ALEXANDRE Vinokourov bounced back from a disastrous Sunday in the Pyrenees to take stage 15 of the Tour de France from Foix to Loudenvielle-le-Louron.

Having lost over half an hour to the yellow jersey Michael Rasmussen the previous day, the former race favourite salvaged some pride by taking his second stage victory in three days.

He did it with the panache of a champion.The Kazakh rider attacked on the day's first climb and though he was hauled back he stayed near the front of the race and picked off a succession of attackers one by one on the day's final climb.

Behind him Rasmussen and his closest challenger Alberto Contador were locked in a thrilling duel on the slopes of the Col de Peyresourde.

The Tour now seems to be a two-horse race. Contador launched a series of explosive attacks on the day's final climb, shelling out everyone bar Rasmussen, who matched every acceleration, never allowing the Spaniard to build more than a ten-length lead.

The third-placed rider, Cadel Evans, was unable to stay with the duo and is now four minutes behind Ramussen.

Barring accident, injury, a miracle or a disaster on Wednesday's final mountain stage between Orthez and Gourette, Rasmussen and Contador will slug it out during Saturday's time trial for the right to wear the yellow jersey in Paris.