A 52km individual time trial today from Bordeaux to Pauillac, on the shores of Europe's biggest estuary and the wine capital of the Medoc area was in stall for the 170 riders.
All eyes were on Yellow Jersey leader Alberto Contador (pictured below) and Andy Schleck who were seperated by eight seconds but it was the Swiss time trial master who blasted to the stage victory.
Having took the opening Prologue in Rotterdam three weeks ago, Cancellera (Pictured below), completed the 54km course in a time of one hour and fifty six seconds, some seventeen seconds ahead of HTC Colombia's Tony Martin who was ahead of his third placed team-mate Bert Grabsch by a minute and twenty five seconds.
Alberto Contador set a time that was five minutes and 43 seconds behind Cancellera and a time bettered by Brits Bradley Wiggins who wore the British time trial champion's jersey (9th), Geraint Thomas (10th) and David Millar (17th) but when Schleck came in 44th, six minutes and fourteen seconds down, the yellow jersey which is never contested on the final day was on the shoulders of the Sky Blues Astana rider.
Nicholas Roche was 53rd, Steve Cummings 72nd, Mark Cavendish, who hopes to win his fifth stage of this tour on the Champs-Elysees tomorrow was 86th, Jeremy Hunt was 88th and Daniel Lloyd 155th.
The final stage is from Longjumeau to Paris Champs-Elysees and is 102.5km long. You can see it live on British Eurosport (12.45pm) and ITV4.
Pictures copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM & Jeff Matthews.