Astana rider Alberto Contador of Spain, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, strains as he crosses the finish line during the 19th stage of the Tour de France race, an individual time trial over 52 kilometers with start in Bordeaux and finish in Pauillac, southwestern France, yesterday. Contador held on to the yellow jersey and will retain his crown when the Tour ends today.

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 yesterday.

Fabian Cancellara won the time trial from Bordeaux to Pauillac, 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 said he had no regrets. "Beating Contador is not easy, but I tried everything. 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 race against the clock that set the final positions on the podium. Schleck is set to finish second to Contador for the second straight year.

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.

It was a day of duels.

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.

Barring catastrophe, Contador is all but certain to win the race in the 20th and final stage today -- a 102.5-km trek from Longjumeau to the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

By tradition, the last stage has become a largely ceremonial ride -- and any attempt at attacks would likely be quashed by Contador and his Astana teammates.

In the other race categories -- assuming the riders and teams finish today -- France's Anthony Charteau has locked up the polka-dot jersey for the best climber; Schleck, 25, will take home the white jersey for being the best young Tour rider for a third straight year and Team RadioShack is set to win the team competition.

• jersey [´dʒə:zi] n.毛织运动衫；毛线衫 (初中英语单词)
• yesterday [´jestədi] n.&ad.昨天；前不久 (初中英语单词)
• retain [ri´tein] vt.保持；保留；留住 (初中英语单词)
• breath [breθ] n.呼吸；气息 (初中英语单词)
• gesture [´dʒestʃə] n.手势 v.打手势 (初中英语单词)
• emotion [i´məuʃən] n.感情；情绪；激动 (初中英语单词)
• tradition [trə´diʃən] n.传统；惯例；传说 (初中英语单词)
• competition [,kɔmpi´tiʃən] n.比赛；竞争 (初中英语单词)
• impressive [im´presiv] a.给人深刻印象的 (高中英语单词)
• winner [´winə] n.胜利者，得奖者 (英语四级单词)
• overcame [,əuvə´keim] overcome的过去式 (英语四级单词)
• catastrophe [kə´tæstrəfi] n.大灾难；(悲剧)结局 (英语四级单词)
• southwestern [,sauθ´westən] a.西南的 (英语六级单词)
• extended [iks´tendid] a.伸长的；广大的 (英语六级单词)
• ceremonial [,seri´məuniəl] a.礼仪的，仪式的 (英语六级单词)