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13:15:12 - Welcome To The Live Coverage Of Stage 21

The final stage of the 2009 Tour de France is scheduled to begin at 1.20pm. The 21st stage - from Montereau-Fault-Yonne to the Champs-Elysees in Paris is 164km long, the second shortest non-time trial stage of the 96th edition - will be raced in warm conditions with temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius before the start. There are virtually no clouds in this fine summer Sunday and there is a light breeze blowing.

Live coverage of the stage will commence shortly.

13:18:23 - Riders Lining Up For Start

Alberto Contador and Thor Hushovd are already at the start line in Montereau-Fault-Yonne. The official start is still a few kilometers away (after a brief neutral zone) but the formalities are coming to an end and the peloton is about to start rolling.

13:20:15 - Reviewing The Prize Classifications...

For the final time this year, we will review the various prize classifications of the race while the riders make their way to the site of the official start. In subsequent newsflashes we'll summarize the jersey winners of the 96th edition of the Tour de France.

13:21:35 - Prize Classification Review: Part 01 – Yellow Jersey

There is still a stage to go but the general classification has effectively been sorted. Alberto Contador is 164km away from winning the second the Tour de France for a second time. The penultimate stage, to Mont Ventoux, was expected to cause a considerable reshuffle of the top order of the race for the yellow jersey but, in fact, there were only two changes in the top 10 after yesterday: Frank Schleck, who finished sixth on Mont Ventoux (43” behind Garate) moved up from sixth overall to fifth. His brother retains second place, 4’11” behind Contador.

The other alteration was the elevation of Roman Kreuziger (LIQ) from 12th overall to ninth. The Czech rider shunted Christophe Le Mevel (FDJ) – the best French rider in the 96th edition – down from ninth to 10th.

Lance Armstrong will finish on the podium once again after improving his advantage over Bradley Wiggins, only this time the American will be third overall, 5’21” behind his Astana team-mate. The British rider who concentrated on a good GC result for the first time in his career is ranked fourth at 5’36”.

13:22:58 - Peloton Rolling In Neutral Zone

Alberto Contador is fully clad in yellow today. He is riding alongside Andy Schleck and Franco Pellizotti early in the neutral zone of stage 21. On the right side of the best young rider in the race is Thor Hushovd in the green jersey.

13:24:04 - Prize Classification Review: Part 02 – Green Jersey

Although Thor Hushovd (CTT) has a commanding lead in the points classification, there is still a chance for Mark Cavendish to take the green jersey on the final day. There are two intermediate sprints during the final stage – each offering six, four and two points for the first three across the line. And the winner of the stage can earn 35 points.

If we consider only the final sprint, Cavendish must win it and Hushovd must finish outside the top 15 and then the Brit can take the green jersey from the Norwegian. (If neither acquired points in the intermediate sprints… of course.)

The points allocation for the final sprint is as follows: 35, 30, 26, 24, 22, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 for the first 25 riders.

13:24:26 - 4km Neutral Zone

The neutral zone in Montereau-Fault-Yonne is four kilometers long. The red car in which the race director Christian Prudhomme sits is currently moving ahead of the bunch as it starts its stroll through the streets of the 'Ville départ'.

13:25:52 - Prize Classification Review: Part 03 – Polka-Dot Jersey

Franco Pellizotti (LIQ) added another 14 points to his tally in the climbing prize and the rider they call the Dolphin of Bibione will be the first Italian King of the Mountains since Claudio Chiappucci in 1992. Pellizotti finished eighth in the Mont Ventoux stage and now has a collection of 210 points in the mountains classification. There are no climbs in the final stage and the Liquigas rider leads Egoi Martinez (EUS) who has 135pts and Alberto Contador (AST) with 126pts.

The polka-dot jersey will go to the rider who finished the centenary Giro d’Italia in third place overall.

13:26:20 - Prize Classification Review: Part 04 – White Jersey

Andy Schleck (SAX) still has another year to ride before he’s no longer eligible for the youth classification at the Tour de France. The champion of Luxembourg will finish second overall in the 2009 edition, but he will win the white jersey. He won the same prize in his Tour debut (last year) when he was 11th overall and part of the winning team.

Schleck leads Vincenzo Nibali (LIQ) by 3’04” in the young rider rankings. Third will go to Kreuziger (LIQ – at 10’05”) and fourth is Pierre Rolland (BBO – at 33’33”) Nicolas Roche (ALM – at 34’09”).

13:29:30 - New Frame For Alberto Today...

Contador has a new black-framed Trek bike for today's stage. It features section in yellow on the top tube and yellow bar tape and hoods on his SRAM brake levers. He continues to lead the peloton as it makes its way through the neutral zone.

13:30:59 - Prize Classification Review: Part 05 – Team Rankings

The Liquigas team finished stage 20 with three in the top nine – Kreuziger (7th), Pellizotti (8th) and Nibali (9th). It won the team classification on the day but the second ranked squad yesterday, Astana, will win the team classification in 2009. Alberto Contador and his cohorts have a lead of 22’35” over Garmin-Slipstream and 28’34” over last year’s winners Saxo Bank which moved up from fourth overall in this category after the stage to Mont Ventoux. Fourth now is held by AG2R La Mondiale at 31’47”.

13:31:21 - Prize Classification Review: Part 06 – Fighting Spirit

Franco Pellizotti (LIQ) was dropped by the yellow jersey’s group early on the climb to Mont Ventoux but he not only fought back but was able to attack Contador et al with about eight kilometers to go in the stage. He was caught in the final kilometer but he showed a lot of panache – enough, in fact, to be confirmed as the winner of the ‘Super Combative’ title in the 2009 edition. He twice received the most votes for the daily ‘Fighting Spirit’ award and the judges agreed that he was the rider who did the most to animate the race this year. He is also the winner of the polka-dot jersey.

13:34:14 - Kilometer Zero...!

The official start of the final stage of the 2009 Tour de France was at 1.35pm. The first rider to attack is Alberto Contador who currently leads the peloton by about 50 meters... it was the slowest acceleration of any attack in this year's race. And he's already been reeled in by the peloton. Better luck next time champ.

13:37:13 - 156 Riders In The Race

The Tour started with 180 riders and there are now 156 in the peloton as it makes its way to the French capital for the final stage.

13:38:20 - No Climbs: Two Sprints...

The stage features no climbs but includes two intermediate sprints, the first is on the second passage of the Haut des Champs-Elysées (120km), the second on the fourth lap (133km). There are eight laps of the finishing circuit before the finish.

13:40:56 - 10 'Moments' Of 2009 Tour...

As the race is traditionally relatively tranquil on the final day of the Tour de France, the editors of LeTour.fr will present 10 'special moments' of the race during the live coverage of the 21st stage. It's not just about the winners, but also the aggressors and animators, crash victims and survivors... those who achieve and inspire. This is by no means a definitive but in subsequent newsflashes we'll present a few highlights of the 96th edition.

13:48:31 - 'Moment' 01: Fabian Cancellara: King Of Monaco Time Trial

The opening stage of the 2009 Tour de France was a 15.5km test up the hill to Beausoleil from the harbor in Monaco and back again. It was the first opportunity for Alberto Contador to assert his status as leader of the Astana team and the 2007 champion darted up the climb to record the best time at the 7.5km mark. He was five seconds faster than anyone else but then came the Swiss Express, Fabian Cancellara.

The winner of the prologues of the 2004 and 2007 Tours has won two time trial world championships and is the reigning Olympic champion. He was the favorite for the first stage and demonstrated why in the final half: the rider affectionately known as Spartacus is a modern-day gladiator who makes his Specialized bike seem like it’s got an engine. On descents he is daring. In the time trial tuck he is the epitome of power. And once over the summit just outside the principality of Monaco he shifted into top gear and revved his legs at a phenomenal rate. From third at the intermediate check, six seconds behind Contador, he propelled himself into first place. Taking the win by 18 seconds, in a race when the top 10 was separated by just 40 seconds.

It was his dominance in Monaco that put Cancellara in the yellow jersey for six stages.

13:59:44 - ‘Moment’ 02: Columbia Create Carnage En-Route To La Grande-Motte

It was shaping up to be just like any other ‘sprint’ stage, with the bunch steadily reeling back the group of escapees before lining the bunch up for a rapid dash to the line for the speedsters to strut their stuff. While the third stage concluded with a sprint maestro in first place, it was the antics of Mark Cavendish’s team in the final 30 kilometers that made the race to La Grande-Motte one to remember.

As the peloton arrived near the Mediteranean coast, the wind was blowing hard. With Allan Peiper calling the shots for Columbia-HTC for the opening phase of the Tour, he wanted to take advantage of the conditions. His troops duly responded and all nine riders from the US-registered squad moved to the front and twisted the throttle.

They caused a split in the peloton and it cost some of the overall title contenders dearly. Savvy riders knew not to take a chance and get caught behind: Cancellara made the front group and kept his yellow jersey, Armstrong was the only man from the final top 10 to make the front group… and everyone else lost 41 seconds.

There were 27 men lining up for the sprint and Columbia ultimately got the reward it was after: the stage victory – a second in a row for Mark Cavendish.

14:07:49 - Stage Starts At Passive Pace

The peloton continues to amble along in the final stage. Cameras are being pulled out and the riders are enjoying the festive atmosphere. Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador are currently having a discussion as the roll along en-route to Paris. They are at the 18.5km mark.

14:10:18 - ‘Moment’ 03: Brice Feillu: A Surprise At Arcalis

The Feillu name became part of French cycling folklore in 2008 when Roman claimed the yellow jersey and although he only wore it for a day, it’s now part of history that the elder of the two Feillu brothers who lined up for this year’s race has led the Tour de France. In stage seven this year, his younger brother Brice burst out of the pack and made sure he left an impression during his debut Tour. At the 8km mark, he was part of a group of 20 in a counter-attack to chase down three early escapees in the longest stage of the 2009 race. From Barcelona to Arcalis in Andorra, the 224km stage featured the first category-one and ‘hors category’ mountains of the 96th Tour. Over the col de Serra-Seca, Feillu was fifth. At the next summit he was first… and then came the 10km long epic ascent to the finish at an altitude of 2,240m.

While many other escapees were reeled in, Brice never gave up hope. “I like this sort of stage, when you have to fight out of every turn to keep the pace,” he said.

Fight he did. The GC Guys were chomping at the bit to attack each other and while they closed in on the lead group, they failed to catch the escapees. And it was the young Feillu who conquered the first mountain stage this year.

14:19:37 - 25km Covered

The peloton is now at the 25km mark of the 21stage. As expected there have been no early attacks and the bunch is slowly, but surely, making its way to Paris.

14:23:19 - Average Speed For First Hour

The peloton has covered 31.8km in the first hour of racing today.

14:37:22 - ‘Moment’ 04: Laurens Ten Dam: Tumble On The Tourmalet

On the last day in the Pyrenees, the stage from Saint-Gaudens to Tarbes featured two major mountain passes. Before the first one, an escape group had already formed but on the Col d’Aspin, six men decided to launch a counter-attack. Laurens Ten Dam was part of the group and by the top of the Col du Tourmalet the Rabobank rider was in the lead group. He crested the second mountain in ninth place and was setting himself up to make amends for the loss of his team’s captain-by-default, Robert Gesink. The Dutch squad originally name Denis Menchov as the team leader but the Russian showed no hint of the form he had when he won the Giro d’Italia in May. And thus Gesink, a Tour debutant, find himself with leadership status but default… until he crashed at an untimely moment on the road to Perpignan and, despite chasing for 90km, would never rejoined the lead.

That was one woe for Rabobank but there would be more. Just when Ten Dam was showing signs of making something of his move, he tumbled. At over 80km/h on the early part of the descent of the monster climb, he misjudged a turn and crashed off the road. He would remount with his orange jersey turned black from the grit that he picked up while sliding to a halt.

Try as he did to stay with the leaders, he eventually surrendered the chance of winning the stage but he stayed in the front peloton. It was a display of fighting spirit which was inspirational because lesser men would have quit immediately.

14:39:33 - 40km Ridden...

There's not a lot to report on the 21st stage which continues at a tourists pace early today. The peloton is at the 40km mark and a tranquil mood pervades. This is traditionally the case for the final stage, with the exception in recent years, of 2004 when Filippo Simeoni was daring enough to attack right at the start and again a few times before the peloton arrived on the streets of Paris.

14:49:59 - ‘Moment’ 05 - Heinrich Haussler: A Release Of Emotion

With a start on the Cote d’Azur and visit to Spain in the first week, the 2009 Tour began with hot conditions but by the 13th stage the weather had turned. Cold and wet for the 200km journey from Vittel to Colmar the peloton was more focused on staying warm over the Col de la Schlucht and when the temperature dipped to just five degrees. With rain falling, it was not exactly conducive to racing hard but Heinrich Haussler relished the situation. “It was just so cold on top – it really was freezing – and that takes so much energy,” he said after the stage. “I knew that, as the day went on, I’d stay the same and the others would get weaker. That was the key to the success today. This is my type of weather and I love it.”

The Australian-born German from Cervelo was part of the original escape group and, 50km from the finish, realized that the last remaining member of the breakaway – Sylvain Chavanel – was not going as hard as possible. And so Haussler attacked. All the way to the finish he increased his advantage until he arrived on the finish straight with the knowledge that the stage win would be his. The nearest rival was over four minutes behind and Heinrich prepared himself for the perfect salute. Ensuring his kit was perfect, he eventual lifted his hands from the bars ready to raise his arms and just as he reached the line he became overwhelmed by emotion. Tears fell as he took his first victory in the Tour de France. “I didn’t exactly chose this stage as one for me before the Tour but it’s special. On the last hill it was absolutely amazing, I was getting goosebumps all over me and this is what you do cycling for: to get these feelings and these emotions.”

14:57:15 - Champagne For The Winner

Contador and his Astana colleagues have just raised a (plastic) 'glass' of Champagne to toast their success in their return to the Tour de France.

14:59:58 - 'Moment' 06 - Albert Contador At Verbier

The second high mountain finish came when the race arrived in Switzerland during stage 15. Until then the yellow jersey had been worn by just two men: Cancellara and Rinaldo Nocentini who was the first Italian to lead the Tour since 2000. But in Verbier it was all expected to change. On the steep gradient leading to the finish, the early escapees tried with all their might to hold off the overall favorites and the last to fugitive to survive the charge of the GC Guys was Simon Spilak. The Slovenian led onto the final ascent but then became the invisible man; cameras failed to catch his capture in part because there was so much action amongst those who were vying for the yellow jersey but also because, once Alberto Contador decided it was time to dance, he did so with such speed that Spilak could have been little more than a blur in the background to the man who would become the third (and final) race leader in 2009.

Contador had ridden half of the climb along with a group that included his team-mate, seven-time champion Lance Armstrong, but then some attacking began. Jurgen van de Broeck taunted the other climbing specialists with a surge and it acted as a catalyst to prompt the 2007 into action. Contador later admitted that it was no premeditated: he just felt good and off he went. Like a rocket, he raced past van den Broeck and into the lead of the stage. He would win the stage from the eventual runner-up Andy Schleck who was 43 seconds behind. And it was the first time since 1999 that the words, “Armstrong dropped” could be mentioned during coverage of the Tour de France.

15:09:13 - First And Last Pose

Yauheni Hutarovich will be the 'Lanterne Rouge' in 2009. The Belorussian champion is the last rider in the general classification. The FDJ rider is the latest man to pose for photos alongside the yellow jersey. Contador leads Hutarovich by four hours, 16 minutes and 27 seconds after 3,295km of racing.

15:16:50 - ‘Moment’ 07 – Mark Cavendish: The Fastest Man In The World

There’s still another chance for Mark Cavendish to win a stage. He’s said all along that his main ambition during his third Tour was to claim victories, aim for the green jersey but, most of all, make it to Paris. He’s going to achieve that. There’s no doubt. And it would be a brave person to bet against him should today’s stage end in a sprint.

He has won five stages this year already, nine in total when you add the four he took last year… and shows no sign of slowing down.

In Saint-Fargeau, at the end of stage 11 however, the terrain suggested that the sprinters would have to make way for the strong men. On television screens the climb in the final 500 meters didn’t appear too dramatic but the gradient was enough to theoretically rule out the speed merchants… but no one told ‘Cav’ and his key lead-out man Mark Renshaw. The Australian raced out of the shadows of the other Columbia-HTC riders who formed the train on the approach to the line. Cavendish then launched his sprint earlier than he wanted and he was chased all the way to the line by Tyler Farrar who would finish closer to the Colombia rider than anyone else has been able to during the sprint stages of this year’s Tour.

15:18:02 - ‘Moment’ 08 - Thor Hushovd: A 100km Sprint

Until what many considered to be the Queen Stage of this year’s Tour, the tough 169.5km journey from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Le Grand Bornand which included five mountain passes, there were two clear leaders of the points classification but neither Mark Cavendish nor Thor Hushovd could gain enough of a jump on each other to believe the green jersey would be theirs. The Norwegian benefited from the relegation of the Brit in one sprint finish (for minor places) and had a jump on him in the acquisition of points, leading 218 points to 200 after 16 stages. But then, at the top of the Cormet de Roseland – the first mountain of stage 17 – Hushovd decided to attack. He raced up to the early escape on the descent, into the lead in the valley, and onward to first at the intermediate sprint at the 75km mark. Okay, the lead increased by six points… but why not continue for six more?

“I feel really good and I’m comfortable on the climbs. And today everything just felt perfect. I attacked over the first climb, did a good descent and then had an amazing day in the front. I think this day I’ve ever had on the bike.

“Maybe I was making a statement but at least I’ve got more points in case something happens in the coming days and I win the jersey just 10 points, at least I can say that I built a sufficient buffer on this stage to Le Grand Bornand. That’s not the issue. That wasn’t the only reason to attack. I wanted to have fun up there…”

The sprinter who won in Barcelona, was at the front of the mountain stage for 100km and unless something strange happens, he’ll win the green jersey for a second time.

15:29:38 - Average Speed For Second Hour

The average speed for the second hour of racing is 35.8km/h. The average for the first two hours is 33.8km/h.

15:38:51 - ‘Moment’ 09 - Jens Voigt’s Horrible Fall

There are few riders in the peloton who are as universally appreciated as Jens Voigt. The German is an entertainer in press conferences and on the bike. He seems to have unlimited energy and is always keen to part of an escape – sometimes for his own gain but more often for the benefit of his team. In stage 16 he assumed position in the group of fugitives on the first of two massive mountains, the ‘Grand’ and ‘Petit’ Saint-Bernard passes. He was sixth over the first climb and in the front group over the second. And then it was time to listen to team orders: either go for the stage win on the long descent or slam on the brakes and help Andy and Frank Schleck in the finale. He didn’t get the chance to do either. As they raced up to high speed, he nestled in behind other escapees but brushed a bump in the road that caused him to lose grip of the bars.

You’ve probably seen the image of him slapping down on the ground with a thud and then sliding along the bitumen before coming to a halt near the precipice of the mountain that’s over kilometers high. Thankfully he survived but would not be able to finish the race… if he had, could he have helped Andy make up 4’11” on Contador? Unlikely but if anyone would give it a try, it would be ‘Jensie’. Here’s cheers for your fighting spirit, Jens! Get well soon.

15:40:59 - ‘Moment’ 10 – Eight-Times Andy!

“It’s been a tough week but tomorrow the legs will talk,” said Andy Schleck at the end of stage 19. He had been unable to drop Contador during any moment of his second start in the Tour (and the first in which the Spaniard was also competing) but that didn’t mean he was going to concede the chance to swap his white jersey for the yellow one. “It’s no secret: we will go into the climb in a good position and we’ll be attentive right from the bottom.”

The Saxo Bankers had a plan for the Ventoux stage. They would attack, again and again and again… and see how Contador coped.

“I have personally never won a stage of the Tour so it might be my chance tomorrow. If Frank is with me… well, I helped him last time so this time it might be up to him to help me win. But of course many want to win on the Ventoux and it won’t be easy to drop Alberto or beat him on the climb. We’ll be there and we’ll try.”

Try he did. He knew it was windy. He knew it was steep. He knew Contador was strong, but Andy never gave up. Watch the final climb of the penultimate stage again. Count the number of times that Andy accelerates. LeTour.fr took a tally during the stage and we counted eight attacks. Each of them provided a blow to his rivals but Contador was always able to respond. Andy didn’t drop Alberto but he certainly put on a fine show. Bravo Andy. Bravo Alberto. Bravo everyone involved in making this year’s Tour an exciting edition.

– The LeTour.fr team

15:49:15 - Armstrong Up Front Of Peloton

The peloton is still rolling towards Paris and racing has not yet really begun. The rider who is going to finish third overall, Lance Armstrong is at the head of the bunch having a chat with riders from the Quickstep team as they approach the French capital.

15:56:09 - Lance Armstrong: Tour Debut 1993

The first time Lance Armstrong competed in the Tour de France he won a stage in a Verdun beating five others including the 1987 overall champion, Stephen Roche in a sprint. That was back in 1993 and the rider who led home the peloton was Mario Cipollini, 14 seconds behind the American.

Armstrong is third overall in his comeback race. He is the only rider from the 80th edition of the Tour who was in the peloton of the 96th edition.

There is a Roche in the field this year, but it is Stephen’s son, Nicolas (ALM) who finished in the top 10 in five stages of his debut Tour.

15:56:51 - Plenty Of Directeurs Sportif From 1993 Peloton

While Armstrong is the only rider from the 1993 Tour to still be racing, there are numerous from the field of the 80th edition who are still employed in cycling circles – including commentators, managers and directeurs sportif. There are at least 12 men who were competing against Armstrong during his debut Tour who are now calling the shots for various teams, they include: Mario Scirea (LIQ), Sean Yates (AST), Jean-Paul van Poppel (CTT), Neil Stephens (GCE), Rolf Aldag (THR), Brian Holm (THR), Marc Sergeant (SIL), Bjarne Riis (SAX), Marc Wauters (SIL), Frank Pineau (BBO) and Herman Frison (SIL).

16:02:46 - A Mention For Christian Knees...

Each year for the past five Tours de France, the team behind LeTour.fr have noticed that some riders have never been mentioned during the live coverage of the race on the official site. That's not to say they haven't been keen team players during the race or even a leader in their own right but they have just been able to get through the three weeks without being part of an escape group or featuring in the finale.

We have gone through the list of 156 finishers and realized that poor Christian Knees - one of the regular aggressors for the Milram team last year - has failed to receive a mention yet.

The strange thing about this is that he's ranked 21st overall... so he has been consistent throughout the first 20 stages but somehow escaped being part of the attention. Christian, this newsflash is for you! Well done on 21st place.

16:07:41 - The Other 'Unmentioned'...

Further to the previous newsflash, there are not usually so many 'unmentioned' riders during the live coverage on LeTour.fr which has exceeded 120,000 words during the three weeks for the past 10 years. This year, however, four men have achieved this... joining Knees (MRM) are Jeremy Roy (FDJ), Juan Jose Oroz (EUS) and Fabio Sabatini (LIQ).

Fellas, this newsflash is for you! May you help to animate the stage once it arrives on the streets of Paris.

16:11:59 - 12km To Paris...

The peloton is currently led by the eight riders from the Astana team who remain in the race. It is still on the approach to Paris. The final 59km of the stage will be inside the perimeter of the French capital, this is 12km away.

16:13:46 - Finishing Circuit: 6.5km Long

There are eight laps of the finishing circuit on the Champs-Elysees at the end of the 21st stage. Each lap is 6.5km long. The intermediate sprints come at the second passage over the Haut des Champs-Elysees (120km) and the fourth lap (133km).

16:15:26 - Peloton In Paris

The bunch is being led by the Astana team as it makes its way to the first circuit of the Champs-Elysees.

16:33:01 - 55km To Go...

The peloton is now on the Boulevard St-Michel and on its way to the finishing circuit. Astana is in the front and they are followed by riders from Saxo Bank. There have been no attacks so far today - except for the mock one by Contador in the first kilometer. They are at the 108km mark.

16:35:33 - On The Circuit...

The peloton is now approaching the Place de la Concorde. And it's about to pass the finish line for the first of eight times.

16:39:26 - Beppu In The Lead

Beppu is the rider now leading a small group of riders about 100m ahead of the peloton. Garate (RAB) has had a mechanical problem but he has sorted it out and is now chasing to rejoined the peloton. There are seven riders in the lead.

16:40:52 - The Seven Stage Leaders

There are seven riders with a slight lead on the peloton. Barredo (QST) and Beppu (SKS) are in the move that began on the first lap of the Champs-Elysees. The seven lead by 10".

16:42:33 - Seven Leading Along Rue de Rivoli

The escapees are now at the 117km mark and is about three kilometers from the site of the first intermediate sprint. the riders involved are: Barredo (QST), Veikkanen (FDJ), Wegmann (MRM), Dumoulin (COF), Coyot (GCE), Pichot (BBO) and Beppu (SKS). They are 15" ahead of the peloton.

16:45:33 - Hushovd & Cavendish Together

Hushovd is marking his rival in the green jersey race, Mark Cavendish who has his team-mates at the front of the peloton that's not going to contest the sprint for points at the 120km mark.

16:46:30 - Points Taken By Escapees...

The result of the first intermediate sprint of the final stage is:

1. Samuel Dumoulin (COF) 6pts

2. Fumiyuki Beppu (SKS) 4pts

3. Carlos Barredo (QST) 2pts

The seven lead the peloton by 25".

16:48:39 - Columbia Leading Peloton

The peloton is being led by all nine riders from the Columbia team. Hushovd's team-mate Roulston was the third rider to call a team car to remedy a mechanical problem during the circuit of the Champs-Elysées. He is back in the peloton again... the seven now lead by 30".

16:50:20 - Hushovd Is Cavendish's Shadow

Mark Cavendish has a green shadow today. Hushovd is virtually glued to the wheel of the rider who has already won five stages in the 2009 Tour.

16:51:33 - Veikkanen Attacking Before Hospital Visit...

The second rider to lead the climbing classification is in the lead of the final stage. His group of seven leads by 30". Jussi Veikkanen (FDJ) is now setting the pace but tomorrow he will visit a Parisian hospital for surgery to treat a back complaint.

16:53:08 - Lead Up To 35"

The seven leaders - Veikkanen (FDJ), Coyot (GCE), Dumoulin (COF), Pichot (BBO), Barredo (QST), Wegmann (MRM) and Beppu (SKS) - are now 35" ahead of the peloton.

Matt Lloyd (SIL) is the latest victim of a puncture.

16:54:45 - Two Katushas Counter-Attack

There are two riders from the Katusha team now trying to bridge the gap to the leader. Botcharov was involved by now Ignatiev is on his own attempting to catch the seven escapees. He is 20" behind. The peloton is at 35".

16:55:56 - Ignatiev Caught

The counter-attack is over. Now only seven men are ahead of the peloton.

16:57:44 - About To Begin Lap Four

Veikkanen (FDJ), Coyot (GCE), Dumoulin (COF), Pichot (BBO), Barredo (QST), Wegmann (MRM) and Beppu (SKS) are still in the lead by 30". They are about to begin the fourth lap.

16:59:44 - Second Intermediate Sprint Coming Up

The seven riders in the lead of the stage are likely to take the points for the second intermediate sprint which is on the fourth of the eight laps. Wegmann is leading the escape at the moment and tucked in behind is Pichot, Dumoulin, Veikkanen, Beppu, Coyot and Barredo... that's the order of the paceline of the group that's still 30" ahead of the peloton.

17:01:05 - Result Of 2nd Intermediate Sprint

The points for the final intermediate sprint of the 2009 Tour de France were won by:

1. Carlos Barredo (QST) 6pts

2. Fabian Wegmann (MRM) 4pts

3. Alexandre Pichot (BBO) 2pts

17:03:32 - Seven Lead By 30"

Lancaster is the latest rider to have a mechanical tended to. He is now back in the peloton that is 30" behind the seven escapees.

17:04:19 - 25km To Go

The seven escapees have pushed their advantage up to 37" as they reach the 25km to go mark of the 2009 Tour de France. The move was instigated by one of the two Japanese riders in the peloton: Beppu (SKS). Until this year, no rider from Japan has ever finished the Tour... this is going to change in about 20 minutes time.

17:08:52 - Sapa Attacks

With 26km to go, Sapa (LAM) has attacked the peloton. He is 29" behind the seven escapees and the peloton is at 34". Columbia has been leading the peloton since it arrived on the Champs-Elysees.

17:09:56 - Sapa Caught

There are now just seven riders ahead of the peloton. Sapa has been reeled in.

17:11:44 - One Former Stage Winner In Escape

Of the seven in the lead of the final stage, only one has previously won a stage of the Tour de France. Dumoulin (COF) won stage four last year.

17:12:46 - 29" At Place de la Concorde

At the place de la Concorde for the start of the fifth lap the seven escapees have a lead of 29".

17:14:12 - 20km To Go

There are only 20km remaining in the 2009 Tour de France. The seven escapees are 23" ahead of the peloton that continues to be led by the Columbia team. Cavendish's colleagues are taking no chances... they haven't allowed Beppu's group to gain any more than 35" on the peloton and are intent on setting up a sprint finish for the "fastest man in the world".

17:16:14 - Lead Remains Steady

This is an atypical final stage. Usually escapes go, get caught and another selection is made... repeat this formula five or six times during the final laps, and you're got the usual recipe for the Parisian stage.

This year, the bunch arrived in Paris. There was one little attack (from Calzati) then Beppu set off and was caught by six others. They have been at the front ever since. And Columbia is always at the front of the bunch. The latest time check is 20".

17:21:15 - 15km to Go

Seven lead. Columbia keeps them honest. The advantage remains the same. The kilometer count ticks down... just 15km remain. Otherwise: status quo.

17:22:39 - Escape: 16" Ahead

Veikkanen (FDJ), Coyot (GCE), Dumoulin (COF), Pichot (BBO), Barredo (QST), Wegmann (MRM) and Beppu (SKS) refuse to concede but the chance of them staying away is slim going on past performances by the Columbia team. The seven have an advantage of just 16" as they pass the line for the seventh time.

17:24:17 - Two Laps To Go

There are less than 13km remaining in the Tour. Monfort continues to lead the peloton and soon the others in Cavendish's impressive lead-out train will start to ply their trade...

17:25:11 - 12" Advantage

And down it comes... the advantage peaked at 35" but the wind is out of the sails of the escapees who are now just 12" ahead.

17:27:19 - Skinsuit For Zabriskie

One of the Garmin team, Dave Zabriskie, has opted to wear a skinsuit for the final stage of the Tour.

17:27:59 - Rogers Punctures

There has been a hiccup to Colombia's plans. Rogers has punctured at about the time he'd usually be coming forward as part of the lead-out train for Cavendish.

17:29:17 - Lead Group Splits

There are now just three riders in the lead of the stage. It's Beppu, Wegmann and Veikkanen who are still insisting with their effort on the approach to the final lap.

17:30:05 - Three Lead With 7km To Go

Wegmann, Veikkanen and Beppu are now 10" ahead of the peloton with 7km to go.

17:30:46 - Can Three Men Hold Off A Train...?

Veikkanen was part of the first escape group of the 2009 Tour and also part of the last. He is in the front of the stage with less than 6km to go. The others who are with him are Beppu and Wegmann...

17:32:59 - No They Can't...

The train has got its way. Columbia has reeled in the three escapees and there are now 5km to go.

17:33:47 - Hushovd In Cavendish's Slipstream

Hushovd is nestled in behind the wheel of Cavendish. There are just 4km to go in the stage and it's time to consider just who might have the speed to hold off the winner of five stages this year.

17:34:57 - Garmin Interrupt Columbia's Control

The Garmin team is now at the front of the peloton as it approaches the finish of the stage. It is the first time that Columbia is not in complete control of the lead-out.

17:36:06 - Millar Leads Dean... Lead Farrar

Millar is also wearing a skinsuit today. He leads the peloton is it turns left and goes into the tunnel leading to the rue de Rivoli. There are three Garmin riders at the front of the stage with 1km to go (just like last year)...

17:37:11 - Hincapie Jumps Ahead

Under the 1km to go banner Hincapie has surged ahead and Columbia is back in charge of the bunch as they line it up for the sprint...

17:37:51 - Cavendish: First Again!

Cavendish has taken his sixth stage win this year. His lead-out man, Mark Renshaw was the only rider to get close to him. It is Columbia first and second, daylight next...!

17:39:03 - Cavendish & Contador: Mission Accomplished

He wanted to win stages and make it to Paris. And, ideally, win the stage. Cavendish has done just that.

At the other end of the spectrum, Contador wanted to make it to Paris to win a second yellow jersey. He too has done just that.

17:40:59 - Victory For Contador!

Contador has won the Tour de France for a second time. We wait to see what position he finished the final stage in but all he had to do was arrive in Paris and not lose 4'11" to Schleck. He did just that.

17:43:31 - The Top Five In Stage 21

The first five riders in the final stage are:

1. Mark Cavendish (GBR) THR - 164km in 4h02'18" (40.61km/h)

2. Mark Renshaw (AUS) THR - at same time

3. Tyler Farrar (USA) GRM - at same time

4. Gerald Ciolek (GER) MRM - at same time

5. Yauheni Hutarovich (BLR) FDJ - at same time

17:46:03 - Congratulations To Contador

Alberto Contador raised his arms to the heavens and cruised across the finish line in the middle of the peloton and was awarded the same time as the winner of the final stage, Mark Cavendish. The Spaniard is the winner of the 96th edition of the Tour. It is his second title.