Armstrong Drops to 4th After 17th Stage

LE-GRAND-BORNAND, France (AP) - Alberto Contador closed in on victory at the Tour de France Wednesday after finishing second behind Frank Schleck in the 17th stage as the race left the Alps.

Lance Armstrong trailed by more than 2 minutes and fell from second to fourth place overall in the 105-mile ride from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Le Grand-Bornand - seen by many as the toughest stage this year.

The stage likely ended any realistic chance Armstrong had of overtaking his Astana teammate Contador, and the seven-time Tour champion will now have to fight for a place on the podium instead.

Contador held on to the yellow jersey by staying with Schleck and his younger brother Andy in a three-man breakaway at the end of the stage. Andy Schleck finished third while Armstrong was fifth, 2:18 back.

``I'm very proud of myself - I'm proud of my brother,'' Frank Schleck said.

The Schleck brothers both leapfrogged Armstrong in the overall standings, with Andy 2:26 behind Contador in second place and Frank 3:25 behind in third. Armstrong trails Contador by 3:55.

Tour de France Photos

COL DE LA COLOMBIERE, FRANCE - JULY 22: Lance Armstrong (2nd L) of USA and team Astana climbs with Bradley Wiggins (2nd R) and David Millar (R) of Great Britain and team Garmin up de Col de la Colombiere, losing time to the leading pack, during stage 17 of the 2009 Tour de France from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Le Grand-Bornand on July 22, 2009 on Col de la Colombiere, France. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lance Armstrong;Bradley Wiggins;David Millar

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COL DE LA COLOMBIERE, FRANCE - JULY 22: Lance Armstrong of USA and team Astana climbs flanked by a fan up de Col de la Colombiere during stage 17 of the 2009 Tour de France from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Le Grand-Bornand on July 22, 2009 on Col de la Colombiere, France. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lance Armstrong

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COL DE ROMME, FRANCE - JULY 22: Andy Schleck (R) of Luxembourg and team Saxo Bank climbs in the white jersey for best young rider with his teammate and brother stagewinner Frank Schleck (C) and race leader Alberto Contador of Spain and team Astana in the yellow jersey up the Col de Romme during stage 17 of the 2009 Tour de France from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Le Grand-Bornand on July 22, 2009 on Col de Romme, France. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Andy Schleck;Frank Schleck;Alberto Contador

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Alberto Contador of Spain, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, left, adjusts his earphone as he rides with teammate Andreas Kloden of Germany, right, in the climb towards Saisies pass during the 17th stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 169.5 kilometers (105.3 miles) with start in Bourg-Saint-Maurice and finish in Le Grand-Bornand, Alps region, France, Wednesday July 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski)

The pack with Alberto Contador of Spain, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, bottom right corner, and American seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong in second position, speed down Saisies pass during the 17th stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 169.5 kilometers (105.3 miles) with start in Bourg-Saint-Maurice and finish in Le Grand-Bornand, Alps region, France, Wednesday July 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Combo of the day made on July 22, 2009 during the 169 km and seventeenth stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race run between Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Le Grand Bornand, shows, From L, top, 2007 Tour de France winner and Kazakh cycling team Astana (AST)'s leader Alberto Contador of Spain celebrating his yellow jersey of overall leader on the podium, Danish cycling team Team Saxo Bank (SAX)'s rider Frank Schleck of Luxemburg (R) ridding with Alberto Contador of Spain (C) and Danish cycling team Team Saxo Bank (SAX)'s leader Andy Schleck of Luxemburg, the pack ridding and Contador, and Schleck brothers arriving on the finish line. AFP PHOTO PASCAL PAVANI/PATRICK HERTZOG/JOEL SAGET (Photo credit should read PASCAL PAVANI/PATRICK HERTZOG/JO/AFP/Getty Images)

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Alberto Contador of Spain, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, center, climbs Saisies pass during the 17th stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 169.5 kilometers (105.3 miles) with start in Bourg-Saint-Maurice and finish in Le Grand-Bornand, Alps region, France, Wednesday July 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski)

Thor Hushovd of Norway, wearing the best sprinter's green jersey, climbs Colombiere pass during the 17th stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 169.5 kilometers (105.3 miles) with start in Bourg-Saint-Maurice and finish in Le Grand-Bornand, Alps region, France, Wednesday July 22, 2009. Hushovd broke away and won both intermediate sprints securing points for his green jersey. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Yellow jersey of overall leader, 2007 Tour de France winner and Kazakh cycling team Astana (AST)'s leader Alberto Contador of Spain (C) rides with Danish cycling team Team Saxo Bank (SAX)'s Frank Schleck of Luxemburg (R) and Danish cycling team Team Saxo Bank (SAX)'s leader Andy Schleck of Luxemburg (L) on July 22, 2009 in the 169 km and seventeenth stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race run between Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Le Grand Bornand. Danish cycling team Team Saxo Bank (SAX)'s rider Frank Schleck of Luxemburg won ahead of yellow jersey of overall leader, 2007 Tour de France winner and Kazakh cycling team Astana (AST)'s leader Alberto Contador of Spain and Danish cycling team Team Saxo Bank (SAX)'s leader Andy Schleck of Luxemburg. AFP PHOTO PATRICK HERTZOG (Photo credit should read PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Seven-time Tour de France winner and Kazakh cycling team Astana (AST)'s Lance Armstrong of the United States (R) rides with US cycling team Garmin-Slipstream (GRM)'s Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain (C) on July 22, 2009 in the 169 km and seventeenth stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race run between Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Le Grand Bornand. Danish cycling team Team Saxo Bank (SAX)'s rider Frank Schleck of Luxemburg won ahead of yellow jersey of overall leader, 2007 Tour de France winner and Kazakh cycling team Astana (AST)'s leader Alberto Contador of Spain and Danish cycling team Team Saxo Bank (SAX)'s leader Andy Schleck of Luxemburg. AFP PHOTO JOEL SAGET (Photo credit should read JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

The stage featured five climbs, but the drama set in during the last two - the super-steep Romme and Colombiere passes. Contador proved he simply cannot be shaken by his rivals in the mountains.

On the Colombiere, Armstrong couldn't keep up when Contador pulled away with Astana teammate Andreas Kloeden and the Schlecks, who ride for the Saxo Bank team.

Instead, Armstrong stayed back alongside Britain's Bradley Wiggins to protect Contador. Wiggins entered the day in third place overall and would have been helped by any effort from Armstrong to close the gap to the leaders.

So the Texan decided to wait, for a while. With about 8.7 miles left, Armstrong stepped on the gas to leave Wiggins behind.

``I couldn't find my acceleration to go with the other guys,'' Armstrong said. ``I was there stuck with Wiggins. I had to wait until it got steeper, when you knew you could definitely go away.

``I probably should have gone with the early acceleration.''

Armstrong isn't ruling out second place on the podium.

``Yes, it's still my goal, I think it's possible,'' he said.

The elder Schleck collected his second stage win at cycling's premiere event - after winning another Alpine stage in 2006 up to the L'Alpe d'Huez ski station.

The Schlecks were the main attackers against Contador during the final two punishing climbs, and at times took turns relaying each other or trying to shake the Spaniard.

``We bet everything - make or break it,'' Frank Schleck said.'' We deserved to win ... we attacked one after another. We countered well - it was a good tactic.''

When Contador, Kloeden and the Schlecks were alone in front on the Colombiere, the Spaniard surprisingly mounted his own attack on the two brothers - but only his German teammate got dropped.

Contador said he had discussed attacking the Schlecks with team manager Johan Bruyneel by radio, who then advised him to take it up with Kloeden.

``He told me, 'Go for it,''' Contador said.

Levi Leipheimer, an Astana teammate who crashed out of the Tour after breaking his wrist, tweeted: ``Well that wasn't a good move!!''

``If Andreas finishes 4th in GC by less than 2 (minutes) from 3rd, we know where he lost it,'' Leipheimer wrote, referring to the general classification, or overall standings.

Armstrong, Kloeden and Wiggins are stronger time-trial riders than the Schlecks - and could make up ground in the 25.2-mile race against the clock in Annecy on Thursday.

Kloeden finished sixth in the stage and sits fifth overall, 4:44 behind Contador. Wiggins, a three-time Olympic pursuit champion, is sixth overall, 4:53 behind, after finishing seventh in the stage.

In the other individual time-trial this Tour, the first stage in Monaco, Armstrong was 20 seconds faster than Andy Schleck and nearly a minute quicker than Frank Schleck - and that was over only 9.63 miles.

``I just need to work hard on the time-trial tomorrow,'' Armstrong said. ``I've been careful today.''

The Schlecks believe that even if they don't fare well in the time-trial, they could recover any lost time in the race culmination Saturday - an uphill finish at the Mont Ventoux, which Armstrong calls the toughest climb in France.

Politicians nosed in on Wednesday's stage. French President Nicolas Sarkozy rode in a car on the course route, while Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker spoke by telephone with the Schleck brothers to praise their performance.

The Tour ends July 26.

By JAMEY KEATEN, AP Sports Writer

AP Sports Writer Samuel Petrequin contributed to this report.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-23-2009 @ 4:25AM

RV said...

Great stage, very expected. Contador played a dangerous game by attacking and leaving Klöden behind, Armstrong was exemplar, the Schleck brothers remarquable too. I'm now waiting for today's TT stage and LA sponsor reveal !
RV, from France (loooove your site !)