Overall leader Alberto Contador of Spain reacts on the podium as he puts on the yellow jersey after the 19th stage of the 94th Tour de France cycling race yesterday. - AP

ANGOULEME, France (Reuters):

Spaniard Alberto Contador was poised to win the Tour de France after holding off his rivals for the overall lead in yesterday's time trial won by his Discovery Channel teammate Levi Leipheimer.

American Leipheimer clocked the best time of one hour, two minutes and 44 seconds in the 55.5-kilometre time trial, the 19th and penultimate stage, from Cognac at an average speed of 53.082 kph.

Australian Cadel Evans of the Predictor Lotto team was second ahead of Russian Vladimir Karpets of Caisse d'Epargne. The 24-year-old Contador came fifth.

Evans retained second place 23 seconds behind Contador in the overall standings, eight seconds ahead of Leipheimer.

"Thirty kilometres from the finish I only had a 38-second advantage and it was at a time my legs were really hurting," said Contador.

"I was worried, then. I knew I had to give everything to retain the jersey. It was not an easy day."

Stage winner Leipheimer said: "I'm very happy for Alberto. When he crossed the line I was as happy as if it had been me, honestly."

Contador, who received the visit yesterday of seven-times Tour winner and former Discovery Channel rider Lance Armstrong, is set to become the first Spaniard to win the world's greatest race since Miguel Indurain's fifth victory in 1995.

Leipheimer said of Armstrong's visit: "He's normally very calm and collected but today he was nervous.

"It brought back memories. He was taking care of little details, he was helping, asking if we needed anything. He was very much into the groove of what we were doing."