Tour de France Stage 18: The Penultimate Leg

Outsprinting three breakaway companions for first place in Friday's 131-mile leg, from Cahors to Angouleme, was France's Sandy Casar, a member of the Francais Des Jeux team. Alberto Contador maintained his overall lead with one minute and 59 seconds over Cadel Evans of Predictor-Lotto. Levi Leipheimer kept his third place standing overall, only two minutes and 49 seconds behind Contador.

Saturday, at the Tour's time trial and final stage, from Cognac back to Angouleme, it could be any of the three top riders' game. The riders will take off three minutes apart in reverse order (Leipheimer then Evans then Contador) onto the 34.5-mile course. With a three minute overall lead on Leipheimer, Contador has a good chance of catching up with the Discovery Channel team member since he's starting only six minutes after him.

The west to east direction of the time trial course should give the riders a tailwind and the course only varies by 350 feet which will give Evans the advantage, the New York Times reported. Evans finished the first time trial in second place, behind the now absent Vinokourov.

"It will be the most difficult day of my sporting career," yellow jersey holder, Contador, told the NY Times, "It could change my life."

Above Photo:

Sandy Casar celebrates the win. (Beth Schneider)