PAUILLAC, France, (Reuters) – Spaniard Alberto Contador was poised to win his third Tour de France yesterday after he extended his lead over Andy Schleck to 39 seconds following the 52-km individual penultimate stage time trial.
Contador held an eight-second advantage over his rival going into the timed stage and a strong finish over the final third of the course put the title in his grasp despite a valiant effort from Luxembourg’s Schleck, who is now set to finish runner-up for the second successive year.
Today’s final stage is a 102.5-km ride to the Champs-Elysees in Paris, traditionally a day-long parade.
“It’s very emotional, it was so very difficult. I trained very hard all year. I kept focused and this was a hard Tour until the last minute,” said Contador, who cried when receiving the yellow jersey on the podium.
The Spaniard said he had not been as dominant as last year, when he beat Schleck by over four minutes.
“There have been a few days in which I did not feel so good. That’s the first time a Tour victory gives me so much emotion,” the 2007 and 2009 champion said.
“I gave it my all from start to finish. I tried everything I could to beat Contador. I won two stages and I finished second. I’ll return next year to win,” Schleck responded.
“Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be, but it was a good try. I cried and I screamed. There was nothing else to do,” said Schleck’s Saxo Bank team manager Bjarne Riis.
“He did everything perfectly. It was the time trial of his life so far. I think it was fantastic.”
The 39-second gap between the pair was identical to the one obtained amid controversy by the Astana team leader in monday 15th stage to Bagneres de Luchon when his Luxembourg rival was hampered by a mechanical fault.
