Stage 17

Pau – Col du Tourmalet

Distance: 174 kilometers.

Andy Schleck won the race up the Col at the end, but Contador was right on his wheel, so he gained none of the 8 seconds he needs to get back the Yellow.

The last day in the mountains starts with a mild category 4 followed by a sprint. Then things get sweaty with a pair of category 1 climbs. There is a sprint to warm people up to take on the Hors Catégorie Col du Tourmalet again. It is the highest point in the race, and this time the stage ends at the summit.

Alberto Contador ( Esp – AST – 001 ) [Yellow] 83h 32m 39s
Thor Hushovd ( Nor – CTT – 095 ) [Green] 191 points
Anthony Charteau ( Fra – BBO – 153 ) [Polka Dot] 143 points
Andy Schleck ( Lux – SAX – 011 ) 2 [White]
Team: Radio Shack RSH ( 021-029 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Andy Schleck ( Lux – SAX – 011 )
Combative: Alexandr Kolobnev ( Rus – KAT – 074 ) [Red numbers]

They’ve gone 3,289.4 kilometers [2,043.9 miles] at an average speed of 39.4 kph [24.5 mph].

OVERALL STANDINGS:

Alberto Contador ( Esp – AST – 001 ) [Yellow]
2 Andy Schleck ( Lux – SAX – 011 ) [White] [Stage winner]
3 Samuel Sanchez ( Esp – EUS – 181 )
4 Denis Menchov ( Rus – RAB – 191 )
5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck ( Bel – OLO – 101 )
6 Robert Gesink ( Ned – RAB – 195 )
7 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver ( Esp – KAT – 077 )
8 Ryder Hesjedal ( Can – GRM – 054 )
9 Roman Kreuziger ( Cze – LIQ – 044 )
10 Christopher Horner ( USA – RSH – 023 )
11 Luis-Leon Sanchez ( Esp – GCE – 161 )
12 Ruben Plaza Molina ( Esp – GCE – 168 )
13 Levi Leipheimer ( USA – RSH – 025 )
14 Andréas Klöden ( Ger – RSH – 024 )
15 Nicolas Roche ( Irl – ALM – 081 )
16 Alexandre Vinokourov ( Kaz – AST – 009 )
17 John Gadret ( Fra – ALM – 085 )
18 Thomas Lövkvist ( Swe – SKY – 037 )
19 Kevin De Weert ( Bel – QST – 133 )
20 Daniel Moreno Fernandez ( Esp – OLO – 107 )

23 Lance Armstrong ( USA – RSH – 021 )
24 Bradley Wiggins ( GBr – SKY – 031 )
26 Cadel Evans ( Aus – BMC – 121 )
41 Anthony Charteau ( Fra – BBO – 153 ) [Polka Dot]
65 Alexandr Kolobnev ( Rus – KAT – 074 ) [Red numbers]
66 Jérôme Pineau ( Fra – QST – 135 )
68 Geraint Thomas ( GBr – SKY – 039 )
111 Thor Hushovd ( Nor – CTT – 095 ) [Green]
150 Alessandro Petacchi ( Ita – LAM – 208 )
155 Mark Cavendish ( GBr – THR – 111 )
157 Julian Dean ( NZl – GRM – 052 )
161 David Millar ( GBr – GRM – 057 )
166 Robbie McEwen ( Aus – KAT – 075 )