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Contador wins his 3rd Tour de France

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-07-26 09:56

Astana team rider and leader's yellow jersey Alberto Contador of Spain (R) kisses his trophy to celebrate his overall victory as Saxo Bank team rider Andy Schleck of Luxembourg looks on the podium in Paris after the final 20th stage of the 97th Tour de France cycling race between Longjumeau and Paris July 25, 2010. [Agencies]

PARIS - Spaniard Alberto Contador claimed his third Tour de France title on Sunday as seven-times champion Lance Armstrong made his final exit from the race.

The 27-year-old Contador stayed safe in the main bunch and the last stage, over 102.5 km from Longjumeau, went to Briton Mark Cavendish for the second year in a row.

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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.

Contador said on the podium: "I'm happy, very happy. I've had difficult days, from a psychological and a physical point of view.

"Thank you to those who supported me. I would have wanted to be better, but I suffered a lot to get this result and words cannot describe what I feel right now."

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 on Monday.

He gained 39 seconds in the process, the exact time that separated him from Schleck at the end of the Tour.

"It did not work out this time but next year, I will come back here in this colour," said Schleck, who won the white jersey for the best under-25 rider, as he pointed towards Contador's yellow jersey.