(Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)PARIS (CNN) - Egan Bernal was crowned as the first Colombian to win the Tour de France and the youngest in more than a century after safely negotiating the 21st and final stage into Paris Sunday.
"This is the Tour, this is the Tour, there is nothing more important than the Tour de France and I want to take this jersey back to Colombia," Bernal said after completing the grueling 3,409 km three-week marathon in triumph.
It was only his second Grand Tour finish, having taken 15th, supporting Thomas and Froome, in last year's Tour de France.
"It was a Tour de France of emotions," said race director Christian Prudhomme, describing it as the best since he took charge in 2007.
"If you think he's only 22, Bernal could go on to win more Tours de France than any of us," he reflected.