Contador takes over on Armstrong's return

PARIS (Reuters) - Alberto Contador emerged as the new cycling boss on Sunday when the Spaniard wrapped up his second Tour de France title on seven-times champion Lance Armstrong's return to the race.

The 26-year-old Contador stayed safe in the main bunch as the last stage, over 164 km from Montereau Fault-Yonne, went to Briton Mark Cavendish.

"I am really happy. It was an especially difficult Tour for me but that's why I am enjoying the victory all the more," Contador said on the podium.

Over three weeks, Contador proved the strongest rider in the mountains and in the time trials, beating Luxembourg's Andy Schleck by four minutes 11 seconds. Armstrong, back from 3-1/2 years in retirement, finished third overall 5:24 off the pace.

Schleck, who also took the white jersey for the best under-25 rider, said: "He (Contador) was the strongest rider. He is the boss of the peloton."

The victory kept the Spanish flag flying high on the Champs-Elysees following triumphs for Oscar Pereiro in 2006, Contador in 2007 and Carlos Sastre last year.

Contador, who missed last year's Tour after Astana were not invited because of their past doping record, took the overall leader's yellow jersey with a strong attack in the first Alpine stage in Verbier, Switzerland.

But throughout the race, he had to contend with criticism from team mate Armstrong, who twice said publicly the Spaniard had ignored team orders.

"This Tour was very difficult as you could see and although it sometimes seems easy on television it wasn't because of other factors," Contador, who is set to leave Astana at the end of the year, told Spanish television.

"I will enjoy this second Tour win as if it was a double victory."

'TOTALLY INCOMPATIBLE'

"The only thing I can tell you is that I will be here next year with a team that has the most secure guarantees and that is the most focused on winning this race.

"There are several possibilities but what is clear is that we are totally incompatible and Armstrong will go one way and I will go the other," Contador added.

Armstrong, 37, stayed in contention for almost two weeks but he discovered his limits in the Alps and in the final time trial in Annecy, which Contador won.

However, the American, who dominated the race from 1999 to 2005, was satisfied with his comeback Tour, during which he finally struck a positive relationship with the French crowd.

"It feels good, I feel like I did my best. There are many young guys and it's difficult to compete against them," he said.

"I am happy. I am as happy as I was in 2005."

Armstrong, who will launch his own team with electronics company RadioShack in 2010, was confident he would be back next year.

"I will certainly be here and I hope to be stronger," he said.

Cavendish outsprinted Columbia team mate Mark Renshaw of Australia and American Tyler Farrar on the Champs-Elysees to clinch his sixth stage win in this year's race.

"I wanted so bad to reach Paris, my team mates helped me to this," said Cavendish.

"And winning on the Champs-Elysees... All my dreams come true."

Norway's Thor Hushovd clinched the green jersey for the points classification and Italy's Franco Pellizotti won the polka dot jersey for the best climber.

(Additional reporting by Iain Rogers in Spain; Editing by Alison Wildey)