July 22, 2008	Tuesday	Rajab 18, 1429

PRATO NEVOSO (Italy), July 21: Frank Schleck of Luxembourg took the Tour de France leader’s yellow jersey from Cadel Evans with a last-gap attack in a crash-marred first Alpine stage on Sunday.

The elder Schleck brother dropped the Australian in the final metres of the uphill finish of the 15th stage in the Italian ski resort of Prato Nevoso.

He now leads Austrian Bernhard Kohl, the new holder of the polka dot jersey, by seven seconds and Evans, who had a one-second lead before the stage, by eight.

Evans failed to resist to three CSC riders in the final climb.

Of the six leading riders who are within 49 seconds, Russian Denis Menchov, in fourth place, is the biggest threat to Evans and Schleck.

The 183-km stage from Embrun was won by Australian Simon Gerrans, who gave the Credit Agricole team their second victory of the 2008 race by outwitting Spain’s Egoi Martinez and American Danny Pate after a 171-km breakaway.

Spaniard Oscar Pereiro, the only past winner at the start of the race, broke his shoulder when he hit a crash barrier on the descent of the Col d’Agnel.

Cunego was caught in a big pile-up in Cuneo, 47 km from the finish, along with David Millar and Christian Vande Velde.

Spaniard Carlos Sastre, Schleck’s CSC team mate, attacked 6.5 km from the top of the category-one ascent to Prato Nevoso, hoping to make Evans suffer, but the Australian followed.

Sastre dealt Evans the final blow with less than two km remaining.

Results of 15th stage:

1. Simon Gerrans (Australia/Credit Agricole) four hours 50 minutes 44 seconds; 2. Egoi Martinez (Spain/Euskaltel) +3 seconds; 3. Danny Pate (US/Garmin-Chipotle) +10 seconds; 4. Jose Luis Arrieta (Spain/AG2R) +55 seconds; 5. Bernhard Kohl (Austria/Gerolsteiner) +4:03 seconds; 6. Carlos Sastre (Spain/Team CSC) +4:03 seconds; 7. Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Caisse d’Epargne) +4:12 seconds; 8. Denis Menchov (Russia/Rabobank) +4:23 seconds; 9. Frank Schleck (Luxembourg/Team CSC) +4:41 seconds; 10. Christian Vande Velde (US/Garmin-Chipotle) +4:43 seconds; 11. Roman Kreuziger (Czech Republic/Liquigas) +4:46 seconds; 12. Samuel Sanchez (Spain/Euskaltel) +4:50 seconds; 13. Cadel Evans (Australia/Silence-Lotto) +4:50 seconds; 14. Andy Schleck (Luxembourg/Team CSC) +4:58 seconds; 15. Kim Kirchen (Luxembourg/Columbia) +5:34 seconds; 16. Sylwester Szmyd (Poland/Lampre) +5:42 seconds; 17. Sandy Casar (France/Francaise des Jeux) +5:42 seconds; 18. Stephane Goubert (France/AG2R) +5:44 seconds; 19. Tadej Valjavec (Slovenia/AG2R) +5:46 seconds; 20. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Liquigas) +5:46 seconds; 21. Vladimir Efimkin (Russia/AG2R) +5:46 seconds; 22. Johann Tschopp (Switzerland/Bouygues Telecom) +6:00 seconds; 23. Maxime Monfort (Belgium/Cofidis) +6:09 seconds; 24. Mikel Astarloza (Spain/Euskaltel) +6:09 seconds; 25. Dmitriy Fofonov (Kazakhstan/Credit Agricole) +6:26 seconds; 26. Damiano Cunego (Italy/Lampre) +6:48 seconds; 27. Marzio Bruseghin (Italy/Lampre) +6:48 seconds; 28. Amael Moinard (France/Cofidis) +6:48 seconds; 29. Christian Knees (Germany/Milram) +7:14 seconds; 30. Mario Aerts (Belgium/Silence-Lotto) +7:35.

Overall standings:

1. Frank Schleck (Luxembourg / Team CSC) 63h 57m 21s; 2. Bernhard Kohl (Austria / Gerolsteiner) +7s; 3. Cadel Evans (Australia / Silence - Lotto) +8”; 4. Denis Menchov (Russia / Rabobank) +38”; 5. Christian Vande Velde (U.S. / Garmin - Chipotle) +39”; 6. Carlos Sastre (Spain / Team CSC) +49”; 7. Kim Kirchen (Luxembourg / Columbia) +2:48”; 8. Vladimir Efimkin (Russia / AG2R) +3:36”; 9. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Caisse d’Epargne) +4:11”; 10. Samuel Sanchez (Spain / Euskaltel) +4:34”; 11. Mikel Astarloza (Spain / Euskaltel) +5:18”; 12. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Liquigas) +5:22”; 13. Tadej Valjavec (Slovenia / AG2R) +6:27”; 14. Roman Kreuziger (Czech Republic / Liquigas) +7:15”; 15. Damiano Cunego (Italy / Lampre) +7:43”.

Sprinter standings:

1. Oscar Freire (Spain / Rabobank) 219 points; 2. Thor Hushovd (Norway / Credit Agricole) 172; 3. Erik Zabel (Germany / Milram) 167; 4. Kim Kirchen (Luxembourg / Columbia) 145; 5. Leonardo Duque (Colombia / Cofidis) 137; 6. Robert Hunter (South Africa / Barloworld) 110; 7. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Caisse d’Epargne) 107; 8. Robbie McEwen (Australia / Silence - Lotto) 105; 9. Romain Feillu (France / Agritubel) 94; 10. Julian Dean (New Zealand / Garmin - Chipotle) 88.

King of the Mountains standings:

1. Bernhard Kohl (Austria / Gerolsteiner) 85 points; 2. Sebastian Lang (Germany / Gerolsteiner) 60; 3. Egoi Martinez (Spain / Euskaltel) 50; 4. Simon Gerrans (Australia / Credit Agricole) 50; 5. Frank Schleck (Luxembourg / Team CSC) 46; 6. Jose Luis Arrieta (Spain / AG2R) 40; 7. Thomas Voeckler (France / Bouygues Telecom) 39; 8. Danny Pate (U.S. / Garmin - Chipotle) 37; 9. Carlos Sastre (Spain / Team CSC) 35; 10. Denis Menchov (Russia / Rabobank) 34.

Youth standings:

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Liquigas) 64h 02m 43s; 2. Roman Kreuziger (Czech Republic / Liquigas) +1m 53s; 3. Maxime Monfort (Belgium / Cofidis) +3:12”; 4. Andy Schleck (Luxembourg / Team CSC) +3:39”; 5. Eduardo Gonzalo (Spain / Agritubel) +19:05”; 6. Thomas Lovkvist (Sweden / Columbia) +36:16”; 7. Remy Di Gregorio (France / Francaise des Jeux) +48:45”; 8. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spain / Caisse d’Epargne) +50:35”; 9. John-Lee Augustyn (South Africa / Barloworld) +57:23”; 10. Trent Lowe (Australia / Garmin - Chipotle) +1:07:55”.

Team standings:

1. Team CSC 191h 43m 49s; 2. AG2R +3m 32s; 3. Rabobank +28:13”; 4. Euskaltel +33:05”; 5. Lampre +35:39”; 6. Gerolsteiner +35:50”; 7. Credit Agricole +42:48”; 8. Silence – Lotto +49:35”; 9. Caisse d’Epargne +51:47”; 10. Liquigas +57:34”.

—Reuters