Astana Protects Yellow In Stage 16

Stage 16 of this year's Tour de France had two difficult climbs that offered riders the opportunity to attack and try to make up some time on the race leader -- Alberto Contador of Astana. And the attacks did come. On the second climb, a catagorey 1, the Schleck brothers (Andy and Frank) of Saxo Bank and Bradley Wiggins of Garmin-Slipstream, took off trying to make up some time. But Contador was having none of it. He went with every attack and no one was able to shake him.

One of the best rides of the day came from Astana's Lance Armstrong. He was left behind when the attacks started, and quite a gap was created between him and the best riders. But Lance just bided his time until a particularly steep stretch of road, and then took off. He caught the yellow jersey group and stayed with them until the finish. Armstrong may be 37 years-old, but he proved he can still climb with the best riders.

A breakaway was allowed to finish the race ahead of the overall leaders, but the riders in it were no danger to the leaders. The winner of the stage was Spaniard Mikel Astarloza (pictured) of team Euskaltel-Euskadi. It was the first time he had ever won a road race of any kind.

Stage 17 is without a doubt the hardest stage in this year's Tour. The race will start with two catagorey 1 climbs, then has a catagorey 2 climb, and finishes with two more catagorey 1 climbs. We can expect lots of attacks on the yellow jersey, and if anyone can make up time on Contador, this is their best opportunity. If Contador finishes stage 17 with a sizeable lead, then he has probably won the Tour. Here are the current standings:

YELLOW JERSEY (OVERALL LEADERS)
1. Alberto Contador (Astana)
2. Lance Armstrong (Astana)..........1.37
3. Bradley Wiggins (Garmin)..........1.46
4. Andreas Kloden (Astana)..........2.17
5. Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank)..........2.26
6. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas)..........2.51
7. Christophe Le Mevel (Francaise)..........3.09
8. Frank Schleck (Saxo Bank)..........3.25
9. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo)..........3.52
10. Christian Vande Velde (Garmin)..........3.59

GREEN JERSEY (SPRINTERS)
1. Thor Hushovd (Cervelo)..........218 pts
2. Mark Cavendish (Columbia)..........200 pts
3. Jose Rojas (Caisse)..........126 pts
4. Gerald Ciolek (Milram)..........122 pts
5. Tyler Farrar (Garmin)..........110 pts

POLKA DOT JERSEY (CLIMBERS)
1. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas)..........159 pts
2. Egoi Martinez (Euskadi)..........101 pts
3. Pierrick Fedrigo (Bouyges)..........97 pts
4. Mikel Astarloza (Euskadi)..........86 pts
5. Sandy Casar (Francaise)..........71 pts

TEAM LEADERS
1. Astana
2. AG2R La Mondiale..........2.32
3. Garmin-Slipstream..........5.54
4. Milram..........11.29
5. Saxo Bank..........11.43