Carlos Sastre wins Tour de France
Carlos Sastre has won the Tour de France after completing the final stage into Paris without mishap. He is the third Spaniard in a row to win cycling's premier event.
Sastre held onto his 65-second lead over Cadel Evans of Australia, one of the narrowest victories in the 105-year-old race. Sunday’s 21st and final stage was won by Gert Steegmans.
The 33-year-old Spanish tour winner completed the 3,559km race in 87h 52′ 52″.
The 143km trek from Etampes to the Champs-Elysées was largely ceremonial after Sastre all but locked up victory a day earlier in the final time trial.
Sastre is among the oldest men to win the Tour for a first time. It is his sixth top-ten finish in the race.
Swiss world time trial champion Fabian Cancellara came 13th in Sunday’s stage.
Three Swiss finished the race: Johann Tschopp came 54th, Cancellara 65th and Martin Elmiger 71st.
As in the last two years, this year’s 95th Tour was plagued by doping. Three riders were ousted after drugs tests.
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