Contador Clinches Tour de France Win

Spaniard secures victory ahead of tomorrow's finale
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 24, 2010 11:58 AM CDT
Contador Clinches Tour de France Win
Overall leader Alberto Contador of Spain is a happy guy Saturday.   (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Alberto Contador locked up his third Tour de France title in four years today after retaining the yellow jersey in the next-to-last stage. (Today was the last competitive day of racing ahead of the short finale tomorrow.) The 27-year-old Spaniard held on to his razor-thin lead over Andy Schleck of Luxembourg. As for Lance Armstrong, he's way back in 23rd.

"I am very moved," said Contador, who wiped away tears, took a deep breath, and finger-pistoled the crowd—his trademark gesture—after donning the yellow jersey. His 39-second margin is exactly the gap that Schleck lost to Contador in the controversial 15th stage on Monday, when Schleck's bike chain got tangled—and Contador sped on. Some commentators called it a breach of cycling's etiquette. (Read more about those odd rules here.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X