With race all but over, feud picking up steam

The 26-year-old Spaniard all but secured a second victory in cycling's main event on Saturday, by fending off challengers in the race climax on one of France's toughest climbs: Mont Ventoux.

Armstrong, the seven-time champion, will be on the podium for an eighth time, but he's third — not on the step he had aimed for.

When he sees Contador in the yellow jersey on the Champs-Elysees, Armstrong — after not-so-subtle verbal jabs against the Spaniard during the three-week race — could very well be green.

In the heat of the race, Contador had sought to play down the differences in their Kazakh Astana team, dodging or downplaying questions about "tension" that Armstrong evoked.

With victory nearly certain, the Spaniard opened up a bit.

"My conscience is very clear because in the end I have run two races, one on the bike and one at the team hotel," he said on Spanish broadcaster TVE after Saturday's ride.

Contador knew his task at the Tour would be tricky when the Texan announced last year he was coming back from retirement to join his old mentor, Johan Bruyneel, at the Astana team. The Belgian strategist had been training Contador as his new cycling star.

Once the Tour was on, and Armstrong's barbs flew, Contador counted the days and tried to focus on his racing — not on the Texan and tensions at the team dinner table.

"Every day, I told myself: 'One day less,' " he said at a news conference after Saturday's stage. "Now, it's all settled. Everything is better and the situation is back to normal."

Armstrong and Bruyneel are very close. Contador was asked whether he thought that the team manager would have rather seen the Texan win.

"That's a good question," the Spaniard said.

"The preparations for the Tour were complicated. There were a lot of elements stacked against me, but instead of being worried, I took it all as an added motivator," he said. "I think I succeeded."

While much has been made of Armstrong's comeback, Contador had one, too: He was unable to defend his 2007 title because Astana was not invited last year over a doping scandal before he joined.

With Armstrong set to lead a new Radio Shack team next year, and Bruyneel still coy about his own future, Contador's plans are still uncertain. But he knows he won't team with Armstrong again.

Today's final stage will be a largely ceremonial ride to Paris, and breakaway attempts among the leaders are taboo. The upshot is that an accident can prevent Contador from winning.

Juan Manuel Garate of Spain won Saturday's 103.8-mile Stage 20 from Montelimar to Mont Ventoux, featuring a 13.1-mile ride up the very steep final ascent.

Garate clocked 4 hours 39 minutes 21 seconds, holding off fellow breakaway rider Tony Martin of Germany by 3 seconds.

Andy Schleck, who retained second overall, crossed third, 38 seconds back — in the same time as Contador. Armstrong was fifth, 41 seconds behind Garate, and Frank Schleck was sixth, 43 seconds back.

Armstrong succeeded in holding off the two challengers nipping at his heels for third: Bradley Wiggins of Britain began the stage 15 seconds behind the Texan, and Frank Schleck of Luxembourg trailed him by 38.

"It was kind of simple, following Wiggins and following Frank Schleck," Armstrong said. "And I had the legs for that."

Today

• What: Final stage

• When: 4:30 a.m. live and 5 p.m. taped on Versus; 11 a.m. taped on Ch 13