Sylvain Chavanel of France has won the 19th stage of the Tour de France, while Carlos Sastre kept the overall lead going into the final weekend of the three-week race.

Chavanel, 29, signed a two-year deal with Quick Step this week, but his breakaway victory should ensure he parts with Cofidis on good terms.

The French national time-trial champion was allowed to escape with Francaise des Jeux's Jeremy Roy near Charmeil, and Team Milram's attempts to catch them in the last 10km failed.

Roy, 25, who is without a stage win in his professional career, sat on his opponent's wheel for too long, allowing Chavanel to control the final few metres and take his seventh stage victory of the season.

Gerald Ciolek of Team Columbia triumphed in the sprint for third place, ahead of veteran Erik Zabel.

It was a quiet day in the peloton, with the main contenders and time-trial specialists content to save their legs for Saturday's decisive stage against the clock.

Carlos Sastre, Frank Schleck, Bernhard Kohl, Cadel Evans and Denis Menchov all came into Montlucon at the same time, meaning there is no change at the top of the general classification.

Evans, the best time-triallist of the five, must beat Sastre by 95 seconds in the 53km stage from Cerilly to St Amand Montrond to take back the yellow jersey.

With just the traditional ride into Paris coming on Sunday, whoever is in the maillot jaune at the end of the time-trial should be assured of Tour victory.

Overall Tour de France standings

1. Carlos Sastre (Spain / Team CSC ) 82 hrs 54 mins 36 secs
2. Frank Schleck (Luxembourg / Team CSC ) +1 min 24 secs
3. Bernhard Kohl (Austria / Gerolsteiner ) +1:33"
4. Cadel Evans (Australia / Silence - Lotto ) +1:34"
5. Denis Menchov (Russia / Rabobank ) +2:39"
6. Christian Vande Velde (U.S. / Garmin - Chipotle ) +4:41"
7. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Caisse d'Epargne ) +5:35"
8. Samuel Sanchez (Spain / Euskaltel ) +5:52"
9. Tadej Valjavec (Slovenia / AG2R ) +8:10"
10. Vladimir Efimkin (Russia / AG2R ) +8:24"