2ND ROUNDUP Contador wins 2009 Tour de France, Armstrong takes third

Paris - Alberto Contador won the 2009 Tour de France on Sunday, the second Tour title of his career following victory in 2007. The 26-year-old Contador outdueled Luxembourg's Andy Schleck and seven-time Tour champion Lance Armstrong, who finished third in his comeback after four years away from the race. Contador's margin over the 24-year-old Schleck was 4 minutes 11 seconds, the largest winning margin in several years. Armstrong was 5 minutes 25 seconds adrift. Contador proved himself the strongest climber by far, and the Astana rider won one time trial and came in second in the other. However, he often said the Tour was very difficult for him because of the rivalry with teammate Armstrong for leadership of the Astana team. That was decided on the first big Alpine climb, on July 19, when Contador sprinted away from his rivals and beat Armstrong by 1 minute 35 seconds. Asked Sunday what the most difficult time of the Tour was for him, Contador replied, 'being at the hotel,' a reference to the difficulties he had with his teammates. He also said whatever team he joined in the future would have to 'think only about me.' Armstrong appeared to suffer on several of the Alpine climbs, but he showed determination and some of his old power on the climb to the top of Mont Ventoux on Saturday to retain his place on the podium. 'It feels good' to be on the podium, Armstrong told France 2 television after the race. 'I felt like I came and did very well. I did my best.' He will be back on the Tour in 2010 with a new team, sponsored by the Texas-based electronics giant Radio Shack. 'I hope to come back stronger next year,' he said. 'I'll do my best. Maybe I'll win.' Tour aficionados are already looking forward to the competition between Contador and Armstrong, as well as young Andy Schleck, who will no doubt be better next year. The winner of Sunday's stage, 164km from Monterau-Fault-Yonne to the Champs Elysees in Paris, was the 'British Rocket,' Mark Cavendish, who took his sixth stage win of this year's Tour and the 10th in two years. 'Six wins and the victory on the Champs Elysee, all my dreams have come true,' Cavendish told France 2 television. However, despite his domination in the sprints, he could not win the sprinters' points title, which was taken by Norwegian Thor Hushovd, who won only one stage but ran a clever race. Italian Franco Pellizotti won the Tour's King of the Mountains title. Cavendish's Team Columbia mate Mark Renshaw finished second, with American Tyler Farrar coming in third. The winner's time was 4 hours 2 minutes 18 seconds, an average speed of 40.61 kph.