Evans on verge of Tour victory after finishing second in time-trial

Jul 23, 2011, 15:27 GMT

Grenoble, France - Australian Cadel Evans finished second in Saturday's penultimate stage of the Tour de France Saturday to take over the leader's yellow jersey and all but certainly seal victory in this year's race.

Evans completed the 42.5-kilometre individual time-trial route around Grenoble in a time of 55 minutes, 40 seconds - a time only bettered by seven seconds by stage winner German Tony Martin - to move ahead of Andy Schleck of Luxembourg in the overall standings.

Leopard Trek's Andy Schleck went into the 20th stage of this year's Tour holding a 53-second lead over brother Franck, with Evans another four seconds back.

However, BMC Racing Team rider Evans lived up to his billing as favourite in the time-trial by overturning his deficit over the Schleck brothers, finishing 2:38 ahead of Andy Schleck and 2:41 clear of Franck Schleck.

Evans now goes into Sunday's final stage from Creteil to Paris leading Andy Schleck by 1:34 minutes.

Franck Schleck lies in third place, 2:30 behind Evans, followed by Frenchman Thomas Voeckler and defending champion Alberto Contador of Spain.

The final stage is normally taken as a procession for the riders, meaning Evans just needs to finish to secure his first Tour victory.