Chris Froome claims a fourth Tour de France crown

Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen won stage 21 in a sprint finish on the Champs-Elysees, while Team Sky's Froome crossed the line just behind to confirm the victory he effectively sealed in Saturday's time trial in Marseille.

Froome, who is 5/6 favourite with Sky Bet to win the Vuelta a Espana later this year and 14/1 to win the BBC Sports Personality o f the Year award  had been able to enjoy the celebrations on the 103km stage from Montgeron before watching on as Groenewegen held off the late charging German Andre Greipel and Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen for his first Tour stage win.

Froome's wife Michelle and son Kellan were waiting near the finish line to celebrate with the 32-year-old.

"It's just an amazing feeling," Froome said. "The Champs-Elysees never disappoints. There's something magical about it when you spend three weeks thinking of this moment.

"It's amazing to see my wife and my son again after several months on the road. Each time I've won the Tour it has been so unique. All my victories are so special in their own ways.

"This one will be remembered as the closest and most hard fought of them."

The record of five wins is jointly held by four of cycling's all-time greats - men Froome now hopes to join.

"It's a huge honour to be mentioned in the same sentence as Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain," he said.

"It's a privilege to be going for the record next year."

Froome's final margin of victory over former team-mate Rigoberto Uran was 54 seconds, making this the seventh-closest finish in Tour history.

Cannondale-Drapac's Uran could celebrate his highest ever Tour finish, while AG2R La Mondiale's Frenchman Romain Bardet finished third, two minutes and 20 seconds off Froome's time.

The 24-year-old Groenewegen had been left with only four team-mates after the Tour took its toll on the LottoNL-Jumbo squad, but they were enough to put him in the right place in a messy sprint.

"This is an amazing place for the sprinters," he said. "To win on the Champs-Elysees makes it a perfect day.

"We're only five riders in the team but it was enough today. They did a great job."

"When I was young, I was looking at the Champs-Elysees stage on TV. Now I'm the winner here it's wonderful."

For Greipel, second place spelled the end of a proud record - the 35-year-old had until now won at least one stage in every grand tour he took part in.

Norwegian Boasson Hagen took the last spot on the podium for the third time in this Tour, with the Team Dimension Data rider also having two second places to add to Friday's win on stage 19.

The stage began in Montgeron, where the very first Tour started in 1903.

As is customary for the final day of the Tour, there was a jovial mood for the first 40 kilometres.

Team Sky had changed their blue stripe to yellow on the kit and team cars, while Froome rode a yellow bike as he clinked glasses of champagne with his team-mates and sports directors in the car.

AG2R La Mondiale's Cyril Gautier used the moment to propose to his girlfriend via the medium of a scrawled note on a page torn from the race roadbook, held up for the camera motorbike, while Wanty-Groupe Gobert's Yoann Offredo went up the road alone so he could stop and say hello to friends and family in his hometown on the outskirts of Paris.

Things began to get a little more serious as the race arrived in the city, with Froome pulling over to change his bike - having begun the day with a mounted camera to capture the celebrations.

There was a change to the usual route on to the Champs-Elysees as the peloton passed through the Grand Palais, which was used to promote Paris' bid to host the 2024 Olympics.

The attacks began almost as soon as they arrived on the Champs-Elysees, with Offredo and Orica-Scott's Daryl Impey the first to try.

Impey was part of a nine-man group that went clear up the road as spots of rain began to fall, but their mission was doomed.

Astana's Dimitriy Gruzdev and Quick-Step Floors Zdenek Stybar also launched fruitless late lunges before the real battle began.

As the rest of the peloton followed the sprinters over the line, Orica-Scott's Simon Yates confirmed his seventh place overall and the white jersey as the best young rider in the race.

Australian Michael Matthews sealed the green jersey in the points classification, with his French Sunweb team-mate Warren Barguil safe in the polka dot jersey as king of the mountains.

Froome will now turn his attention to the Vuelta a Espana, where he hopes to become the first man since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win two grand tours in the same season.

No rider has done the Tour double since Bernard Hinault in 1978, when the Vuelta took place in the early part of the season.

This year's Vuelta starts in Nimes, France on August 19.

Final results after Stage 21, (Montgeron - Paris - 103km):
1 Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 2hrs 25mins 39secs

2 Andre Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal

3 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data

4 Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits

5 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha-Alpecin

6 Borut Bozic (Slo) Bahrain-Merida

7 Davide Cimolai (Ita) FDJ

8 Pierre Luc Perichon (Fra) Team Fortuneo - Oscaro

9 Rudiger Selig (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe

10 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Movistar Team

11 Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb

12 Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Merida

13 Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert

14 Thomas Boudat (Fra) Direct Energie

15 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Soudal

16 Olivier Le Gac (Fra) FDJ

17 Ben Swift (GBr) UAE Team Emirates

18 Jack Bauer (NZl) Quick-Step Floors

19 Taylor Phinney (USA) Cannondale-Drapa

20 Florian Vachon (Fra) Team Fortuneo - Oscaro all at same time

Final general classification after 21 Stages:
1 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 86hrs 20mins 55secs

2 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale-Drapac at 54secs

3 Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale at 2mins 20secs

4 Mikel Landa (Spa) Team Sky at 2mins 21secs

5 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team at 3mins 05secs

6 Daniel Martin (Irl) Quick-Step Floors 4mins 42sec

7 Simon Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott at 6mins 14secs

8 Louis Meintjes (RSA) UAE Team Emirates at 8mins 20secs

9 Alberto Contador (Spa) Trek-Segafredo at 8mins 49secs

10 Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Sunweb at 9mins 25sec

11 Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing Team at 14mins 48secs

12 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team at 15mins 28sec

13 Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale at 24mins 38secs

14 Mikel Nieve (Spa) Team Sky at 25mins 28secs

15 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe at 33mins 21secs

16 Brice Feillu (Fra) Team Fortuneo - Oscaroat at 36mins 46secs

17 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo at 37mins 43secs

18 Carlos Betancur (Col) Movistar Team at 37mins 47secs

19 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Dimension Data at 39mins 36secs

20 Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto Soudal at 42mins 04secs

Stage-by-stage breakdown of Froome's performance:

Stage 1: Dusseldorf to Dusseldorf (14km individual time trial)

Position at end of stage: 6th.

Deficit to yellow: 12 seconds (Geraint Thomas)

Froome finished sixth on the short opening time trial in Dusseldorf as he wasted little time in pulling out an advantage over his main rivals for the title. The closest of them was Richie Porte, but the Australian finished down in 44th place, conceding 35 seconds as he rode nervously in the damp conditions. It was all smiles on the Team Sky bus as Geraint Thomas took his first Tour stage win and the yellow jersey to boot, while they finished with four riders in the top eight.

Stage 2: Dusseldorf to Liege (203.5km)

Position at end of stage: 6th

Deficit to yellow: 12 seconds (Thomas)

Froome suffered a scare when he was caught in a crash along with Thomas a little over 30 kilometres from the end of stage two, but he suffered no more than a little lost skin as they were able to recover before Marcel Kittel took stage honours.

Stage 3: Verviers to Longwy (212.5km)

Position at end of stage: 2nd

Deficit to yellow: 12 seconds (Thomas)

The uphill sprint on stage three was won by world champion Peter Sagan - but Sky were switched on and Froome crossed the line in ninth place, just behind Thomas, to move up to second in the general classification. Froome's rival Richie Porte had tried an attack on the climb up to the finish but was soon shut down and remained 35 seconds down in 20th place.

Stage 4: Mondorf-les-Bains to Vittel (207.5km)

Position at end of stage: 2nd

Deficit to yellow: 12 seconds (Thomas)

The stage to Vittel will be remembered for its chaotic finale, with Mark Cavendish crashing out and Sagan being disqualified for his role in the incident. Thomas also hit the deck but did not lose time as the incident was inside the final five kilometres, and when the dust settled there was no change in the general classification with Froome avoiding the carnage.

Stage 5: Vittel to La Planche des Belles Filles (160.5km)

Position at end of stage: 1st

Lead in yellow: 12 seconds (Thomas)

Froome finished third in La Planche des Belles Filles, the first summit finish of the Tour, to take the yellow jersey off Thomas. However, he admitted to a tactical mistake after he and the rest of the favourites had allowed Fabio Aru to attack and take the stage win. The Italian national champion moved to within 14 seconds of Froome, clawing back vital time which would help him into yellow a week later.

Stage 6: Vesoul to Troyes (216km)

Position at end of stage: 1st

Lead in yellow: 12 seconds (Thomas)

A blowaway parasol midway through the stage was the only thing to worry Froome on a sedate stage six, on which Kittel took his second victory of the Tour. With baking hot temperatures on the road to Vesoul the peloton took it easy but had to dodge a spectator's errant parasol 90km from home. "This was definitely one of the most relaxed days I've ever done on the Tour de France," Froome said.

Stage 7: Troyes to Nuits-Saint-Georges (213.5km)

Position at end of stage: 1st

Lead in yellow: 12 seconds (Thomas)

Another sprint day, another Kittel victory, and another fairly stress-free day for Froome, who finished safely in the pack as the general classification stayed as it was.

Stage 8: Dole to Station des Rousses (187.5km)

Position at end of stage: 1st

Lead in yellow: 12 seconds (Thomas)

Froome had another little moment of drama when he followed Thomas off the road when they took a corner too fast. But while Thomas went straight over a hay bale to end up on his back, Froome stayed upright and swiftly got back on his way. Neither man would lose any time as Frenchman Lilian Calmejane won at Station des Rousses.

Stage 9: Nantua to Chambery (181.5km)

Position at end of stage: 1st

Lead in yellow: 18 seconds (Fabio Aru)

Another day of drama saw Thomas and Porte crash out on an incident-strewn stage. In Porte, Froome lost a key rival but in Thomas he lost a key team-mate. Froome had troubles of his own when he suffered a mechanical on the steep inclines of the Mont du Chat, and Aru controversially chose that moment to attack. The Italian was chased down by the other contenders and reprimanded before Froome rode into him after a corner. Froome would insist that was an accident, and Aru would insist he did not realise Froome was in trouble when he attacked - with a truce called. With Thomas gone, Froome saw his lead increase with Aru up to second. It seemed of only a little importance at the time, but Uran's stage win would soon become significant as the Colombian moved up the standings.

Stage 10: Perigueux to Bergerac (178km)

Position at end of stage: 1st

Lead in yellow: 18 seconds (Aru)

Kittel proved himself king of the sprinters again after the first rest day, and all Froome needed to do was stay safe in the pack to collect the 50th yellow jersey of his career, putting him level with French five-time Tour winner Jacques Anquetil.

Stage 11: Eymet to Pau (203.5km)

Position at end of stage: 1st

Lead in yellow: 18 seconds (Aru)

What should have been a straightforward day for the contenders was made nervy and dangerous as crosswinds contributed to crashes in the pack. Froome safely picked his way through but others were not so lucky and Aru suffered a double blow. Key domestique Dario Cataldo crashed out while another team-mate, Criterium du Dauphine winner Jakob Fuglsang, suffered injuries which would end his race a few days later. AG2R La Mondiale's Romain Bardet, sat in third place overall, also hit the deck twice but recovered.

Stage 12: Pau to Peyragudes (214.5km)

Position at end of stage: 2nd

Deficit to yellow: six seconds (Aru)

With the race back in the mountains, Froome suffered his first bad day - and perhaps only bad day of the Tour - as he struggled up the final ramps to Peyragudes. Bardet won the stage to close his deficit significantly but it was Aru's third place which cost Froome the yellow jersey. It was only the second time Froome had given up yellow in his career, and cost Sky the chance to become the first team since 1970 to hold it from the first day to the last.

Stage 13: Saint-Girons to Foix (101km)

Position at end of stage: 2nd

Deficit to yellow: six seconds (Aru)

The short Bastille Day stage was designed to be explosive, and though nothing immediately changed at the top of the standings, a frantic day's racing would leave its mark on the race. Sky ganged up on Aru with considerable effect, sending Mikel Landa in the break as he clawed back almost two minutes, moving to within 69 seconds of yellow. That gave Sky considerable options, and Aru would soon pay for the efforts he made in trying to cover a series of attacks without strong team-mates of his own.

Stage 14: Blagnac to Rodez (181.5km)

Position at end of stage: 1st

Lead in yellow: 18 seconds (Aru)

Even Froome seemed surprised as he found himself back in the yellow jersey in Rodez just 48 hours after handing it over. Although sharp, the 600m, 10 per cent climb to the finish line was not thought to be long enough to produce such significant time gaps, but Aru - perhaps feeling the effects of stage 13 - cracked and conceded 24 seconds to slip back into second place. "I am absolutely shocked to see the same kind of time gaps as we saw in the Pyrenees," said Froome. Uran also picked up time to move to within 29 seconds of yellow in fourth place, making it the closest battle in Tour history at this stage in the race.

Stage 15: Laissac-Severac l'Eglise to Le Puy-en-Velay (189.5km)

Position at end of stage: 1st

Lead in yellow: 18 seconds (Aru)

Froome was given a fright on stage 15 when he needed a wheel change at the foot of the Col de Peyra Taillaide, just when the race was on. Bardet's AG2R La Mondiale squad had put the pace on and were under no obligation to ease off as Froome's team-mate Michal Kwiatkowski frantically carried out repairs. But Froome showed his pedigree as he chased down the rest of the contenders on the climb, and made sure their half-hearted attacks near the summit did not pay off. "I had to get back by the top of that climb or it was game over for me," he said.

Stage 16: Le Puy-en-Velay to Romans-sur-Isere (165km)

Position at end of stage: 1st

Lead in yellow: 18 seconds (Aru)

Knowing crosswinds were coming, Sky did not wait to be attacked and instead led the charge on the road to Romans-sur-Isere, successfully protecting Froome's narrow lead as Irishman Dan Martin was the only one of the main contenders to be caught out. The Quick-Step Floors rider dropped from fifth to seven in the general classification as a result.

Stage 17: La Mure to Serre-Chevalier (183km)

Position at end of stage: 1st

Lead in yellow: 27 seconds (Rigoberto Uran/Romain Bardet)

The race headed back to the mountains and the first of two key tests for Froome. While former ski jumper Primoz Roglic sailed over the Galibier - the Tour's highest mountain - to win the stage, the rest of the contenders came to the line together behind. Uran took second ahead of Froome in third, with both beating Bardet to the remaining bonus second on the line. That saw Uran move level with Bardet, 27 seconds behind Froome overall. However, Aru had been dropped on the climb and his fight for yellow appeared over.

Stage 18: Briancon to Izoard (179.5km)

Position at end of stage: 1st

Lead in yellow: 23 seconds (Bardet)

The third and final summit finish of the Tour saw Bardet pip Froome to third place - and four bonus seconds - on the line to trim his deficit to 23 seconds. But that was still a case of job done for the Team Sky man, who could put the mountains behind him and start to think about the time trial to come in Marseille. "I'm pretty happy to have got through the Alps much better than in previous years because I've always struggled in the Alps," Froome said.

Stage 19: Embrun to Salon-de-Provence (222.5km)

Position at end of stage: 1st

Lead in yellow: 23 seconds (Bardet)

Froome had time to high-five famous Tour fan Didi the Devil on the longest stage of the entire Tour as the peloton took it easy on their way to Provence. This was a day for the break - with former Sky rider Edvald Boasson Hagen taking the win - while the contenders took it easy ahead of the time trial to come.

Stage 20: Marseille to Marseille (22.5km individual time trial)

Position at end of stage: 1st

Lead in yellow: 54 seconds (Uran)

Froome missed out on a stage win but did everything he needed to on the short course around Marseille, almost catching Bardet in the finale as the Frenchman faded badly to slip to third on the podium, only one second in front of Froome's team-mate Mikel Landa.

Stage 21: Montgeron to Paris Champs-Elysees (103km)

Position at end of stage: 1st.

Lead in yellow: 54 seconds (Uran)

Froome was able to savour his fourth Tour de France title as Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen won the final stage in Paris.