Some Hollywood star power was there to greet him. Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise, on hand to promote their latest film in France, joined Contador on the podium to receive his yellow jersey. Cruise raised the Spaniard's hand and patted him on the back.
Today is the last stage in which the positions at the top can change. Tomorrow's final stage into Paris is traditionally a sprinters' stage and a daylong victory procession for the overall winner.
Meanwhile, Lance Armstrong says hiring a criminal defense lawyer in the face of a federal investigation for possible fraud and doping violations is merely a matter of protecting himself.
"Obviously, you need some legal counsel on this . . . I wouldn't read anything into it," the seven-time Tour de France champion said after finishing 17th in the 17th stage of this year's race. "I'm 100 percent confident that there will be a satisfactory resolution for me."
The investigation was spurred by accusations from Floyd Landis, Armstrong's former teammate on the U.S. Postal team.
Auto racing
* Carl Edwards said he will not appeal the penalty he received from NASCAR in the last-lap bumping incidents last weekend with Brad Keselowski.
* David Reutimann and Michael Waltrip Racing agreed to a contract extension that will keep him in the No. 00 Toyota through the 2012 season.
* Denny Hamlin has been honored as the second-quarter winner in Driver of the Year voting.
Soccer
* Brazil's national team was spurned in its attempt to hire a coach, with Muricy Ramalho staying at his Fluminense club because of contractual obligations. Brazil is looking to replace Dunga, who was fired days after a loss to the Netherlands in the World Cup quarterfinals.
* France coach Laurent Blanc will drop all 23 World Cup players for his first match next month as punishment for the team's embarrassing World Cup fiasco.
* Islamic authorities in Malaysia say soccer uniforms with devils, crosses or skulls promote the "wrong value," but they don't plan to pass an edict banning Manchester United jerseys.
* FIFA has threatened to suspend Sudan if its government does not lift a ban on several candidates standing in elections for the country's soccer association executive committee.
Sport Stops
* Penn State will host the PIAA state championships in baseball, softball and boys' volleyball from 2011-14.
* Vancouver Canucks defenseman Sami Salo has torn his Achilles' tendon and is out indefinitely.
* Authorities say Iowa State defensive back David Sims is being investigated in connection with a stolen credit card, though no charges have been filed.
* South African runner Caster Semenya will compete in the ISTAF meet in Berlin on Aug. 22 as part of her comeback after a dispute over gender tests.
