Perhaps it was a fitting end to this year’s race for the Briton, who has now secured his fourth title at the grandest of the Grand Tours.

Nothing particularly spectacular seemed to happen to the Team Sky rider throughout the duration of the three weeks, albeit he a brief mechanical scare on stage 15. 

The scare was effectively neutralised by his main rivals’ due to the unwritten rule in which they do not take advantage of any mechanical issue suffered by race leader.

Certainly, there was no great moment in the race which is likely to stick in the memory. There was no dramatic acceleration to leave his rivals for dust as Froome had managed at Mont Ventoux in 2013, nor crash which saw the Briton bizarrely having to start running up the same mountain last year.

It is no slight on Froome’s achievement, particularly given that he is reportedly having tailored his season towards winning both the Tour de France and Vuelta a España.

It did leave me wondering, though, what the defining image of this year’s race would prove to be as I wandered away from the final podium presentations, amongst the Parisian crowd.

Was it the super exploits of France’s new king of the mountains Warren Barguil, as he crested the top of the Col d’Izoard on stage 18, confirming him as one of the stars of the race. 

Perhaps the Tour ending crash suffered by Australian hopeful Richie Porte or the earlier one which ultimately ruled sprinters Mark Cavendish and Peter Sagan out through injury. 

The former through injury, the latter from the resulting disqualification. One that prompted a fan to create a #FreeSagan banner.

Ultimately, the single image that came to mind, perhaps as it happened yesterday, was Romain Bardet’s post time trial agony. Lying with his back pressed against a wall through exhaustion, devastation at having both missed out on winning the race and slipping to third overall, as well as the circle of media surrounding him.

It was Bardet’s name that today’s crowd were cheering the most enthusiastically at podium presentations today, with the country having clearly taken the AG2R La Mondiale star to their hearts as they hope he could be the first French winner of the race since Bernard Hinault in 1985.

While the case for Barguil - or even Thibaut Pinot - to challenge in the future can be argued, Bardet appears to be the main hope.

It was in evidence today as I strolled around Paris, with AG2R La Mondiale jerseys by far outstripping those of all the other teams, particularly around the finish.

It was also notable that Française des Jeux were also well represented. The lottery company are supporting the Paris 2024 candidacy for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, with the bid logo having been emblazoned across the front of numerous kits.

While the bid race certainly appears to be heading down a one way track, it is certainly worth pointing out that Paris 2024 have not reached for the bubbly yet and are still trying to engage public support.

They certainly did not miss a trick when it came to working with Tour de France organisers the Amaury Sport Organisation to promote the Olympic bid. From Paris 2024 co-chairman Tony Estanguet being part of the final podium presentation to the taking the race through a proposed Paris 2024 venue, the Grand Palais, for the first time in the Tour’s history.

A digital depiction of athletics and swimming lanes beside the peloton was displayed on television images, with the move from organisers aimed at promoting the Paris 2024 campaign. Whether liked or disliked by the watching world it seemed clear that the idea, reportedly 10 months in the making, would certainly be debated internationally.

There was also a specially arranged girls race, obviously featuring 2,024 riders, which took in the eight kilometre circuit around Paris, prior to the arrival of the today’s stage.

Naturally, I was in favour or such a move. However, it left me wondering that if ASO can work with Paris 2024 for months to devise a promotion of their bid and an impressive girls event can be put on, why can’t they devise a proper women’s race.

South Africa’s Ashleigh Moolman, ninth place on this year’s La Course, offered her approval of Thursday’s stage of the event. The 67.5 kilometres ride up the Col d'Izoard provided aggressive racing on a challenge course, but the 22.5km "chase" in Marseille left something to be desired.

"Thanks for trying, but we are not show girls or guinea pigs," Moolman tweeted afterwards. "We are professional cyclists, please respect that."

Certainly, Moolman has a point. While the format was an innovative one, where the leader of the race heads off first, before rivals depart depending on their deficit, there was surely another time to test it. 

It seems clear that the chase format would not have been attempted as a concluding stage to the Tour de France. It is frustrating that riders seemingly have to feel grateful to organisers to putting these events on.

There have certainly been improvements in recent years in promoting women’s cycling. La Course had only its first edition back in 2014, so evidently steps are being made on this front. There have been a growing number of events added to the calendar in recent years, while the profile certainly seems to have been raised by the UCI Women’s WorldTour.

Pushing the development of women’s cycling in the coming years is clearly going to have to be a major goal for the UCI President, whether Brian Cookson retains his post or David Lappartient succeeds in being elected in September.

In perhaps one of the few areas Lappartient appeared a little stuck in a round table this week was on the subject. Like Cookson, he has pledged to developed women’s cycling, but when quizzed suggested an iconic Tour de France style event was needed to really put the sport on the map. A fine ambition, yes, but how would that be achieved.

While not it is not likely to be one of the greatest vote winners in the coming months, it is certainly an issue which needs strong though in the coming years.