Tour de France 2010: the best pictures of stage 17

After a rest day, the cyclists were well prepared for the 174km stage Photograph: Nicolas Bouvy/EPA

It was just a shame the weather closed in. Clouds, clouds and more clouds. It is the Pyrenees, though. What do they expect? Photograph: Nicolas Bouvy/EPA

Lance Armstrong was almost 34 minutes off the pace going into the day's ride Photograph: Bogdan Cristel/Reuters

The pack climbs the 1,474m Col du Soulor - the second of the day's major peaks Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP

Not many spectators up here, but at least this goat took time out from eating grass to cheer them on Photograph: Bogdan Cristel/Reuters

Armstrong, who is retiring at the end of the Tour, looks pretty tired Photograph: Bogdan Cristel/Reuters

The French President Nicolas Sarkozy awaited the riders at the top of Tourmalet. Photograph: Francois Lenoir/Reuters

A broom: an essential Tour-watching appendage. Photograph: Francois Lenoir/Reuters

Contador, in yellow, bides his time in the peloton Photograph: Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images

Midway up the mountain, Schleck breaks from the pack and Contador goes with him, chasing him into the mist Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP

The mist clears and, surprise! Photograph: Reuters

Dear oh dear. What is going on with the fans today? It wasn't like this when the Tour first came to the Pyrenees in 1910. Contador seems mildly distracted Photograph: Reuters

Schleck tries to break Contador with several concerted surges, but the Spaniard clings to his tail the whole way Photograph: Reuters

Then Contador charges forwards and sprints three or four lengths clear ... Schleck looks a goner Photograph: Bernard Papon/AP

But he's not. The 25-year-old reels in his more experienced rival and then gives him a few choice words Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/EPA

Both riders look absolutely exhausted as they cross the finish line. Contador allows Schleck to glide over first (though that hardly makes up for his ungentlemanly conduct when he overtook Schleck after a chain-mishap earlier in the Tour) Photograph: Pascal Pavani/AFP/Getty Images

That was a battle and half - the two riders have been inseparable all the way. Today's result means Contador retains his eight seconds lead and is the favourite to win the Tour. Only three stages remain, including Saturday's decisive time-trial Photograph: Bas Czerwinski/AP