Mountain Duel

— Tour de france —

Contador closes in on third championship in four years

Associated Press

COL DU TOURMALET, France

Alberto Contador never wavered.

Under a blistering attack from Andy Schleck, the Spaniard tightened his grip on a third Tour de France title in four years by matching every acceleration his rival threw at him during the ride up a fabled Pyrenean climb in Thursday’s 17th stage.

Schleck delivered on his promise to ride well on the last mountain of this year’s race.

It just wasn’t enough to shake Contador.

Schleck set a punishing pace up the last 6 miles on the ascent of the Col du Tourmalet, but the Spaniard shadowed him wheel-to-wheel the whole way. In the end, Schleck won the 108.1-mile trek from Pau by a half bike-length, but failed in his bid to take the yellow jersey from Contador and gain time on his rival ahead of Saturday’s time trial.

“I did short accelerations really many times, it was the only possibility I had to try to drop him,” Schleck said. “But he was too strong.”

The Tourmalet was the last of three tough climbs in the stage made in cool temperatures under a drizzle and fog. Frenzied fans — including some near-streakers — ran alongside the duelists on the ascent, at least once seeming to irk Schleck. On the second climb, the Col du Soudor, a flock of sheep strayed into the road, causing some riders to swerve, brake and stop, though no one crashed.

With only three days of racing left before Sunday’s finish in Paris, and two of the stages unlikely to alter the top of the standings, the two men knew that Thursday’s leg was crucial.

Schleck had vowed to make an all-out effort.

On the Tourmalet, he repeatedly turned around, at times speaking to Contador or trying to catch his gaze in an attempt at mind games. The Spaniard never took the bait.

“I wanted him to pass, I wanted to be behind and attack him, but of course, he’s very smart, and I knew that he only had to stay in my wheel,” Schleck said. “I think Alberto did the right thing, he’s a great professional.”

Every time Schleck made a burst, Contador was right there, dancing lightly side to side up out of his saddle in a smooth rhythm.

Contador did what he needed to, and appeared to slow at the end, leaving Schleck to win his second stage this Tour, in 5 hours, 3 minutes, 29 seconds.

“He was really so strong and at the end, the sprint for me was not the most important thing,” said Contador, who finished in the same time. “Today, the most important thing for me was not to lose time.”