COL DU TOURMALET, France » Defending champion Alberto Contador of Spain virtually secured a third Tour de France title yesterday after staying with yellow-jersey rival Andy Schleck all the way to the top of the legendary Col du Tourmalet in the pivotal 17th stage.

Schleck won the prestigious stage but Contador crossed the line nearly shoulder to shoulder with the Luxembourg rider after the pair had broken clear in the final six miles.

Contador appeared completely at ease as Schleck set a punishing pace up the final climb. The Spaniard even moved in front at one point, but didn’t appear concerned about trying to cross the line first.

Contador retained his eight-second lead in the overall standings and looks destined to be wearing yellow when the Tour rides into Paris for Sunday’s largely ceremonial final stage.

Schleck knew he needed to pick up time on Contador in the last stage in the Pyrenees, but could not break the Spaniard. They completed the 108.1 miles from Pau to the top of the Col du Tourmalet in 5 hours, 3 minutes, 29 seconds.

"I still have to reach Paris, and it won’t be easy," Contador said. "But the most important thing for me today was that I didn’t lose time."

Third place went to Spain’s Joaquin Rodriguez, who pulled away from the rest of the chasing group and finished on his own, 1:18 back.

Time gaps are still expected to change in tomorrow’s time trial, but that is Contador’s specialty. Schleck had acknowledged before yesterday’s stage that he would need to pick up at least a minute on Contador if he was to have a chance of winning the Tour.

Although he changed his tune last night and insisted he still had a chance, Schleck was also looking to the future.

"I’ve got everything that it takes, I’ve got the best skills to win the Tour. Maybe next year, maybe two years, but I want to win it, that’s for sure," he said.

Schleck and Contador braved fog and rain, as well as the flags of supporters hitting them in the face during the climb.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy was on the top of the mountain to greet them.

"The image of Alberto and Andy side by side was a great image of sport," Sarkozy said. "Alberto may win, but Andy will win next year."

Earlier, 2008 champion Carlos Sastre made a valiant attempt to make up more than 9 minutes separating him from Contador by breaking out alone in search of the lead group after 15 miles, aided by his teammate Ignatas Konovalovas, who had dropped back from the leaders.

But he wasn’t able to bridge the gap, and was caught by the pack just before the start of the Tourmalet. Sastre later slipped further back.

Lance Armstrong was with the Schleck-Contador group until Schleck made his move 6 miles from the summit of the Tourmalet. The Texan finished 17th, 4:12 off the pace.

Anthony Charteau of France finished in 27th place, having done enough to guarantee he would be the overall winner of the King of the Mountains’ polka-dot jersey for the Tour’s best climber.

Thor Hushovd of Norway holds the green jersey as points lead as top sprinter ahead of Italy’s Alessandro Pettachi, with Mark Cavendish of Britain also in the hunt for the stage win and hoping for the green jersey when the riders reach Paris.