Contador Clinches Tour de France Win

Alberto Contador locked up his third Tour de France title in four years today after retaining the yellow jersey in the next-to-last stage. (Today was the last competitive day of racing ahead of the short finale tomorrow.) The 27-year-old Spaniard held on to his razor-thin lead over Andy Schleck of Luxembourg. As for Lance Armstrong, he's way back in 23rd.

"I am very moved," said Contador, who wiped away tears, took a deep breath, and finger-pistoled the crowd—his trademark gesture—after donning the yellow jersey. His 39-second margin is exactly the gap that Schleck lost to Contador in the controversial 15th stage on Monday, when Schleck's bike chain got tangled—and Contador sped on. Some commentators called it a breach of cycling's etiquette. (Read more about those odd rules here.)