Nibali claims Tour de France title
Vincenzo Nibali became the first Italian to win the Tour de France in 16 years, besting France's Jean-Christophe Peraud by 7 minutes and 52 seconds to take cycling's most prestigious title.
The 29-year-old Astana team leader won four of the 21 stages, becoming the first rider to claim at least four legs of the tour since Lance Armstrong won five in 2004.
VENI, VIDI, NIBALI ! @vincenzonibali wins @letour! pic.twitter.com/O9pvrwJirD
— Le Tour de France (@letour) July 27, 2014
Nibali's victory in France put him among cycling's elite, as he's just the sixth rider in history to win all three Grand Tours (Giro d'Espana in 2013 and Vuelta a Espana in 2010).
“Now that I am here on the top step of the podium, it is more beautiful than I could ever have imagined," Nibali said following the 21st and final stage (via Sky Sports). "I have worked towards this for a very long time. Now I have managed to achieve this goal.”
Kittel wins final stage
German Marcel Kittel finished the 2014 Tour de France the same way he started it: with a victory.
Kittel, who claimed the first stage on July 5, finished the 137.5 kilometer final stage with a time of 3:20:50, placing ahead of Alexander Kristoff and Ramunas Navadauskas.
Tour de France Final results
| Place | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vincenzo Nibali | 89:58:46 |
| 2 | Jean-Cristophe Peraud | +7:52 |
| 3 | Thibaut Pinot | +8:24 |
| 4 | Alejandro Valverde | +9:55 |
| 5 | Tejay Van Garderen | +11:44 |