Contador crowned Tour king

ALBERTO CONTADOR edged closer to Lance Armstrong’s record number of victories yesterday as the American’s Tour de France career came to an end.

Contador (Astana) secured a third Tour title in four years by 39 seconds from Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank), who finished as runner-up for a second straight year.

The Spaniard is now four victories behind seven-time winner Armstrong, who bade farewell to the race he dominated with seven successive wins between 1999 and 2005.