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(AP) --  over defending champion
Alberto Contador of Spain as riders set off on the 12th stage of
the Tour de France.

 Friday's 131-mile trek from Bourg-de-Peage to Mende features
five mid-grade climbs, and ends with a short but feisty ascent up
La Croix Neuve pass.

 Schleck's Saxo Bank team director Bjarne Riis thinks the climb
is too short for Schleck to increase his lead over Contador before
the race hits four grueling days of climbing in the Pyrenees.

 "I don't see much happening," Riis said.

 Samuel Sanchez of Spain started the stage in third place, 2:45
behind Schleck, while Denis Menchov of Russia was 2:58 back in
fourth.

(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)