Who is the leader of Team Astana? Without a doubt, it's Spain's Alberto Contador.
The 2007 Tour de France champion accelerated out of the chase group on the final climb of Stage 15 on Sunday to take the yellow jersey and quash any discussion about whether he or Lance Armstrong leads the team.
Armstrong was in front of the leader's group at the base of the Category 1 climb to Verbier, but could only watch as first Contador, then the Schleck brothers, Carlos Sastre, Bradley Wiggins, and others rode away. Armstrong finished in 9th place on the stage.
Armstrong
After eight days in the yellow jersey, Rinaldo Nocentini gave up the overall lead to Contador who now leads by 1:37 over No. 2 Armstrong.
Interviewed by Frankie Andreu on Versus following the race, Armstrong said he was feeling good going into the stage and didn't know how he'd do. “A stage like this shows who's the best,” and “I wasn't on par.”
Overall, he said if the team rides into the Paris with the yellow jersey, “I'm cool with that. I got seven of them at home.”
On Twitter, Armstrong wrote:
Verbier was as hard as I thought. Alberto – super and had great
punch/power. A heartfelt congrats to him. Rest day 2morrow!”
It has been nearly four years since Armstrong, 37, last wore the yellow jersey. He retired from pro cycling in 2005 after winning the Tour de France.
Breakaway
A big surprise on the stage was Garmin's Wiggins, who now sits in 3rd place at 1:46 behind Contador. Winning two gold medals in track racing in the Beijing Olympics last year, the Brit's training for mountain stages paid off on Sunday.
A 15-man break developed about 30 miles into the 129-mile stage from Pontarlier to Verbier. After the penultimate climb on Col des Mosses, 10 had survived with about four minutes over the peloton.
Astana had set the pace for most of the day and began closing the gap to the breakaway group.
Simon Spilak of Lampre attacked his breakaway companions on the way up to Verbier. He and the other breakaway members were soon crushed by the accerlating peloton.
Verbier
As the peloton started the 5.5-mile climb to the mountaintop finish, members of the Saxo Bank team, including Fabrian Cancellara, drove the peloton to help set up Andy and Frank Schleck.
Armstrong stayed in front with teammate Andres Kloden. With about 3 1/2 miles to the finish, Contador rocketed out of the group. Andy Schleck of Saxo Bank followed, but couldn't bridge up to Contador.
Contador raced up the hill, punching at fans to keep them from impeding his progress. Schleck trailed. With about a mile left, Frank Schleck tried to ride up to his brother, followed by Wiggins, Vincenzo Nibali, defending champion Sastre and Evans.
Kloden stayed with Armstrong. They finished in 8th and 9th places.
Stage 15 top finishers:
1. Alberto Contador, Astana
2. Andy Schleck, Saxo Bank – :43
3. Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas – 1:03
4. Frank Schleck, Saxo – 1:06
5. Bradley Wiggins, Garmin – 1:06
6. Carlos Sastre, Cervelo – 1:06
7. Cadel Evans, Silence Lotto – 1:26
8. Andreas Kloden, Astana – 1:29
9. Lance Armstrong, Astana – 1:35
10. Kim Kirchen, Columbia – 1:55
Top 10 overall
1. Alberto Contador, Astana
2. Lance Armstrong, Astana – 1:37
3. Bradley Wiggins, Garmin – 1:46
4. Andreas Kloden, Astana – 2:17
5. Andy Schleck, Saxo Bank – 2:26
6. Rinaldo Nocentini, AG2R – 2:30
7. Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas – 2:51
8. Tony Martin, Columbia – 3:07
9. Christophe Le Mevel, Francaise des Jeux – 3:09
10. Frank Schleck, Saxo Bank – 3:25
US cyclists
2. Lance Armstrong – 1:37
12. Christian Vande Velde – 3:59
13. George Hincapie – 4:05
81. David Zabriskie – 59:32
149. Danny Pate – 1:57:42
158. Tyler Farrar – 2:01:39
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