PAUILLAC, France — Wiping away tears, Alberto Contador is ready for the champagne to flow. After three daunting weeks of crashes, biting cold, fog and searing heat, he is set to become the Tour de France champion again.
The Spaniard all but captured his third title in four years Saturday by holding off a full-bore challenge from his main rival, Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, in a 32.3-mile individual time trial in the next-to-last stage. Today’s ride into Paris is a mostly ceremonial affair.
“I am very moved . . . it was a difficult Tour, and I’m very happy,” a tearful Contador said.
He took a deep breath, and his hand trembled as he fired an index finger — the trademark gesture by the rider nicknamed “El Pistolero” — to fans after donning the yellow jersey yet again.
Contador wasn’t in top form, but did what he had to. The defending champion extended his lead over Schleck from eight seconds to 39 in a stage won by Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland.
Now Contador surely gets to wear yellow on the Champs-Elysees.
And as the unquestioned leader of his sport at 27 years old, he remains on track for a possible challenge to Lance Armstrong’s record of seven Tour wins.
Barring a wild turn of events, Contador awaits a coronation in the 20th and final stage today — a 63.7-mile ride from Longjumeau to the famed Paris thoroughfare. Any attempted attacks by riders would likely be quashed by Contador and his Astana teammates.
Contador will have won the Tour without winning a stage. He’ll become the first champion to have done that since Greg LeMond of the U.S. won the last of his three titles in 1990 — not counting 2006 — when Oscar Pereiro of Spain inherited his title only after American Floyd Landis lost it for doping.
Contador said this wasn’t his best Tour.
“Cycling is not like mathematics. There are moments when you are very well-prepared and everything runs smoothly. But this year, maybe I was not in the best shape really,” he said.
“Today I was not feeling so well: I didn’t sleep well, I had a stomachache,” Contador said through a translator, before adding, “Eventually, things went pretty well.”
Schleck, who is poised to finish second to Contador for the second straight year, 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.
“I think I did the best time-trial of my cycling life so far,” he added.
At a glance
A brief look at Saturday’s 19th stage of the Tour de France: Stage: The 19th was a 32.3-mile time trial from Bordeaux north to Pauillac.
Winner: Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland showed why he is the world time-trial champion, completing the race in 1 hour, 56 seconds. His only major competition came from Tony Martin of Germany, who was 17 seconds back. Third was Bert Grabsch of Germany, 1:48 behind Cancellara.
Yellow jersey: The battle between race leader Alberto Contador of Spain and Andy Schleck of Luxembourg was closer than most expected, but Contador eventually won, extending his lead to 39 seconds and all but guaranteeing his third Tour title.
Quote of the day: “I think it’s the first Tour that has given me so much emotion, you can’t imagine” — Contador
Next stage: After taking a train from Bordeaux on Sunday morning, the riders take part in the final stage, a 63.7-mile race from Longjumeau ending on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. One jersey remains undetermined: the green jersey of sprint champion. It is currently on the shoulders of Alessandro Petacchi of Italy.
How Lance Armstrong did: He finished 67th Saturday and is 23rd overall.
How Garmin-Transitions did: David Zabriskie was the best finisher, coming in fifth. Overall, Ryder Hesjedal is tops, standing seventh.
