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About Stage 15: Pontarlier > Verbier

PONTARLIER
A funny thing happened on the way to Pontarlier during the 2001 Tour. Fourteen riders broke away and took a considerable lead over the pack, which did not seem to care. Erik Dekker crossed the finish line with a 35-minute advance and O’Grady won the Yellow Jersey. A strict application of the rules led to the whole pack’s disqualification – eight days into the race!

VERBIER
A new stop-over town on the Tour de France, the Swiss ski resort has already played host to a number of decisive stages on the Tour de Suisse. The final climb, more than 9 kilometres long, provides the possibility for riders in top form to forge gaps, or at least triggers head on confrontation. For the record, in the last mountain finish in Switzerland on the Tour de France, in 1984, Laurent Fignon outclassed all opposition by winning, in yellow, at Crans-Montana, his third alpine stage of the year.

Pontarlier to Verbier, 207km

By Frankie Andreu
The second half of the Tour selection arrives with the entrance to the Swiss Alps. The race is far from over and this stage will be the last penultimate mountain top finish before the riders conquer Mt. Ventoux.

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City Facts
PONTARLIER
• 6-times stage-town
• Population 19,300
• Sub-prefecture if the Doubs (25)
VERBIER
• 1st-time stage-town
• Population 2,700
• Village located in the township of Bagnes in Valais canton (Switzerland)
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The Day that Lance Armstrong lost the Tour

By Bob Roll
Verbier might be looked back upon the day that Lance Armstrong lost the 2009 Tour de France and the day that Alberto Contador established his superiority, but I assure you,
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Map My Ride Challenge

The Waiting

By JoE Silva
In reality the waiting began on a number of fronts nine days ago. Now, it seems, that the waiting may be over.

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Newsflashes - Stage 15

17:17:44 - New Top Five Overall

After the 15th stage, the top of the general classification is:

1. Alberto Contador

2. Lance Armstrong at 1'37"

3. Bradley Wiggins at 1'46"

4. Andreas Kloden at 2'17

5. Andy Schleck at 2'26"

17:14:20 - The Top 10 In Stage 15

There will be a new leader of the Tour de France after the stage from Pontarlier to Verbier. The top 10 in the 15th stage is:

1. Alberto Contador (ESP) AST - 207.5kmin 5h03'58" (40.958km/h)

2. Andy Schleck (LUX) SAX at 43"

3. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) LIQ at 1'03"

4. Frank Schleck (LUX) SAX at 1'06"

5. Bradley Wiggins (GBR) GRM at 1'06"

6. Carlos Sastre (ESP) CTT at 1'06"

7. Cadel Evans (AUS) SIL at 1'26"

8. Andreas Kloden (GER) AST at 1'29"

9. Lance Armstrong (USA) AST at 1'35"

10. Kim Kirchen (LUX) THR at 1'55"

17:13:34 - Armstrong 1'33" Behind Contador

There's no question about who the leader of the Astana team is: Contador beat Armstrong to the top of the final climb in stage 15 by about 1'33".

17:13:00 - Yellow Jersey To Contador

Alberto Contador has won the stage and taken the yellow jersey in Verbier.

17:11:56 - Victory For Contador!

As we've come to expect, Contador has fired an imaginary pistol as he crosses the line to claim victory in Verbier. He has beaten Andy Schleck by 43 seconds.

17:10:37 - Contador About To Win His Third Stage

Contador won a stage in the year he took the title. He also was part of the team that claimed the fourth stage this year. He is about to take victory in Verbier and, with it, the yellow jersey.

17:09:22 - 'Flamme Rouge' For Contador

Contador has one kilometer to race. He is going to win the stage and take the yellow jersey. He has a lead of 40" on Andy Schleck then comes a group including Wiggins, Nibali and Frank Schleck.