Australia's cyclists celebrated their best Tour de France by saying it was only a matter of time before one of them won the sport's most illustrious prize.

After 20 stages, 23 days and over 3,200 kilometres Cadel Evans finished fifth overall, Michael Rogers 10th and Robbie McEwen won the green sprinters jersey for the third time after wins in 2002 and 2004.

It was the first time Australia has claimed two top-10 finishers.

McEwen, 34, had secured the points win well before Sunday's final stage. His three stages wins this year take his total to 11.

Simon Gerrans finished 79th and Stuart O'Grady, who was third in Sunday's final stage, claimed 91st place despite competing in great pain after breaking a vertebra in a fall during the third stage.

Evans, who finished eighth last year and was seventh in the mountain bike cross country event at the 2000 Olympics, matched the fifth place achieved by compatriot Phil Anderson in 1982 and 1985.

He said he was satisfied despite pre-race predictions that he could make the podium.

"I'm very happy with my Tour," the 29-year-old told his own website.

"There was a lot that could have gone worse. The press were discounting me after I lost one minute 20 seconds on Alpe D'Huez. (Winner Floyd) Landis could lose eight minutes and still win. It's been a strange tour."

The 34-year-old McEwen, who won three stages in the race to take his career tally to 11, said it had been the toughest Tour he had endured as it lacked the sense of control that existed during Lance Armstrong's victorious reign.

"It was not just the heat and the conditions but the way it was raced; it was really aggressive," he told the race's official website. "There was no absolute control like in the Armstrong years and it made for a really hard race. Everyone suffered a lot and I think we're all glad it's over."

Rogers, three-times world time-trial champion, said a podium position in Paris was becoming a realistic ambition for Australia's burgeoning contingent of cyclists.

"Every stage of the Tour is a race in itself, but the general classification is the most prestigious prize," he told reporters during the race.

"People are starting to understand that. It's only a matter of time before an Australian stands on the podium."

Reuters