27 Jul 2008

Spainard Sastre poised to win Tour de France

8:23 am on 27 July 2008

The Spaniard cyclist Carlos Sastre is poised to win the Tour de France after his chief rival, Australia's Cadel Evans, didn't make the in roads expected in the penultimate stage.

The 53km time-trial has been won by German Stefan Schumacher.

Evans, who had been widely expected to overcome a minute 34 second deficit to leapfrog Sastre, cracked and could only finish seventh, beating the Spaniard by just 29 seconds.

Going into tonight's parade to the Champs Elysees, Sastre, who took the yellow jersey courtesy of a bold attack in the ascent to l'Alpe d'Huez in Wednesday's last alpine stage, leads Evans by 65 seconds.