A dropped chain cost Andy Schleck the yellow jersey at the Tour de France on Monday as Alberto Contador attacked after the mishap and made up more than the 31 seconds he had been trailing by.
The controversial decision by Contador to take advantage of a mechanical mishap on Stage 15 will surely dog him throughout the rest of the race. There are unwritten and debatable “rules” about gaining on adversaries who have crashed or suffered mechanical problems.
Angry and disappointed after the race, Schleck was asked on Versus whether he thought Contador's attack was fair:
“What's fair or not fair… it's not for me to decide. I would not have raced like that.
“My stomach is full of anger. I want to take my revenge.”
Contador booed
Schleck wasn't the only one upset by the turn of events, loud boos could be heard from the crowd when Contador pulled on the yellow jersey on the podium after the race. Contador is quoted on the Tour de France website:
“I didn’t know anything about the problems with Andy Schleck, but when I realized it I was already ahead of him. The only things that I saw was that he was beginning to attack and then he slowed down. I didn’t realize that he had a problem with the bike.”
“When I attacked it was before he had the problem… we’ve got a really good relationship and, in the sporting sense we also get along well, especially if you see what we did on the road to Spa [in stage two when Schleck crashed the the peloton acted in solidarity and waited for him and the other fallen riders].
“In Spa, he had big crash but today when I attacked it wasn’t because I knew he had problems. .. I’m sure he will attack me and I always have fear of what he might be able to do…”
Ironically, Schleck dropped the chain just as he had attacked Contador near the top of the highest climb in the Pyrenees on Monday, the Porte de Balès. Instead of following Contador like he had done on Sunday, Schleck was setting the pace on this above-category climb when he attacked. It didn't appear that Contador was marking Schleck's attack.
After about 20 pedal strokes it looked like the chain jumped off the crank and got stuck around the bottom bracket. Schleck tried to fix it while still on his bike, but finally had to get off and use his fingers with the help of a Tour mechanic and a bystander.
Lost time
Contador didn't wait and rocketed up the climb as Schleck had lost about 50 seconds fiddling with the chain. Podium contenders Denis Menchov and Sammy Sanchez were among those who went with him.
With Schleck back on the bike, he charged in pursuit of the Contador group, passing many of the other cyclists who had just passed him.
On the following descent into Bagneres-de-Luchon, Contador was lucky to follow Sanchez, one of the best descenders in the peloton. Schleck appeared to be regaining his lost time, but at the end of the day finished 39 seconds behind Contador.
Debate
Whether Contador should have waited will be debated for days, and probably years. On one hand there's the argument that the Tour is a tough race and there are no gifts. On the other is the belief that it's not fair to beat a competitor who is down.
Even Versus commentators Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen aired their differences during the broadcast — Sherwen saying it wasn't fair for Contador to attack and Liggett saying Contador had no other choice with Menchov and Sanchez so close by.
Voeckler wins
Meanwhile, Thomas Voeckler put in a strong effort to win Stage 15 of the Tour de France. The Frenchman joined a 10-man breakaway early in the 116-mile stage, but dropped them all on the final climb.
On Tuesday, Schleck will certainly be gunning for El Pistolero as the peloton faces a 123-mile route through the Pyrenees with four major climbs, including the above category Col du Tourmalet and the Col d'Aubisque.
The riders rest on Wednesday, then return for another stage that ends on the Col du Tourmalet.
Top 10 overall
1. Alberto Contador, Astana
2. Andy Schleck, Saxo Bank – 8 seconds behind
3. Sammy Sanchez, Euskaltel Euskadi – 2:00
4. Denis Menchov, Rabobank – 2:13
5. Jurgen Van Den Broeck, Omega – 3:39
6. Robert Gesink, Rabobank – 5:01
7. Levi Leipheimer, RadioShack – 5:25
8. Joaquin Rodriguez, Katusha – 5:45
9. Alexandre Vinokourov, Astana – 7:12
10. Ryder Hesjedal, Garmin – 7:51
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