Contador keeps Tour lead; Cavendish wins stage

AUBENAS, France — Alberto Contador stayed in command at the Tour de France with two days of racing left while teammate Lance Armstrong remained in third place as a daunting mountain climb awaits.

Mark Cavendish of Britain captured Friday’s 19th stage in a sprint finish. He became the first racer to win five stages in a single Tour since Armstrong in 2004.

“This is a high point in my career,” Cavendish told French TV.

Cavendish edged Thor Hushovd of Norway and Gerald Ciolek of Germany on the relatively flat, 111-mile ride from Bourgoin-Jallieu to Aubenas. Hushovd most likely will win the green jersey awarded to the Tour’s best sprinter. They all finished in 3 hours, 50 minutes, 35 seconds.

Armstrong, the seven-time champion, had the same time. He trimmed four seconds off his deficit to Contador and second-place Andy Schleck of Luxembourg.

Contador leads Schleck overall by 4:11 and Armstrong by 5:21 entering the last big stage — Saturday’s 104-mile ride from Montelimar to a punishing finish up the famed Mont Ventoux.

The race ends Sunday in Paris, with what is usually a ceremonial ride on the Champs-Elysees for the rider in the yellow jersey.

Overall, Contador leads Schleck by 4:11 and Armstrong by 5:21 heading into the last big stage — Saturday’s 104-mile ride from Montelimar to a punishing finish up the famed Mont Ventoux.

“It’s really hard. I’d very much like there not to be a climb,” Contador said, referring to the widely dreaded mountain. “There’s a lot of headwind.”

While his lock on the yellow jersey isn’t under threat, Contador said his first job Saturday will be to defend it. He also wants to help Armstrong get a spot on the podium.

The extra four seconds that Armstrong collected by riding among the 12-man sprinters’ group could come in handy because he is closely trailed in the overall standings for third.

“Tomorrow is the big day, but that’s what made the ride today hard because already we’re a bit into the stage (mentally),” Schleck said. “Tomorrow it’s the legs that will do the talking.”

Schleck said that in comparison to Mont Ventoux, L’Alpe d’Huez — another of France’s most punishing climbs — is “a piece of cake.”

Bradley Wiggins of Britain, a three-time Olympic pursuit champion who has fared well in the mountains this year, is fourth — 15 seconds slower than the Texan. Germany’s Andreas Kloeden is fifth, 17 seconds behind his Astana teammate Armstrong.

Perhaps the top threat to Armstrong’s podium hopes is Schleck’s older brother, Frank. He is a strong climber who is sixth overall — 5:59 behind Contador and 38 seconds slower than Armstrong.