Spaniard Alberto Contador claimed his third Tour de France title this afternoon as seven-time champion Lance Armstrong made his final exit from the race.
The 27-year-old Contador stayed safe in the main bunch as the last stage, over 102.5km from Longjumeau, went to Briton Mark Cavendish for the second year in a row.
Over three weeks, Contador showed some weaknesses in the mountains and almost cracked in the final time trial, but it was enough for him to beat Luxembourg's Andy Schleck by 39 seconds.
Russian Denis Menchov took third place, 2:01 off the pace.
Ireland's Nicolas Roche finished 15th overall, 16 minutes 59 second behind overall winner Contador. This is Ireland's best result in the Tour since Nicolas's father Stephen won the race in 1987.
Contador said on the podium: ‘I'm happy, very happy. I've had difficult days, from a psychological and a physical point of view.’
The victory kept the Spanish flag flying high on the Champs-Elysees following triumphs for Oscar Pereiro in 2006, Contador in 2007, Carlos Sastre in 2008 and Contador again last year.
The Spaniard took the overall leader's yellow jersey when he benefited from Schleck's chain problem in Monday's mountain stage to Bagneres de Luchon.
Armstrong, 38, riding his final Tour de France, finished 23rd overall, after losing all chance in the first mountain stage.
Cavendish outsprinted Italian Alessandro Petacchi and New Zealand's Julian Dean in impressive fashion to notch his fifth stage win in this year's race.
‘I am happy. The race is wonderful, the team is wonderful,’ a delighted Cavendish said.
But it was Petacchi who clinched the sprinters' green jersey for the points classification.
France's Anthony Charteau won the polka dot jersey for the best climber.
Tour de France final stage result and standings.
Result and overall standings after the 102.5km 20th and final stage of Tour de France from Longjumeau to Paris on Sunday:
Stage result
1 Mark Cavendish (Britain / HTC-Columbia) 2hrs 42mins 21secs
2 Alessandro Petacchi (Italy / Lampre) same time
3 Julian Dean (New Zealand / Garmin)
4 Juergen Roelandts (Belgium / Omega Pharma - Lotto)
5 Oscar Freire (Spain / Rabobank)
6 Gerald Ciolek (Germany / Milram)
7 Thor Hushovd (Norway / Cervelo)
8 Matti Breschel (Denmark / Saxo Bank)
9 Robbie McEwen (Australia / Katusha)
10 Daniel Oss (Italy / Liquigas)
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28 Nicolas Roche (Irl / AG2R La Mondiale)
Overall standings
1 Alberto Contador (Spain / Astana) 91hrs 58mins 48secs
2 Andy Schleck (Luxembourg / Saxo Bank) +39"
3 Denis Menchov (Russia / Rabobank) +2:01"
4 Samuel Sanchez (Spain / Euskaltel) +3:40"
5 Jurgen Van den Broeck (Belgium /Omega Pharma-Lotto) +6:54"
6 Robert Gesink (Netherlands / Rabobank) +9:31"
7 Ryder Hesjedal (Canada / Garmin) +10:15"
8 Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) +11:37"
9 Roman Kreuziger (Czech Republic / Liquigas) +11:54"
10 Chris Horner (U.S. / RadioShack) +12:02"
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15 Nicolas Roche (Irl / AG2R La Mondiale) +16:59"
