After three weeks of one of the toughest Tours in history, Alberto Contador rode into Paris with the yellow jersey on his back for the third time.

It has been a Tour of many different faces with drama and controversy a feature from start to finish.  The opening prologue when Armstrong beat Contador, the big crash and subsequent stage nullification, the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix, Cavendish finding form, the Alps, the Pyrenees, chaingate - it’s been a great ride.

Last time we checked in the protagonists were facing the Col du Tourmalet with a much anticipated battle between Andy Schleck and Contador.  True to form the two riders blitzed the field up the Tourmalet with a blistering pace.  Schleck rode on the front for almost the whole climb.  Contador did attack once only to be chased down by Schleck who then gave him a “look” that said don’t do that again.  Strange really as it was Schleck who needed to attack.  Contador just needed to hang on.  At the finish line Schleck took the win pumping the air with his fist, you would think he had just won the Tour, rather than lost it.  Why he didn’t attack we may never know but is seemed strange that he didn’t vary the pace or try and drop Contador with more attacks.

Friday was back to normal service for the sprinters and once again normal service for Cavendish who took the win with ease.  Saturday was the time trial, the only one of the Tour other than the short prologue.  Schleck, still in denial, was saying he expected a good ride defying all the pundits.  Early on he seemed to be on course for a shock actually coming close to virtual yellow on the road in early splits but Contador dug deep and took the final yellow jersey with a huge effort.

On to the circuits in Paris and it was Cavendish once again who crossed the line first.  Despite the loss of wing man Renshaw, Cavendish found the wheel of Petacchi in the final stretch and pulled away from the Italian to take the win.  However Petacchi did enough, claiming second, to hold onto his green jersey.  Cavendish finishes with 5 stage wins but his lack of points from intermediate sprints and early race lack of form shut him out of the green jersey.

Anthony Charteau had wrapped up the climbers jersey with the final mountain stage up the Tourmalet and Andy Schleck never seemed in trouble for the white jersey.  Radioshack saved a disappointing Tour by taking the team prize.  Despite their superstar squad Chris Horner was the best placed GC rider finishing 10th and Levi Leipheimer in 13th.

Nicolas Roche finished 15th, a great performance for the young Irishman who could have done so much better but for the treachery of teammate Joh Gadret (for those that missed it read it in Roche’s own words here) who failed to give him his wheel after a puncture.

General Classification overall

1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 91:58:48
2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:00:39
3 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0:02:01
4 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:03:40
5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:06:54
6 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0:09:31
7 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Transitions 0:10:15
8 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:11:37
9 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo 0:11:54
10 Christopher Horner (USA) Team Radioshack 0:12:02
11 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 0:14:21
12 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 0:14:29
13 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack 0:14:40
14 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Radioshack 0:16:36
15 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale 0:16:59
16 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 0:17:46
17 Thomas Löfkvist (Swe) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:20:46
18 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick Step 0:21:54
19 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:24:04
20 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 0:26:37
21 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:29:38
22 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Caisse d’Epargne 0:34:01
23 Lance Armstrong (USA) Team Radioshack 0:39:20
24 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:39:24
25 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux 0:45:52
26 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:50:27
27 Julien El Farès (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 0:53:22
28 Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:55:13
29 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:56:53
30 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Garmin - Transitions 0:58:53
31 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step 0:59:17
32 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 0:59:33
33 Mario Aerts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 1:02:36
34 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Cervelo Test Team 1:09:51
35 Juan Manuel Gárate Cepa (Spa) Rabobank 1:10:03
36 Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 1:10:09
37 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia 1:10:11
38 Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 1:10:52
39 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Team HTC - Columbia 1:13:19
40 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 1:19:09
41 Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Quick Step 1:20:11
42 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux 1:22:38
43 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Team Radioshack 1:23:26
44 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 1:24:12
45 Cyril Gautier (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 1:25:12
46 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Team Radioshack 1:25:43
47 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Omega Pharma-Lotto 1:30:02
48 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 1:38:26
49 Daniel Navarro Garcia (Spa) Astana 1:38:30
50 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Team Saxo Bank 1:38:32
51 Steve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing Team 1:39:11
52 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank 1:40:45
53 Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Footon-Servetto 1:42:27
54 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana 1:45:01
55 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Team HTC - Columbia
56 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank 1:46:32
57 Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 1:46:37
58 Pierre Rolland (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 1:46:42
59 George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing Team 1:46:50
60 Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Caisse d’Epargne 1:47:54
61 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Liquigas-Doimo 1:48:02
62 Iban Velasco Murillo (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 1:49:57
63 Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Quick Step 1:51:33
64 Mathieu Perget (Fra) Caisse d’Epargne 1:53:39
65 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Team Katusha 1:55:13
66 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quick Step 1:57:58
67 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 2:00:05
68 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 2:01:58
69 Chris Anker Sørensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank 2:04:46
70 Amaël Moinard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 2:05:10
71 Damien Monier (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 2:09:33
72 Francis De Greef (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 2:12:22
73 Rui Alberto Faria da Costa (Por) Caisse d’Epargne 2:12:28
74 Thomas Rohregger (Aut) Team Milram 2:12:57
75 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale 2:15:33
76 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 2:16:07
77 Imanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 2:19:15
78 Rémy Di Grégorio (Fra) Française des Jeux 2:21:34
79 Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Team Katusha 2:27:19
80 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto 2:29:38
81 Arkaitz Duran Daroca (Spa) Footon-Servetto 2:29:49
82 Aitor Perez Arrieta (Spa) Footon-Servetto 2:32:17
83 Eros Capecchi (Ita) Footon-Servetto 2:34:38
84 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team Milram 2:36:15
85 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Team Radioshack 2:37:56
86 Alexander Kuschynski (Blr) Liquigas-Doimo 2:39:40
87 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing Team 2:42:38
88 Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 2:42:42
89 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky Professional Cycling Team 2:43:40
90 Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team Milram 2:49:23
91 Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram 2:53:38
92 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 2:54:30
93 Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) Française des Jeux 2:55:36
94 Kristjan Koren (Slo) Liquigas-Doimo 2:57:11
95 Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 2:57:17
96 Benoït Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux 2:58:05
97 Christophe Kern (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 2:58:34
98 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 3:01:09
99 Michael Barry (Can) Sky Professional Cycling Team 3:01:34
100 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 3:01:40
101 David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin - Transitions 3:01:48
102 Pavel Brutt (Rus) Team Katusha 3:03:12
103 Luke Roberts (Aus) Team Milram 3:04:07
104 Benjamin Noval Gonzalez (Spa) Astana 3:05:22
105 Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 3:06:44
106 Maxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 3:07:40
107 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Sky Professional Cycling Team 3:08:48
108 Alexandr Pliuschin (Mda) Team Katusha 3:09:05
109 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Team Katusha 3:09:10
110 David De La Fuente Rasilla (Spa) Astana 3:11:04
111 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team 3:12:57
112 Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 3:13:20
113 Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 3:14:05
114 Grégory Rast (Swi) Team Radioshack 3:14:11
115 Inaki Isasi Flores (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 3:14:30
116 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Professional Cycling Team 3:14:57
117 Maarten Wijnants (Bel) Quick Step 3:15:19
118 Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 3:16:20
119 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Team Milram 3:17:53
120 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 3:18:27
121 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank 3:19:43
122 Francesco Bellotti (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 3:20:26
123 Mauro Da Dalto (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 3:21:49
124 Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 3:22:19
125 Grega Bole (Slo) Lampre-Farnese Vini 3:23:07
126 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank 3:23:31
127 Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) Cervelo Test Team 3:23:36
128 Brian Vandborg (Den) Liquigas-Doimo 3:24:17
129 Alan Perez Lezaun (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 3:24:50
130 Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank 3:26:18
131 Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana 3:26:28
132 Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Rabobank 3:27:30
133 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Milram 3:27:36
134 Kevin Seeldrayers (Bel) Quick Step 3:29:01
135 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Lampre-Farnese Vini 3:29:12
136 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana 3:30:06
137 Tony Martin (Ger) Team HTC - Columbia 3:31:10
138 Karsten Kroon (Ned) BMC Racing Team 3:31:38
139 Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Garmin - Transitions 3:31:56
140 Jesus Hernandez Blazquez (Spa) Astana 3:32:02
141 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank 3:33:45
142 Matti Breschel (Den) Team Saxo Bank 3:35:31
143 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux 3:37:57
144 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick Step 3:38:36
145 Jose Alberto Benitez Roman (Spa) Footon-Servetto 3:39:12
146 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Française des Jeux 3:39:37
147 Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team 3:41:37
148 Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Team Radioshack 3:41:47
149 Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 3:42:39
150 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 3:44:38
151 Steven Cummings (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 3:45:47
152 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) Française des Jeux 3:46:59
153 Stéphane Auge (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 3:49:50
154 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia 3:51:23
155 Nicki Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank 3:54:12
156 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team HTC - Columbia 3:54:16
157 Julian Dean (NZl) Garmin - Transitions 3:56:13
158 David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Transitions 3:56:46
159 Brett Lancaster (Aus) Cervelo Test Team 3:57:00
160 Dimitri Champion (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 3:59:45
161 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team 4:00:47
162 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 4:01:02
163 Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Cervelo Test Team 4:02:21
164 Daniel Lloyd (GBr) Cervelo Test Team 4:02:59
165 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha 4:08:28
166 Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 4:09:12
167 Anthony Roux (Fra) Française des Jeux 4:13:37
168 Andreas Klier (Ger) Cervelo Test Team 4:17:16
169 Bert Grabsch (Ger) Team HTC - Columbia 4:23:01
170 Adriano Malori (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 4:27:03

Points classification

1 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 243 pts
2 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia 232
3 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team 222
4 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 179
5 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha 179
6 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Professional Cycling Team 161
7 Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 135
8 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Milram 126
9 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 124
10 Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 119
Mountains classification

1 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 143 pts
2 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Caisse d’Epargne 128
3 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 116
4 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 112
5 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 99
6 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 96
7 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux 93
8 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quick Step 92
9 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 82
10 Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 72
Young riders classification

1 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 91:59:27
2 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0:08:52
3 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo 0:11:15
4 Julien El Farès (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 0:52:43
5 Cyril Gautier (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 1:24:33
6 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Team Saxo Bank 1:37:53
7 Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Footon-Servetto 1:41:48
8 Pierre Rolland (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 1:46:03
9 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 1:59:26
10 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 2:01:19
Teams classification

1 Team Radioshack 276:02:03
2 Caisse d’Epargne 0:09:15
3 Rabobank 0:27:49
4 Ag2R La Mondiale 0:41:10
5 Omega Pharma - Lotto 0:51:01
6 Astana 0:56:16
7 Quick Step 1:06:23
8 Euskaltel - Euskadi 1:23:02
9 Liquigas-Doimo 1:29:14
10 Bbox Bouygues Telecom 1:54:18
11 Sky Professional Cycling Team 2:05:28
12 Team Saxo Bank 2:25:02
13 Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne 2:29:35
14 BMC Racing Team 2:35:30
15 Française des Jeux 2:58:59
16 Garmin - Transitions 3:18:07
17 Team HTC - Columbia 3:25:26
18 Team Katusha 3:28:05
19 Cervelo Test Team 3:51:56
20 Footon-Servetto 5:15:36
21 Lampre - Farnese Vini 5:50:02
22 Team Milram 6:05:41