July 22nd, 2009 by 
thien
As expected, Saxo Bank took to the hills today to hopefully deliver their GC hopeful Andy Schleck into a podium spot and ride they did. Frank Schleck paced his younger brother, Andy Schleck, up the final climbs shedding all other contenders. With only Alberto Contador able to hang with the pace, the elder Schleck took the stage win and with that put the two Schleck brothers in second and third respectively.
Stage 17 Results
1 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 4:53:54
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
3 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
4 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 0:02:18
5 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
6 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0:02:27
7 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:03:07
8 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Agritubel - 0:04:09
9 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
10 Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne - 0:06:10
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
6 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:04:53
7 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas - 0:05:09
8 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:08:08
9 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux - 0:09:19
10 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi - 0:10:50
Jersey Standings:
Alberto Contador
Thor Hushovd
Franco Pellizotti
Andy Schleck
Links to news sites…
“Daring double act proves Schleck’s class
Astana pulls no punches in penultimate mountain fight
The brothers Schleck of Team Saxo Bank had threatened to take the race apart with measured efforts during yesterday’s stage and today that moderation went out the window. With it went the status quo in this year’s Tour de France. Having won on the famous slopes of Alpe d’Huez during the 2006 Tour, Fränk Schleck added what was arguably the queen stage of this year’s edition to his palmares after a superb effort in the heart of the French Alps.
He won that stage three years ago solo, but today he had the company of brother Andy, his faithful companion and working partner in the day’s pivotal moments, and Alberto Contador (Astana), their biggest rival for the overall title, who currently leads the race by a solid margin.” Read more from CyclingNews…
“Schleck takes TDF stage as Contador stays in yellow
By Justin Davis (AFP)
LE GRAND-BORNAND, France — Luxemburg rider Frank Schleck won the 17th stage of the Tour de France here on Wednesday.
Spain’s 2007 Tour de France champion Alberto Contador - who finished second in the stage - retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey while Frank’s brother Andy was third.
Contador now leads Andy Schleck by 2minutes 26seconds with Frank 3min 25sec adrift and seven-time winner Lance Armstrong dropped out of the podium placings as he lies in fourth 3min 55sec behind his Astana team-mate.
On the third and last day of climbing in the Alps Contador confirmed his status as the undisputed race leader after repelling a series of attacks by the lively Schleck brothers in a thrilling finale to the race.” Read more from the AFP…
“Armstrong and Contador ‘incompatible’ - Astana manager
MADRID — Astana’s Belgian manager Johan Bruyneel says there is a “certain incompatibility” between Spanish rider Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong of the United States even as he minimized the friction between the two team leaders on the Tour de France.
“There was never a ‘click’ between the two, I don’t know why,” he said in an interview published in top-selling daily newspaper El Pais, adding however that “there was never as much friction” between the two as was reported.
Relations between Contador and Armstrong, which were tense since the start of the Tour de France, appear to have improved since the Spanish rider took the yellow jersey on Sunday during the first Alpine stage of the race to become the favourite to win the event.” Read more from the AFP…
“Frank Schleck takes stage after assisting brother and teammate Andy, while Contador keeps jersey
Saxo Bank’s Andy and Frank Schleck climbed their way up in the general classification on stage 17, with only race leader Alberto Contador (Astana) able to follow the Luxembourg riders over the day’s final climb and down to the finish. But Astana continued to show its might, with Lance Armstrong and Andreas Klöden riding strongly to finish fifth and sixth on the day and shedding the other GC contenders.
Bradley Wiggins (Garmin-Slipstream) rode with the select Armstrong group towards the end, but lost the wheel on the final climb up the Col de la Colombiere to finish 3:10 down.” Read more from VeloNews.com…
July 22nd, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I’m already looking forward to next year’s Tour. Contador will be just as strong, Andy Schleck will be stronger because he knows he needs to be to beat Contador, and Armstrong will be back with a full year of training. Fireworks!
July 22nd, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Good point Travis. Next year should be epic!
July 22nd, 2009 at 11:38 pm
I managed to catch this stage on Vs today, and the climbs were just inspiring. I wish I could climb like that.
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:10 am
That madone looks huge next to contador!
July 24th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Schleck and Schleck are like the Marley & Marley of cycling. I wish they had broken Contador though.
July 25th, 2009 at 4:41 am
The Schleck brothers helped each another very well. It’s so nice to see both of them crossed the finish line together.
July 25th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
I’m still annoyed Contador stopped his attack after Kloden couldn’t follow. It would have been nice to see a full assault from Conti go the distance. Ventoux was just a matter of holding position and following the Schlecks. This was the only mountin stage Conti could have gone full throttle but instead, held back.
July 26th, 2009 at 12:36 am
Amazing ride by Thor, really put Cav’s foot in his mouth with that performance. If Cav ends up with the green in Paris, I’m going to be extremely disappointed.