BEIJING, July 30 (Xinhuanet) -- A 24-year-old Spaniard who appeared destined to finish second in the Tour de France until the drug-tainted ouster of Michael Rasmussen, mounted the winner's podium under the majestic trees of the Champs-Elysees in Paris Sunday wearing a bright yellow jersey.

    Alberto Contador, who rode for the American Discovery Channel team, finished 23 seconds ahead of his nearest rival, Australian Cadel Evans. Another Discovery rider, Levi Leipheimer of the United States, finished third, 31 seconds behind.

    Contador kissed his yellow jersey on the podium and thrust his arms ecstatically, with the Arc de Triomphe in the background. Outside his Discovery Channel team bus, staffers uncorked champagne. His original goal was to take the white jersey as best young rider.

    In the end, he got white and yellow. His margin of victory — 23 seconds over Cadel Evans of Australia — was the second-narrowest in the Tour's 104-year history, after 2,200 miles through Britain, Belgium, Spain and France.

    "I think we've seen the future of Spanish cycling and perhaps international cycling," seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong said, referring to Contador, the first Spaniard to win the race since the last of Miguel Indurain's five titles in 1995.

    Contador, speaking through a translator, called his victory a "dream come true." In 2004, he suffered a brain aneurism while racing in Spain's Tour of Asturias and collapsed to the ground with severe convulsions. He underwent surgery in a matter of hours, which doctors said saved him from irreversible brain damage. They blamed it on a congenital problem with an artery in his brain.

    While in the hospital, Contador drew inspiration from a book about Armstrong, who survived testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain.

    (Agencies)