Colombia's Santiago Botero won the 226.5 kilometre 15th stage of the Tour de France from Vaison-la-Romaine to Les Deux Alpes today. The win puts him back in contention following his disappointing performance on Sunday, which saw him drop from fifth to eighteenth overall. Today's victory leaves him in seventh place.
The decisive point in the stage came at the 80km mark when Botero and six other riders broke away from the peloton. The group quickly built up a 10 minute lead before Botero himself broke away never to be caught.
Belgians Mario Aerts and Axel Merckx attempted to catch him but finished two minutes back in second and third respectively. Lance Armstrong retained the overall leader's yellow jersey despite being beaten to the line by Spain's Joseba Beloki.
Filed by Johnny Proby
