Team Saxo Bank’s Andy Schleck did an impressive stage and several times he tried to distance his rivals who untraditionally took advantage of the situation when the leader of the race was experiencing mechanical problems.

Team Saxo Bank took control of the pack from the beginning of today’s 187 kilometer long mountainous fifteenth stage of Tour de France from Pamiers to Bagnères-de-Luchon where the peloton passed a set of four categorized climbs. Stuart O’Grady worked tirelessly breaking the wind in front of his teammates giving them a chance of saving energy for the final part of the stage.

In front of the main field, ten riders were permitted to sneak off and they quickly worked up a lead of almost ten minutes and there was no doubt, today’s stage winner was to be decided among the riders in the front group which kept getting smaller.

At the foot of the final and demanding climb over twenty kilometers before the descent to the finish line, the self-effacing Aussie gave all he had before leaving the pace to teammate, Jens Voigt who only speeded up the pace. The powerful German made clusters of riders explode and fall from the back of the pack and then the Danish national champion, Nicki Sørensen took over.

On the middle of the climb, the two Danish climbers, Jakob Fuglsang and Chris Anker Sørensen were in front of their captain, Andy Schleck minimizing the group of favorites while Thomas Voeckler (Bbox) went solo from the front group.

With five kilometers to the top of the climb, Team Saxo Banks Chris Anker Sørensen launched teammate Andy Schleck in a powerful attack where only the top five in the GC were able to follow.

In another furious attack, the unlucky Luxembourgian dropped his chain and was forced to get off the bike to put it back on while his rivals outrageously exploited the situation and picked up the pace in order to distance the leader of the race while he was having mechanical problems.

On the descent, Andy Schleck fought heroically and single-handedly to minimize the gap to Alberto Contador (Astana), Denis Menchov (Rabobank), Samuel Sanchez (Euskatel) but was distanced with 38 seconds and forced to hand over the leader’s jersey to Alberto Contador (Astana) who now leads with eight seconds.

No one was able to prevent the French national champion, Thomas Voeckler (Bbox) who won a beautiful stage victory.

”I was feeling strong and determined throughout the stage and the team really everything to put me in the perfect position for the final climb. When I launched my second attack, the chain got stuck and I had to get off the bike to put it back on. Then they attacked. I probably wouldn’t have done it like that. I’m just really looking forward to getting another chance of attacking. The jersey deserves honor,” said a very disappointed Andy Schleck after the dramatic stage.