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PARIS -- I wont let you down like Lance Armstrong. This Tour de France champion is for real. That, in so many words, is the promise Chris Froome made as the newest winner of cyclings showcase race so badly hurt over the years by riders who doped to win it. Because of their deceit, Froome faced a barrage of questions as he dominated rivals over three weeks of racing, all centred on the same key concern: Can we believe in you? Yes, he insisted. The sport is changing, he argued. He handled the scrutiny politely and adroitly. He said he understood the skepticism. And on the podium in Paris, his wiry frame wrapped in his canary yellow jersey, Froome asked the guardians of the 110-year-old race and all those who love it to trust him. "This is one yellow jersey that will stand the test of time," he said. In two years, Britain has had two different winners: Bradley Wiggins in 2012 and now Froome, a cooler, calmer, more understated but no less determined character than his Sky teammate with famous sideburns. Froome rode into Paris in style: Riders pedaled up to him to offer congratulations; he sipped from a flute of champagne; a Tour organizer stuck an arm from his car window to shake Froomes hand. He dedicated his victory to his late mother, Jane, who died in 2008. "Without her encouragement to follow my dreams I would probably be at home watching on TV," he said. Froome took the race lead on Stage 8 in the Pyrenees, never relinquished it and vigorously fended off rivals whose concerted challenges turned this 100th Tour into a thriller. Froome and his Sky teammates linked arms as they rode for the line. "This is a beautiful country with the finest annual sporting event on the planet. To win the 100th edition is an honour beyond any Ive dreamed," he said. Five-time winners Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain joined Froome on the podium. Missing, of course, was Armstrong. Stripping the serial doper of his seven wins tore a hole in the Tours roll of honour as large as that left by World War II, when the race didnt take place from 1940-46. None of the 100th editions podium finishers -- Froome, Nairo Quintana and Joaquim Rodriguez -- have ever failed a drug test or been directly implicated in any of cyclings litany of doping scandals. That is an encouraging and notable departure both from the Armstrong era and many other Tour podiums before and since. "In a way, Im glad that Ive had to face those questions. That after all the revelations last year and just the tarnished history over the last decade, all thats been channeled toward me now," Froome said. "I feel Ive been able to deal with it reasonably well throughout this Tour, and hopefully thats sent a strong message to the cycling world that the sport has changed -- and it really has." "The pelotons standing together, the riders are united and its not going to be accepted anymore." The spectacular nighttime ceremonies, with the Eiffel Tower in glittering lights and the Arc de Triomphe used as a screen for a flashing lightshow, capped what has been a visually stunning Tour. It started with a first-ever swing through Corsica, Frances so-called "island of beauty," before veering through the Pyrenees to Brittany and then across France to the races crescendo in the Alps -- 3,404 grueling kilometres (2,115 miles) in total. Because of the unique late-afternoon start for the final Stage 21, the riders raced on the cobbles of the Champs-Elysees as the sun cast golden hues over the peloton and shadows lengthened over the dense, cheering crowds. Marcel Kittel won the final sprint on the avenue, the Germans sprinters fourth stage win of this Tour. French Air Force jets in formation trailed red, white and blue smoke in the skies. The riders circled like a necklace around the Arc de Triomphe in their bright colored team jerseys. After setting off from the magnificent Versailles Palace, the former residence of three kings and their seat of power until the French revolution of 1789, the riders were granted the privilege of meandering through the chateaus manicured gardens, past lakes like mirrors, spurting fountains and statues looking on stonily. Before the pace picked up sharply on the Champs-Elysees, Sundays 133-kilometre ride was largely leisurely. The 169 finishers -- from 198 who started -- savored the pleasure of surviving the three-week ordeal. Ryder Hesjedal of Victoria topped the Canadian contingent with a 70th-place finish overall. Tour rookies David Veilleux of Cap-Rouge, Que., finished 123rd while Svein Tuft of Langley, B.C., was last in 169th. "We are very proud of these three Canadian riders at the Tour de France," said Jacques Landry, head coach at Cycling Canada. "Crossing the finish line of the Tour de France is a remarkable feat, and we should all be proud of them." Quintana, the 23-year-old Colombian who secured second place behind Froome with an impressive win on Saturdays penultimate Stage 20, laughed as third-placed Rodriguez tried to spark up a cigar in the saddle. Froomes clear physical superiority made him overwhelming favourite going into the Tour and carried him through it. His winning margin of 4 minutes, 20 seconds was the largest since 1997, when Jan Ullrich -- who has since admitted to doping -- beat Richard Virenque -- who also confessed to using performance-enhancers -- by 9 minutes, 9 seconds. Armstrong had larger margins of victory than Froome but those no longer count. Froomes three stage victories -- in the Pyrenees, on Mont Ventoux in Provence and in a mountainous time trial -- were the most for a Tour winner since Armstrong got five in 2004, results now annulled. Sky team manager Dave Brailsford said the Tour is seeing "a new generation" of young riders who "have never lived in an era of doping." Cyclings future "is in good hands with Chris, because he is an exceptional rider and an exceptional character." Unlike some other riders who cut short questions about doping and bristled, Froome said he was happy during the Tour to discuss the issue that has so poisoned his sport. He said he, too, felt let down by his cheating predecessors. Froome argued that his success demonstrates that cyclings anti-doping system -- now among the most rigorous, invasive and sustained of any sport -- must be working, because otherwise he wouldnt be able to win. At 28, Froome is entering his peak years as a bike racer. His prowess on climbs and in time trials gives him the essential ingredients to win more Tours. At Sky, hes backed by one of the best-funded, organized and smartest teams. With few exceptions, including the absent Giro dItalia winner Vincenzo Nibali and Wiggins, the cream of cyclings grand tour riders raced in the 100th edition. That Froome beat them so handily suggests hell again be the overwhelming favourite in 2014 -- in the 101st Tour that starts in Leeds, northern England. ------ AP Sports Writer Jerome Pugmire and Associated Press Writer Jamey Keaten in Paris contributed to this report.Buy Air Max 90 Uk . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? Can we get a one-way ticket to (minor-league) Hamilton for David Desharnais please. Fake Air Max 97 For Sale . 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Cote helped running back Jon Cornish run for a league-high 1,813 rushing yards en route to being named the leagues most outstanding player.GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Calgary Flames expected a fight from a desperate team and got one.Once they shook off a slow start, the Flames fought back and Dougie Hamilton scored a crafty overtime goal to extend their winning streak to five games.Hamilton scored 1:09 into overtime, Chad Johnson stopped 27 shots and the Calgary Flames beat the Arizona Coyotes 2-1 on Thursday night.We had to stick with it, Flames coach Glen Gulutzan said. Our start wasnt good -- our first 12 minutes wasnt very good -- but we found a way.The Coyotes were the aggressors early, seemingly taking out a season full of frustration in a chippy game filled with big hits and multiple fights.The Flames appeared stunned early and fell behind on a power-play goal midway through the first period before standing their ground.Mark Giordano scored late in the first period, Johnson was stellar the rest of the way and Hamilton capped it by using a forehand deke to set up his backhand winner.Calgary has won eight of 11 (8-2-1).We need to win these type games every once in a while, Flames captain Johnny Gaudreau said. We did a great job of figuring out the play after the first 10 minutes, played well in overtime and got the two points.Max Domi scored and was involved in one of three fights before leaving with an upper-body injury and Mike Smith stopped 33 shots for the Coyotes.Arizona captain Shane Doan became Arizonas all-time assist leader and is the fifth player in NHL history to own his teams records for games played, goals, assists, points, game-winning goals and power-play goals.But for all the fight, the Coyotes still ended up with yet another loss, their sixth straight and 11th in 14 games (3-7-4).There were a lot of emotions out there and everybody was trying hard, Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson said. We need to keep getting better and keep finding ways to get better.Calgary has been headed in the opposite direction as the struggling Coyotes, winning seven of its previous 10 games to bounce back from a slow start to the season.ddddddddddddYet as they headed to Arizona, the Flames were concerned about the Coyotes.Arizona has struggled with puck possession and tended to put a heavy burden on its goalies -- 35.1 shots against per game -- but Calgary knew better than to overlook a desperate team on the road.The Coyotes came out hard at the Flames, leading a physical first period that included two fights.Domi put the Coyotes up midway through the first on a scramble that left Johnson flailing outside the crease. Johnson was unable to secure the puck and it squirted out front to Domi, who one-timed past two Flames for his fifth of the season.But after gathering themselves, the Flames scored on a power play late in the period. Giordano got it, one-timing a pass from Gaudreau in the right circle by squeezing it past Smiths pad and the post for his second goal in three games.Thats one I should have, Smith said. I was there and thought I had it. Im not sure how it went in.Another fight punctuated a scoreless second period, when Domi and Garnet Hathaway squared off. Domi left the ice with blood dripping from his eye and did not return after playing one shift in the third period.Game notesDoan had an assist on Domis goal to break Thomas Steens franchise record of 553 assists. ... Calgary RW Kris Versteeg did not play after injuring his hip against Dallas on Tuesday. ... Arizonas Ryan White was called for instigating and was issued a 10-minute misconduct in the first period after Lance Bouma ran Coyotes Ekman-Larsson into the boards.UP NEXTFlames: Host Winnipeg on Saturday to start a three-game homestand.Coyotes: Host Nashville on Saturday before leaving on a four-game road trip next week. ' ' '