Tadej Pogacar rides during the final stage of the 2020 Tour de France on Sunday. Photo: VCG

Slovenian rookie Tadej Pogacar won the Tour de France on Sunday, riding triumphantly into Paris in the race leader's yellow jersey at just 21 years old.

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.

Longtime race leader Primoz Roglic ended second while Australia's Richie Porte came third.

Pogacar's UAE Emirates team pocketed 623,930 euros ($738,798) thanks to his victory.

The Tour will forever be remembered for a dramatic last-gasp turnaround as Pogacar grabbed the overall lead when his ­rival Roglic suffered a mountainside meltdown on the penultimate day.

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.

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

Dutch team Jumbo-Visma dominated the 2020 race with their yellow and black jerseys always grouped at the head of the race as they outpowered everyone until the last and crucial day.

Winners of the past five editions, Britain's Team Ineos also had a Tour they may regret.

They put their faith in defending champion Egan Bernal, but in spite of spending a week in the white jersey, he struggled to impose himself, lacking perhaps the wisdom and experience of Geraint Thomas or Chris Froome. He lost over seven minutes on Stage 15 and dropped out the following day.

Team principal and expansive thinker Dave Brailsford refocused the team, resulting in a stage win for Michael Kwiatkowski in the Alps but Ineos will be licking wounds as they leave France.

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. 

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