SAINT-AMAND-MONTROND, France (AP):

CARLOS SASTRE closed in on a victory in the Tour de France by retaining the overall lead after yesterday's time trial in the next-to-last stage of the three-week race.

The 33-year-old Spaniard held off his top rivals by slightly more than a minute in the 20th stage from Cerilly to Saint-Amand-Montrond that was won by Stefan Schumacher of Germany.

Pre-race favourite Cadel Evans of Australia was unable to overcome his deficit of one minute, 34 seconds to Sastre entering the stage despite being considered the fastest at time trials.

Third Spaniard to win

Overall, Sastre leads Evans by one minute, five seconds, while Bernhard Kohl of Austria is third, 1:20 behind.

"Everything was good this morning," Evans said. "I had a good start, the first time check I got was the same time as (Fabian) Cancellara, which was a really good indication. I thought, 'Golly, I'm on a good day here'. "There were some guys riding surprisingly fast ... I got some time checks from the other riders and thought, 'What's going on here?"'

Sastre is poised to become the third Spaniard in a row to capture cycling's premier race heading into today's final stage, usually a processional leg that finishes on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

Alberto Contador won last year, and Oscar Pereiro inherited the 2006 title after Floyd Landis of the United States was disqualified for doping.

Sastre made the sign of the cross, kissed his fingers and shook them skyward as he crossed the finish line after the 53-kilometre (32.9-mile) race against the clock.

"I don't know what to say," said Bjarne Riis, owner of Sastre's CSC team. "It's extraordinary."

Ceremonial ride

Schumacher clocked one hour, 30 seconds in the stage, and was followed by CSC rider Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, 21 seconds behind, and Kim Kirchen of Luxembourg in third, 1:01 back.

Today's final stage - an 88.9-mile ride from Etampes to the Champs-Elysees - is normally a ceremonial ride that rarely changes the overall standings.

Traditionally, attacks on the leader are frowned upon and any attempts at a breakaway by a rival are easy to counter on the flat course.