Contador's podium for a third time

STANDING ON the most famous avenue in the world, clad in a fresh yellow jersey and clutching the black and gold trophy presented to the winner each year, Alberto Contador beamed a bright smile yesterday as he savoured his third Tour de France victory.

The Spaniard finished in the main bunch on the Champs Elysées, rolling in with both arms aloft seconds after Mark Cavendish (HTC Columbia) took the stage. Contador had to fight hard in Saturday’s time trial to ensure his success, and finally completed the three-week, 3,642 kilometre event just 39 seconds ahead of Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, and two minutes and one second ahead of the Russian Denis Menchov. It was the fifth-closest winning margin in the history of the race.

“It is a Tour in which I had a lot of pressure, especially physically as I was not at my best level,” he said, 24 hours after crying tears of emotion and relief at the end of the time trial.

“It took a lot of confidence to face difficult situations. For example, everyone said I had already won the Tour after the stage to the Tourmalet. But we saw yesterday, in the race against the clock, that it was not fully played out. Today is therefore a great relief for me, it is a moment that I feel like I’ve been liberated from all the pressure.”

Contador wasn’t quite at his best this July, but at 27, he has taken his third Tour (and fifth Grand Tour victory) at the age Lance Armstrong netted his first, showing just why he is regarded as someone who could rewrite the history books. But Schleck too is a potential winner, and theirs is a rivalry that could produce some exceptional battles.

Ireland’s Nicolas Roche was also in a celebratory mood on the Champs Elysées, having achieved his main goal in the race. He finished 16 minutes 59 seconds behind Contador, considerably closer than his 38 minutes 20 second deficit of 12 months ago.

“Goal achieved,” he said. “I said minimum top 15, if possible closer to 10th beforehand . . . so top 15 will be satisfying enough.

“I didn’t get extra time in any breakaways and I think I had a bit of bad luck, so there’s no way anyone can say I don’t deserve my top 15. I’m satisfied with that . . . I did it all with the legs , so I am happy.”

He would have finished close to 10th overall had he not suffered a puncture on the final climb of the 15th stage. Team-mate John Gadret refused to give him his front wheel, even though Roche was the Ag2r La Mondiale team leader. The 26 year-old lost several minutes that day as a result.

He didn’t want to think too much about that yesterday afternoon. “I have looked at it about 10 times already,” he said, laughing but also with a hint of regret. “I have had nightmares about it, so it’s better we don’t do the calculations.”

As usual, the stage was ridden at a celebratory pace before the speed ramped up on the Parisian finishing circuit. An 11-man break went clear but the last remaining riders were hauled back on the final lap, setting things up for a bunch finish.

The sprinters massed at the front and hit the Champs Elysées at full pace, but Cavendish had far more oomph than his rivals. He catapulted towards the line, beating points jersey winner Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) and Julian Dean (Garmin-Transitions) by a clear margin, grabbing his fifth stage of the race.

“I’m disappointed this year not to win the green jersey,” he said. “I had some bad luck and was out of the running. But we won five stages and we’ve got to be happy with this year’s Tour.”

One who had less to smile about was seven-time winner Armstrong. He finished 23rd in his final Tour, and was never a threat to Contador, who he had vowed to beat. Victory by his RadioShack squad in the team classification was the sole consolation for the Texan, who has retired again.