Tour de France 2010: The best pictures from the final stage in Paris

Plenty of Luxembourgers have come to support their compatriot Andy Schleck today. For the second year running, the 25-year-old is set to finish the Tour second overall behind Alberto Contador
Tom Jenkins

These two have come to see the Isle of Man's Mark Cavendish, who is bidding for his fifth stage win of this Tour and also to become the first man to win consecutively on the Champs Elysées following his sprint victory last year
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They seem to think they've found the perfect vantage point to take some photos. Can't see that one going wrong ...
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This dapper gent looks like he should be watching cricket at Lord's, not a sweaty horde of cyclists terrorising the avenues of Paris
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So many water bottles, so much Lycra ... it's hard to know what to buy. He looks keen on that sky-blue top, until he spots the price tag
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Right, time for some two-wheeled action. Here's the peloton making its first pass up the Champs Elysées. In the yellow is Alberto Contador, who followed custom by sipping champagne en route to Paris from Longjumeau Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

Away they streak, up the cobblestones to the Arc de Triomphe, which honours those who have fought for France Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

Then they're back again with Mark Cavendish (centre, in white – if that helps) escorted by members of his HTC-Colombia team
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Contador and co whip past another Parisian landmark, the Eiffel something ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

... before snaking along the banks of the Seine
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The peloton emerges from the Rue de Rivoli onto the Place de la Concorde
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... and sweep their way around the bend in unison, all keen to maintain a strong position for the finish Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Cavendish leads the sprint finish along the Champs Elysées ...
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... and crosses the line first to notch up stage win number five this year – not bad considering how far off the pace he looked in the first week. He now has a staggering 15 stage wins in total
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Cavendish looks delighted with himself and later tells the press: "This is the pinnacle. For me it is the most beautiful finish in the world, an icon of the sport, and to win it is pretty spectacular."
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Unfortunately for Cavendish his closest rival, Alessandro Petacchi, finishes second on the day to claim the green jersey
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Contador blows out his cheeks after becoming Tour champion for the third time
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The top three riders in this year's Tour take to the podium – Schleck on the left, Contador in the centre and Denis Menchov on the right Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

The Spaniard holds aloft the winner's trophy
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These must be tired legs. They belong to Anthony Charteau, winner of the polkadot King of the Mountains jersey
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Cuddly toys are brought out for the winners. Schleck, who won the white jersey for the best young rider, would be the obvious recipient
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Let's not forget that today is Lance Armstrong's last ever Tour race, unless he comes out of retirement for a second time. Tour officials forced his team to remove ceremonial jerseys – intended to draw attention to the plight of cancer sufferers – earlier in the day after they neglected to clear them with organisers Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

Bradley Wiggins relaxes with his family after the finish. Last year he finished fourth, one place behind Armstrong; this year he's 24th, one place behind Armstrong again. Not quite what he was hoping for but there's always next year Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins