Schleck takes lead in crash-marred Alpine stage

By Julien Pretot

PRATO NEVOSO, Italy (Reuters) - Frank Schleck of Luxembourg took the Tour de France leader's yellow jersey from Cadel Evans with a last-gap attack in a crash-marred first Alpine stage on Sunday.

The elder Schleck brother dropped the Australian in the final meters of the uphill finish of the 15th stage in the Italian ski resort of Prato Nevoso.

He now leads Austrian Bernhard Kohl, the new holder of the polka dot jersey, by seven seconds and Evans, who had a one-second lead before the stage, by eight.

"I want to thank my whole team, we are the best team of the field," said Schleck.

"At the end (of the stage) I just wanted to sprint and take that second I needed for the yellow jersey."

Evans, who failed to resist to three CSC riders in the final climb, said: "Three against one, what could I do? It's not over yet, it's very close. It's a very good race, put it that way."

Of the six leading riders who are within 49 seconds, Russian Denis Menchov, in fourth place, is the biggest threat to Evans and Schleck.

The 183-km stage from Embrun was won by Australian Simon Gerrans, who gave the Credit Agricole team their second victory of the 2008 race by outwitting Spain's Egoi Martinez and American Danny Pate after a 171-km breakaway.