( CNN ) -- Cadel Evans secured Australia 's first ever Tour de France victory after the 21st and final stage of the historic race culminated on the streets of Paris . Evans , who rides for the BMC team , finished amidst the peleton in the 95km stage , to maintain his 1min 34sec lead over Andy Schleck of Luxembourg . Britain 's Mark Cavendish , of HTC-Highroad , sealed a hat-trick of victories on the Champs Elysees to take the green jersey , awarded for the Tour 's best sprinter . Samuel Sanchez , of the Euskaltel team , claimed the polka dot jersey and Frenchman Pierre Rolland , of Europcar , scooped the white jersey after becoming the best placed rider 25 and under . Cadel Evans : From the outback to Tour de France fame . Evans has twice finished runner up in the world 's premier cycling event , in 2007 and 2008 , and was mobbed by his teammates as soon as he crossed the line in the French capital . It was Evans ' commanding performance in Saturday 's individual time trial that secured him both the yellow jersey and an unassailable lead , and the final flat stage of the race was little more than a procession . Evans , who became Australia 's first ever world road race champion in 2009 , told reporters : `` It 's been 20 years since I watched my very first Tour de France on TV and I said I 'd like to win it . A lot of people did n't believe it . `` But some very good people believed in me , from my very first coach right through to the ones who turned me to the road . `` It 's been years of hard work and there were a lot of moments in this three weeks where our Tour was lost but to get here safely with all my skin , just that alone is a quest in itself . `` But to be here wearing the yellow jersey -- for my team , my country , a group of people around me ... it leaves me a little lost for words . '' An emotional Evans paid tribute to Aldo Sassi -- his mentor who died of a brain tumor a year ago . `` Aldo Sassi always believed in me , more than I did myself , '' he added . `` He said to me at one point , I hope that you can win a grand Tour and I hope for you it is the Tour de France for it 's the most prestigious . If you do , you 'll become the most complete rider of your generation . '' Andy Schleck finished second for the third successive year , with his brother Frank coming third . Frenchman Thomas Voeckler was fourth with last year 's champion , Alberto Contador , of Spain , finishing fifth . `` It 's been a perfect Tour de France but there 's only one who can win , '' Andy Schleck told the Tour 's official web site . `` We knew that from the start and that 's Cadel and he also deserves this victory . He 's been fighting for it . I was fighting too but he was stronger and I 'll be back . '' A jubilant Cavendish , who has now won a total of 20 Tour de France stages , said : `` This is absolutely my best Tour de France yet . The green jersey is an objective I 've had in mind for a long time . It 's incredible to get it . ''
Cadel Evans secures Australia 's first ever Tour de France victory . Evans wins by 1min 34sec from Andy Schleck of Luxembourg . Mark Cavendish wins the final stage and takes the green jersey . - The Giro d'Italia begins in Italy with a prologue time trial on Sunday, won by Alberto Contador ( Movistar ).