Alberto Contador of Spain and Team Estana took the Tour de France lead from Luxemborg’s Andy Schleck under controversial circumstances. Contador then held the lead through the remaining mountain stages and the final time trial to beat Schleck for his third Tour de France title.

The controversy occurred during Stage 15 in the Pyrenees Mountains when Schleck, the overall leader at the time, lost his chain and was forced to make a mechanical repair. As Schleck and his team were on the side of the road, Contador streaked by taking the overall lead. Contador said later he did not realize he had passed Schleck but he also did not relinquish his lead. It is normally common courtesy to let the overall leader catch up and regain his time after such a mechanical failure.

Contador was strong in the hills on the very next day during Stage 16 and Lance Armstrong made an attempt to win his only stage of the 2010 Tour de France. Armstrong made a valiant effort but when it came down to a six man sprint in the end, Armstrong was sixth. Contador maintained his lead over Schleck With Schleck running out of time.

Schleck went out for Stage 17 with every intention of blasting out fast and disappearing from Contador. Schleck ran the race of his life but Contador was on his back tire the entire time. Schleck won the stage but Contador was right with him and held the overall lead by eight seconds.

Contador maintained his overall lead in the Tour de France in the final stages, asserting himself in the time trial stage finishing Schleck’s only hopes of a comeback.