Tour de France 15th stage

July 20, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

A look at Sunday’s 15th stage of the Tour de France:

Stage: A 129-mile trek in the Alps between Pontarlier and Verbier, Switzerland. The stage featured six climbs, including a demanding 5.5-mile final ascent to the ski resort.

Winner: Alberto Contador of Spain, who crushed all other Tour contenders, including seven-time champion Lance Armstrong, with a solo victory. The 2007 Tour winner launched his attack in the final ascent, about 3.5 miles from the finish. Andy Schleck of Luxembourg took second place, 43 seconds back. Vincenzo Nibali of Italy finished third, 1:03 behind.

Yellow Jersey: Alberto Contador, who took it from Rinaldo Nocentini. The Italian slipped to sixth place overall.

Next stage: Today is a rest day in Verbier. Tuesday’s 16th stage is a 98.9-mile ride in the Alps between Martigny, Switzerland, and Bourg-Saint-Maurice, France. It features two punishing climbs, the Col du Grand Saint-Bernard and the Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard.