PAU, France — Andy Schleck knows he has one opportunity to win the Tour de France — on the climb up the Col du Tourmalet in the Pyrenees today.
He said the fierce ascent at the end of the 17th stage is the only place he can wrest the yellow jersey from two-time champion Alberto Contador and put at least a minute between him and his Spanish rival going into the final weekend of the three-week race.
“I will have to be in yellow. There’s only one chance to take it and that’s (today),” Schleck said Wednesday. “With a minute, I would be happy. But if it’s more, that’s better.”
The Luxembourg rider is eight seconds behind the defending champion in the overall standings after Contador took the lead Monday.
If the Spaniard has the overall lead by the end of today’s stage, most observers agree he will be ahead when the race finishes Sunday in Paris. The leading riders are unlikely to be able to make up time on each other in Friday’s flat stage, and Saturday’s stage is a time trial, a discipline in which Contador excels.
“There is only one way, and that is the climb of the Tourmalet,” Schleck said.
Contador knows the attack will come and isn’t making assumptions about winning his third Tour just yet.
Contador said today’s stage would be “very, very hard.”
“I think we can have very big gaps in that stage, probably more than in the time trial,” he said.
Contador and Schleck are not the only riders with a chance of overall glory. Spain’s Samuel Sanchez is two minutes behind compatriot Contador, and Denis Menchov of Russia is 13 seconds further back.
Results
Standings (After 16 stages)
1. Alberto Contador, Spain, Astana, 78 hours, 29 minutes, 10 seconds; 2. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg, Team Saxo Bank, 8 seconds behind; 3. Samuel Sanchez, Spain, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 2:00; 4. Denis Menchov, Russia, Rabobank, 2:13; 5. Jurgen Van Den Broeck, Belgium, Omega Pharma-Lotto, 3:39.
6. Robert Gesink, Netherlands, Rabobank, 5:01; 7. Levi Leipheimer, United States, Team RadioShack, 5:25; 8. Joaquin Rodriguez, Spain, Katusha, 5:45; 9. Alexandre Vinokourov, Kazakhstan, Astana, 7:12; 10. Ryder Hesjedal, Canada, Garmin-Transitions, 7:51.
11. Roman Kreuziger, Czech Republic, Liquigas-Doimo, 7:58; 12. Ruben Plaza, Spain, Caisse d’Epargne, 8:02; 13. Luis-Leon Sanchez, Spain, Caisse d’Epargne, 8:19; 14. Christopher Horner, United States, Team RadioShack, 8:52; 15. Carlos Sastre, Spain, Cervelo Test Team, 9:02.
16. Andreas Kloeden, Germany, Team RadioShack, 11:14; 17. Thomas Lovkvist, Sweden, Sky Pro Cycling, 12:09; 18. Nicolas Roche, Ireland, AG2R La Mondiale, 12:34; 19. Kevin De Weert, Belgium, Quick Step, 14:07; 20. John Gadret, France, AG2R La Mondiale, 14:24.
Also
25. Lance Armstrong, United States, Team RadioShack, 33:46; 37. Janez Brajkovic, Slovenia, Team RadioShack, 53:02; 45. Sergio Paulinho, Portugal, Team RadioShack, 1:14:38; 58. George Hincapie, United States, BMC Racing Team, 1:29:55; 87. Yaroslav Popovych, Ukraine, Team RadioShack, 2:14:21; 115. Gregory Rast, Switzerland, Team RadioShack, 2:47:50; 116. David Zabriskie, United States, Garmin-Transitions, 2:48:09; 150. Brent Bookwalter, United States, BMC Racing Team, 3:12:21; 157. Dmitriy Muravyev, Kazakhstan, Team RadioShack, 3:19:33.
UPCOMING STAGES
Today — Stage 17, Pau—Col du Tourmalet, high mountain, 174 kilometers (108 miles)
Friday — Stage 18, Salies-de-Bearn—Bordeaux, plain, 198 (123)
Saturday — Stage 19, Bordeaux—Pauillac, individual time trial, 52 (32)
Sunday — Stage 20, Longjumeau—Paris Champs-Elysees, plain, 102.5 (63.7)
Total — 3,641 kilometers (2,262 miles)
