Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador has captured his second Tour de France crown, while seven-time champion Lance Armstrong of the United States made an impressive return to the race with a third-place finish.
Mark Cavendish of Britain won Sunday's 164-kilometer 21st and final stage, from Montereau-Fault-Yonne to the Champs-Elysees, in a sprint finish, to collect his sixth stage win of this year's Tour in 04:02:18.
The 26-year-old Contador won the title in 2007 and started this year's Tour as the favorite. He sat out the 2008 Tour because the Astana team was not invited due to a doping scandal before Contador joined.
Andy Schleck of Luxembourg finished second overall, four minutes and 11 seconds behind Contador. Lance Armstrong was third, five minutes and 24 seconds back. At 37, he is the second oldest rider to reach the podium at the Tour de France.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
