviera — reminded everyone what the Tour stands for.

    “These events put sport into perspective but they also show why the values of sport are so important to free society,” Froome said in a prepared speech. “We all love the Tour de France because it’s unpredictable but we love the Tour more for what stays the same — the passion of the fans for every nation, the beauty of the French countryside and the bonds of friendship created through sport. These things will never change.

    “Thanks for your kindness in these difficult times,” Froome added, switching to French as he addressed the local fans. “You have the most beautiful race in the world. Vive le Tour, Vive la France.”

    Cheered on by thousands of fans undeterred by the recent spate of violence across Europe, Froome celebrated his third Tour title in four years. He finished safely at the back of the main pack in the final stage, arm-in-arm with his teammates during the mostly ceremonial leg ending on the cobblestones below the Arc de Triomphe.

    Andre Greipel of Germany won the 21st leg in a sprint finish.

    At the start of the stage, Froome dropped back to his Team Sky car to collect bottles of beer and distributed them to each of his eight teammates for a celebratory round.

    Then it was time for the traditional flute of champagne.

    Froome rode a yellow bike to go with his yellow jersey, helmet, gloves and shoes. His teammates had yellow stripes on their jerseys and yellow handlebars on their bikes.

    Froome also still had bandages on his right knee and elbow, the result of a downhill crash two days ago.

    Froome finished with an advantage of 4 minutes, 5 seconds ahead of Romain Bardet of France, while Nairo Quintana of Colombia placed third overall, 4:21 back.

    Only four men — five-time winners Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx and Miguel Indurain — now have more Tour victories than Froome.

    “I’ve definitely grown to appreciate this history of the sport a lot more,” Froome said. “Being in the position that I’m in now, I’m understanding how tough it is to win a race like the Tour de France. To win back-to-back editions and now to be a three-time winner is incredible. It’s beyond what I’ve ever dreamed.”

    While other big riders of his generation like Alberto Contador and Vincenzo Nibali have all three Grand Tours — the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France and the Spanish Vuelta — Froome plans to keep his focus on the Tour.

    “It would be my dream to keep coming back to the Tour de France for the next five, six years,” he said. “I’ve already won it three times and I wouldn’t say the novelty is wearing off. ... It’s the biggest event we have on our calendar and to be here in the yellow jersey, it’s every cyclist’s dream.”(SD-Agencies)