Sastre to save strength for time-trial showdown

By Francois Thomazeau

ROANNE, France (Reuters) - Tour de France leader Carlos Sastre made it clear there would be no grounds to attack his leading rival, Australian Cadel Evans, in the short 165.5-km 19th stage from Roanne to Montlucon on Friday.

"I really can't see any chances in this stage to take some time off Cadel," Sastre said after spending his first day in the yellow jersey in Thursday's 18th stage to St Etienne.

"The best thing to do now is to take it easy and save as much energy as possible to be at my best on Saturday," he added.

Saturday's 53-km individual time trial is widely expected to decide the outcome of the Tour.

Sastre's lead of one minute and 34 seconds over Evans is seen as potentially too slim against a rider who is far better than him in time trials.

A ceasefire having been declared between the favorites, the stage, without major difficulties, should favor sprinters, who have won the five previous stages to Montlucon in past Tours.

In the absence of Briton Mark Cavendish, who left the Tour with four stage victories behind him, all eyes will be on Spain's Oscar Freire, the green jersey holder, who has a perfect chance to increase his lead in the points classification.

(Editing by Rex Gowar)