Frank Schleck of Luxembourg won Wednesday's 17th stage of the Tour de France and Alberto Contador finished second to close in on the overall victory as the race left the Alps.
Lance Armstrong trailed more than 2 minutes back and fell from second to fourth place overall in the 169-kilometer (105-mile) ride from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Le Grand-Bornand - seen by many as the toughest stage this year.
Contador held on to the yellow jersey by staying with Schleck and his younger brother Andy in a three-man breakaway at the end of the stage. Andy Schleck finished third while Armstrong was fifth, 2:18 back.
The Schleck brothers both passed Armstrong in the overall standings, with Andy 2:26 behind Contador in second place and Frank 3:25 behind in third. Armstrong trails Contador by 3:55.
Armstrong is a stronger time-trial rider than the Schlecks, and could make up ground in the 40.5-kilometer (25.17-mile) race against the clock in Annecy on Thursday for Stage 18.
The Tour ends on Sunday in Paris.
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