Cadel Evans sealed victory in the 2011 Tour de France after a trouble-free final stage to Paris that saw Mark Cavendish take his third consecutive sprint win on the Champs-Élysées.

In the finishing sprint, Cavendish enjoyed a fine lead-out from his HTC-Highroad squad across the Place de la Concorde.

Cadel Evans has become the first Australian to capture cycling’s most prestigious title.

The 34-year-old Evans crossed the finish line on the Champs-Elysee at the end of the largely ceremonial final stage. He had virtually secured the title with his ride in the time trial in Grenoble a day earlier.

Andy Schleck of Luxembourg finished second overall for the third straight year, with brother Frank Schleck in third.

Evans’ triumph avoided heaping yet more controversy on cycling, for had pre-race favourite Contador won, the result would have been decided by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Mark Cavendish’s fifth stage win of this Tour affords him his first ever victory in the points classification, a prize that had eluded him in his three previous participations in the race.

The polka-dot jersey – awarded to the best climber – went to Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez of Spain, while the best young rider was Pierre Rolland of France.

Post race interview with Mark Cavendish:

Final GC standings after Stage 21:

1. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC) 86h12min 22sec – winner
2. Andy Schleck (LUX/LEO) at 1:34.
3. Frank Schleck (LUX/LEO) 2:30.
4. Thomas Voeckler (FRA/EUC) 3:20.
5. Alberto Contador (ESP/SAX) 3:57.
6. Samuel Sanchez (ESP/EUS) 4:55.
7. Damiano Cunego (ITA/LAM) 6:05.
8. Ivan Basso (ITA/LIQ) 7:23.
9. Tom Danielson (USA/GRM) 8:15.
10. Jean Christophe Peraud (FRA/ALM) 10:11.
11. Pierre Rolland (FRA/EUC) 10:43.
12. Rein Taaramae (EST/COF) 11:29.
13. Kevin De Weert (BEL/QST) 16:29.
14. Jrome Coppel (FRA/SAU) 18:36.
15. Arnold Jeannesson (FRA/FDJ) 21:20.
16. Haimar Zubeldia (ESP/RSH) 26:23.
17. Christian Vande Velde (USA/GRM) 27:12.
18. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN/GRM) 27:14.
19. Peter Velits (SVK/HTC) 28:54.
20. Jelle Vanendert (BEL/OLO) 32:41.
21. Rob Ruijgh (NED/VAC) 33:04.
22. Hubert Dupont (FRA/ALM) 36:54.
23. Vladimir Gusev (RUS/KAT) 42:26.
24. Rigoberto Uran (COL/SKY) 42:48.
25. Gorka Verdugo (ESP/EUS) 43:06.
26. Nicolas Roche (IRL/ALM) 46:23.
27. Sandy Casar (FRA/FDJ) 50:28.
28. Vladimir Karpets (RUS/KAT) 52:25.
29. Maxime Monfort (BEL/LEO) 53:16.
30. Yury Trofimov (RUS/KAT) 56:46.
31. Geraint Thomas (GBR/SKY) 1h00:48.
32. Levi Leipheimer (USA/RSH) 1h03:58.
33. Robert Gesink (NED/RAB) 1h05:09.
34. Egoi Martinez (ESP/EUS) 1h08:28.
35. Carlos Barredo (ESP/RAB) 1h12:58.
36. David Arroyo (ESP/MOV) 1h14:40.
37. Chris Anker Srensen (DEN/SAX) 1h14:42.
38. Philippe Gilbert (BEL/OLO) 1h14:51.
39. Remy Di Gregorio (FRA/AST) 1h22:04.
40. Julien El Fars (FRA/COF) 1h24:21.
41. David Moncouti (FRA/COF) 1h25:25.
42. Sylvester Szmyd (POL/LIQ) 1h25:37.
43. Cyril Gautier (FRA/EUC) 1h27:43.
44. Tony Martin (GER/HTC) 1h30:56.
45. Andrej Zeits (KAZ/AST) 1h31:48.
46. Dries Devenyns (BEL/QST) 1h34:06.
47. Yannick Talabardon (FRA/SAU) 1h34:51.
48. Xavier Zandio (ESP/SKY) 1h35:18.
49. Steve Morabito (SUI/BMC) 1h37:57.
50. Jakob Diemer Fuglsang (DEN/LEO) 1h39:58.
51. Christophe Riblon (FRA/ALM) 1h43:47.
52. Anthony Charteau (FRA/EUC) 1h43:49.
53. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/SKY) 1h44:39.
54. Jrme Pineau (FRA/QST) 1h44:41.
55. Maxime Bouet (FRA/ALM) 1h44:45.
56. George Hincapie (USA/BMC) 1h45:16.
57. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/RAB) 1h46:09.
58. Laurens ten Dam (NED/RAB) 1h47:02.
59. David Loosli (SUI/LAM) 1h51:08.
60. Linus Gerdemann (GER/LEO) 1h51:19.
61. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA/QST) 1h52:21.
62. Daniel Navarro (ESP/SAX) 1h53:22.
63. Thomas DE GEN (BEL/VAC) 1h54:11.
64. Christian Knees (GER/SKY) 1h56:12.
65. Amal Moinard (FRA/BMC) 1h58:43.
66. Gorka Izagirre (ESP/EUS) 1h59:47.
67. Jens Voigt (GER/LEO) 1h59:56.
68. Thor Hushovd (NOR/GRM) 2h03:15.
69. Maciej Paterski (POL/LIQ) 2h03:56.
70. Bauke Mollema (NED/RAB) 2h06:35.
71. Grischa Niermann (GER/RAB) 2h07:26.
72. Richie Porte (AUS/SAX) 2h09:24.
73. Egor Silin (RUS/KAT) 2h10:05.
74. Johnny Hoogerland (NED/VAC) 2h11:51.
75. Ruben Perez Moreno (ESP/EUS) 2h12:28.
76. David Millar (GBR/GRM) 2h14:56.
77. Gianni Meersman (BEL/FDJ) 2h17:27.
78. Stuart O’Grady (AUS/LEO) 2h17:58.
79. Tony Gallopin (FRA/COF) 2h18:19.
80. Jos Joaquin Rojas (ESP/MOV) 2h22:54.
81. Sergio Paulinho (POR/RSH) 2h24:29.
82. Tejay Van Garderen (USA/HTC) 2h25:49.
83. Ivan Santaromita (ITA/BMC) 2h27:12.
84. Markel Irizar (ESP/RSH) 2h27:13.
85. Jrgen Roelandts (BEL/OLO) 2h27:28.
86. Jeremy Roy (FRA/FDJ) 2h28:27.
87. Kristjan Koren (SLO/LIQ) 2h29:24.
88. Imanol Erviti (ESP/MOV) 2h29:47.
89. Marco Marcato (ITA/VAC) 2h30:09.
90. Rui Costa (POR/MOV) 2h31:34.
91. Adriano Malori (ITA/LAM) 2h31:47.
92. Jesus Hernandez (ESP/SAX) 2h32:00.
93. Matteo Bono (ITA/LAM) 2h35:45.
94. Alan Perez Lezaun (ESP/EUS) 2h36:14.
95. Nicki Srensen (DEN/SAX) 2h36:26.
96. Simon Gerrans (AUS/SKY) 2h37:25.
97. Jonathan Hivert (FRA/SAU) 2h37:37.
98. Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP/SKY) 2h41:04.
99. Maartens Tjallingii (NED/RAB) 2h41:41.
100. Daniel Oss (ITA/LIQ) 2h47:07.
101. Anthony Roux (FRA/FDJ) 2h47:49.
102. Ivan Gutierrez (ESP/MOV) 2h49:23.
103. Michael Schr (SUI/BMC) 2h49:37.
104. Arthur Vichot (FRA/FDJ) 2h49:49.
105. Maxim Iglinskiy (KAZ/AST) 2h53:50.
106. Dmitriy Fofonov (KAZ/AST) 2h53:59.
107. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA/LAM) 2h54:20.
108. Joost Posthuma (NED/LEO) 2h55:25.
109. Danilo Hondo (GER/LAM) 3h00:00.
110. Sbastien Minard (FRA/ALM) 3h00:04.
111. Sbastien Hinault (FRA/ALM) 3h00:44.
112. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/AST) 3h00:59.
113. Sebastian Lang (GER/OLO) 3h01:51.
114. Brent Bookwalter (USA/BMC) 3h03:47.
115. Manuel Quinziato (ITA/BMC) 3h04:47.
116. Benjamin Noval (ESP/SAX) 3h06:29.
117. Blel Kadri (FRA/ALM) 3h07:07.
118. Tristan Valentin (FRA/COF) 3h07:10.
119. Fabian Cancellara (SUI/LEO) 3h07:31.
120. Sbastien Turgot (FRA/EUC) 3h08:34.
121. Fabio-Leonardo Duque (COL/COF) 3h08:41.
122. Laurent Mangel (FRA/SAU) 3h10:19.
123. Matteo Tosatto (ITA/SAX) 3h10:36.
124. Fabrice Jeandesboz (FRA/SAU) 3h11:47.
125. Brian Vandborg (DEN/SAX) 3h13:43.
126. Paolo Longo Borghini (ITA/LIQ) 3h13:44.
127. Grega Bole (SLO/LAM) 3h14:15.
128. Lieuwe Westra (NED/VAC) 3h14:15.
129. Dmitry Muravyev (KAZ/RSH) 3h14:29.
130. Mark Cavendish (GBR/HTC) 3h15:05.
131. Michael Buffaz (FRA/COF) 3h15:12.
132. Mickael Delage (FRA/FDJ) 3h15:39.
133. Alessandro Vanotti (ITA/LIQ) 3h16:00.
134. Niki Terpstra (NED/QST) 3h16:38.
135. Anthony Delaplace (FRA/SAU) 3h16:58.
136. Borut Božic (SLO/VAC) 3h17:11.
137. Ben Swift (ENG/SKY) 3h18:07.
138. Jeremie Galland (FRA/SAU) 3h19:46.
139. Francisco Ventoso (ESP/MOV) 3h20:02.
140. Tomas Vaitkus (LTU/AST) 3h20:07.
141. Marcel Sieberg (GER/OLO) 3h21:39.
142. Matthew Goss (AUS/HTC) 3h22:32.
143. Maciej Bodnar (POL/LIQ) 3h23:30.
144. Andriy Grivko (UKR/AST) 3h26:22.
145. Julian Dean (NZL/GRM) 3h28:00.
146. Addy Engels (NED/QST) 3h29:04.
147. Mikhail Ignatiev (RUS/KAT) 3h29:07.
148. Arnaud Coyot (FRA/SAU) 3h29:20.
149. Pablo Urtasun (ESP/EUS) 3h30:17.
150. Gerald Ciolek (GER/QST) 3h30:22.
151. Perrig Quemeneur (FRA/EUC) 3h30:35.
152. Romain Zingle (BEL/COF) 3h31:30.
153. Denys Kostyuk (UKR/LAM) 3h31:42.
154. Lars Ytting Bak (DEN/HTC) 3h33:25.
155. Vincent Jrme (FRA/EUC) 3h34:37.
156. Andr Greipel (GER/OLO) 3h35:04.
157. Ramunas Navardauskas (LTU/GRM) 3h36:53.
158. Yohann Gene (FRA/EUC) 3h38:13.
159. Tyler Farrar (USA/GRM) 3h38:32.
160. Jimmy Engoulvent (FRA/SAU) 3h38:34.
161. Bernhard Eisel (AUT/HTC) 3h39:56.
162. Samuel Dumoulin (FRA/COF) 3h43:17.
163. Mark Renshaw (AUS/HTC) 3h44:00.
164. Marcus Burghardt (GER/BMC) 3h44:08.
165. Danny Pate (USA/HTC) 3h45:26.
166. Audrey Amador (CRC/MOV) 3h54:35.
167. Fabio Sabatini (ITA/LIQ) 3h57:43.