Contador wins his second Tour de France

PARIS, July 26 (UPI) -- Alberto Contador of Spain won the Tour de France for the second time in three years Sunday, finishing more than 4 minutes ahead of Andy Schleck of Luxembourg.

American Lance Armstrong, a seven-time winner of the race, was third.

Contador held a substantial lead and had all but clinched the title prior to the 21st, and final, stage -- a 164-kilometer (102-mile) run from Montrereau-Fault-Yonne to Paris that was won by Britain's Mark Cavendish.

"I'm extremely happy," the Spaniard said after his victory became official. "The last day was great. At times I felt like a child again. I feel a great sense of relief; a release of tension."

The final overall standings had Contador 4 minutes and 11 seconds ahead of Schleck with Armstrong 5:24 behind.

Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain was fourth and Luxembourg's Frank Schleck fifth.

Cavendish covered the final run, which ended with a sprint along the city's Champs-Elysees, in 4 hours, 2 minutes and 18 seconds. Cavendish won six stages in this year's race, raising his career total to 10.

Armstrong, who was Contador's teammate, had returned to the race after a four-year absence.