Schleck/Contador Keep Lead In Stage 14

The Tour de France got very serious in stage 14 as the race entered the Pyrenees Mountains. Anyway who wants to win this year's Tour must do well in these several mountain stages -- the most difficult stages of the Tour. Stage 14 started fairly easy but ended with two very hard climbs that stretched the race out for miles.

There was a breakaway of nine riders and they stayed out in front until reaching those two final climbs. Then they all faltered and were caught by the race leaders except for one rider. The rider of the day was Frenchman Christophe Riblon (AG2R La Mondiale), the only breakaway rider who survived. He was able to finish as the stage 14 winner -- 54 seconds ahead of the next two riders.

The next two riders to finish were the third and fourth place riders in the overall standings, and they were able to pick up about 14 seconds on the two leaders. Russian Denis Menchov (Rabobank) finished in second place and Spaniard Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) finished third. Alberto Contador, Spain (Astana) tried to put a gap between himself and race leader Andy Schleck, Luxembourg (Saxo Bank) on the last climb but was unable to do so, and the two finished with the same time today.

Stage 15 is a 187.5 kilometer ride from Pamiers to Bagneres-De-Luchon. The first half of the race is fairly easy with only one category 4 climb. It's the second half that will scatter the peloton since it has two category 2 climbs followed by a very difficult unrated climb.

Here are the current standings:

YELLOW JERSEY (Overall Leaders)

1. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg (Saxo Bank)

2. Alberto Contador, Spain (Astana).....0' 31"

3. Samuel Sanchez, Spain (Euskaltel-Euskadi).....2' 31"

4. Denis Menchov, Russia (Rabobank).....2' 58"

5. Jurgen Van Den Broeck, Belgium (Omega-Lotto).....3' 31"

6. Robert Gesink, Netherlands (Rabobank).....4' 27"

7. Levi Leipheimer, USA (Radio Shack).....4' 51"

8. Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver, Spain (Katusha).....4' 58"

9. Luis-Leon Sanchez, Spain (Caisse D'Epargne).....5' 56"

10. Ivan Bosso, Italy (Liquigas-Doimo).....6' 52"

21. Christopher Horner, USA (Radio Shack).....13' 14"

38. Lance Armstrong, USA (Radio Shack).....39' 44"

GREEN JERSEY (Sprinters)

1. Alessandro Petacchi, Italy (Lampre-Farnese).....187 pts

2. Thor Hushovd, Norway (Cervelo).....185 pts

3. Mark Cavendish, Great Britain (HTC-Columbia).....162 pts

4. Jose Joaquin Rojas, Spain (Caisse D'Epargne).....144 pts

5. Robbie McEwen, Australia (Katusha).....138 pts

6. Edvald Boasson Hagen, Norway (Sky Pro).....120 pts

7. Gerald Ciolek, Germany (Milram).....102 pts

8. Sebastien Turgot, France (Bouygues Telecom).....101 pts

9. Samuel Sanchez, Spain (Euskaltel-Euskadi).....92 pts

10. Alberto Contador, Spain (Astana).....89 pts

POLKA DOT JERSEY (Climbers)

1. Anthony Charteau, France (Bouygues Telecom).....115 pts

2. Jerome Pineau, France (Quick Step).....92 pts

3. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg (Saxo Bank).....76 pts

4. Samuel Sanchez, Spain (Euskaltel-Euskadi).....72 pts

5. Christophe Moreau, France (Caisse D'Epargne).....68 pts

6. Mario Aerts, Belgium (Omega-Lotto).....65 pts

7. Damiano Cunego, Italy (Lampre-Farnese).....63 pts

8. Alberto Contador, Spain (Astana).....62 pts

9. Christophe Riblon, France (AG2R La Mondiale).....60 pts

10. Sandy Casar, France (FDJ).....56 pts

TEAM STANDINGS

1. Caisse D'Epargne

2. Radio Shack.......0' 08"

3. Rabobank.......17' 13"

4. AG2R La Mondiale.......18' 38"

5. Astana.......26' 32"