Tour de France: It's hardly fair play, says angry Schleck

Now, the gloves are off at the Tour de France.

A furious Andy Schleck of Luxembourg lost the yellow jersey after his chain derailed during a tough climb yesterday in the Pyrenees - and defending champion Alberto Contador unabashedly sped ahead to take the race lead.

"He can be nervous for the next days ... this gives me anger," said Schleck, vowing revenge. "I'm not the one who will get chased any more, I'm the one who chases. That's a big difference."

The standoff came on a day when France's Thomas Voeckler led a bold solo breakaway to win the 15th stage from Pamiers to Bagneres to Luchon, a 187.5km trek covering the merciless Port de Bales climb.

Contador, who also gained time on Schleck on a speedy downhill to the finish, crossed 2 minutes, 50 seconds back in seventh, while Schleck came in 12th - 3:29 behind the Frenchman.

The Spanish two-time champ now has a minuscule 8-second lead over Schleck after more than two weeks and 2900km of racing. Spain's Samuel Sanchez is third, 2 minutes back.

With Schleck only 31 seconds ahead going into yesterday's stage and big Pyrenean climbs promising a shakeout, tensions were almost certain to escalate. The two self-avowed friends had spent one calmer day in this Tour discussing a recent holiday they had together. The friendship is now apparently on hold.

"We're only here in a bike race, so let's leave it that way," Schleck said after a long pause, when asked if he and Contador were still friends. "I think everybody can make his opinion about the race today."

The episode pointed to the often unclear etiquette of cycling's greatest race, where the yellow jersey bearer is conferred almost queen-bee respect - and taking advantage of his uncontrollable mishaps is often a no-no.

Schleck hit the accelerator in an attack less than 4km from the top of the Port de Bales, but his chain came unfurled. For a few seconds he pedalled with no response from his bike - then stalled. He had to stop on the roadside and fumble with his chain as Contador and others sped by.

By the finish, Schleck swatted back reporters and gritted his teeth in anger. Contador said such woes are part of the sport and insisted he didn't know about his rival's troubles right away.

"Those are the circumstances of the race," he said. "I knew there would be a debate after that, but I attacked before I knew he had a problem with his chain, and I was already ahead when I knew it. I understand he's disappointed."

He wasn't alone. Nearly as many boos and whistles as cheers rang out among fans at the awards ceremony after the stage, when Contador lifted a bouquet after donning the coveted yellow shirt for the first time this year.

"I'm not going to cry over the yellow jersey," Schleck said.

As the July 25 finish on the Champs-Elysees in Paris looms, the competition and nerves are heating up - but sportsmanship should still take precedence, Schleck said.

"I would not have taken advantage of the situation," he said. "It's not up to me ... but for sure these guys don't get the fair play prize today."

- AP