PARIS, July 22 (UPI) -- Bradley Wiggins became the first British rider to capture a Tour de France title Sunday, riding into Paris to complete the event's 20th and final stage.
The Sky Racing team's Wiggins had held the yellow jersey, signifying the overall lead, since the Stage 7. He rolled down the Champs Elysees among the peloton 9 seconds behind final stage winner and teammate Mark Cavendish.
Wiggins' overall margin of victory was 3 minutes, 21 seconds over fellow Briton Christopher Froome. Wiggins finished 54th in the 76-mile final stage from Rambouillet to Paris, while Froome came in 58th.
Cavendish, meanwhile, won the final stage for a fourth time with a time of 3 hours, 8 minutes, 7 seconds -- his third stage victory in the 2012 Tour.
Italy's Vincenzo Nibali was third overall, finishing 6:19 behind the champion.
Defending champion Cadel Evans of Australia came in seventh overall, 15:49 off the pace.
