In the shadow of the Arc de Triomphe came personal triumph on Sunday for Canadian cyclist Ryder Hesjedal.

"It was a lifetime of work. Dreams do come true," said the 29-year-old cyclist, whose seventh place overall was the best result by a Canadian in the Tour de France since Steve Bauer of Fenwick, Ont., finished fourth in 1988.

And Victoria's Hesjedal was more than willing to share that work and that dream with other Canadians present at the finish after Sunday's 20th and final stage, a 102.5-kilometre ride into Paris from Longjumeau that was largely ceremonial.

"I tried to stop and talk to as many people wearing the Maple Leaf or waving the Canadian flag as I could during our lap of honour," said Hesjedal in a phone interview from Paris.

"I signed autographs on shirts and flags from people who said they were from Victoria, Kelowna, Calgary, Toronto ... you name it. It was great and I hope this result creates positive energy for Canadian cycling and motivates the next generation of Canadian cyclists."

After 3,641.9-kilometres of heavy spinning over three weeks, it was all done for Hesjedal in 92 hours, nine minutes and three seconds -- 10 minutes and 15 seconds behind champion Alberto Contador of Spain.

"It will keep sinking in, yet," said Hesjedal.

"You could be in the form of your life and still not achieve a top-10 in the Tour de France. I was seventh in the Tour. Nobody will be able to take that away from me. I'll see what I can do from here. I'm looking for many years yet to come of great racing. I'll test the limits to see what I can do. Who knows what can happen now? I know now I am capable of riding in the front of any race."

Contador finished 39 seconds ahead of runner-up Andy Schleck of Luxembourg and two minutes and one second ahead of third-place Denis Menchov of Russia to win his third overall Tour de France title to go with previous championships in 2007 and 2009.

Michael Barry of Toronto -- along with Hesjedal, Bauer, Alex Stieda and Gord Fraser are the only five Canadians ever to race in the Tour de France -- finished 99th overall, three hours, one minute and 34 seconds off the pace as he rode in support for other Sky team racers.

Mark Cavendish of the Isle of Man, who will face Barry in October in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, won the 20th leg Sunday into Paris for his fifth stage victory of this year's Tour and an astounding 15th in three years.

For Garmin Transitions rider Hesjedal, it wasn't about sprints and spurts to stage-finishing lines but well-rounded and well-paced strength in all aspects of the Tour.

"If this makes more Canadians aware of cycling, and wanting to cycle not only as a sport but also as a healthy lifestyle activity, then it will have been worth it for that alone," he said.

For others it's a recreation or transport, but riding a bike represents a living for Hesjedal. And there's not much time for relaxation when that is your profession and it's in-season.

He will keep the legs churning Saturday in the 240-kilometre San Sebastian Classic, among the great one-day races, and an event in which Hesjedal placed sixth last year.