No hiding for Sastre in race of truth

There will be no hiding place today. Sastre's hopes of securing overall victory in the Tour will be exposed on the road from Cerilly to Saint-Amand Montrond that takes in rolling farmland, an oak forest and passes within five miles of the geographic centre of France.

Home win: Frenchman Chavanel

Whether the Spaniard will still be at the centre of the cycling world when the Tour sprints to a celebratory halt on the Champs-Elysees tomorrow depends on his ability to turn mountain climbing stamina into time-trialling discipline.

With just one minute and 34 seconds advantage over Cadel Evans - lying in fourth place but with by far the greatest acumen in what is termed the race of truth - Sastre will know that the Australian ought to overhaul him.

In the first time-trial of the Tour, Sastre lost one minute, 16 seconds to Evans. Extrapolating that over today's 33-mile course, he ought to lose two minutes, 19 seconds, thereby handing Evans the yellow jersey.

Understandably, the CSC rider is not contemplating defeat. Sastre said: 'I've waited for this day all my life. The team has worked 100 per cent for me so far, now it's up to me.

'The biggest difference to every other time-trial that I've done is that I will do this one with the yellow jersey on my shoulders. That will give me confidence and strength.'

With a gruelling three weeks coming to its conclusion, the peloton made only a token effort at reeling in the breakaway pair of Sylvain Chavanel and Jeremy Roy on yesterday's 104-mile crosscountry hike from Roanne to Montlucon.

Many of the remaining 149 riders would have been tempted to nip off for a refreshing dip in one of the thermal baths as they passed through the spa town of Vichy.

Chavanel and Roy ploughed on in front, assuring France of its third stage win of this year's Tour when Chavanel crossed the line.

Today, stage 20: Cerilly to Saint-Amand Montrond 33 miles.