Schleck vs Contador - and the winner is...neither?

SHOOT: Yep there is very little in it, both seem pretty evenly matched at this point in the mountains. Which means the race is looking to go Contador's way where he has a definite advantage in the time trial.

clipped from www.itv.com The predictions for Stage 17 are coming in thick and fast on Twitter, with many of you going for an Andy Schleck victory. The Twitvids are also literally pouring in from reporter Ned Boulting, and it is raining. Very hard. That could make things even more interesting. Schleck knows this is his last chance to take significant time out of Contador: and he's already 8" behind. Equally Contador is expecting nothing less than repeated attacks from the Saxo-Bank rider. Neither man has truly asserted themselves in the mountains yet (contrary to my prediction about Contador's Pyrenean plan recently). So why should it be any different on Stage 17? There is a symmetry to Contador and Schleck's exchanges in the mountains so far. Schleck was impressive in winning Stage 8 between Station des Rousses Morzine-Avoriaz. And he grabbed 10" on his Luxembourg rival.