海角大神

When听Chris Froome pedaled through the streets of Paris tonight, from the Louvre to the Arc de Triomphe, as victor of the 2013 Tour de France, it was in many ways Britain鈥檚 moment to celebrate. 听

It鈥檚 the second time a Briton has won the Tour de France in two years. And with Mr. Froome鈥檚 clear lead in this year鈥檚 Tour lies the prospect that Britain could dominate cycling鈥檚 most famous race for many more years to come.

France hoped for more in the 100th edition of the race, after going nearly 30 years without a winner. Instead, the Tour de France, which was begun by a French newspaperman in 1903, has become the essence of globalization: It is broadcast into 190 countries; it鈥檚 dominated by American and English riders and fans the world over; and they speak far more English than French these days. Plus, for a race that was a smash based on a simple European 鈥撎齟specially French 鈥撎齦ove of cycling, modern times have seen it overshadowed by international 鈥撎齟specially American 鈥撎齞oping scandals.

But if the French are missing on the podium tonight, on the streets of Paris听Sunday听cynicism was scarce. For the 100th race, the riders finished in twilight, with a gorgeous, hazy moon lingering on the horizon, the first night-time finish in the Tour鈥檚 history. And from its start in Corsica, through the countryside, valleys, and mountains of this country, it鈥檚 been, experienced, as always, as a 100 percent French affair.

鈥淭he popularity now is global of course,鈥� says听Graeme Fife, author of 鈥淭our de France: the history, the legend, the riders.鈥� 鈥淏ut听its evolution since 1903 has really been rooted in the love of French people for the race.鈥�

Despite not having a winner, the French did manage to succeed in pulling off an event that was not dismissed at large by the public, after the exploits of disgraced American rider Lance Armstrong, who admitted this year to doping for each of the seven consecutive years he won the Tour from 1999 to 2005.

At a patch of tonight's final stage听next to the Louvre Museum were not doubts and dismissals but enthusiasm. 鈥淎nyone who is able to participate in this race is privileged,鈥� says Guillermo Duran, a Colombian who has lived in France for 22 years but was here tonight to cheer on听Nairo Quintana, the Colombian second-place finisher. [Editor's note: The original version mistook Mr. Quintana's final position in the standings with that of his team.]

Suspicions of doping did, and will continue, to accompany cycling. Froome鈥檚 clear physical lead in this year鈥檚 Tour raised questions about whether he and is his team were clean.听"I just think it's quite sad that we're sitting here the day after the biggest victory of my life ... quite a historic win, talking about doping," Froome told reporters after a stage win on Mont Ventoux. "Here I am basically being accused of being a cheat and a liar and that's not cool."听

While it鈥檚 the British who are celebrating their superiority in this year鈥檚 race, the French, who have not听won the Tour since 1985 with Bernard Hinault, had at least one stage to call their own. Rider Christophe Riblon won the L鈥橝lpe d鈥橦uez stage, considered the most iconic, and among the toughest, of the Tour.听

"A Frenchman winning on L'Alpe d'Huez is a beautiful recompense for France and for the Tour de France.听We, the French, France, our team, didn't deserve to come out of this Tour de France听without a stage victory," said Mr. Riblon, quoted in the Washington Post.

The Tour de France has always awed the globe for the fortitude of its cyclers, their ability to endure wind, and rain, and 鈥� like this year 鈥� brutal heat, over some 2,000 miles. For the French, it鈥檚 also been about heroism and renewal.

When it began in 1903, France was still reeling from military defeat in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870. 鈥淭hey generated the image of [the riders] as heroic, tough 鈥� people who could overcome terrible difficulties,鈥� Christopher Thompson, the author of "The Tour de France: A Cultural History鈥� and a professor of French history at Ball State University, told 海角大神 upon this year鈥檚 start.听

That held true throughout the first half of the 20^th听century, each time the race was started up again, after pauses during the world wars. Then they were dubbed tours of 鈥渞enewal,鈥� says Mr. Fife. And that鈥檚 a theme that鈥檚 re-emerged over the years in the wake of doping scandals, leaving some fans scoffing, others to abandon the sport altogether, but others coming back to the fold.

It is perhaps in the French countryside that support has barely ebbed, with spectators lining up for hours 鈥� picnics in hand 鈥� to watch the pack of cyclists speed by. It is the essence of a French summer. In Paris, the race鈥檚 international flare is more apparent 鈥� with the French vying for a post with the city鈥檚 hordes of tourists听

But it鈥檚 still something the French take pride in. 鈥淭oday it鈥檚 a global event. More English is spoken than French,鈥� says Armand Bouissou, who has watched the race each year since he can remember. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 been marred by the doping scandal. But on the days of the race, that falls into second place.鈥澨�

鈥淭he tour is not just about the cyclists, it鈥檚 about all the people who come out to watch,鈥� he says. 听