Tour de France 2009: Mark Cavendish makes history in Paris as Alberto Contador seals win

Mark Cavendish has become the first Briton to win the final stage of the Tour de France in Paris.

Cavendish, 24, capped an incredible Tour for British riders with an astonishing win in the French capital after the Manxman sped across the finishing line on the Champs Elysees at the end of the 164-kilometre from Montereau-Fault-Yonne to Paris.

In a record-breaking week for the Columbia-HTC rider that saw him overhaul Barry Hoban's 34-year record of eight stage wins by British rider, his sixth stage victory on the 96th edition of the race will surely rank highly with him.

Alberto Contador, Astana's Spaniard, claimed his second Tour after finishing 4 minutes 11 seconds ahead of Andy Schleck, Saxo Bank's Luxembourger.

Lance Armstrong, the seven-time winner, and Contador's Astana team-mate, finished third 5mins 24secs behind the winner.

Schleck, 24, won the race's white jersey for the best placed rider aged 25 and under for the second year in a row.

Armstrong claimed a commendable place on the podium having decided to end a three-and-a-half year retirement when he returned to professional racing in January.

Norwegian Thor Hushovd did enough at the finish to keep the sprinters' green jersey for the points competition while Italian Franco Pellizotti of Liquigas won the polka dot jersey for the race's best climber.

Tour de France details

Stage 21: 167km, Montereau-Fault-Yonne to Paris: 1. Mark Cavendish (Britain - Columbia-HTC) 4 hours 2 minutes 18 seconds. 2. Mark Renshaw (Australia - Columbia-HTC) s.t., 3. Tyler Farrar (US - Garmin-Slipstream) s.t., 4. Gerald Ciolek (Germany - Milram) s.t., 5. Yauheni Hutarovich (Belarus - Francaise des Jeux) s.t., 6. Thor Hushovd (Norway - Cervelo) s.t., 7. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spain - Caisse d'Epargne) s.t., 8. Marco Bandiera (Italy - Lampre-NGC) s.t., 9. Daniele Bennati (Italy - Liquigas) s.t., 10. William Bonnet (France - Bbox Bouygues Telecom) s.t.

Final overall standings

1. Alberto Contador (Spain - Astana) 85 hours 48 minutes 35 seconds. 2. Andy Schleck (Luxembourg - Saxo Bank) 4mins 11secs, 3. Lance Armstrong (US - Astana) 5mins 24secs, 4. Bradley Wiggins (Britain - Garmin-Slipstream) 6mins 1sec, 5. Frank Schleck (Luxembourg - Saxo Bank) 6mins 4secs, 6. Andreas Kloeden (Germany - Astana) 6mins 42secs, 7. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy - Liquigas) 7mins 35secs, 8. Christian Vande Velde (US - Garmin-Slipstream) 12mins 4secs, 9. Roman Kreuziger (Czech Republic - Liquigas) 14mins 16secs, 10. Christophe Le Mevel (France - Francaise des Jeux) 14mins 25secs.

Selected others

Yellow jersey (general classification): Alberto Contador (Spain - Astana)
Polka dot jersey (king of the mountains): Franco Pellizotti (Italy - Liquigas)
Green jersey (points classification): Thor Hushovd (Norway - Cervelo)
White jersey (25 and under): Andy Schleck (Luxembourg - Saxo Bank)
Team: Astana (Kazakhstan)