( CNN ) -- Andy Schleck drew a line under his row with leader Alberto Contador after France 's Pierrick Fedrigo fought off a challenge from Lance Armstrong to win stage 16 of the Tour de France . Defending champion Contador , from Spain , retained his eight-second lead over Luxembourg 's Schleck on Tuesday after the previous day 's 'chain reaction ' controversy . Contador apologized to his rival after sprinting ahead when Schleck dropped his chain during an attack on the stage 's final climb . The Spaniard ignored the Tour 's sporting traditions by refusing to wait and was booed by the crowd . After gaining 39 seconds Contador issued an apology on Youtube , while Schleck vowed to take his revenge . Contador learns winning is n't everything . But after finishing the 199.5km stage between Bagnere-de-Luchon and Pau on Tuesday Schleck diffused the situation , turning his attention to Thursday 's crucial Tourmalet stage , where he will bid to snatch the lead from Contador . He told the Tour 's official website : `` I have n't seen the footage of Alberto 's apology but he came to me today and personally apologized and I appreciate that a lot . `` He knows that he made a mistake yesterday ; he should n't have done that , he knows it and , for me , that 's enough now . This case is closed and people should stop with it and move on . Nobody deserves to be chastised endlessly . `` I 'm still motivated but it 's not like it 's revenge . I just want to win this Tour -- that 's my goal -- and I know there 's only one chance left and that 's the Tourmalet [ on Thursday ] . I think I can do it . I hope I can do it . '' Contador added : `` Today I talked with Andy because I wanted to make things clear . We have always had good relations and I do not want them to be damaged by what happened yesterday . `` We have explained ourselves and I think our relationship can become as good as it was before . '' Fedrigo , from the Bbox team , outsprinted a seven-strong group , including six-time winner Armstrong , to record his third stage victory on the Tour . See Contador 's Youtube apology here . He finished ahead of compatriot Sandy Casar and Spain 's Ruben Plaza , while Armstrong took sixth place . It is now five years since the American 's last stage victory . Carlos Barredo made the first dash for the line with more than 40km to go in the stage , but he ran out of steam and was caught by Fedrigo 's group with a little over 1km to go . As Fedrigo burst from the line Armstrong tried to keep pace but could n't maintain his challenge . He told reporters afterwards : `` It was harder than I expected . It 's been a while since I sprinted and I was just not quick enough . '' Fedrigo was delighted with his win . He told the Tour 's official website : `` I would have been very disappointed to finish this Tour without finding myself in a position to play to win . I was really afraid of not succeeding . `` The Tour passes so quickly and so far I did not answer the call I 'd issued myself . Last night I even cracked a little and my nerves were a bit frayed . But perhaps that 's what I needed in order to regain confidence . `` In the end , [ Lance ] Armstrong told me that he would not cooperate with me because he knew I was the fastest group . ''
Luxembourg 's Andy Schleck ends his row with Tour de France rival Alberto Contador . Both gained 39 seconds after Armstrong dropped his chain on Monday . France 's Guillaume Fedrigo wins stage 2 of the Tour . He held off a late challenge from six - time stage winner Lance Armstrong .