American Lance Armstrong clinched his second consecutive Tour de France title after Italian Stefano Zanini won a mass sprint to capture the 21st and final stage.

The 28-year-old Texan, who shocked the sport's experts in 1999 by winning two years after beating testicular cancer, can equal compatriot Greg Lemond if he wins a third on the trot next year.

Lemond won the race in 1986, 1989 and 1990.

''This is such a great moment for me to be on the podium once again,'' said Armstrong, riding for the US Postal Service team.

''For me and my team the 2000 Tour was a great Tour though I was hoping to get a win on the Champs Elysees.''

He did not come close to crossing the finish line first on the Champs Elysees, coming in 76th.

But his overall success, virtually assured a couple of days ago when he captured the final time trial for his only stage victory, saw him end up a comfortable six minutes and two seconds quicker than Germany's Deutsche Telekom star Jan Ullrich with Spaniard Joseba Beloki third (10.04).

Accompanied on the winner's podium by his family, Armstrong said: ''It's a great moment for us.

''My health is not guaranteed forever.

"The fact that I'm still here, I'm still cancer free, is still the most important thing in my life.

''It was a hard Tour. It's very special but I'm glad it's finished.''

Armstrong will now fly to the United States before returning to his home in Nice to train for the Olympics where he will have to beat Ullrich again.

''I think I can win if I'm in good form. And winning a gold medal would be very special.''

Colombian Santiago Botero was crowned King of the Mountains and Ullrich's Telekom team-mate Erik Zabel of Germany was similarly honoured with a record fifth straight green jersey for amassing the most points.