Cadel Evans is poised to win his first Tour de France title after wresting the fabled yellow jersey from the shoulders of Andy Schleck on today's penultimate stage in Grenoble.
Evans (BMC Racing) assumed the race leader's maillot jaune with a supreme display on today's 42.5-kilometre time-trial.
And the 34-year-old, Tour runner-up in 2007 and 2008, will likely become the first Australian winner of cycling's most prestigious race after turning a 57-second deficit to Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) into a one minute 34 second advantage in the foothills of the Alps.
Pictured below: Cadel Evans looks to the gods as he pulls on the maillot jaune.
Evans entered today in third place overall, almost a minute behind Andy Schleck and four seconds adrift of Frank Schleck, but his superior ability against the clock told.
Evans finished in 55 minutes 40 seconds, 2mins 31secs quicker than Andy Schleck, who now must settle for second place for a third successive year.
Barring a freak accident or illness, tomorrow's 95km 21st and final stage from Creteil to the Champs-Elysees in Paris will see Evans crowned Tour champion.
Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad) won today's stage in the foothills of the Alps in 55mins 33secs, seven seconds ahead of Evans, with three-time Tour champion Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-SunGard) third in 56:39.
Pictured below: German Tony Martin won the stage 20 time-trial in a time of 55 minutes 33 seconds.
The 21st stage to Paris is traditionally a celebratory procession for the overall contenders, with the sprinters battling for supremacy on the Champs-Elysees, where Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) will target a third successive win and a first points classification's green jersey.
Provided he negotiates the final route safely, a first Tour title for Evans should be secure.
Evans was beaten in the 2007 Tour by Contador by 23 seconds and in 2008 by Carlos Sastre, but he has consistently performed in 2011 and convincingly claimed the title.
The former world mountain bike champion gained time on the Schleck brothers with every revolution of the pedals.
Andy Schleck, who was second to Contador in 2009 and 2010, must now face up to taking second place on the podium once again after one day in the yellow jersey following yesterday's final day in the Alps.
Pictured below: Andy Schleck came into the final stage with an overall lead of 53 seconds; he ended the stage one minute 34 seconds off the lead, with his hopes of winning the event all but over.
Frank Schleck will likely step onto the podium for the first time, but France's Thomas Voeckler (Europcar), who was overtaken by Andy Schleck in the yellow jersey yesterday, will have to settle for fourth place, 3:20 behind Evans.
Contador is set to end a difficult defence of his title in fifth place and lies 3:57 behind entering tomorrow's final day.
Ireland’s Nicolas Roche came home six minutes 29 seconds off the pace in 114th place. That leaves him 26th overall heading into the final stage to Paris, 46 minutes 23 seconds off Evans' time.
Pictured below: Nicolas Roche lies 36 minutes 12 seconds off his pre-Tour target of a top-ten finish.
