SPAIN’S Alberto Contador will take a 39-second lead over Andy Schleck into Paris after Fabian Cancellara took the spoils in Pauillac. Astana’s Contador finished the 52-kilometre individual time trial through the Medoc region five minutes 43 seconds down on Cancellara of Saxo Bank, taking a further 31 seconds off rival Schleck.
There was early drama as Schleck crossed the first time check six seconds faster than the yellow jersey, cutting Contador’s virtual lead in the general classification to just two seconds.
But the Luxembourger tired over the final two thirds of the flat course just as Contador began to find his rhythm.
Contador will now ride onto the Champs Elysees for today’s showpiece final stage with an unassailable 39-second lead.
In a cruel twist of fate for Schleck, 39 seconds is exactly the same amount of time he conceded to Contador in last week’s Pyrenean stage 15 to Bagneres de Luchon, when his rival infamously launched an attack at the same moment as Schleck’s chain slipped on the steep Port de Bales climb.
Schleck’s team-mate Cancellara set the winning time from Bordeaux to Pauillac more than three hours before the race’s top two riders crossed the finish line.
Cancellara, who also won the opening Prologue in Rotterdam, lived up to his status as stage 19 favourite with a majestic time of 1 hour 56 seconds.
His closest threats came from HTC-Columbia pair Tony Martin and Bert Grabsch, who finished second and third respectively. German Martin was 17 seconds off the pace while compatriot Grabsch was 1:48 in arrears.
Russia’s Denis Menchov rode onto the podium after overturning his deficit to Spain’s Samuel Sanchez. The Rabobank rider finished in 11th place, 3:51 off the pace, with his Euskaltel rival finishing a full two minute further back.
Menchov is now third in the GC, 2:01 down on Contador, while Sanchez drops to fourth at 3:40.
British pair Bradley Wiggins and Geraint Thomas of Sky managed to finish in ninth and tenth positions on the stage after what has been a disappointing race for the new British team.
Contador’s ride was only the 35th fastest time on the day but the 27-year-old will not worry too much about that on the eve of becoming a three-time Tour de France winner. (Eurosport)