Contador keeps overall lead; Cavendish claims stage win

AUBENAS, France — Alberto Contador stayed in command at the Tour de France with two days of racing left while teammate Lance Armstrong remained in third place as a daunting mountain climb awaits.

Mark Cavendish of Britain captured Friday's 19th stage in a sprint finish. He became the first racer to win five stages in a single Tour since Armstrong in 2004.

"This is a high point in my career," Cavendish told French TV.

Cavendish edged Thor Hushovd of Norway and Gerald Ciolek of Germany on the relatively flat, 111-mile ride from Bourgoin-Jallieu to Aubenas. Hushovd most likely will win the green jersey awarded to the Tour's best sprinter. They all finished in 3 hours, 50 minutes, 35 seconds.

Armstrong, the seven-time champion, had the same time. He trimmed four seconds off his deficit to Contador and second-place Andy Schleck of Luxembourg.

Contador leads Schleck overall by 4:11 and Armstrong by 5:21 entering the last big stage — today's 104-mile

ride from Montelimar to a punishing finish up the famed Mont Ventoux.

The race ends Sunday in Paris, with what is usually a ceremonial ride on the Champs-Elysees for the rider in the yellow jersey.

Overall, Contador leads Schleck by 4:11 and Armstrong by 5:21 heading into the last big stage — today's 104-mile ride from Montelimar to a punishing finish up the famed Mont Ventoux.

"It's really hard. I'd very much like there not to be a climb," Contador said, referring to the widely dreaded mountain. "There's a lot of headwind."

While his lock on the yellow jersey isn't under threat, Contador said his first job today will be to defend it. He also wants to help Armstrong get a spot on the podium.

The extra four seconds that Armstrong collected by riding among the 12-man sprinters' group could come in handy because he is closely trailed in the overall standings for third.

"Tomorrow is the big day, but that's what made the ride today hard because already we're a bit into the stage (mentally)," Schleck said. "Tomorrow it's the legs that will do the talking."

Friday's Results

1. Mark Cavendish, Britain, Team Columbia-High Road, 3 hours, 50 minutes, 35 seconds.

2. Thor Hushovd, Norway, Cervelo Test Team, same time.

3. Gerald Ciolek, Germany, Team Milram, same time.

4. Greg Van Avermaet, Belgium, Silence-Lotto, same time.

5. Oscar Freire, Spain, Rabobank, same time.

6. Jerome Pineau, France, Quick Step, same time.

7. Fumiyuki Beppu, Japan, Skil-Shimano, Same time.

8. Nicolas Roche, Ireland, AG2R-La Mondiale, same time.

9. Christophe Le Mevel, France, Francaise des Jeux, same time.

10. Martijn Maaskant, Netherlands, Garmin-Slipstream, same time.

11. Geoffroy Lequatre, France, Agritubel, same time.

12. Lance Armstrong, United States, Astana, same time.

Overall Standings

1. Alberto Contador, Spain, Astana, 77:06:18.

2. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg, Team Saxo Bank, 4:11.

3. Lance Armstrong, U.S., Astana, 5:21.

4. Bradley Wiggins, Britain, Garmin-Slipstream, 5:36.

5. Andreas Kloeden, Germany, Astana, 5:38.

6. Frank Schleck, Luxembourg, Team Saxo Bank, 5:59.

7. Vincenzo Nibali, Italy, Liquigas, 7:15.

8. Christian Vande Velde, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 10:08.

9. Christophe Le Mevel, France, Francaise des Jeux, 12:37.

10. Mikel Astarloza, Spain, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 12:38.

11. Vladimir Karpets, Russia, Team Katusha, 13:36.

12. Roman Kreuziger, Czech Republic, Liquigas, 14:08.

13. Sandy Casar, France, Francaise des Jeux, 14:37.

14. Rinaldo Nocentini, Italy, AG2R-La Mondiale, 15:27.

15. Carlos Sastre, Spain, Cervelo Test Team, 17:23.

16. Stephane Goubert, France, AG2R-La Mondiale, 19:47.

17. Jurgen Van Den Broeck, Belgium, Silence-Lotto, 19:49.

18. Alexandre Botcharov, Russia, Team Katusha, 24:26.

19. Brice Feillu, France, Agritubel, 25:58.

19. Christian Knees, Germany, Team Milram, 27:51.

20. George Hincapie, United States, Team Columbia-High Road, 28:20.

Also

66. David Zabriskie, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 1:36:55.

138. Danny Pate, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 3:06:44.

151. Tyler Farrar, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 3:23:02.