Contador extends Tour lead

Alberto Contador stretched his lead at the top of the general classification by taking minutes off closest challengers Lance Armstrong and Britain's Bradley Wiggins on stage 17 of the Tour de France.

Contador crossed the finishing line second at the end of a gruelling final day in the Alps alongside Andy and Frank Schleck, the latter of the brothers winning the 169.5 kilometres stage from Bourg St Maurice to Le Grand-Bornand.

Armstrong, Contador's Astana team-mate who started the day second overall, finished fourth, two minutes and 17 seconds behind the front three.

Wiggins ended up seventh and concedes third place in a shake-up of the GC.

Andy Schleck goes second, 2.26mins behind Contador heading into Thursday's individual time trial, while Frank Schleck is now third and Armstrong drops to fourth, 3.55mins off the lead.