Contador nears 3rd Tour crown

PAUILLAC, FRANCE—Alberto Contador is set to win his third Tour de France title in four years after retaining the yellow jersey in the next-to-last stage on Saturday.

Fabian Cancellara won the time trial, but the 27-year-old Contador held on to his razor-thin lead over Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, who had started the 19th stage in second place, 8 seconds back.

“I am very moved. It was a difficult Tour and I’m very happy,” said Contador, who wiped away tears, took a deep breath and his hand trembled as he finger-pistoled the crowd—his trademark gesture—after donning the yellow jersey.

“I think it’s the first Tour that has given me so much emotion, you can’t imagine.”

Schleck, who is poised to finish second to Contador for the second straight year, said he had no regrets.

“Beating Contador is not easy, but I tried everything,” Schleck said. “I am happy, and I’ll come back next year to win.”

Riders set off one by one down a starter’s ramp for the 52-kilometer (32.3-mile) race against the clock that set the final positions on the podium.

Cancellara, one of the world’s top time-trial riders, won by outpacing Tony Martin of Germany, who was second, 17 seconds back. Bert Grabsch of Germany was third, 1 minute, 48 seconds behind the winner.

Contador was 35th, 5:43 back, while Schleck finished 44th, 6:14 behind Cancellara. That 31-second difference extended the Spaniard’s overall lead to 39 seconds.

Denis Menchov of Russia, who won the 2009 Giro d’Italia, mounted an impressive time trial and overcame Samuel Sanchez of Spain to wrest third place overall.

Menchov had begun the day in fourth, 21 seconds back of Sanchez, but nearly four minutes behind Contador and Schleck. The Russian finished 11th—3:51 back of Cancellara—and Sanchez was 40th, 5:51 behind.

Overall, Menchov trails Contador by 2:01, and Sanchez fell to fourth, trailing his compatriot by 3:40.

Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong, riding in his last Tour, ruled himself out of contention after crashing and struggling in the first day in the Alps in the eighth stage. He is set to go out with a whimper as he is 23rd overall, 39:20 behind Contador.