Gerrans Wins Alpine Stage As Tour Heads to Italy

Simon Gerrans of the Credit Agricole team has won the 183km stage 15 of the Tour de France. The Australian led a four-man group that broke away early in the Alpine stage, which runs from Embrun to Prato Nevoso. He finished three seconds ahead of Spain's Egoi Martinez as the Tour headed into Italy at the beginning of its third and final week.

Team CSC's Frank Schleck, from Luxembourg, took the yellow jersey from Cadel Evans. Schleck, who finished the stage in ninth, started the day just one second behind the Australian. He now has a seven-second lead over Bernhard Kohl, with Evans third overall, a further second behind Kohl.

Oscar Pereiro, the 2006 Tour winner, was forced to retire with a broken shoulder after crashing early in the stage.

Provisional result:

1. Simon Gerrans (Australia / Credit Agricole ) 4hr 50min 44sec2. Egoi Martinez (Spain / Euskaltel ) +3sec3. Danny Pate (US / Garmin - Chipotle ) +10sec4. Jose Luis Arrieta (Spain / AG2R ) +55sec5. Bernhard Kohl (Austria / Gerolsteiner ) +4min 03sec6. Carlos Sastre (Spain / Team CSC )7. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Caisse d'Epargne ) +4min 12sec8. Denis Menchov (Russia / Rabobank ) +4min 23sec9. Frank Schleck (Luxembourg / Team CSC ) +4min 41sec10. Christian Vande Velde (US / Garmin - Chipotle ) +4min 43sec