OUTview online; NEWS and VIEWS, What's your VIEW?: PARIS

A Paris watchmaker says he threw out several priceless works of art before being arrested last year, the Telegraph reports. Revealing a long investigation today, police say a Serb nicknamed "Spiderman" stole works by Picasso, Matisse, Braque, and others from a poorly guarded Paris museum in May 2010. An antiques dealer then allegedly passed the works to a watchmaker with expertise in auctions, who "panicked and destroyed the canvasses before throwing them into a rubbish bin."

Detectives are dubious, they say, but can't "totally rule out" his story. In another delicious detail, police say "Spiderman" sought only a Fernand Léger work when he broke into the Musée d'Art Moderne opposite the Eiffel Tower—but the alarm didn't sound, so the "veritable art lover" strolled around for an hour while eluding cameras. Eventually he walked off with five works worth an estimated $100 million. Police say he snitched on the antique dealer after failing to receive his promised $40,000 payment.

(AP) – Cadel Evans won the Tour de France today, becoming the first Australian to capture cycling's most prestigious title. The 34-year-old Evans crossed the finish line on the Champs-Elysee at the end of the largely ceremonial final stage. He had virtually secured the title with his ride in the time trial in Grenoble a day earlier, and becomes the oldest winner since 1922. Andy Schleck of Luxembourg finished second overall for the third straight year, with brother Frank Schleck in third.

The 21st and final stage—the most prestigious for the race's sprinters—was won by Britain's Mark Cavendish for the third year in a row, despite his being forced to change his bike on the Champs-Elysees. Seven or eight riders were still in competition for the victory in the final week. Evans looked at one point to have lost his chance, when Andy Schleck rode away from the others on the Galibier pass. But Evans held his nerve and finished well ahead of Schleck in the time-trial yesterday to guarantee his victory.