Tour de France riders face four major climbs as Schleck and Contador continue rivalry

Riders set off for Tour de France’s hardest day

BAGNERES-DE-LUCHON, France — Defending champion Alberto Contador set off in yellow for the first time in this year’s Tour de France Tuesday as the riders took part in the hardest stage of the race.

But the Spaniard apologized for the way he took over the lead from rival Andy Schleck. He attacked as Schleck suffered a mechanical problem during Monday’s stage and holds an eight-second lead over the Luxembourg rider.

In a video posted on YouTube, Contador said: “Maybe I made a mistake. I’m sorry. I don’t like things like what happened today, I’m not like that and I hope the relationship that I have with Andy can go back to being as good as it was before this happened.”

Another former champion was seizing the limelight, however, in Tuesday’s grueling 16th stage, a 124-mile ride from Bagneres-de-Luchon to Pau that takes in four major climbs, including the famed Col du Tourmalet.

Seven-time winner Lance Armstrong broke away in a small group right at the start of the stage, and for a while was riding alone at the head of the field on the notorious climb of the Tourmalet.

He was later caught and was riding in a group of 10, more than six minutes ahead of the main field, as they began the final ascent of the day, the long Col d’Aubisque, with 52 miles left to ride.

Armstrong, who also has teammate Chris Horner in the group, was taking the largest share of time at the front of the field. The group also included French veteran Christophe Moreau and former Giro Damiano Cunego.

The 172 riders will take on the Tourmalet for a second time on Thursday. The race finishes in Paris on Sunday.