Contador wins Tour de France 2009 (Top 10 Standings)

Astana rider and leader's yellow jersey Alberto Contador of Spain (C) listens to the national anthem played while standing on the podium next to Saxo Bank rider and white jersey for best youngster Andy Schleck of Luxembourg (L) and Astana rider Lance Armstrong of the U.S. (R) after the final 21st stage of the 96th Tour de France cycling race between Montereau-Fault-Yonne and Paris July 26, 2009. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

Spain’s Alberto Contador won this year’s Tour de France on Sunday, his second win in cycling’s premier event by more than four minutes, ahead of Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck and beating out seven-time winner Lance Armstrong of the U.S. who was making a comeback three and a half years after retiring.

Today’s day was the last of a three week 2,150 mile event, played out in 21 stages. The 21st stage today was won by Mark Cavendish of the United Kingdom who sprinted to the finish at the famed Champs Elysees.

Contador beat Schleck by 4 minutes 11 seconds and was ahead of Armstrong by 5 minutes and 24 seconds.

In this year’s race Contador took the overall lead after Stage 15.

“The Tour is the hardest race in the world, but this year it was particularly difficult. That's why I am so happy,” Contador, of the Astana team, said today according to Velo News.

Second place winner Schleck thanked his brother Frank for.

“I owe part of this achievement to by brother Frank who for three weeks sacrificed himself trying to help me,” Schleck said.

Armstrong said the first and second place winners were “clearly better than me” adding that he had no regrets.

Stage 21 winner Cavendish was satisfied.

“I wanted so bad to reach Paris, my team mates helped me to do this,” he said. “ And winning the Champs-Elysees … All my dreams come true.”

The following are the standings for the top 10 finishers in this year’s race, according to Versus.com.