TdF: Queen stage

Luxembourger brothers Fränk and Andy Schleck made today a very exciting day with its 5 climbs. Fränk won the stage while Alberto Contador came in second to maintain his lead, and Andy Schleck was 3rd.

Fränk won; yellow Contador 2nd; white Schleck 3rd:


Armstrong was 5th, 2:18 behind.

General classification after stage 17
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 72:27:09
2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:02:26
3 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:03:25
4 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana 0:03:55
5 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0:04:44

If the GC stays the same, it would be the first time siblings were on the podium together. 3 Astana teammates in the top 5 isn't bad either.

Lance says:

St 17 done. Tough day! Got caught out on some attacks on the col de romme but managed ok from behind. Had some cramps @ the end. No fun!!

Tomorrow's 25-mile individual time trial should separate the pure climbers from those who can time trial as well. I think Contador showed us all that he can do both with his 2nd place in the stage 1 time trial this year. Lance could take back his podium place. However, Saturday's stage up the infamous Mt Ventoux is pretty hard too, and Lance might slip back to 4th. We'll see!