Spain's Alberto Contador has won the 2007 Tour de France after Daniele Bennati claimed the final stage with a sprint victory in Paris following the most traumatic week in the race's history.

Contador took a 23-second lead over Australia's Cadel Evans going into the traditional showpiece finale, and his advantage was never under threat as the peloton remained in tact for the majority of the race.

America's Levi Leipheimer - Contador's Discovery team-mate - claimed third place overall, a further eight seconds back.

Italy's Lampre team rider Bennati claimed glory on the Champs-Elysees in a frantic sprint finish with Norway's Thor Hushovd and Germany's Erik Zabel second and third respectively on the day in the final act of a Tour that has been beset by doping scandals.

The peloton finally set off at the start of this year's final stage, happy to be bringing a turbulent Tour to a close.

Yet their speed over the first 60km followed the Tour tradition of a low-speed procession to Paris even though Contador had only a modest lead.

With the riders keen to chat to each other and roll along slowly, it provided the chance for Contador to bask in the glory of his yellow jersey and the 24-year-old was even confident enough to drift back to his team car to partake in the traditional sip of champagne on the way to the Champs-Elysees.

With 54 kilometres remaining, the peloton entered central Paris to begin a series of eight laps around the centre of the French capital ahead of the finish on the world-famous avenue.

A group of 10 riders made the day's first attack with 38km until the finishing line, and despite building a 45-second lead, they were soon reeled in by the peloton as the race entered the final lap.

And it was Bennati who held his nerve to delay his sprint as long as possible and clinch a memorable stage win.

Belgium's Tom Boonen claimed the overall green jersey on this year's Tour, while Colombia's Juan Mauricio Soler Hernandez was officially crowned the King of the Mountains, earning the red-polka dot jersey.

But the race will be remembered for the failed dope tests that led to the expulsions of pre-race favourite Alexandre Vinokourov and Cristian Moreni, followed by their respective teams; and the sacking of then race leader, Denmark's Michael Rasmussen, by his Rabobank outfit after he failed to disclose his whereabouts to anti-doping chiefs in the build-up to the race.