As expected, Alberto Contador claimed his second Tour De France victory overnight, with Andy Schleck in second spot and Seven-time winner Lance Armstrong rounding out the top three.

For Contador, this years tour proved to be much more difficult than his first tour win in 2007.

“It has been an especially difficult Tour for me, but I savour it and it is more special because of it,” the Spaniard said.

The final stage has always been about celebrating the arrival to Paris and enjoying the finishing stages of the tiring journey, with the fight for the yellow jersey already concluded.

With all the main contenders taking a back seat, it was the sprinters who took center stage. The two-way battle for the green jersey between Thor Hushhovd and Mark Cavendish was the focal point, with only 25 points separating the duo.

In a race for the finishing line, Aussie Mark Renshaw played the ultimate team role, breaking in front and providing a slipstream for Cavendish to sprint to victory.

However, it was not enough to pinch the points jersey, with Thor Hushovd finishing in sixth spot to hold a slender lead of 10 points and be crowned the Tour’s best sprinter for the second time.

In the climbers’ category, Italian Franco Pellizotti took the title as this year’s king of the mountain, and also claimed the prize for most combative rider.

Luxemburg’s Andy Schleck took out the white jersey for the second year running, stamping himself as the events best young rider. His brother and Saxo-Bank teammate, Frank, finished fifth in the overall classification just behind Britain’s Bradley Wiggins in fourth spot.

Team Astana, led by Contador and Armstrong, was the overall leader in the team standings, 22’35” ahead of the Garmin-Slipstream team.

It was, however, American Lance Armstrong who stole the limelight with his courageous podium finish in his return to cycling after three and a half years. The 37 year-old has already announced he will return to France next year, but this time with his own team, Team Radioshack.

“RadioShack has agreed to partner with us on this venture and ensure that this partnership and this team stays alive for years to come, continues to be at the head of the peloton,” Armstrong said.

“It’s a huge opportunity for us as an organization and as a cancer survivor. It’s pretty mega.”

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County compatriot Juan Manuel Garate took the honours in the 20th stage after forming a breakaway with German Tony Martin half way through the day.

After Windy conditions wreaked havoc in the main paleton, an Astana led group went in pursuit of the duo but could not bridge the gap, leaving both riders to battle it out for the win.

The 2007 winner, Contador, now holds a lead of 4’11” heading into the final stage through the Champs-Élysées, and given he finishes the stage without retiring, the title will be his.

The final stage has forever been celebration of the tour leader rather than a stage to challenge for the overall jersey, and therefore the other competitors will allow, out of respect and tradition, Contador to finish in front.

Rising up-and-comer Andy Schleck sits in second position overall, with Texan Lance Armstrong on the verge of completing a fairytale return to the sport with a podium finish, in third spot

The sprinters classification, however, will be hotly contested tonight with Britain’s Mark Cavendish only 25 points behind the green jersey holder Thor Hushovd.

In the King of the Mountain category Italian Franco Pellizotti has all but tied up the polka dot jersey 75 points in front of second placed Spain’s Egoi Martinez.

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The yellow jersey holder pipped the Swiss rider Cancellara by three seconds in the final ride of the day, with Mikhail Ignatiev finishing third, 15 seconds behind.

Contador now holds a commanding overall lead of 4’11” to second placed Andy Schleck, and looks certain to collect his second Tour de France crown.

Cycling legend Lance Armstrong left nothing in the tank, finishing in 16th spot to leapfrog Frank Shcleck in the overall classifications and move into third position.

However, the Americans fairytale dream of making a podium finish in his return to cycling is not safe yet with Britains Bradley Wiggins only 11 seconds behind.

In other classifications Thor Hushovd maintained his lead in the sprinters group as did Franco Pellizotti in the battle for king of the mountain.

Tonight’s stage will see the group push 178 kilometres from Bourgoin-Jallieu to Aubenas in the third last day of competition.

Schleck was joined by his brother, and teammate, Andy, and overall leader Alberto Contador in a three-man breakway that proved too strong for the main group.

Seven-time winner Lance Armstrong tried his best to peg back the leaders but fell short, finishing in fifth spot; 2’ 18” behind the winner Schleck.

The result all but ended Armstrong’s hopes of a fairytale tour win. He now sits in fourth position overall and seems focused on a securing a podium finish.

In what was one of the toughest stages so far, the 169.5 km journey from Bourg Saint-Maurice to Le Grand-Bornand started off in a blistering pace with sprint leader Thor Hushovd racing out to a five-minute lead midway through the stage to build a 30-point lead in the points classification.

The Astana-led paleton eventually caught the Norwegian with 40 kilometres remaining, and it was here where the major players made their move.

Britain’s Bradley Wiggins made the first attack, but was reeled in by Armstrong before the Schleck brothers flew past them with Contador and Andreas Kloden on their tails.

With the finish line nearing, Kloden could not maintain the ferocious pace set by the Team Saxo-Bank riders and fell away from the group with 25 kilometres remaining.

Andy Schleck’s third place has increased his lead in the best young rider classification, while Franco Pellizotti still holds the polka-dot jersey for best climber.

Tonight’s stage is a 40.5 km individual pursuit through the town of Annecy.

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The Alpine stage, which covered 159 kilometres from Martigny in Switzerland to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, ended in blistering fashion as a group of eight riders charged down the decent in speeds of up to 90 kilometres p/h.

Astarloza proved too strong for the group, launching a sensational surge down the left hand side of the road, never to be seen again.

Local rider Sandy Casar finished second to claim his sixth podium finish of the tour, while overall leader Alberto Contador maintained his stranglehold on the group crossing the line in 10th spot, 59 seconds behind Astarloza.

Contador holds a 1’37” advantage over Astana team-mate and seven-time winner Lance Armstrong in second place heading into tonight’s crucial 169.5 km stage through to Le Grand Bornand.

In what is widely regarded as the tour’s most gruelling day, consisting of four category one climbs, the 17th stage will be pivotal in shaping the tour’s eventual winner.

Armstrong will be eager to bridge the gap between him and Contador in what will be the fourth last day of competition.

In the race for the green jersey Norway’s Thor Hushovd leads by 18 points to Britains
Mark Ccavendish, while Italian Franco Pellizotti has moved 58 points clear of Egoi
Martinez in the battle for the King of the Mountain.

Andy Schleck holds the white jersey for the best young rider.

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It is the 96th time the popular, historic race has been held and this year the event will span 21 stages and a total distance of 3500 kilometres.

The 21 stages are broken down as follows:

10 flat stages
7 mountain stages
1 medium mountain stage
2 individual time trial stages
1 team time trial stage

There will be eight stopover towns on the route:

Brignoles
Gérone (Espagne)
Issoudun
Martigny (Suisse)
Saint-Fargeau
Tonnerre
Vatan
Verbier (Suisse).

The notable elements of the race are as follows:

3 mountain finishes
2 rest days
55 kilometres of individual time-trials
20 Category 1, Category 2 and highest-level passes will be climbed

The route stages:

Prologue – Saturday 4 July
The race kicks off with a 15.5 kilometre time trial that will run the windy streets of Monaco.

Stage 2 – Monaco > Brignoles – Sunday 5 July
A 187 kilometre bumpy stage that may be suitable for a breakaway and might be tricky for the teams to arrange the sprint.

Stage 3 – Marseille > La Grande-Motte – Monday 6 July
A long, 196.5 kilometre stage but in spite of the early rises and dips, which might see some brave souls seeking to stay away for the day, the last 80 kilometres are flat and it is probably going to be a bunch sprint.

Stage 4 – Montpellier > Montpellier – Tuesday 7 July
This is the return of the team trial. Only 39 kilometres but features a couple of hills. The big teams may dominate this stage. A rule change means real-time is the ultimate factor.

Stage 5 – Le Cap d’Agde > Perpignan – Wednesday 8 July
A delight for sprinters, this 196.5 kilometre stage is flat all the way to Perpignan.

Stage 6 – Gérone > Barcelona – Thursday 9 July
The heartland of Catalonia will see a motley crue of sprinters and climbers turn up first, because this mostly flat but sharply uphill finished leg will throw up some surprises.

Stage 7 – Barcelona > Andorre Arcalis – Friday 10 July
Now we hit the hills. The peak is the 2240 metre Andore Arcalis, which could break the spirit of some riders on this grueling 224 kilometre stage.

Stage 8 – Andorre-la-Vieille > Saint-Girons – Saturday 11 July
More power to the climbers here, with three quality climbs on the 176.5 kilometre leg to Saint-Girons. The long 45 kilometre descent to the finish may tighten the field.

Stage 9 – Saint-Gaudens > Tarbes – Sunday 12 July
Two hills here, the 1490 metre Col d’Aspin and the 2115 metre Col du Tormalet. At this point we might start to see the real contenders distinguish themselves.

Stage 10 Limoges > Issoudun – Tuesday 14 July
This stage comes after a rest day and is much flatter than the previous three legs. Sprinters will start to come back into the equation after a few days of climbers.

Stage 11 – Vatan > Saint-Fargeau -Wednesday 15 July
Very similar to Stage 10, again favouring those in the hunt for the green jersey.

Stage 12 – Tonnerre > Vittel – Thursday 16 July
A 211.5 kilometre stage that is one of the final chances for sprinters to make their mark. Look for breakaway groups to make a move on a couple of the steep climbs that dot the stage.

Stage 13 – Vittel > Colmar – Friday 17 July
Back to the mountains, and this 200 kilometre leg will feature no less than passes.

Stage 14 – Colmar > Besançon – Saturday 18 July
This may be an uneventful stage because, although its 199 kilometres long, there is little difficult climbing and the serious contenders may hold back for the later stages.

Stage 15 – Pontarlier > Verbier – Sunday 19 July
Expect riders to push hard through this stage, with a rest day to follow. It finishes with a difficult climb up the 1468 metre Verbier.

Stage 16 – Martigny > Bourg-Saint-Maurice – Tuesday 21 July
This leg might represent a change in the tempo of the race. Two massive peaks – the 2473 metre Martigny and the 2188 metre Bourg-Saint-Maurice – confront riders on arguably the most difficult stage. Cream will rise to the top here.

Stage 17 – Bourg-Saint-Maurice > Le Grand-Bornand – Wednesday 22 July
There is no rest for the wicked, with four 1st category climbs. Those who can push through tiredness may find themselves in pole position.

Stage 18 – Annecy > Annecy – Thursday 23 July
Individual time trial. At only 40.5 kilometres, it is unlikely that any rider lagging behind will be able to push up into the higher ranks here. Most pundits think you need to be at the front of the pack by this stage for a chance at victory.

Stage 19 – Bourgoin-Jallieu > Aubenas – Friday 24 July
Some early bumps in the profile make way to a flat mid section, before a final climb and a quick downhill ending. A breakaway could be forthcoming here.

Stage 20 – Montélimar > Mont Ventoux – Saturday 25 July
The final chance for a winner to stake his claim. The race to Mont Ventoux will be hectic and climactic, so be sure to tune in.

Stage 21 – Montereau-Fault-Yonne > Paris Champs-Élysées – Sunday 26 July
Although the winner should be known by this stage, the green jersey could still be up for grabs. Keep your eyes peeled for the final sprint to the Champs-Elysees.