Contador takes the yellow jersey in the 15th stage of the Tour de France

Contador takes the yellow jersey in the 15th stage of the Tour de France
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By h.b. - Jul 20, 2010 - 6:41 AM
The rider from Madrid took advantage of mechanical problem for the previous leader, Andy Schleck

Andy Schleck (left) and Alberto Contador (leading) - Photo EFE

The Spanish winner of the Tour de France for the last two years, Alberto Contador, took over the yellow jersey on Monday, taking advantage of his rival’s chain coming off. Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck, from the Saxo Bank team, is not happy at what happened in the last kilometres of the 15th stage of the race, costing him 39 seconds to the Astana team rider.

‘My stomach is full of anger’ he said, now finding himself 8 seconds behind Contador. ‘For sure these guys don’t get the fair play prize today’.

Race etiquette says the race leader should not be attacked if he undergoes a mechanical problem.

However Contador said he was unaware that his rival had mechanical problems.

‘We have greeted each other now and he was very said. They are circumstances of the race, and could happen to anyone’.

But later the Spaniard admitted that perhaps he had made a mistake and said he was sorry. The apology came in a video he recorded himself in his hotel room and then sent to the media.

He said at the moment all he was thinking about was going as fast as possible, but that fair play was important to him.

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