Cadel Evans' history-making Tour de France victory is as much a testament to patience as it is to endurance.

At the age of 34, the softly spoken Australian rider put aside the disappointment of two runner-up finishes to finally stand atop the podium on the Champs-Elysees on Sunday as champion of cycling's great race.

In a meticulous race, run to a strategy of almost military precision, Evans won only the fourth of 21 stages on this year's Tour, but always remained within striking distance.

It was only on the penultimate stage -- the individual time trial -- that Evans claimed his first leader's Yellow Jersey from nearest rival Andy Schleck and his ultimate prize after 20 years of cycling.

Wrapped in the national flag and with tears in his eyes, Evans listened as French-based Australian singer Tina Arena sang their national anthem after he became the first Australian, the oldest rider since World War II and the first man outside Europe or the United States to win the most prestigious race in cycling.

"I couldn't be any happier. A few people always believed in me. I always believed in me. And we did it," Evans said.

He celebrated after crossing the finish line in the pack on the Champs-Elysees, embracing riders from different teams as the massive crowd on France's most famous thoroughfare cheered wildly.

Evans bounded up the steps onto the podium, taking deep breaths, then appeared at the top looking calm and waved the bouquet he received in the air. "Thank you to everyone. It's really incredible," he told the crowd.

Evans was joined on the podium by the Schleck brothers of Luxembourg -- Andy, who finished second overall for the third straight year, and Frank. Andy finished 1 minute, 34 seconds behind Evans in the final standings.

Evans' Italian wife, Chiara, stood at his side after the presentation ceremony.

"I think he's worked very hard," she said.

Evans is only the third non-European to win the Tour since it started in 1903. Greg LeMond broke the European dominance in 1986 with the first of his three wins, and his fellow American Lance Armstrong won seven straight from 1999.

It's been a long wait for Evans, who first showed himself as a challenger for major races in 2002, and finished second in the Tour in 2007 and 2008.

Evans is the oldest winner of the Tour's post-war period, narrowly eclipsing Gino Bartali of Italy -- who was also 34 but slightly younger when he won in 1948. The all-time record was set by 36-year-old Firmin Lambot of Belgium in 1922.

"Cadel was the best of the Tour and he deserved to win," said the 26-year-old Andy Schleck. "Second isn't bad, and my brother was on the podium too. I'll be back to win this Tour. We have a date for next year."

Sunday's 21st and final stage was won by Britain's Mark Cavendish for the third year in a row, despite being forced to change his bike on the Champs-Elysees. He also took the green jersey for the overall best sprinter.

- Naomi Koppel