 Contador again showed why he is in pole position in this year's Tour
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Spain's Alberto Contador moved a step closer to victory in the Tour de France after a gruelling 17th stage, from Bourg St Maurice to Le Grand Bornand.
The Astana rider survived attacks by the Schleck brothers, Frank and Andy, to cross the line second behind Frank and extend his overall lead.
Andy and Frank are now second and third respectively in the overall standings with Lance Armstrong fourth.
Britain's Bradley Wiggins has dropped to sixth after a seventh place finish.
Wiggins again demonstrated his improved climbing ability as the race left the Alps but his day became an exercise in damage limitation as he was dropped by Contador and the Schleck brothers on the penultimate climb of the day, the Col de Romme.
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606: DEBATE
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Armstrong was also unable to stay with the leading group, which also contained Andreas Kloden, as the Schlecks piled on the pressure.
Somewhat unexpectedly, Contador launched his own attack - losing his Astana team-mate Kloden in the process - and leaving himself dangerously exposed.
But, despite the best efforts of the Schleck brothers, who both ride for the Saxo Bank team, the 2007 champion never looked like losing time to his rivals.
Back down the road, Wiggins was able to stick with Armstrong until the final kilometre of the last ascent of the day - the Col de la Colombiere - before a surge from the seven-time champion saw him accelerate away.
Both Wiggins and Armstrong drop out of the podium positions but will look to Thursday's time trial in Annecy as a way of clawing back some of the time they have lost.
Stage 17 result:
1. Frank Schleck (Luxembourg / Saxo Bank ) 4 hours 53 minutes 54 seconds
2. Alberto Contador (Spain / Astana ) "
3. Andy Schleck (Luxembourg / Saxo Bank ) "
4. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Liquigas ) + 2 mins 18 secs
5. Lance Armstrong (U.S. / Astana ) "
6. Andreas Kloeden (Germany / Astana ) + 2 mins 27 secs
7. Bradley Wiggins (Britain / Garmin ) + 3 mins 07 secs
8. Christophe Moreau (France / Agritubel ) + 4 mins 09 secs
9. Christian Vande Velde (U.S. / Garmin ) "
10. Remi Pauriol (France / Cofidis ) + 6 mins 10 secs
Selected others:
25. Carlos Sastre (Spa/Cervelo) + 7 mins 47 secs
89. Charlie Wegelius (GB/Silence-Lotto) + 29 mins 43 secs
105. David Millar (GB/Garmin) "
116. Mark Cavendish (GB/Columbia) + 35 mins 47 secs
Overall standings:
1. Alberto Contador (Spain / Astana ) 72 hours 27 minutes 09 seconds
2. Andy Schleck (Luxembourg / Saxo Bank ) + 2 mins 26 secs
3. Frank Schleck (Luxembourg / Saxo Bank ) + 3 mins 25 secs
4. Lance Armstrong (U.S. / Astana ) + 3 mins 55 secs
5. Andreas Kloeden (Germany / Astana ) + 4 mins 44 secs
Selected others:
6. Bradley Wiggins (GB/ Garmin ) + 4 mins 53 secs
13. Carlos Sastre (Spa/Cervelo) + 11 mins 39 secs
60. Charlie Wegelius (GB/Silence-Lotto) + 1 hr 14 mins 25 secs
75. David Millar (GB/Garmin) + 1 hr 29 mins 57 secs
141. Mark Cavendish (GB/Columbia) + 2hrs 51 mins 25 seconds
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