Cadel Evans (BMC-Racing) became the first Australian to win the Tour de France after staying safe in the peloton in Sunday's final stage won by Briton Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) on the Champs Elysees for the third year-in-a-row.
The 34-year-old Evans, the oldest Tour winner since World War II, showed resilience throughout as he broke three-time champion Alberto Contador's unbeaten run in a grand tour since 2007.
Luxembourg's Andy Schleck (Leopard-Trek) was second overall for the third year in succession, 1:34 behind Evans, who claimed his maiden grand tour title.
Frank Schleck (Leopard-Trek) was third, 2:30 off the pace as two brothers climbed on the final Tour de France podium for the first time.
Evans's victory also broke Spanish domination of the race after Alberto Contador (2007, 09, 10), Oscar Pereiro (2006) and Carlos Sastre (2008) had claimed five titles in-a-row.
The Australian only took the overall leader's yellow jersey after Saturday's final time-trial in which he humbled Andy Schleck by 2:31, easily overcoming a 57-second deficit.
Cavendish was also made to wait to finally claim the green jersey for the points classification after starting the day with a 15-point advantage over Spain's Jose Roaquin Rojas (Movistar).
Pictured below: Mark Cavendish celebrates on the finish line on the famous Champs-Elysees avenue as he wins the 95km and last stage of the 2011 Tour de France cycling race run between Creteil and Paris.
He won the bunch sprint at the end of the 95-km ride from Creteil after once again benefiting from his HTC-Highroad team's lead-out train.
The Briton beat Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky-Pro) and German Andre Greipel (Omega Pharma-Lotto), who were second and third respectively.
Garmin-Cervelo, who won the team time-trial and stages through American Tyler Farrar and Norwegian Thor Hushovd, won the team standings.
Frenchman Pierre Rolland (Team Europcar), who won the prestigious stage to l'Alpe d'Huez, claimed the white jersey for the best under-25 rider while Spaniard Samuel Sanchez Euskatel-Euskadi) won the polka-dot jersey for the best climber.
Pictured below (left to right): Pierre Rolland of Team Europcar and winner of the best young rider award; Samuel Sanchez of team Euskatel, winner of the polka dot king of the mountains competition; Mark Cavendish of team HTC, winner of the points jersey; and Cadel Evans of team BMC and winner of the yellow jersey, celebrate on the podium after the 21st and final stage of Le Tour de France 2011.
Ireland's Nicolas Roche (AG2R-La Mondiale) finished the final stage in 127th position, riding home in the peloton. Roche finishes the Tour 26th overall, 46 minutes 23 seconds behind Evans.
The lanterne rouge - the competitor in last place - was Fabio Sabatini of Liquigas-Cannondale. The Italian stopped the clock three hours 57 minutes and 43 seconds off the lead.
