Schleck takes stage but not overall lead

LA MONGIE, France, July 22 (UPI) -- Andy Schleck won a dramatic high-mountain duel with Alberto Contador and took Thursday's Tour de France stage but still trails Contador for the overall lead.

Schleck entered Thursday's Stage 17 -- an 108-mile run from Pau, France, to the top of the Col du Tourmalet -- 8 seconds off the overall lead. The two leaders separated themselves from the field during the 5,400-foot climb to the pass and rode wheel-to-wheel over the final 6 miles.

With a heavy mist obscuring the roadway, Schleck led most of the way but could never shake Contador. Contador tried one kick with about a half-mile to go but Schleck retook the lead and held on to cross the finish line a half bike length ahead of Contador.

The two were timed in 5 hours, 3 minutes, 29 seconds, a virtual dead heat that left Contador in the overall lead by 8 seconds with three stages to race.

Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver finished the stage third, 1:18 behind the leaders, and Ryder Hesjedal was fourth another 9 seconds back. Samuel Sanchez came in fifth 1:32 behind Schleck and Denis Menchov and Robert Gesink had identical times of 1:40 behind the lead.

Contador's lead over Schleck remained the same but he stretched his advantage over the third-place Sanchez, who is now 3:32 back, and fourth-place Menchov, who is 3:53 off the pace.

The Tour de France leaves the mountains and begins its trek north to Paris with a 122.8-mile ride from Salies-de-Bearn to Bordeaux for Friday's 18th stage.