Click Here

(AP) - With the Tour de France heading toward its decisive stages, there is still no favorite in a wide open race that is fueling the passions of French fans who hope Thomas Voeckler holds his lead against all odds.

When racing resumes Tuesday after a rest day, Voeckler will open the 16th stage nearly two minutes ahead of Frank Schleck - supposedly a weaker rider than his younger brother, Andy - and four minutes ahead of three-time champion Alberto Contador.



Stage 15 Results
1. Mark Cavendish HTC-Highroad - 4:20:24
2. Tyler Farrar Team Garmin-Cervelo
3. Alessandro Petacchi Lampre - ISD
4. Daniel Oss Liquigas-Cannondale
5. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil Movistar Team
6. Ben Swift Sky Procycling
7. Gerald Ciolek Quickstep Cycling Team
8. Tony Gallopin Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
9. Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi Movistar Team
10. Sébastien Hinault AG2R La Mondiale




General classification after Stage 15
1. Thomas Voeckler Team Europcar - 65:24:34
2. Fränk Schleck Leopard Trek - 0:01:49
3. Cadel Evans BMC Racing Team - 0:02:06
4. Andy Schleck Leopard Trek - 0:02:15
5. Ivan Basso Liquigas-Cannondale - 0:03:16
6. Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez Euskaltel-Euskadi - 0:03:44
7. Alberto Contador Velasco Saxo Bank Sungard - 0:04:00
8. Damiano Cunego Lampre - ISD - 0:04:01
9. Thomas Danielson Team Garmin-Cervelo - 0:05:46
10. Kevin De Weert Quickstep Cycling Team - 0:06:18


Full results here..


Jersey Standings:
maillotjaune.gif
Thomas Voeckler
maillotvert.gif
Mark Cavendish
maillotapois.gif
Jelle Vanendert
maillotblanc.gif
Rigoberto Uran

Links to news sites...

"Cavendish wins Tour 15th stage, Voeckler keeps yellow
By Justin Davis (AFP)

MONTPELLIER, France - Britain's Mark Cavendish continued his domination of the Tour de France sprint stages Sunday by claiming his fourth win of the race to take his career tally to an unrivalled 19 on stage 15.

France's Thomas Voeckler, of the Europcar team, remained in the yellow jersey after the mainly flat but wind-buffeted ride over 193 km from Limoux to Montpellier which had the overall contenders fighting for survival.

Voeckler maintained his 1min 49sec lead on Luxembourg's Frank Schleck, with Australian Cadel Evans in third at 2:06.

Andy Schleck, the runner-up the past two years, is fourth at 2:15 while three-time and reigning champion Alberto Contador of Spain is seventh at 4:00.

Cavendish meanwhile showed that when his team are in control, he is virtually unstoppable." Read more from AFP...

"Cavendish sprints to stage win as Voeckler keeps Tour lead

(CNN) -- British cyclist Mark Cavendish extended his lead in the Tour de France's sprint standings with victory in Sunday's stage 15, while Thomas Voeckler retained his overall advantage.

Cavendish claimed his fourth win of this month's race and the 19th of his career as his HTC Highroad team guided him home in the 192.5-kilometer ride from Limoux to Montpellier.

With the sprinters back to the fore in a route featuring just one small climb, the 26-year-old headed off American Tyler Farrar and Italians Alessandro Petacchi and Daniel Oss.

He is now 47 points clear of Jose Joaquin Rojas in the race for the green jersey after the Spaniard came home fifth, also in four hours 20 minutes 24 seconds." Read more from CNN International...

Photos by CorVos