American Retakes Yellow Jersey In 15th Stage

The Tour de France entered the Alps today for the first of three mountain stages, and that has turned out pretty well for American rider, Floyd Landis. Landis finished fourth in stage 15, but that was enough to give him the Yellow Jersey for now. The stage 15 winner was Frank Schleck [Luxemburg-CSC], with Damiano Cunego [Italy-Lampre] finishing second and Stefano Garzelli [Italy-Liquigas] finishing third. Landis finished fourth, 1:10 minutes behind the stage winner. Here is how the tour now stands:

Overall standings:

1. Landis [USA-Phonak]..........Yellow Jersey
2. Pereiro [Italy-Balears]..........0:10
3. Dessel [ France-AG2R]..........2:02
4. Menchov [Russia-Rabobank]..........2:12
5. Sastre [Spain-CSC]..........2:17
6. Kloden [Germany-Tmobile]..........2:29
7. Evans [Australia-Lotto]..........2:56
8. Rogers [Australia-Tmobile]..........5:01
9. Leipheimer [USA-Gerolsteiner]..........6:18
10. Zubeldia [Spain-Euskadi]..........6:20
13. Popovych [Ukraine-Discovery]..........7:36
25. Azevedo [Portugal-Discovery]..........13:47
29. Vandevelde [USA-CSC]..........17:35
38. Hincapie [USA-Discovery]..........26:18

Team standings:

1. CSC
2. Balears..........20:29
3. T-mobile..........20:45
4. Gerolsteiner..........28:25
5. AG2R..........30:51
11. Discovery..........54:15

Polka-Dot Jersey [climber]:

1. De La Fuente [Spain-Saunier]..........108 points
2. Schleck [Luxemburg-CSC]..........74 points
3. Rasmussen [Denmark-Rabobank]..........73 points
4. Landis [USA-Phonak]..........63 points
5. Dessel [France-AG2R]..........62 points

Green Jersey [sprinter]:

1. McEwen [Australia-Lotto]..........252 points
2. Freire [Spain-Rabobank]..........207 points
3. Bennati [Italy-Lampre]..........192 points
4. Zabel [Germany-Milram]..........172 points
5. Hushovd [Norway-Agricole]..........159 points

White Jersey [youth]:

1. Fothen [Germany-Gerolsteiner]
2. Cunego [Italy-Lampre]..........6:58
3. Duenas Nevado [Spain-Agritubel]..........33:21
4. Lovkvist [Sweden-Francaise Des Jeux]..........40:13
5. De La Fuente [Spain-Saunier]...........51:46

They will still be riding in the Alps tomorrow for stage 16. The race will start in Bourg d'Oisans and run for 182 kilometers [113.75 miles] to La Toussuire. This leg starts with two huge unrated climbs, then has a catagory 2 climb, and finishes with a catagory 1 climb. Only five stages left until the ride into Paris.