Vincenzo Nibali of Italy wins 101st Tour de France, first Italian winner since Pantani in 1998

7/27/2014

Team Astana with Italy's Vincenzo Nibali, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, celebrates with a glass of champagne during the 21st and last stage of the Tour de France.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

PARIS — Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali has won the Tour de France, becoming the first Italian to win cycling’s greatest race in 16 years by chiselling a lead over his main rivals a few seconds at a time and dominating them in the mountains.

The 29-year-old Sicilian, who called himself “a flag-bearer of anti-doping” during the race, finished in the main pack behind Marcel Kittel, who won Sunday’s Stage 21 in a sprint finish.

Nibali’s victory comes after the pre-race favorites — 2013 champion Chris Froome and two-time winner Alberto Contador — crashed out with injuries in the first half of the race.

Nibali is only the sixth rider to win all three Grand Tours — France, Italy and Spain— and is the first Italian to win the Tour de France since Marco Pantani in 1998.