TODAY’S STAGE 15

A review of what happened Saturday and a look at what to expect in today’s stage:

Today’s 15th stage takes riders into the high Alps with the first of three grueling stages, a 113.7-mile trek from Embrun to the Italian ski resort of Prato Nevoso:

* Saturday’s stage: A 120.9-mile, mildly hilly ride from Nimes to Digne-les-Bains in high temperatures.

* Winner: Oscar Freire of Spain won a sprint finish. Leonardo Duque of Colombia was second, and veteran sprinter Erik Zabel of Germany was third. All clocked 4 hours 13 minutes 8 seconds.

* Yellow jersey: Cadel Evans of Australia kept the yellow jersey and remains one second ahead of Frank Schleck of Luxembourg and 38 seconds ahead of Christian Vande Velde of the United States.

* Quote of the day: “I have to play a smart race. I have to use my head.”-- Evans, looking ahead to the Alps.

STAGE 14 RESULTS

Oscar Freire, Spain

4:13:08

Leonardo Duque, Colombia

same time

Erik Zabel, Germany

same time

Julian Dean, New Zealand

same time

5. Steven de Jongh, Netherlands

same time

OVERALL STANDINGS

Cadel Evans, Australia

59:01:55

Frank Schleck, Luxembourg

0:01 behind

Christian Vande Velde, U.S.

0:38 behind

Bernhard Kohl, Austria

0:46 behind

5. Denis Menchov, Russia

0:57 behind