Schumacher Seals Stage 20 As Sastre Homes in on Title

Carlos Sastre produced a defiant performance in today's 53km time-trial to hold off his Australian rival Cadel Evans and retain his grip on the overall lead. The stage was won by the German Stefan Schumacher of the Gerolsteiner team, but CSC rider Sastre is now poised to win this year's Tour after conceding just 29 seconds to the time-trial specialist Evans.

The Spaniard, who held the yellow jersey at the start of the day but was widely expected to be overhauled between Cerilly and St Amand Montrond, came home 12th, maintaining a lead of 1min 5sec over his rival Evans, who finished seventh. Schumacher, winner of the Tour's first time-trial, finished 21 seconds clear of the Swiss Fabian Cancellara in a time of 1hr 3min 50sec. Luxembourg's Kim Kirchen came home third for Team Columbia, while Britain's David Millar was fifth.

"I was calm this morning, I knew it was an opportunity of a lifetime for me. The dream has come true," said Sastre. "It's teamwork. The Schleck brothers [Frank and Andy] sacrificed themselves for me. I was feeling better and better on this Tour. I have a good capacity to recuperate from my efforts."

Ahead of Sunday's parade to the Champs Elysees, Sastre, riding his eighth Tour, is now expected to become the third Spaniard in a row to win the world famous stage race, after Oscar Pereiro and Alberto Contador.