Alberto Contador edged closer to Lance Armstrong's record number of victories on Sunday as the American's Tour de France career came to an end.
Contador (Astana) secured a third Tour title in four years by 39 seconds from Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank), who finished as runner-up for a second straight year.
The Spaniard is now four victories behind seven-time winner Armstrong, who bade farewell to the race he dominated with seven successive wins between 1999 and 2005.
After Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) won the 20th stage from Longjumeau to Paris, sprinting to victory on the Champs Elysees, Contador stood atop the podium ahead of Schleck and third-placed Denis Menchov (Rabobank).
"My objective was to win the Tour and it's such a big moment of relief," said Contador.
However, the 27-year-old's third successive win - he missed the 2008 Tour as his team was barred - is a victory which will be tainted in some people's eyes.
Contador seized the maillot jaune on Monday by - contrary to racing etiquette - forging forward when Schleck suffered a mechanical problem as his chain slipped on the hors categorie (beyond category) climb of the Port de Bales.
The 39-second swing Contador garnered was cancelled out on the 52-kilometre penultimate day time-trial from Bordeaux to Pauillac, which all but confirmed Contador as champion ahead of today's traditional ceremonial procession.
But there was a reminder of the 97th Tour's pivotal incident today after a staged sprint between Contador and Schleck.
The 25-year-old from Luxembourg played along before looking down at his bike.
He radioed to his team car, then dropped back behind the peloton where he switched his bike.
In 2009, Schleck finished four minutes 11 seconds behind Contador in second place, but the deficit was cut this year.
Contador and Schleck put the dropped chain incident behind them, but there is no doubt it was the decisive moment.
"All the great races can only be won by very few seconds," said Contador.
Either way, their rivalry - one which saw them reach the Col du Tourmalet summit as equals - is likely to be an enduring one.
"Andy is a great rider, I've spent a lot of time with him, I know him very well," said Contador.
"I think he's going to be a major rival for a long time."
Much was made in 2009 of the relationship between Contador and Armstrong, who were members of the same team.
The Texan, after establishing the Team RadioShack squad, has endured a difficult 13th and final Tour, finishing almost 40 minutes behind in 23rd place.
But Armstrong still offered an opinion on the duel between Contador and Schleck.
On social networking website Twitter - a medium which Armstrong used to announce this would be his last Tour - the 38-year-old said: "Incredibly ironic the time difference on GC (general classification) now - 39 secs.
"Same time andy_schleck lost into Luchon after the chain debacle."
The final stage Armstrong end his career as a Tour rider, but he did not go quietly.
Armstrong fell out of contention on the first Alpine stage, where he was involved in three incidents - two of them crashes - and finished almost 12 minutes behind.
It set up a lap of honour for Armstrong, who began the race with the dream of an eighth Tour title.
After being denied the stage victory he craved on Tuesday in Pau, Armstrong said the end was nigh - and