PATRICK HERTZOG / AFP/Getty Images

Lance Armstrong reaches the finish line on Saturday, completing Stage 20 of the Tour de France.

Juan Manuel Garate of Spain won Saturday’s 103.8-mile Stage 20 from Montelimar to Mont Ventoux, featuring a 13.1-mile ride up the very steep final ascent.

Garate, who entered the stage more than 1½ hours behind Contador in the overall standings, clocked 4 hours, 39 minutes, 21 seconds, holding off fellow breakaway rider Tony Martin of Germany by 3 seconds.

Andy Schleck, who retained second overall, crossed third, 38 seconds back — in the same time as Contador. Armstrong was fifth, 41 seconds behind Garate, and Frank Schleck was sixth, 43 seconds back.

Armstrong succeeded in holding off the two challengers nipping at his heels for third: Bradley Wiggins of Britain began the stage 15 seconds behind the Texan, and Frank Schleck of Luxembourg trailed him by 38.

“It was kind of simple, following Wiggins and following Frank Schleck,” Armstrong said. “And I had the legs for that.”

Contador had a comfortable margin over Andy Schleck. The 24-year-old rider from Luxembourg led at least a half-dozen attacks on the way up to the peak of the moonscape-like mountain.

Overall, Contador leads Andy Schleck by 4:11, and Armstrong is 5:24 behind. Bradley Wiggins is fourth, 6:01 back, and Frank Schleck is fifth — 6:04 behind the Spaniard.

Armstrong said that even when he was dominant, from 1999 to 2005, he might’ve had trouble beating Contador. And the Spaniard is reveling that Armstrong will be looking up to him on the podium.

“It’s a pity to part now,” Contador said. “But maybe we will meet again sometime in the future.”