Chris Froome admitted his keen sense of cycling history as he crossed the line on the Champs Elysees to secure his second Tour de France title in Paris.
Froome's second win in three years means British cyclists have now won three of the last four editions of cycling's most storied race.
And this win was achieved in what was billed the hardest Tour of all-time, with five Grand Tour champions in the starting line-up.
Froome is also the first rider in seven years - and only the seventh in race history - to win both the yellow and polka dot jersey, joining legends of the sport including Eddy Merckx, Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali.
"I'm still a bit stunned, it's all a blur and one emotion follows after another," he said.
"If I think back to where it began three weeks ago it just seems a lifetime ago. It's been such a tough Tour and I'm just so happy to have come out the way we did.
"The maillot jaune is special. I understand its history - good and bad - and I will always respect it and never dishonour it."
Double Olympic champion Geraint Thomas played a key role in protecting Froome throughout the race and has spent much of the last three weeks in the top ten, only for his efforts to catch up with him on Friday, dropping the Welshman down to 15th.
And he hinted that, in time, he would like to follow Sir Bradley Wiggins and Froome and be the next British challenger for the general classification.
"It's an incredible feeling, perhaps it feels better than 2013 because I've played more of a role," said Thomas.
"We've pulled so well together as a team. I have a mixture of feelings, I never thought I would be 15th coming in but it could have been an even better result but all the effort caught up with me on one stage.
"It's given me lots of confidence and encouragement for the future. I think if I was the leader of this team then I'd run the podium pretty close. It's certainly something I'd like to look at in the future."
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