Defending champion Alberto Contador grabbed the Tour de France race leader’s yellow jersey on a dramatic day in the Pyrenees on Monday.
Andy Schleck, the 25-year-old Luxemburger, held a 31-second lead at the start of Stage 15 but the general consensus was that he needed to take more time out of Contador before Saturday’s decisive final individual time trial.
Schleck attacked half way up the final hors categorie Port de Bales but just as he looked likely to forge clear he suffered a technical mishap and was forced to dismount to reconnect his chain.
Afforded that opportunity, Contador took advantage and buoyed by the presence of team-mate Alexandre Vinokourov he crossed the line 39 seconds ahead of Schleck to take over the race lead.
Schleck now lies eight seconds behind the Spaniard, with Samuel Sanchez two minutes down in third and Denis Menchov a further 13 seconds behind in fourth.
At the head of the course, French champion Thomas Voeckler lasted home to take his second Tour de France stage win.
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