With a brilliant attack on the final climb to Verbier with 5.5km, SRAM RED-equipped Alberto Contador won Stage 15 of the Tour De France and took over the race lead. Clad in the Maillot Jaune post-stage, Contador explained that his ride on the demanding final climb should leave no doubt about who is the Astana team leader. "The differences now are pretty big, and the team’s bet should now be me, no?" Contador said. "I’m sure my teammates are going to put in great work to back me up just like they did today. I’m very happy with this result today. The climb wasn’t that long, but I wanted to make a difference," explained Contador, who tapped his chest hand gave his trademark pistol shot salute as he won Stage 15. "I gave the maximum."

Sunday’s Stage 15 was a 207.5km race from Pontarlier in eastern France to the ski resort of Verbier, Switzerland. The day dawned with perfect conditions and climbed out of France over the first of three Cat.3 climbs in the first 75km, then dropped into Switzerland for a long, rolling stretch before the 13.8km ascent of the Cat2 Col des Mosses with 72km to go, followed by the 8.4km final ascent to Verbier.

Before the stage start in Pontarlier, the peloton has paused for a minute of silence to remember the 61-year-old woman who died in an road accident involving a French motorcycle gendarme Saturday. The big news on Sunday morning was that Quick Step sprinter Tom Boonen will not start the Tour De France Sunday morning, as the Belgian champion is suffering from digestion problems. Plenty of attacks from the start kept the action hopping and finally after 70km the break of the day got away, with SRAM Red equipped Swiss champion Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) flying the national colors Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin), Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Silence), José Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d’Epargne), Amael Moinard & David Moncoutié (Cofidis), Pierrick Fedrigo (Bbox), Simon Spilak (Lampre), Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) and Mikel Astarloza (Euskaltel-Euskadi). Astarloza the best-placed rider in the break in 18th position on GC, 3'02' and was Maillot Jaune Virtuel most of the day.

On the long, flat road that headed south along the Rhone River valley to the final 8.4km ascent to Verbier, Liquigas joined Astana in the chase and with 10km to go, the break was pulled back. As the climb started, SRAM RED-equipped Saxo Bank team hit the front and wound up the pace for Andy Schleck but there were no decisive moves until Contador launched from a small group of race favorites including Astana teammates Lance Armstrong and Andreas Kloden 5.6km from the summit of the 8.8km climb. Although a courageous Andy Schleck went after Contador and eventually finished second, Contador’s incredible pace of 24.4km / hr on the final climb was untouchable. Andy Schleck’s consolation prize was donning the Best Young Rider’s Maillot Blanc.

Although Lance Armstrong was 9th today, the SRAM RED-equipped Astana rider moved into 2nd overall on gc, 1'37' behind Contador. Post-stage, Armstrong told the media ""I think when Alberto went, he showed he’s the best rider in the race, certainly the best climber. … Hats off to him," said Armstrong. But Lance said that he would not go against team orders and attack Contador later in the race.

"That’s not going to happen," he said. "There’s been a lot of drama between Alberto and me … but at the end of the day we sit as a team." On the team bus, Armstrong tweeted "St15 done. Ouch! Verbier was as hard as I thought. Alberto; super and had great punch/power. A heartfelt congrats to him. Rest day 2morrow!" Astana team director Johan Bruyneel was pleased with today’s result, tweeting "(Alberto Contador) showed his class and did what we predicted this morning in the team bus. Attacked, dropped everyone and is now sitting strongly in yellow."

Monday, July 20th is the second rest day at the 2009 Tour De France. Racing resumes Tuesday with Stage 16, another mountain stage, 159km from Martigny, Switzerland to Bourg St.Maurice, France via Italy’s Val d’Aosta.

Stage Result-Sunday, July 19
Stage 15: Pontarlier-Verbier / 207.5km
1. Alberto Contador Astana — SRAM RED — 5h03'58'
2. Andy Schleck Saxo Bank — SRAM RED @ :43?
4. Frank Schleck Saxo Bank — SRAM RED @ 1'06'
8. Andréas Kloden Astana — SRAM RED @ 1'29'
9. Lance Armstrong Astana — SRAM RED @ 1'35'
19. Rinaldo Nocentini Ag2r La Mondiale @ 2'36'

General Classification-Sunday, July 19
2009 Tour de France / General Classification After Stage 15
1. Alberto Contador Astana — SRAM RED 63h17'56?
2. Lance Armstrong Astana — SRAM RED @ 1'37?
4. Andréas Kloden Astana — SRAM RED @ 2'17'
5. Andy Schleck Saxo Bank — SRAM RED @ 2'26'
10. Frank Schleck Saxo Bank — SRAM RED @ 3'25'