Chris Froome has been declared winner of the 2015 Tour de France after the clock was stopped as he reached Paris's Champs-Elysees.

The Team Sky rider was ahead before the final 21st stage of the race began earlier on Sunday but needed to complete the race in order to become champion.

He is the first British cyclist to win the event - widely regarded as one of sport's toughest challenges - twice.

Due to wet weather in northern France, organised decided that the riders did not have complete ten laps of the Champs-Elysee's in order to qualify for overall placings.

Heavy rain has made the cobbles on which riders race potentially dangerous and earlier in the women's race several of the competitors suffered injuries in a crash.

Froome was deemed to have won as soon as he reached the famous street and the clock was 'neutralised'.

He had been one minute 12 seconds in front of the next nearest competitor Nairo Quintana Rojas at the start of the stage.

The race is still running as the last part of the final stage contributes to the placings for the sprint competition.

Froome's Team Sky teammates were alongside him as he reached the point at which the clock was stopped.