The Hindu : Sport / Cycling : Schleck takes stage but not Yellow

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Schleck takes stage but not Yellow

COL DU TOURMALET: Luxembourg's Andy Schleck won the 17th stage of the Tour de France Thursday but could not take the race lead from Spanish rival Alberto Contador on the final day in the mountains.

Schleck began the final climbing stage of this year's race, a 174km ride from Pau to the Col du Tourmalet, with an eight-second deficit to Spain's two-time winner in the race for the Yellow Jersey.

Despite repeated attempts to shake Contador off his wheel during the final 10km of the 18.6km slog to the fog-shrouded summit Schleck finished with Contador on his wheel at the finish line.

Retaining lead

It means Astana team leader Contador will retain his lead over the Saxo Bank climbing specialist ahead of Friday's 18th stage, which is likely to finish in a bunch sprint.

Schleck's last chance to overhaul Contador would be in Saturday's penultimate stage time trial over a 52km-long flat course, a discipline in which the Spaniard has a far better record. It is the second stage win of the race for Schleck, who also won the stage to Morzine-Avoriaz in the Alps.

Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver finished third, 1:18 adrift. Another Spaniard, Samuel Sanchez lies third in the general standings, 3:32 behind Contador.

Far from over

Contador said that the Tour was far from won despite his superiority in the time trial. “There are many things left to do,” he said. “But today was important.”

Asked about his failure to win a stage, Contador said this was not important. “The objective is to win the Tour,” he said, and added: “I think I will do well on Saturday.”

The climb to the Tourmalet was seen by tens of thousands of people who lined the road, and by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, an avowed cycling fan, who followed from the organisers' car.

The Tour ends on Sunday in Paris. — Agencies

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