Contador one stage away from third Tour de France title

Pauillac, France (Sports Network) - Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland won Stage 19 of the 2010 Tour de France on Saturday, while Spain's Alberto Contador expanded his overall lead and virtually wrapped up his third title in four years with just one day remaining in cycling's most prestigious event.

Cancellara captured the individual time trial, finishing the 52-kilometer trek from Bordeaux to Pauillac in a time of one hour and 56 seconds, but it was the battle between the final two riders of the day that would decide this year's Tour champion.

Andy Schleck started the day eight seconds off Contador's overall lead and took the course just in front of the Spaniard. At the first time check, Schleck was two seconds faster than Contador and managed to trim the deficit to give himself some hope.

Contador, though, dug in. He completely turned it around at the second time check, as a nine-second reversal added seven seconds to his overall lead. At the third, Contador had increased the day's margin to 17 seconds for an overall advantage of 25 seconds.

Schleck crossed the finish line in a time of 1:07:10 and in 44th place for the day. Contador placed 35th in the stage with a time of 1:06:39 and now has an overall cushion of 39 seconds.

The Tour concludes Sunday with the traditional ride, mostly ceremonial, along the Champs Elysees in Paris.