Tour de France - 19th stage

Only a disaster will see Contador lose, says second-placed Schleck

Article published on the 2009-07-24 Latest update 2009-07-24 17:37 TU

Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong, Tour 2009 favourites.
(Photo: Reuters)

Second-placed Andy Schleck said only a disaster for leader Alberto Contador will see him win the race at the end of the 19th stage on Friday, a 178km ride from Bourgoin-Jallieu to Aubenas.

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With just two stages left, 24-year-old Schleck is 4min 11sec behind Contador with his teammate Lance Armstrong in third and determined to finish second behind Spain's 2007 Tour winner.

But Saxo Bank leader Schleck says he will do everything he can to take time off Contador on Saturday's penultimate stage from Montelimar, which finishes after a gruelling 21.1km climb up Mont Ventoux.

"There is always a chance something will happen, but he will have to have a really bad day to lose four minutes. We will try and we will see," said Schleck.

Contador added he will do what he can to guarantee team-mate and seven-times Tour winner Armstrong a place on the podium.

Class standings

1. Mark Cavendish (GBR/THR) 3h50min 35sec (average: 46,317 km/h)

2. Thor Hushovd (NOR/CTT) at 0:00.

3. Gerald Ciolek (GER/MRM) 0:00.

4. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/SIL) 0:00.

5. Oscar Freire (ESP/RAB) 0:00.

6. Jérôme Pineau (FRA/QST) 0:00.

7. Fumiyuki Beppu (JPN/SKS) 0:00.

8. Nicolas Roche (IRL/ALM) 0:00.

9. Christophe Le Mevel (FRA/FDJ) 0:00.

10. Martijn Maaskant (NED/GRM) 0:00.