With the Pyrenees and Alps now in the distance, four days remain in the 95th Tour de France, and it appears two riders will contest for the overall title, Carlos Sastre (CSC) of Spain and Cadel Evans (Silence Lotto) of Australia.

Sastre’s more than two-minute victory in stage 17, the race’s final mountain stage, catapulted the consisten veteran into the race lead as the seventh rider to wear the Yellow Jersey this year. He has a 1-minute, 34-second margin over Evans, last year's runner-up, and the best time trialist among those still with realistic chances to win.

Seven Tour de France leaders in one year, isone shy of the record. And with two non-severe road stages remaining, it will be responsibility of the CSC team to protect Sastre’s advantage.

The first test will occur Thursday, July 24 in stage 18 when the remaining field of 150 pedals 196.5 kilometers (122 miles) from Bourg-d’Oisans t
o Saint-Etienne.

The route includes category 2, 3 and 4 climbs, but none of the mountain obstacles are particularly threatening and the overall contenders will be keen to let their teammates do most of the work — barring anything out of the ordinary.

The finishing city of St. Etienne has been part of the Tour de France 23 times, the last occasion in 2005. The industrial city was the finish of an individual time trial three years and Lance Armstrong secured his seventh and final Tour de France title on the next-to-last day of the race.

It’s been nine years since a Tour road stage finished in St. Etienne. On that day in 1999, Belgian Ludo Dierckxsens emerged from a seven-rider breakaway and rode to a solo win.

With all of the top contenders awaiting the final individual time trial on Saturday, the 18th and 19th stages afford breakaway specialists their final opportunities to strut their stuff.

Or, if a break isn’t sustained, look for the sprinters to again emerge on the furious fast final dash into St. Etienne.