BAGNERES-DE-LUCHON, France – Alberto Contador signaled his yellow jersey intentions in defiant style after sensationally attacking Andy Schleck on Monday when the Luxemburger suffered a mechanical problem.

French champion Thomas Voeckler handed the hosts their fifth success of the race after soloing to victory on the 15th stage, finishing nearly three minutes ahead of the race favourites.

However, as he raced away to victory on the 21.5km descent from the Port de Bales climb, all the race drama was going on behind him.

Contador was caught by surprise by a Schleck attack inside the final two kilometres of the 19.3km ascent of the Bales summit.

Although he had moved to counter, the Spaniard did not stop for the Saxo Bank leader after his gear mechanism broke seconds later, leaving Schleck stranded on the hill and having to fix the problem himself.

Contador raced ahead with Russian Denis Menchov and Spaniard Samuel Sanchez to crest the summit just over 20sec ahead of Schleck.

And together the trio completed the descent, later catching up with several breakaway riders who had been dropped by Voeckler, to finish 39sec ahead of the Luxemburger.

Schleck, the runner-up to two-time champion Contador last year, is now eight seconds behind in second place, with Sanchez and Menchov still in third and fourth respectively.

Although mechanical problems are considered part and parcel of bike racing, Schleck hit out immediately at Contador for not being “fair play”.

“In the same situation I would not have taken advantage,” said Schleck, who had held the yellow jersey since taking it from Australia’s Cadel Evans on stage nine.

“I’m not the jury, but for sure those guys wouldn’t get the fair play award from me today.”

Schleck had to hold his anger back as he swapped the yellow jersey for the white jersey for the race’s best-placed rider aged 25 or under.

And he has promised to take his revenge on Contador swiftly.

“I’m really disappointed. My stomach is full of anger, and I want to take my revenge,” he said.

“I will take my revenge in the coming days.”

Contador pulled on the yellow jersey for the first time in this year’s race, but said he was unaware that Schleck’s chain had come off.

“I set out with the intention to attack on the climb, but when I countered Andy I didn’t know he actually had a problem,” said the Spaniard.

“When I knew he had the problem, it was already too late. We had taken a significant lead on him.”

Saxo Bank team manager Bjarne Riis, meanwhile, appeared to side with Contador.

“I didn’t see it but it’s all part of racing circumstances,” said the Dane.

“I think he (Contador) waited at the start, and then he went. That’s just part of racing.”

Voeckler kept the hosts’ winning streak alive in the race just a day after Christophe Riblon’s superb solo victory on the summit of Ax-3-Domaines.

The 31-year-old Bbox-Bouygues Telecom rider is perhaps best known for the 10 days he spent in the yellow jersey in 2004.

But he showed style and determination after attacking his breakaway group late in the climb to Bales to go on and claim his third stage win in the race.

“I worked hard for this stage win,” said Voeckler, who admitted he almost abandoned the race last week.

“It has been a really difficult race for me and, if there had been crosswinds on (the stage during) July 14 instead of a headwind, I would almost certainly have pulled out.

“In the past three days I’ve been feeling much better.”

STAGE RESULTS:
1. Thomas Voeckler (FRA/BTL) les 187,0 km en 4h44:51.
(moyenne: 39,4 km/h)
2. Alessandro Ballan (ITA/BMC) à 1:20.
3. Aitor Pérez (ESP/FOT) 1:20.
4. Lloyd Mondory (FRA/ALM) 2:50.
5. Luke Roberts (AUS/MRM) 2:50.
6. Francesco Reda (ITA/QST) 2:50.
7. Alberto Contador (ESP/AST) 2:50.
8. Samuel Sanchez (ESP/EUS) 2:50.
9. Denis Menchov (RUS/RAB) 2:50.
10. Brian Vandborg (DEN/LIQ) 2:50.
11. Johan Van Summeren (BEL/GRM) 2:50.
12. Andy Schleck (LUX/SAX) 3:29.
13. Jürgen Van den Broeck (BEL/OLO) 3:29.
14. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ/AST) 3:29.
15. Robert Gesink (NED/RAB) 3:55.
16. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN/GRM) 3:55.
17. Levi Leipheimer (USA/RSH) 3:55.
18. John Gadret (FRA/ALM) 3:55.
19. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/LIQ) 4:08.
20. Kevin De Weert (BEL/QST) 4:08.
21. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP/KAT) 4:08.
22. Andreas Klöden (GER/RSH) 4:08.
23. Lance Armstrong (USA/RSH) 4:08.
24. Carlos Sastre (ESP/CTT) 4:08.
25. Serguei Ivanov (RUS/KAT) 4:14.
26. Rubén Plaza (ESP/GCE) 5:18.
27. Christophe Moreau (FRA/GCE) 5:44.
28. Daniel Moreno (ESP/OLO) 5:44.
29. Juan Manuel Garate (ESP/RAB) 5:44.
30. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/GCE) 5:44.
31. Chris Horner (USA/RSH) 5:44.
32. Ivan Basso (ITA/LIQ) 5:44.
33. Matthew Lloyd (AUS/OLO) 5:44.
34. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA/QST) 5:44.
35. Thomas Lövkvist (SWE/SKY) 5:44.
36. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC) 6:58.
37. Nicolas Roche (EIR/ALM) 7:52.
38. Christophe Le Mével (FRA/FDJ) 8:35.
39. Maxime Monfort (BEL/THR) 8:35.
40. Julien El Farès (FRA/COF) 8:35.
41. Rémi Pauriol (FRA/COF) 8:35.
42. Michael Rogers (AUS/THR) 8:35.
43. Volodymir Gustov (UKR/CTT) 8:35.
44. Steve Morabito (SUI/BMC) 8:35.
45. Iban Velasco (ESP/EUS) 8:35.
46. Mario Aerts (BEL/OLO) 8:35.
47. Daniel Navarro (ESP/AST) 8:35.
48. Bradley Wiggins (GBR/SKY) 9:35.
49. Inaki Isasi (ESP/EUS) 9:35.
50. Sergio Paulinho (POR/RSH) 9:35.
51. Sébastien Turgot (FRA/BTL) 9:35.
52. Eduard Vorganov (RUS/KAT) 12:01.
53. Paolo Tiralongo (ITA/AST) 12:41.
54. Chris Anker Sörensen (DEN/SAX) 13:04.
55. Alexandr Pliushkin (MDA/KAT) 13:08.
56. George Hincapie (USA/BMC) 13:08.
57. Rémy Di Grégorio (FRA/FDJ) 13:08.
58. Grischa Niermann (GER/RAB) 13:08.
59. Damiano Cunego (ITA/LAM) 13:08.
60. Jesus Hernandez (ESP/AST) 13:08.
61. Francesco Gavazzi (ITA/LAM) 15:20.
62. Anthony Roux (FRA/FDJ) 15:44.
63. Sandy Casar (FRA/FDJ) 17:09.
64. Matthieu Ladagnous (FRA/FDJ) 17:09.
65. José Joaquin Rojas (ESP/GCE) 17:09.
66. Michael Barry (CAN/SKY) 17:09.
67. Alexandre Kolobnev (RUS/KAT) 17:09.
68. Sylvester Szmyd (POL/LIQ) 17:09.
69. Kanstantsin Siutsou (BLR/THR) 17:09.
70. Vasili Kiryienka (BLR/GCE) 17:09.
71. Benjamin Noval (ESP/AST) 17:09.
72. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN/SAX) 17:09.
73. David De la Fuente (ESP/AST) 17:09.
74. Francis de Greef (BEL/OLO) 17:09.
75. Maxime Bouet (FRA/ALM) 17:09.
76. Thomas Rohregger (AUT/MRM) 17:09.
77. Sebastian Lang (GER/OLO) 17:09.
78. Grega Bole (SLO/LAM) 17:09.
79. Janez Brajkovic (SLO/RSH) 17:09.
80. Anthony Charteau (FRA/BTL) 17:09.
81. Koos Moerenhout (NED/RAB) 17:09.
82. Cyril Gautier (FRA/BTL) 17:09.
83. Lars Boom (NED/RAB) 17:09.
84. Dimitri Champion (FRA/ALM) 17:09.
85. Arkaitz Duran (ESP/FOT) 17:09.
86. Jurgen Van De Walle (BEL/QST) 19:39.
87. Jürgen Roelandts (BEL/OLO) 19:39.
88. Maarten Wijnants (BEL/QST) 19:39.
89. Maarten Tjallingii (NED/RAB) 24:01.
90. Jérôme Pineau (FRA/QST) 24:01.
91. Johannes Fröhlinger (GER/MRM) 24:01.
92. Christophe Riblon (FRA/ALM) 24:01.
93. Christian Knees (GER/MRM) 24:01.
94. Sébastien Minard (FRA/COF) 24:01.
95. Pierrick Fédrigo (FRA/BTL) 24:01.
96. Pierre Rolland (FRA/BTL) 24:01.
97. Egoi Martinez (ESP/EUS) 24:01.
98. Nicki Sörensen (DEN/SAX) 24:01.
99. Dries Devenyns (BEL/QST) 24:01.
100. Mathieu Sprick (FRA/BTL) 24:01.
101. Ivan Gutierrez (ESP/GCE) 26:04.
102. Imanol Erviti (ESP/GCE) 26:04.
103. Matthieu Perget (FRA/GCE) 26:04.
104. Geraint Thomas (GBR/SKY) 26:04.
105. Eros Capecchi (ITA/FOT) 26:04.
106. Mauro Da Dalto (ITA/LAM) 26:04.
107. Pavel Brutt (RUS/KAT) 26:04.
108. Rafael Valls (ESP/FOT) 26:04.
109. Gorka Verdugo (ESP/EUS) 26:04.
110. Carlos Barredo (ESP/QST) 26:04.
111. Kevin Seeldraeyers (BEL/QST) 28:40.
112. Robbie McEwen (AUS/KAT) 28:49.
113. Mark Cavendish (IDM/THR) 28:49.
114. Mirco Lorenzetto (ITA/LAM) 28:49.
115. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA/LAM) 28:49.
116. Matti Breschel (DEN/SAX) 28:49.
117. Andriy Grivko (UKR/AST) 28:49.
118. Gerald Ciolek (GER/MRM) 28:49.
119. Bernhard Eisel (AUT/THR) 28:49.
120. Bert Grabsch (GER/THR) 28:49.
121. Yaroslav Popovych (UKR/RSH) 28:49.
122. Danilo Hondo (GER/LAM) 28:49.
123. Dimitry Muravyev (KAZ/RSH) 28:49.
124. Grégory Rast (SUI/RSH) 28:49.
125. Martin Elmiger (SUI/ALM) 28:49.
126. Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP/SKY) 28:49.
127. Karsten Kroon (NED/BMC) 28:49.
128. Julian Dean (NZL/GRM) 28:49.
129. Simon Spilak (SLO/LAM) 28:49.
130. Manuel Quinziato (ITA/LIQ) 28:49.
131. Kristjan Koren (SLO/LIQ) 28:49.
132. Tony Martin (GER/THR) 28:49.
133. Francesco Bellotti (ITA/LIQ) 28:49.
134. Linus Gerdemann (GER/MRM) 28:49.
135. Daniel Oss (ITA/LIQ) 28:49.
136. Aliaksandr Kuchynski (BLR/LIQ) 28:49.
137. Oscar Freire (ESP/RAB) 28:49.
138. Alan Perez Lezaun (ESP/EUS) 28:49.
139. José Alberto Benítez (ESP/FOT) 28:49.
140. Ruben Perez (ESP/EUS) 28:49.
141. Steven Cummings (ENG/SKY) 28:49.
142. Yukiya Arashiro (JPN/BTL) 28:49.
143. Adriano Malori (ITA/LAM) 28:49.
144. Nicolas Vogondy (FRA/BTL) 28:49.
145. Daniel Lloyd (ENG/CTT) 28:49.
146. Serge Pauwels (BEL/SKY) 28:49.
147. Brent Bookwalter (USA/BMC) 28:49.
148. Fabian Wegmann (GER/MRM) 28:49.
149. Brett Lancaster (AUS/CTT) 28:49.
150. Stuart O’Grady (AUS/SAX) 28:49.
151. David Millar (GBR/GRM) 28:49.
152. Martijn Maaskant (NED/GRM) 28:49.
153. Rui Costa (POR/GCE) 28:49.
154. David Zabriskie (USA/GRM) 28:49.
155. Wesley Sulzberger (AUS/FDJ) 28:49.
156. Amaël Moinard (FRA/COF) 28:49.
157. Bram Tankink (NED/RAB) 28:49.
158. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/SKY) 28:49.
159. Jens Voigt (GER/SAX) 28:49.
160. Thor Hushovd (NOR/CTT) 28:49.
161. Anthony Geslin (FRA/FDJ) 28:49.
162. Stéphane Augé (FRA/COF) 28:49.
163. Marcus Burghardt (GER/BMC) 28:49.
164. Damien Monier (FRA/COF) 28:49.
165. Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA/ALM) 28:49.
166. Benoît Vaugrenard (FRA/FDJ) 28:49.
167. Maxim Iglinskiy (KAZ/AST) 28:49.
168. Andreas Klier (GER/CTT) 28:49.
169. Ignatas Konovalovas (LTU/CTT) 28:49.
170. Jeremy Hunt (GBR/CTT) 28:49.
171. Fabian Cancellara (SUI/SAX) 28:49.
172. Jérémy Roy (FRA/FDJ) 28:49.
173. Christophe Kern (FRA/COF) 29:57.
174. Iban Mayoz (ESP/FOT) 30:37.
. Mauro Santambrogio (ITA/BMC) Abandon

Points:
1. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA/LAM) 187 pts
2. Thor Hushovd (NOR/CTT) 185
3. Mark Cavendish (IDM/THR) 162
4. Jose Joaquin Rojas (ESP/GCE) 144
5. Robbie McEwen (AUS/KAT) 138
6. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/SKY) 120
7. Sebastien Turgot (FRA/BTL) 107
8. Gerald Ciolek (GER/MRM) 102
9. Samuel Sanchez (ESP/EUS) 100
10. Alberto Contador (ESP/AST) 98

King of Mountains (Stage):
1. Thomas Voeckler (FRA/BTL) 40 pts
2. Aitor Pérez (ESP/FOT) 36
3. Alessandro Ballan (ITA/BMC) 32
4. Johan Van Summeren (BEL/GRM) 28
5. Brian Vandborg (DEN/LIQ) 24

King of Mountains(Overall):
1. Anthony Charteau (FRA/BTL) 115 pts
2. Jerome Pineau (FRA/QST) 92
3. Thomas Voeckler (FRA/BTL) 82
4. Andy Schleck (LUX/SAX) 76
5. Alberto Contador (ESP/AST) 76
6. Samuel Sanchez (ESP/EUS) 72
7. Christophe Moreau (FRA/GCE) 68
8. Mario Aerts (BEL/OLO) 65
9. Damiano Cunego (ITA/LAM) 63
10. Christophe Riblon (FRA/ALM) 60

Team (Stage):
1. RadioShack 14h26:44.
2. Rabobank à 0:18.
3. Quick Step 0:31.
4. Liquigas 0:31.
5. AG2R 2:26.

Team (Overall):
1. RadioShack 218h42:52.
2. Caisse d’Epargne à 4:27.
3. Rabobank 17:23.
4. AG2R 20:56.
5. Astana 29:07.
6. Omega Pharma 31:13.
7. Liquigas 48:43.
8. Quick Step 52:38.
9. Euskaltel 58:33.
10. Sky 1h18:32.
11. Bbox 1h22:00.
12. Cofidis 1h26:00.
13. BMC Racing 1h44:54.
14. Saxo Bank 1h48:36.
15. Columbia 1h55:47.
16. Française des Jeux 2h08:01.
17. Katusha 2h13:22.
18. Garmin 2h33:00.
19. Cervélo 2h53:29.
20. Footon-Servetto 3h24:57.
21. Lampre 4h03:18.
22. Milram 4h09:37.

Young Rider (Stage):
1. Andy Schleck (LUX/SAX) 4h48:20.
2. Robert Gesink (NED/RAB) à 0:26.
3. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/LIQ) 0:39.
4. Julien El Farès (FRA/COF) 5:06.
5. Alexandr Pliushkin (MDA/KAT) 9:39.

Young Rider (Overall):
1. Andy Schleck (LUX/SAX) 72h50:50.
2. Robert Gesink (NED/RAB) à 4:53.
3. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/LIQ) 7:50.
4. Julien El Farès (FRA/COF) 40:53.
5. Cyril Gautier (FRA/BTL) 58:47.
6. Pierre Rolland (FRA/BTL) 1h10:54.
7. Rafael Valls (ESP/FOT) 1h12:25.
8. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN/SAX) 1h27:24.
9. José Joaquin Rojas (ESP/GCE) 1h31:19.
10. Arkaitz Duran (ESP/FOT) 1h32:10.

Most Aggressive:
Thomas Voeckler (FRA/BTL)

Article: Justin Davis (AFP)
Photo: CorVos