Egan Bernal became the first Colombian winner and youngest champion for 110 years at the Tour de France as he sealed victory on the final stage of a thrilling race ©Getty Images

Egan Bernal became the first Colombian winner and youngest champion for 110 years at the Tour de France as he sealed victory on the final stage of a thrilling race in Paris.

The 22-year-old Team Ineos rider finished the 21st stage in the peloton on the Champs-Élysées to cap a remarkable triumph.

Bernal, who crossed the line hand-in-hand with his fellow Team Ineos rider and last year's winner Geraint Thomas, was mobbed by his team mates after his victory was confirmed.

Thomas ended the Tour in second place behind Bernal, whose success was celebrated by thousands of people who had gathered to watch the processional stage in his native Colombia.

It is the seventh Tour de France victory in eight years for Manchester-based Team Ineos, known as Team Sky until earlier this year when media company Sky UK decided not to renew sponsorship, leading to the team securing financial support from British chemicals group Ineos.

But it is the first time a non-British rider from the team has won following victories for Bradley Wiggins in 2012, Chris Froome in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017, and Thomas in 2018. 

"I don’t think he knows what’s hit him yet,” Team Ineos principal Dave Brailsford said. 

Colombian rider Egan Bernal finished safely in the peloton to secure a remarkable triumph ©Getty Images
Colombian rider Egan Bernal finished safely in the peloton to secure a remarkable triumph ©Getty Images

“I don’t think he has any idea what’s just happened to him. 

"In sport, we lose way more than we win.

"He came into this race and it was ‘Geraint and Egan’, whereas now I think people will perceive him and ride against him in a different light. 

"Geraint Thomas drew a lot of attention and that allowed Egan to go under the radar a little bit.”

The 21st and last stage of this year's Tour was won by Australia's Caleb Ewan of Lotto–Soudal.

The Australian edged out Dutch rider Dylan Groenewegen to claim victory on the iconic streets of the French capital.

As per race tradition, the first part of the stage was processional and Bernal and his Ineos team mates were seen sipping a celebratory glass of champagne on the 60km ride from Rambouillet to Paris.

Julian Alaphilippe, who led the race for 14 days before losing the yellow jersey to Bernal, led the peloton to the Champs-Élysées for the final time before Ewan seized control to end his Tour on a high.

But all the plaudits belonged to Bernal, whose triumph came despite the Colombian failing to win any of the stages.