Schleck empty handed in Tour stage despite attacks

Luxembourg's Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) looks to see the distance to Alberto Contador (Astana)

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Saxo Bank tests Tour leader Contador, loses Voigt

Luxembourg's Andy Schleck tested race leader Alberto Contador with two attacks on the Col du Petit-St-Bernard today. However, he failed to make up time on his 2:26 deficit to Contador and he lost teammate Jens Voigt in a crash on the pass' decent.

"We did not expect anything today, but we tried and it could have worked out," said Schleck (Saxo Bank). "Unfortunately, it turned out to be a really bad day, Jensy crashed and the overall did not really change."

The Tour de France's 16th stage covered the Grand-St-Bernard and Petit-St-Bernard before its finish in Bourg-St-Maurice for a total of 159 kilometres. Schleck used the last climb to try to gain time on Spaniard Contador (Astana).

Saxo Bank set a high tempo in the first kilometres of the 22.6-kilometre climb with Nicki Sørensen and then Chris Anker Sørensen. Schleck launched two attacks about eight kilometres from the summit of the climb to form a group of six riders. He distanced rivals Cadel Evans and Tony Martin, but Lance Armstrong (Astana) returned to Schleck to protect his second overall.

Schleck is fifth overall and still 1:40 from the podium spot currently held by Bradley Wiggins (Garmin-Slipstream). He has a further nine second deficit to Armstrong's second place.  The race continues with another high mountain stage tomorrow to Le Grand-Bornand, one Schleck considers the Tour's toughest day.

"If there is one team not running out of options it is us. We are there all the time and we try," said Schleck.

The loss of Voigt will weaken the team. He crashed on the 31-kilometre descent to the finish and abandoned the race. Voigt is one of the team's strongest helpers on the flat stages and in the initial kilometres of climbs.

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