Tour de France 2015: Chris Froome claims historic second win after rain-soaked procession in Paris

Chris Froome celebrated with champagne as he became the first British rider to win a second Tour de France title after a processional ride into Paris on Sunday (26 July).

The Team Sky leader's triumph was confirmed in slightly unusual fashion after rain in the French capital.

The times for the general classification were stopped the first time the remaining riders crossed the finish line on the Champs-Elysees. But he still had to complete the 10 circuits around the Arc de Triomphe to be confirmed as the winner of the yellow jersey.

Froome duly came home as Germany's Andre Greipel powered across the line in the sprint finish to claim his fourth win of the Tour.

Sky's win is their third in the last four years after Britain had waited 99 editions of the race to claim a first victory through Sir Bradley Wiggins in 2012.

The all-conquering team wore a special jersey with a yellow stripe to signify the leader and Froome was pictured toasting his second win with a glass of champagne on the road into Paris.

The Monaco-based rider, 30, was then joined by seven of the eight teammates who had set out from Utrecht with him on 4 July.

But there was a nervy moment as Richie Porte, who is set to leave the team at the end of the season, had a bit of a wobble on his bike next to Froome.

Froome, who had allowed himself his first beer since Christmas on Saturday night, became only the sixth rider - and first since Eddy Merckx in 1970 - to also win the King of the Mountains jersey.

He insisted his victory was not marred by the incidents of spitting, urine throwing, verbal abuse and a vocal campaign questioning if he was a clean athlete.

Froome said: "It's an absolute honour to wear yellow in the Tour. That's what I was focused from last year to get myself back into this position, so no way was it a burden.

"I see it as something that comes with the yellow jersey, I know I've done nothing wrong. I've done nothing to deserve it, it's nothing I take personally, it's something circumstantial. It's not going to take away from going into Paris tomorrow wearing yellow."

Froome's final winning margin over Colombia's Nairo Quintana, who he also beat in 2013, was one minute and 12 seconds.

He had been pushed to the limit on Saturday's final racing stage in the Alps, where Quintana attacked.

Froome added: "We faced all challenges over almost three weeks of racing. Massive thanks to teammates for the work they've put in over the last few weeks.

"I think of little points along the way, chipping away getting yellow and the final advantage I have today, it's them I have to thank for this position. To win the Tour once was a dream, to come back and do it a second time is more than I ever could imagine.

The wet weather in the French capital made the cobbled roads slippery and dangerous with several crashes in the women's race earlier.

But when the sprint finally happened, Mark Cavendish, who had been feeling ill, was well beaten by Greipel.

The Manxman wanted to add to his solitary stage win this year as he enters crucial talks over his future with Etixx Quick-Step.

Cavendish, who has been with the Belgian team for three years since leaving Sky, has been linked with Trek and Africa-based newcomers MTN-Qhubeka.