THE RACE LIVE
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The top 10 in the stage from Gap to L’Alpe d’Huez is:
1. Frank Schleck (LUX - CSC)
2. Damiano Cunego (ITA - LAM) at 11"
3. Stefano Garzelli (ITA - LIQ) at 1’10"
4. Floyd Landis (USA - PHO) at 1’10"
5. Andreas Kloden (GER - TMO) at 1’10"
6. Ruben Lobato (ESP - SDV) at 1’14"
7. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA - COF) at 1’18"
8. Eddy Mazzoleni (ITA - TMO) at 1’28"
9. Carlos Sastre (ESP - CSC) at 1’35"
10. Levi Leipheimer (USA - GST) at 1’49"

Pereiro has finished 2’49" behind Schleck. Landis will wear the yellow jersey in stage 16.

Schleck posted an average speed for the 187km stage of 38.38km/h.

Pereiro is about to take the final turn but he’s already lost over 1’29" to Landis. The American will regain the yellow jersey after the 15th stage.

Landis leads four others into the final turn. They are going to be over a minute behind the stage winner but the question is: will Floyd reclaim the yellow jersey?

Schleck has finished 12 seconds ahead of Cunego to win his first Tour de France stage.

In the year that Charly Gaul died, Luxembourg has a new climbing hero. Frank Schleck is about to become first rider from that nation to win at the summit of L’Alpe d’Huez.

Schleck has a lead of 20" over Cunego with 1km to go.

The riders who are now in pursuit of Cunego are: Landis, Mazzoleni, Kloden, Garzelli, Chavanel and Lobato.

Schleck has a five-second advantage over Cunego.

Schleck has opened up a good lead over Cunego. The winner of the Amstel Gold race is 2km from the finish. Schleck leads Landis, Mazzoleni and Kloden by 55".

Mazzoleni has waited for the riders in fourth and fifth... he is now setting the tempo for Kloden and Landis. This trio is 54" behind Cunego who has just been attacked by Schleck.

Cunego and Schleck are 1’02" ahead of Landis and Kloden with 3km to go.

Cunego and Schleck are 3km from the finish of the stage. They are 12" ahead of Mazzoleni and over a minute ahead of Landis and Kloden.

Landis’ group is 1’17" behind Cunego Schleck with 4km to go.

Landis is riding with Kloden and are 4km from the finish. Landis is 1’45" behind the stage leaders and 1’00" ahead of the yellow jersey.

Menchov has dropped Evans who has just been joined by Merckx who couldn’t maintain the pace after Kloden’s attack.

With 4km to go, Cunego and Schleck are in the lead. They have dropped Mazzoleni.

Kloden has attacked and Landis is able to respond. Leipheimer and Sastre cannot follow.

With 5km to go this was the situation: Cunego, Schleck and Mazzoleni were in the lead.
At 35" - Chavanel, Lobato and Garzelli.
At 1’15" - De la Fuente.
At 1’45" - Landis, Merckx, Kloden, Leipheimer and Sastre.
At 1’55" - Evans and Menchov.

Hincapie could not maintain the tempo of Merckx, Landis, Kloden, Sastre and Kloden who have just ridden ahead of the Discovery Channel rider.

Hincapie has been caught by Merckx, Landis, Kloden, Sastre and Kloden.

There are five riders in the Landis group which - from what we understand - is the second group in the stage. They are 1’50" behind Cunego, Mazzoleni and Schleck. The men with Landis are:
Leipheimer, Merckx, Sastre and Kloden...

The three stage leaders are Cunego, Mazzoleni and Schleck are being pursued by Landis who has just received support from Merckx who was in the early escape group.

Cunego, Mazzoleni and Schleck are still in the front of the stage. They have 7km to climb. They are 2’20" ahead of Kloden, Landis who have just caught Arrieta.

The three stage leaders - Cunego, Schleck and Mazzoleni - are 2’35" ahead of Landis and Kloden.

Evans has been dropped by Sastre and Leipheimer.

Schleck and Cunego have been caught by Mazzoleni at the front of the stage.

Kloden and Landis have caught Vila at the 10km to go mark.
They were 1’40" behind the stage leaders.
At 1’45" was Evans.

Landis has surged and only Kloden has been able to respond. Evans has dropped out of this trio with a little over 10km to climb.

With 10km o go, the situation is:
Cunego and Schleck lead; then comes:
Mazzoleni - at 10"
Lobato - at 12"
Arroyo and Garzelli - at 22"
Garzelli - 35"
Hincapie and De la Fuente - at 45"

Schleck and Cunego are 2’50" ahead of Landis’ trio with 10km to go.

In the race for the yellow jersey Landis, Kloden and Evans have put 15" into Menchov.

The stage is led by Cunego and Schleck... there are two races at the moment: the one for the stage win and then the contest for the yellow jersey.
Menchov has just lost contact with Kessler, Kloden, Evans and Landis.

Kessler, Kloden, Menchov, Landis and Evans are leading the pursuit of the stage leaders. The yellow jersey has been dropped...

Cunego has attacked again. Behind him are Schleck, Mazzoleni, Lobato and Arroyo.

The peloton has begun the ascention of L’Alpe d’Huez. It was 3’12" behind at the start of the final climb.

Cunego has attacked at the front of the stage. He has been matched by Lobato and three others but Chavanel, Hincapie and Garzelli have been dropped.

There are now eight riders in the lead group. They are: Cunego, Lobato, Schleck, Hincapie, Chavanel, Vila, Garzell and Mazzoleni.

Chavanel is in pursuit of Vila. Voigt has been dropped in the first kilometer of the final ascent.

Zabriskie set the pace of the lead group base of the final climb. He has now been dropped thanks to an acceleration by Vila.

The leaders are in Bourg d’Oisans. In a moment they’ll turn left and begin the final ascent of the 15th stage.

The pace of the chase is extremely fast now. The peloton is one long line of riders and the work is being done by riders from the T-Mobile and Rabobank teams.

The peloton was 3’20" behind as it passed under the 20km to go banner.

The peloton is 3’20" behind the 15 stage leaders who are riding on dry roads with about 18km to go in the stage.

One of the most celebrated climbs in cycling is the ascent to L’Alpe d’Huez. Today is the 23rd time that the mountain has been part of the Tour’s itinerary. Here is a list of all the previous winners at the 1,850m high mountain:
1952: Fausto Coppi (ITA)
1976: Joop Zoetemelk (HOL)
1977: Hennie Kuiper (HOL)
1978: Hennie Kuiper (HOL)
1979: Joachim Agostinho (POR)
Joop Zoetemelk (HOL)
1981: Peter Winnen (HOL)
1982: Beat Breu (SUI)
1983: Peter Winnen (HOL)
1984: Luis Herrera (COL)
1986: Bernard Hinault (FRA)
1987: Federico Echave (ESP)
1988: Steven Rooks (HOL)
1989: Gert-Jan Theunisse (HOL)
1990: Gianni Bugno (ITA)
1991: Gianni Bugno (ITA)
1992: Andy Hampsten (USA)
1994: Roberto Conti (ITA)
1995: Marco Pantani (ITA)
1997: Marco Pantani (ITA)
1999: Giuseppe Guerini (ITA)
2001: Lance Armstrong (USA)
2003: Iban Mayo (ESP)
2004: Lance Armstrong (USA)

The peloton has two Rabobank riders at the front. Flecha, who was part of the early escape, is now setting the pace of the chase.

The peloton is 3’30" behind the 15 leaders with 25km to go.

There are 15 riders in the lead of the stage. They have about 22km to go in the stage. Voigt has just rejoined the lead group which includes: Hincapie (DSC), Schleck, Voigt and Zabriskie (CSC), Mazzoleni (TMO), Arrieta (A2R), Merckx (PHO), Cunego and Vila (LAM), Arroyo (CEI), Garzelli (LIQ), Landaluze (EUS), Chavanel (COF), De la Fuente (SDV), and Lobato (SDV).

Wegmann was part of the move that broke free of the peloton at the 28km mark. He has just been caught by the bunch.

Vila and Cunego are driving the pace of the escape group which is now 25km from the end of the stage.

On the descent, Guerini has opened a small gap ahead of the rest of the yellow jersey’s peloton.

The peloton is 3’40" behind the stage leaders at the 157km mark.

Voigt has dropped out of the lead group. He is 15" behind Hincapie, Schleck, Zabriskie, Mazzoleni, Arrieta, Merckx, Cunego, Arroyo, Landaluze, Chavanel, Lobato, De la Fuente and Vila and Garzelli.

The 15 stage leaders are still 3’50" ahead of the peloton which has just caught Charteau (C.A). The road is very wet and Voigt, Vila and De la Fuente are showing signs of aggression up front.
Rabobank riders are now at the head of the peloton.
There are 30km for the stage leaders to ride in stage 15; the final 13.9km are all uphill...

The winner of points at the top of the second ascent of stage 15 was David De la Fuente (SDV). He climbed the 12.1km Col du Lautaret in 26’52".

The road is wet on the long descent from the Col du Lautaret. Rain is falling on the lead group but the peloton is still racing along on dry roads...

The peloton of the yellow jersey is at the 145km mark with a deficit of 3’50" on the 15-man lead group.

There are 15 men in the lead of the stage. De la Fuente and Vila have been caught by: Hincapie, Voigt, Schleck, Zabriskie, Mazzoleni, Arrieta, Merckx, Cunego, Arroyo, Landaluze, Chavanel, Lobato and Garzelli.

The peloton has reached the top of the Col du Lautaret (134km) 4’20" behind the leaders.

1. De la Fuente (SDV) 10pts
2. Vila (LAM) 9pts
3. Garzelli (LIQ) 8pts - at 25"
4. Voigt (CSC) 7pts
5. Zabriskie (CSC) 6pts
6. Merckx (PHO) 5pts... and the rest of the 13-man chase group.
Then came: Wegmann (GST) - 1’05"; Charteau (C.A) and Flecha (RAB)

De la Fuente are less than 1km from the top of the second climb. They have a lead of 30" over Zabriskie, Voigt, Schleck, Hincapie, Cunego, Arroyo, Merckx, Garzelli, Landaluze, Chavanel, Arrieta, Mazzoleni and Lobato.

John Lelangue was recently interviewed by France Television. The manager of the Phonak team is pleased with how this stage is working out.
“Floyd had to stop for a piss on the Izoard climb because it was better to do that on the ascent than the descent," explained Lelangue. "He then swapped a wheel with a team-mate.
“The escape group has gone and we’ve got a representative up front with Axel which is perfect. Caisse d’Epargne has control of the peloton and that suits us perfectly too. Now Floyd has Axel a few kilometers ahead and three other team-mates are with the leader so it’s an ideal situation for us.”

De la Fuente and Vila lead Zabriskie, Voigt, Schleck, Hincapie et al by 15" in the final kilometers of the Col du Lautaret.

The yellow jersey’s peloton is led by four Caisse d’Epargne riders. They are 4’10" behind the two stage leaders.

Schleck, Zabriskie and Voigt are leading the pursuit of Vila and De la Fuente who have been in the lead of the stage since the 124km mark.

Wegmann, Flecha and Charteau are now 30" behind the two stage leaders who are 10" ahead of the other escapees...

Tom Boonen is the second rider to retire from the race today. There are now just 154 riders still in the race.

De la Fuente and Vila lead: Hincapie (DSC), Schleck, Voigt and Zabriskie (CSC), Mazzoleni (TMO), Arrieta (A2R), Merckx (PHO), Cunego (LAM), Arroyo (CEI), Charteau (C.A), Garzelli (LIQ), Landaluze (EUS), Chavanel (COF), De la Fuente (SDV), Wegmann (GST) and Flecha (RAB) by 10" with 60km to go.
Then comes the peloton at 4’00".

The peloton is now 4’06" behind the leaders - De la Fuente (SDV) and Vila (LAM). The bunch is being led by one T-Mobile rider, Guerini.

Vila and De la Fuente now lead the 16 others from the lead group by 10".

The leaders are now on the Col du Lautaret and the attacks have began. The first to surge was Vila (LAM). He was chased down by De la Fuente (SDV).

The group of eight chasers - including Mercado, Rujano, Calzati et al - are 3’30" behind the 18 leaders at the 121km mark.
The peloton was 4’05" behind at the site of the 2nd intermediate sprint.

The leaders covered 39.3km in the third hour. The average speed for the first three hours of stage 15 is 40.2km/h.

There are now 155 riders still in 2006 Tour de France. Bram De Groot (RAB) is the latest to abandon.

The points at the sprint in Le Monetier-les-Bains (at 121.0km) were won by:
1. Zabriskie (CSC) 6pts
2. Lobato (SDV) 4pts
3. Hincapie (DSC) 2pts

The 18 leaders are near the site of the 2nd intermediate sprint. They are 4’25" ahead of the yellow jersey’s group.

Here is a reminder of the composition of the lead group: Hincapie (DSC), Schleck, Voigt and Zabriskie (CSC), Mazzoleni (TMO), Arrieta (A2R), Merckx (PHO), Cunego and Vila (LAM), Arroyo (CEI), Charteau (C.A), Garzelli (LIQ), Landaluze (EUS), Chavanel (COF), De la Fuente (SDV), Wegmann (GST), Flecha (RAB) and Lobato (SDV).

The Phonak team came to the front of the peloton after the feedzone.
There are 18 riders 2’20" ahead of Knees...
3’40" ahead of Mercado’s group...
The peloton is at 4’50".

There are 18 riders in the lead of the stage. They are: Hincapie, Schleck, Voigt, Zabriskie, Mazzoleni, Arrieta, Merckx, Cunego, Vila, Arroyo, Charteau, Landaluze, Chavanel, De la Fuente, Wegmann, Flecha and Lobato are 3’05" ahead of the eight-man chase group and 4’50" ahead of the peloton.

Rujano, Calzati, Bruseghin, Marchante, Vaugrenard, Albasini, Mercado and Pineau are between the lead group and the peloton. The deficit of the counter-attackers to Garzelli’s group is 3’05".

Garzelli, Hincapie, Schleck, Voigt, Zabriskie, Mazzoleni, Arrieta, Merckx, Cunego, Vila, Arroyo, Charteau, Landaluze, Chavanel, De la Fuente and Lobato were caught by Flecha and Wegmann before the feedzone.

Cunego, De la Fuente and Charteau are now leading the escape group out of the feedzone.

There are now 16 riders in the lead of stage 15. Cunego has just led the chase group up to Garzelli in the feedzone (at 110km).

Garzelli is near the feedzone (at the 110km) mark and appears to be waiting for the chasing group of 15.

At the 105.5km mark Garzelli leads Hincapie, Schleck, Voigt, Zabriskie, Mazzoleni, Arrieta, Merckx, Cunego, Vila, Arroyo, Charteau, Landaluze, Chavanel, De la Fuente and Lobato by 30".

Garzelli has passed through Briancon. He is less than 80km from the finish of stage 15 and has a lead of 5’55" over the yellow jersey’s peloton.

Landis has recently pulled to the side of the road. A team-mate also stopped and it appears as though the two changed bikes; we cannot confirm the reason... but it could be a flat tire for the Phonak team leader.

There has been another crash on the descent. The Radio Tour car missed hitting him by a matter of centimeters. The Milram rider is back on his bike and racing to rejoin the peloton.

The descent from the top of the Col d’Izoard to Briancon is 19.5km long. We can report that the rider who crashed a few kilometers after the summit, Martinez (DSC), is back on his bike and with the peloton.

Hincapie, Schleck, Voigt, Zabriskie, Mazzoleni, Arrieta, Merckx, Cunego, Vila, Arroyo, Charteau, Landaluze, Chavanel, De la Fuente and Lobato are the riders now in the second group and in pursuit of Stefano Garzelli.

Before the start of stage 15, LeTour.fr contacted the manager of the Gerolsteiner team, Hans Holczer, to get his thoughts on what he thought would happen today. “I think it’s pretty open," said Holczer, "but Menchov and Landis will be the guys to beat.
"I think there might be a little bit of an alliance between those two teams so we’ll need to watch what’s happening very closely.
"It’ll be interesting today because we will have an early attack and it’s always very hard to control who is there. Of course we hope that one of our guys can be part of it, but it’s not something that can be planned.
“Rabobank will be the team that can take some chances today. I think that they will look for some possibilities to blow up the team of Landis.
“Levi had a few problems with his throat in the last few days – it was a little bit inflamed – but today he’s doing well. He just need to pay attention and do what he can.
“Fothen’s task is simple: to try and maintain his lead of the youth classification and keep his white jersey. It’s not easy to do but I have faith in him and he has a big lead already and shown that he’s strong.”

Martinez is not back on his bike and is currently being treated by race doctors after crashing early on the descent of the Col d’Izoard.

The peloton was led over the summit by four Caisse d’Epargne riders including the yellow jersey. This group was 6’30" behind Garzelli.

There has been a crash on the descent. The rider involved is Egoi Martinez - we have no information about his injuries.

The points at the top of the first climb in stage 15 were won by:
1. Garzelli 20pts
2. De la Fuente 18pts
3. Cunego 16pts
4. Vila 14pts
5. Martinez 12pts
6. Schleck 10pts
7. Charteau 8pts
8. Arrieta 7pts
9. Voigt 6pts
10. Arroyo 5pts

De la Fuente has led the next group over the top. He was 1’10" behind Garzelli.

Garzelli has earned the 20 points for first place at the top of the Col d’Izoard.

With 4km to climb to the top of the highest pass in stage 15, Floyd Landis (PHO) has pulled over to the side of the road to answer the call of nature. He was part of the yellow jersey’s group that was 5’00" behind Garzelli at the last check.

The stage continues to be led by Stefano Garzelli. The Italian won the Giro d’Italia in 2000 and his best result in the Tour de France is 14th in 2001. He has never won a stage but, a few years ago, he claimed the ’Souvenir Henri Desgrange’ (an award given to the first rider over the highest summit of the race).
This is the first time that Garzelli has begun the Tour without having already contested the Giro d’Italia in the same season.

The leaders covered 30.2km in the second hour of racing. The average for the first two hours is 45.5km/h.

With 5km to climb, Garzelli’s advantage is:
4’00" - Bruseghin, Lopez Garcia, Mercado, Calzati Marchante
5’00" - yellow jersey’s peloton...

Garzelli leads the 15th stage with 5km to climb to the top of the Col d’Izoard, then comes:
De la Fuente’s group (Hincapie, Schleck, Mazzoleni et al) - at 30"
1’15" - Flecha and Wegmann
1’30" - Knees and Garcia Acosta
1’45" - Pineau and Vaugrenard
2’00" - Albasini
2’55" - Rujano
3’05" - Eisel...

The next rider to attack the peloton is Juan Miguel Mercado (AGR). He is about 100m ahead of the yellow jersey’s group.

One of the riders who was leading the peloton after the escape group formed was Florent Brard. The French champion has just been dropped by the peloton.

We don’t have a confirmation of how far Garzelli is ahead but there’s not a rider within sight of the Liquigas rider who is currently in the lead of stage 15.

Bruseghin (LAM), Marchante (SDV), Calzati (A2R) and Lopez Garcia (EUS) are the four riders who have recently attacked the peloton...

Zabriskie (CSC) and Flecha (RAB) are the next to drop out of the lead group that’s now trying to bridge the gap to Stefano Garzelli.

Stefano Garzelli is attacking the lead group. The Italian has an advantage over the 22 others of about 100m.

The lead group is down to 23. Albasini and Eisel were the first to be dropped by the other escapees...

The last rider in the stage is Boonen. The world champion is not having a good time on the Col d’Izoard but his Quickstep team-mate, Rujano, is flying up ahead in between the leaders and the main pack.

Marchante (SDV) has attacked the peloton. He is being pursued by a rider from the Euskaltel team...

Rujano was 4’20" behind the 25-man lead group that’s just dropped Eisel. The chaser is now 3’20" behind the stage leaders.

Halgand, Pena, Casper, Boonen, De Jongh... are some of the first riders to be dropped by the peloton on the Col d’Izoard.

Jose Rujano is now 3’55" behind the escape group. The peloton is at 4’25".

The 25 riders in the lead of the stage are riding as one group. Arrieta and Schleck have been setting the pace and Lobato is at the rear of the escape group that’s just reached Arvieux at the 75km mark.

There is one rider between the 25-man escape group and the peloton. Jose Rujano (QSI) is 45" ahead of the peloton that continues to be led by Florent Brard of the Caisse d’Epargne team.

The bunch has officially begun the ascent of the Col d’Izoard 4’30" behind the 25 escapees. There are 14km to go before the bunch arrives at the top of this ’Hors Category’ climb.

No rider from the peloton paid much attention to Rujano’s attack. The diminutive Venezuelan rider won the King of the Mountains crown in last year’s Giro d’Italia. He is 4’00" behind the 25-man escape group.

Rujano (QSI) has attacked the peloton at the base of the Col d’Izoard.

The 25 stage leaders have begun the ascent of the Col d’Izoard. This mountain rises from an altitude of 1,068m at the 68km mark to 2,360m at 86km.

One of the two Discovery Channel riders in the 25-man escape group, Egoi Martinez is at the front of the stage as the ascent of the Col d’Izoard begins.

The peloton is at the 68km mark with a deficit of 4’25" on the 25 leaders.

Today is the first anniversary of a tragic accident that involved six female members of the Australian national team. On 18 July 2005, a car crashed into the group of six who were training for a race in Germany. Amy Gillett died as a result of the injuries sustained.
At the start of the stage to Pau in last year’s Tour there was a minute’s silence in memory of Amy.
The Amy Gillett Foundation has been established in the last year to help raise awareness of safe cycling in Australia.

The peloton is 4’10" behind Hincapie, Martinez, Schleck, Voigt, Zabriskie, Mazzoleni, Arrieta, Wegmann, Flecha, Merckx, Cunego, Vila, Arroyo, Garcia-Acosta, Charteau, Landaluze, Chavanel, De la Fuente, Lobato, Eisel, Vaugrenard, Albasini, Garzelli, Pineau, Knees at the 65km mark.

LeTour.fr spoke to the rider who began the 15th stage in fifth place overall. Cadel Evans believes that one of the men to watch on the final climb will be CSC’s Carlos Sastre.
“I think the GC guys aren’t going to try anything early because there’s too much to lose... that makes an opportunity for anyone outside of GC," said Evans.
"It’s going to be a reshuffle like we saw on the road to Pla de Beret the other day.
"I’ve never raced up it the final climb but I’ve ridden it a few times earlier this year. It’s hard; it’s Alpe d’Huez - and everyone who knows anything about this sport knows how significant this mountain is.
"It’s not perfect for me but it’s not bad. It’s not quite steep enough to be perfect but I know that I can only work with what’s provided. This is a stage that I’m hoping to do well in but I don’t like to predict the winner or who might be on the podium.
“I just rode, slept, ate, then I had a massage and a press conference. That was all, a pretty standard routine actually.
“Floyd was the strongest the other day but anything can happen. Rabobank has got the strongest team but it depends on how T-Mobile ride.
“It’ll be interesting to see how Rabobank play the stage.
“I have no idea. Sastre will be the dark horse today. He’s been trying to slip in a few early breakaways a few times and I know he’s keen to try and achieve something here. The final climb is good for him too."

The peloton is being led by riders from the Caisse d’Epargne team. Florent Brard is currently setting the tempo of the chase group that’s now at the 62.5km mark. It is 3’50" behind the 25-man escape group...

A previous flash stated that the best-placed rider of the escape group was Axel Merckx in 21st place. Sorry, but this was incorrect. Frank Schleck (CSC) is also in the move. He began the day in 20th place, 10’06" behind Pereiro.
Apologies for any confusion caused.

There are 25 riders in the lead of the 15th stage. Lobato has been caught at the 60km mark. The latest time check for the leading peloton is 4’00".

Hincapie, Voigt, Zabriskie, Flecha, Garcia-Acosta are the five riders in the escape group who have previously won a stage of the Tour de France. Garcia-Acosta won the stage to Draguignan on Bastille Day in 2000 (the next day the Tour would visit the Col d’Izoard). The most recent stage winner from the escape group is Voigt who won in Montelimar three days ago.

The stage continues to be led by Ruben Lobato (SDV). He is 15" ahead of 24 others and 3’45" ahead of the peloton.

The 25 leaders have begun the ascent of the Col d’Izoard. Today will be the 32nd time that the itinerary of the Tour de France has included the 2,360 meter high Izoard climb. The ‘Hors Category’ summit comes at the 86km mark in the 14th stage. It is a 14.5km climb with an average gradient of 7.0 per cent.
The first rider to reach the summit in a stage of the Tour was Philippe Thys in 1922, the year that the Belgian won five stages including the 10th stage from Nice to Briancon.
The most recent winners of the climbing points on the Col d’Izoard are:
2003: Aitor Garmendia (ESP) – when he was a member of the Bianchi team led by Jan Ullrich.
2000: Santiago Botero (COL) – as a member of Kelme, the squad that won the teams classification. It was during the 14th stage – from Draguignan to Briancon – which he won and also inherited the lead in the climbing classification (which he would later win).

The 25 leaders covered 50.8km in the first hour of racing in stage 15.

The two Caisse d’Epargne riders in the escape group are at the front. Arroyo and Brard are part of the 25-man group of fugitives that attacked at the 28km mark...
Right now Lobato (SDV) has surged ahead of the lead group. He leads the 24 others by about 10".

The peloton is 3’30" behind the 25-man escape group at the 50km mark.

The peloton is now 3’15" behind Hincapie, Martinez, Schleck, Voigt, Zabriskie, Mazzoleni, Arrieta, Wegmann, Flecha, Merckx, Cunego, Vila, Arroyo, Garcia-Acosta, Charteau, Landaluze, Chavanel, De la Fuente, Lobato, Eisel, Vaugrenard, Albasini, Garzelli, Pineau and Knees.
The Caisse d’Epargne team is in charge of the peloton.

Axel Merckx began today’s stage in 21st overall. He is 10’08" behind Oscar Pereiro in the general classification and is the best-placed of the 25 riders who are now 3’00" ahead of the peloton.
The escape group involved 25 riders who are at the 48km mark.

The 25 riders have a lead of 2’50" on the peloton which is now at the 44km mark.

Early today, LeTour.fr contacted one of the directeur sportifs of the CSC team to get his thoughts on the stage to L’Alpe d’Huez. Alain Gallopin told us, “Carlos Sastre is one of the favorites for this kind of stage but he’s not alone.
“I think there will be a lot of attacks on both the Col d’Izoard and on the final climb. Only T-Mobile and Rabobank have enough good riders to dictate how the stage is raced. I could imagine there being an escape with someone like Sinkewitz and Rasmussen getting free… if that happens, they could go far.
“Landis doesn’t need to attack,” concluded Gallopin, “he should just follow the other leaders.
“Carlos has to ride cleverly and try and stay with the leaders but he needs to remind himself of what comes after today: there are two very hard stages yet to come.”

Discovery Channel - Hincapie and Martinez
Team CSC - Schleck, Voigt and Zabriskie
T-Mobile Team - Mazzoleni
AG2R Preyovance - Arrieta
Gerolsteiner - Wegmann
Rabobank - Flecha
Phonak - Merckx
Lampre-Fondital - Cunego and Vila
Caisse d’Epargne - Arroyo and Garcia-Acosta
Credit Agricol - Charteau
Euskaltel - Landaluze
Cofidis - Chavanel
Saunier Duval-Prodir - De la Fuente and Lobato
Francaise des Jeux - Eisel and Vaugrenard
Liquigas - Albasini and Garzelli
Bouygues Telecom - Pineau
Milram - Knees
They lead by 1’30" at the 37km mark.
The peloton is being led by riders from the Caisse d’Epargne team.

At the site of the first intermediate sprint the 25 riders led the rest of the peloton by 1’30".

The 25 riders have contested the sprint in Embrun (at 35.0km), the points were won by:
1. Bernhard Eisel (FDJ) 6pts
2. Michael Albasini (LIQ) 4pts
3. Patxi Vila (LAM) 2pts

There are 25 riders ahead of the peloton. They are: Hincapie, Martinez, Schleck, Voigt, Zabriskie, Mazzoleni, Arrieta, Wegmann, Flecha, Merckx, Cunego, Vila, Arroyo, Garcia-Acosta, Charteau, Landaluze, Chavanel, De la Fuente, Lobato, Eisel, Vaugrenard, Albasini, Garzelli, Pineau, Knees.
At the 33km mark, these riders were 55" ahead of the peloton.

Race Radio has just reported that the time gap from the first group to the second is 50".

The peloton is moving along at such a rapid pace that it has split in the last couple of kilometers. There are about 30 riders in the lead group.

The Tour has visited Embrum a number of times in the 103-year history of the race. It’s often a site for an intermediate sprint - as is the case today (at 35km) - but Embrum also once hosted a start of a stage. That was in 1973 and the stage concluded in Nice.

Wegmann, Eisel and Garzelli are now leading the peloton. The move that also involved Chavanel, Flecha and Voeckler was caught at the 26.5km mark.

The pursuit of Eisel, Chavanel, Flecha, Voeckler and Garzelli is on in earnest. Their five escapees are just 8" ahead of the bunch.

Eisel, Chavanel, Flecha, Voeckler and Garzelli are now 10" ahead of the peloton that’s at the 26km mark.

There are five riders on the attack. The move started at 24km. The men involved are: Eisel (FDJ), Flecha (RAB), Chavanel (COF), Garzelli (LIQ) and Voeckler (BTL).

Vila (LAM) and Chavanel (COF) tried to escape but the move didn’t last long. The peloton is all together again at the 23.5km mark.

Lobato and Calcagni have been caught by the peloton at the 22km mark.

Lobato and Calcagni lead the peloton by 10" at the 21.5km mark.

Lobato (SDV) and Calcagni (LIQ) are currently trying to break free of the peloton which is moving at a fast pace in stage 15. It’s the third significant attack of the day.

LeTour.fr contacted the Race Doctor, Gerard Porte this morning to ask what benefits a day of rest offers the contestants. “The rest day is certainly good for everyone but it’s not really long enough to recharge the batteries completely," said Dr Porte. "To get fresh again, a person requires three or four rest days after the effort required for the first 14 stages.
"We expect a few riders to abandon the Tour today.
“When it comes to the effort required from the muscles, it’s a different thing for the team leaders and others. Those who were really fatigued really need as much rest as they could get yesterday and that means not even going for a slow, steady ride. The chance for them to get their legs moving again will come in the first 50km of today’s stage.
“The favorites should have gone for a ride to keep their muscles active. They can afford to do this because they have greater physical potential so they should be less tired than the others.”

The escape has been reeled in by the peloton which is now at the 15km mark.

Chavanel (COF), Joly and Vaugrenard (FDJ) are now 10" ahead of the peloton. The attack began at the 12km mark.

The 15th stage is being raced at a rapid pace. The latest escape attempt has come from three French riders: Chavanel, Vaugrenard and Joly. They are at the 13km mark.

The rest day was something special for the winner of stages five and nine. Oscar Freire (RAB) boarded a private jet and flew to Lugano in Switzerland to visit his wife and his son Marco who was born on Sunday. This is the first child for the winner of two stages in the 93rd Tour de France.

The seven escapees have been caught by the peloton that was led by the Cofidis team. The move ended at the 5km mark.

David De la Fuente (SDV), Wegmann (GST), Posthuma (RAB), Cunego (LAM), Brard (CEI), Charteau (C.A) and Albasini (LIQ) are the riders who are now eight seconds ahead of the peloton.

Two more men have bridged the gap to the five leaders. We await confirmation of just who is involved but can confirm that the polka-dot jersey is present in the lead group.

There are five riders trying to escape the peloton. The move began at the 2.5km mark and included David De la Fuente (SDV).

The peloton is at the 2km mark and there have been no early attacks. The only thing we can report from the first minutes of racing in stage 15 is that Cadel Evans (DVL) has had a puncture. He’s got a new wheel and is about to rejoin the peloton.

Riders from the Saunier Duval-Prodir, CSC and Gerolsteiner teams were subjected to doping controls this morning. No abnormalities were found and all are clear to ride the stage.

The 15th stage of the 2006 Tour de France began at 11.51am.

The peloton is currently riding along in the 2.3km neutral zone and on their way to the site of the official start on the outskirts of Gap. There are 156 riders still in the race with no one abandoning during the rest day.

The yellow jersey will be worn by Oscar Pereiro (CEI) in stage 15. He is 1’29" ahead of the former race leader Floyd Landis (PHO). In third place is another former overall leader, Cyril Dessel (A2R). The winner of the stage to Paul is 1’37" behind Pereiro.
In fourth place is the winner of the stage to Pla de Beret, Denis Menchov (RAB) while fifth is held by one of the favorites for the stage to L’Alpe d’Huez Cadel Evans. The Russian and Australian are 2’30" and 2’46" behind Pereiro after 14 stages.

There are two intermediate sprints in the 15th stage. They are in Embrun (at 35.0km) and Le Monetier-les-Bains (121.0km).
The green jersey will be worn by Robbie McEwen (DVL) who has led the points classification since stage four. He has 252 points, 30 more than Tom Boonen (QSI) and 45 more than the two-time stage winner Oscar Freire (RAB).

We could see a change in the top order of the Tour’s climbing classification today. There are three big mountains in the 15th stage, the Col d’Izoard (‘Hors Category’ – 2,360m high, 14.5km long, average gradient 7.0% at 86.0km), the Col du Lauteret (category-two – 2,058m, 12.1km, 4.4% at 134.0km) and the final ascent to L’Alpe d’Huez (‘Hors Category’ – 1,850m, 13.8km, 7.9% at 187km).
Mickael Rasmussen (RAB) trails David De la Fuente by just seven points. Many team directors believe that today will be the day that last year’s King of the Mountains goes on the attack to increase his tally of points. Expect to see the Danish rider get close to the polka-dot jersey at L’Alpe d’Huez.

The 15th stage of the 2006 Tour de France is scheduled to start at 11.45am. The day takes riders from Gap to the second mountaintop finish of the 93rd edition, the heralded summit at L’Alpe d’Huez. Today’s stage is 187km long and features two other significant climbs, the ’Hors Category’ Col d’Izoard and the category-two Col du Lauteret.
The weather conditions are clear skies and, at the start in Gap, there are temperatures of 24 degrees Celsius in the air and 35 degrees at road level.
Live coverage will begin shortly.