Botero gets his revenge

Dropped in the first mountain stages of the Tour de France, Colombian Santiago Botero got his revenge by winning the first stage held in the Alps between Vaison-la-Romaine and Les Deux Alpes on Tuesday.

The 2000 Tour king of the mountains attacked in the last climb leading to the Savoy ski resort to drop his six breakaway companions and win the 15th stage 8212; his second of this year8217;s Tour.

The Kelme team leader had unexpectedly beaten three times Tour champion Lance Armstrong in the first long time trial of the race in Brittany a week ago. Since then, Botero had faltered badly in the Pyrenees and was a disappointing 18th at the start of the day8217;s stage in Vaison-la-Romaine, 18 minutes 53 seconds behind Armstrong, who easily retained his overall leader8217;s yellow jersey.