FROOME BRACING FOR CONTADOR ...

CHORGES, France, July 17 (Reuters) - Chris Froome is expecting Spanish rival Alberto Contador to give it all he has got to wrestle his way back into Tour de France contention on the iconic Alpe D'Huez.

Thursday's 18th stage features two climbs of the famous mountain, with the treacherous descent from the Col de Sarenne sandwiched in between -a downhill Froome hopes will be cancelled should it rain as forecast.

“I expect it to be a fight tomorrow at l'Alpe d'Huez,” Team Sky rider Froome told a news conference after winning Wednesday's time trial to extend his overall lead over Contador to four minutes 34 seconds.

“Contador is not a rider to give up. He is going to keep pushing me every day. It's evident

Chris Froome is expecting Spanish rival Alberto Contador to give it all he has got to wrestle his way back into Tour de France contention on the iconic Alpe D'Huez

that the Spaniards and the Dutch guys are not going to stop racing,” the Briton added, referring to Spain's Joaquim Rodriguez and Dutch rider Bauke Mollema, who are sixth and fourth respectively. Froome accused Contador of careless riding on Tuesday after the Spaniard crashed just ahead of him after attacking on a descent. “No disrespect for Alberto but yesterday I felt he was a bit reckless in the de

scent.