Contador refuses to buckle under Schleck pressure

In a day of high, and excruciating, drama in the Pyrenees reigning champion Alberto Contador resisted the challenge of Andy Schleck to remain favourite to win this year's Tour de France.

The brutal Col du Tourmalet has broken many a cyclist down the years, and yesterday it provided the perfect backdrop to the denouement of what has turned into a two-bike race.

The 17th stage of the Tour departed from Pau in wet conditions and approaching the lower slopes of the 15.5km climb up the Col, a seven-strong group led the way. Gradually, Schleck and Contador reeled them in and then, with 10km remaining of the climb, Schleck attacked.

The Luxembourger's audacious move shattered everyone except Contador, and what followed was a gripping duel between two riders so clearly superior to the rest of the peloton. Schleck had hoped to break his Spanish rival but  Contador stayed in touch and with just under 4km to go to the summit he broke clear. Schleck responded with a surge of his own, eyeballing Contador as he passed. But neither man could shake off the other and they finished in the same time of 5 hours, 3min and 29 seconds, a result that leaves Contador eight seconds in front of Schleck, the 2009 runner-up.

With today's stage, and tomorrow's Time Trial to come before Sunday's finish in Paris, the odds on Schleck being able to dispossess Contador of his crown look remote. Nevertheless, Schleck refuses to admit defeat: "Contador is a better time trialist but is only eight seconds ahead and I will keep fighting until the end," he promised. "Last year I was four minutes behind but now it is only eight seconds so anything is possible."

Contador was in bullish mood after Thursday's stage, exuding an aura of quiet confidence ahead of the crucial final weekend. "It is not over yet but I worked very hard and the feeling couldn't be better. I am really happy," he said. "I gave everything, I'm tired, but I'm focused."

Elsewhere Spaniard Samuel Sanchez consolidated his third spot overall by finishing eight seconds ahead of Russia's Denis Menchov and Britain's best-placed rider, Bradley Wiggins, finished 88th, leaving him 24th overall, one place behind Lance Armstrong. ·