Tour De France Stage 15

Tour de France, when the riders headed into the snow-covered mountains of the Swiss Alps. And Armstrong, the seven-time Tour winner, was right. The final moments of Stage 15 were filled with riders attacking as they tried to reach the top of this ski station first. What Armstrong did not predict, though, was that it would be the day where his Astana team would finally take the leader’s yellow jersey.

His teammate Alberto Contador — the 2007 Tour champion — took off with about 3.7 miles to go in the 129-mile (207 ½-kilometer) stage that ended atop a popular ski station. Contador remained in his saddle for most of the climb, cranking his pedals, while Andy Schleck of Saxo Bank took off on a solo ride to chase him. Back from those riders was a pack including with Armstrong, who rode with his jersey open and the wires from his radio swinging in the wind.

Just before he crossed the finish line, however, Contador rose in his saddle as the crowd egged him on. After winning, he lifted his arms to celebrate as fans rang huge cow bells in his honor. Rinaldo Nocentini of AG2R La Mondiale had worn the yellow jersey for eight stages before falling back Sunday.