Evans victory caps a classic Tour de France

Paris: It was a Tour de France many hailed as a classic. There were crashes, dropouts, surprises and, above all, a new champion.

With Cadel Evans becoming the first Australian to win cycling's most prestigious race, the Tour de France had a completely new look this year.

Lance Armstrong's seven-year stranglehold over the Tour was a remarkable demonstration of strength and resolve, but the competition itself was not that engrossing. Alberto Contador then stepped up and won three titles in four years, with his third still in limbo after a positive drug test last year.

This year, with defending champion Contador far from his best, the race was wide open. Despite the early departure of some pre-race favorites, seven key riders were in contention halfway through the final week. And that's not counting Frenchman Thomas Voeckler, who led through the Pyrenees and most of the Alps.

Image: Tour de France winner Cadel Evans of Australia, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, celebrates with fans during the victory parade after winning the Tour de France cycling race in Paris, France, Sunday July 24, 2011.

Text & Images: AP​