The Isle of Man cyclist narrowly missed out on the green points jersey, coming second to Thor Hushovd from Norway by ten points.

 

After the race he said he was not disappointed.

 

Cavendish said: "The Champs Elysees is a dream for every sprinter in the world: to cross the finish line in view of the Arc de Triomphe with your arms in the air.
 

"It was a beautiful feeling, it was a proud feeling and to win made it even more beautiful.

 

"I said before the race, winning stages and finishing in Paris were my goals."

 

It takes his stage wins for this year's Tour to six and his tally overall to 10.

 

He is the first rider to win more than five stages in one Tour since 1976.

 

Last week he had eclipsed Barry Hoban's record for a British rider of eight and it is only the 24-year-old's second Tour.

 

Today's 164km stage began in Montereau-Fault-Yonne and continued in the predictable fashion.

 

Despite his success in the sprints, Cavendish finished 131st overall.
 

Contador was the overall winner, finishing 4 minutes 11 seconds ahead of Luxembourg's Andy Schleck.
 

He held the yellow jersey for the final six stages after winning it from Rinaldo Nocentini in the 15th stage.
 

It is the second time the Spaniard has won the race, his first victory was in 2007.
 

His Astana team-mate Lance Armstrong, who holds the record for seven wins in a row from 1999 to 2005, finished in third place.
 

Britain's Bradley Wiggins (pictured) finished in fourth place overall.

 

It matched the best finish by a Briton, equalling Robert Millar's exploits in 1984.

 

Wiggins said: "I really didn't expect to be in this position this year.

 

"I thought I could get in the top 20.

 

"But to finish fourth changes everything for the future now.

 

"I do realise what I've achieved."

 

Cavendish added his own praise for his British team-mate.

 

He said: "It's been an amazing Tour for British cycling.

 

"Bradley did an incredible job.

 

"He's been consistent throughout, even though it's his first time he's really contended the GC (General Classification), and I'm really proud of him.

 

"We can both go home with our heads held high."