Alberto Contador won his third Tour de France in four years on Sunday.

The 27-year-old Contador sealed his third title by holding off a dramatic challenge from his main rival, Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, in Saturday's individual time trial.

After 3,642 kilometers (2,263 miles) and three weeks of racing over mountains, cobblestones and flats in the Netherlands, Belgium and France, Schleck finished 39 seconds back in second place.

Denis Menchov of Russia was third overall with 2:01 adrift.

Astana team rider and leader's yellow jersey Alberto Contador of Spain celebrates his overall victory 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. Contador won the Tour de France for the third time on Sunday.

Mark Cavendish of Britain claimed his fifth stage victory this Tour and the 15th in his career in a sprint at the end of Sunday's 20th and final stage, a largely ceremonial 102.5-kilometer (63.7- mile) course from Longjumeau to the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

Contador joins Greg LeMond, Louison Bobet and Philippe Thys as a three-time Tour champion. Armstrong is the most successful Tour rider with seven consecutive wins, between 1999 and 2005.

Alessandro Petacchi of Italy captured the green jersey given to the race's top sprinter. He was second in the 20th stage, just ahead of Julian Dean of New Zealand.

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