His victory marked the end of a tense Tour, held two months later than normal under strict health conditions with limited crowds.

Pogacar became the Tour's youngest champion since 1904 as Ireland's Sam Bennett won the 21st and final stage after the eight-lap dash around the iconic Champs-Elysees to clinch the green sprint points jersey.

The champion mounted the podium as the sun set behind the Arc de Triomphe to pick up the best climber's jersey, the white top young rider's prize and finally the Tour winner's famous yellow jersey.

“I can't find the words to thank everyone, but it's been amazing this three weeks where the fans cheered me all the way,” said Pogacar.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo stood alongside Slovenian President Borut Pahor while Pogacar unfurled his national flag and draped it over his shoulders.

Long-time race leader Primoz Roglic ended second while Australia's Richie Porte came third.

Pogacar's UAE Emirates team pocketed €623,930 thanks to his victory.

Dressed in green, Bennett lifted his bike aloft after the race, which provided his second stage win.

“It was so hard but it was all worth it, I still can't believe it,” said the big sprinter after edging seven-time winner Peter Sagan to the green jersey.

This storied edition of the century-old race packed with thrills and spills will be equally recalled for outsprinting the dark shadow of Covid-19.

Starting two months late due to the global pandemic, the race set off under strict health guidelines in Nice with doubts it would make it all the way to Paris.

French President Emmanuel Macron is credited with giving the green light for a rescheduled event heavy in virus protocols to go ahead.

But after 3,400km of intense racing the 146 remaining riders embarked Sunday for a parade of the winners until the hotly-disputed sprint in Paris.

The race was a triumph of organisation after receiving belated clearance to stage the event, although just 5,000 fans lined Sunday's finish due to the health protocol.

Race director Christian Prudhomme was left with a red face when he was sent home mid-race when he tested positive after the first week. Having shared a car with him during the race, French Prime Minister Jean Castex also had to be tested for the virus.

But Prudhomme will also take plaudits for this Tour and the colossal force of will it took to pull it all off without major incident.