Phonak's team rider Floyd Landis of the U.S., wearing the leader's yellow jersey, holds a glass of champagne as he celebrates his overall leader position during the last stage of the 93rd Tour de France cycling race between Sceaux-Antony and the Champs-Elysees in Paris yesterday. - REUTERS
PARIS (Reuters):
AMERICAN FLOYD Landis was crowned Tour de France champion after yesterday's parade on the Champs-Elysees ended in a sprint won by Norway's Thor Hushovd.
Landis sealed his victory having finished third in Saturday's time trial, beating his closest rivals to succeed compatriot Lance Armstrong in the race's roll of honour.
Spain's Oscar Pereiro was second overall, and Andreas Kloeden of Germany finished third.
Landis, who will undergo hip surgery within the next two months, said: "My next goal is to come back here. Yes, that's the plan."
Phonak rider Landis, a former teammate of Armstrong who retired last year following his record seventh consecutive Tour win, made up eight minutes when he won Thursday's 17th stage in the Alps in one of the greatest rides in Tour history.
The American had lost ground on the ascent to La Toussuire on Wednesday, but dug deep to close the gap on Pereiro in a solo effort reminiscent of the 1971 showing by Spaniard Luis Ocana, who beat Belgian great Eddy Merckx by 8:42 in the Pyrenees.
Americans celebrated Landis' triumph yesterday as early-rising Californians offered lusty cheers over breakfast.
"This is history," highway patrol officer Ernie Sanchez said by telephone from Landis' adopted home town of Murrieta, California, where dozens of families watched on television the final stage of his improbable ride to success.
"We have become so used to Lance Armstrong. He spoiled us (by winning) for seven years and Floyd has continued that legacy," Sanchez, 36, a long-time rider, told Reuters.
Chants of "It's incredible!" and "17, 17!" echoed through a local dentist's conference room each time the yellow-shirted party-goers caught sight of 30-year-old Landis on television.
The latter was a reference to Landis' remarkable ride on Stage 17.
The white jersey for the best young rider went to Italy's Damiano Cunego two years after the 'Little Prince' won the Giro d'Italia.
Australian Robbie McEwen, who won three stages in this year's Tour, claimed the green jersey for the best sprinter for the third time after taking it in 2002 and 2004.
Dane Michael Rasmussen retained the polka-dot jersey for the best climber.
Many riders pulled funny faces before an emotional Jean-Marie Leblanc, directing his last Tour, signalled the real start of the last stage.
Russian Viatceslav Ekimov, taking part in his 15th and final Tour, entered the Champs-Elysees in first place after being freed by the peloton.
During the third of the eight laps on the famous avenue, 14 riders went ahead to open up a 30-second gap. A small bunch of riders, including the top sprinters, broke clear in the last kilometre.
McEwen launched his sprint too early and was denied an unprecedented third victory on the Champs-Elysees by Hushovd, who had already won the prologue.
Australian Stuart O'Grady took third place.
