Alberto Contador waved off claims of unfair play by yellow jersey rival Andy Schleck during a thrilling finale to the 15th stage of the Tour de France.
In doing so, the 27-year-old reigning champion let his key rival know that he will need to go to war if he wants to top the podium in Paris on Sunday.
Saxo Bank climbing specialist Schleck went into the second of four days in the Pyrenees mountains with a 31sec lead on Spain's two-time champion.
But moments after "finally taking his responsibilities", according to Contador, and attacking the Spaniard inside the final two kilometres of the 19.3km to the Port de Bales summit, disaster struck.
Schleck had taken a 30-metre lead on Contador but just as the Spaniard began his counter move Schleck came suddenly to a halt. By the time Contador had closed the gap and passed the Luxemburger, Schleck was off his bike and screaming in frustration.
With Schleck left on his own to fix his mechanical problem, Contador raced ahead with Russian Denis Menchov and Spaniard Samuel Sanchez to crest the summit just over 20sec in front of the stricken Luxemburger.
The trio completed the 21.5km descent, later catching up with several breakaway riders who had been droppped by Voeckler, to finish 39sec ahead of Schleck who dropped to eight seconds adrift in second.
Schleck immediately slammed Contador and promised to take "revenge" in the coming days.
"I'm not the jury, but for sure those guys wouldn't get the fair play award from me today," said the 24-year-old.
However the Luxemburger has a short memory, according to Contador.
The Tour de France champion was among the riders and teams who went beyond gentlemenly fair-play and waited for Schleck and his brother Frank after both were among the multiple crash victims on the rain-hit stage two to Spa.
But the Spaniard went further. Playing down Schleck's setback - which to most experts is simply part and parcel of racing - he said that he has race to win.
"I understand he's disappointed but what's important to me is that I took time off him. My goal is still to win the yellow jersey in Paris," said Contador.
"Today Andy finally took his reponsibilities (and attacked). But in any case I was ready to attack myself."
Schleck said after the race that it was "only fair" that his main rival and his Astana team did not take advantage of their setbacks on the way to Spa as the rain and slippery roads caused mayhem in the peloton.
Had the boot been on the other foot, the Luxemburger claimed he would have waited on Contador.
"In the same situation I would not have taken advantage," said Schleck, who took the yellow jersey from Australia's Cadel Evans on stage nine.
Contador, who has won two Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia and Tour of Spain once each, let his experience do the talking.
"The race circumstances were different from Spa - there was no chance we could wait today. Some people understand and others don't, but that's just part of bike racing.
"It's a delicate issue that might create controversy, but I didn't even know he had a problem when I countered him.
"I don't know if the others knew what had happened. All I know is that they were all looking at me, and I wasn't the only one who was in front trying to increase the gap."
Contador added: "In Spa, I insisted to my team that we had to stop when the Schlecks crashed even before the decision was reached (by other teams).
"Anyway, I don't believe the time gaps at this point will decide the outcome of the race. There's still another two mountain stages left.
"But given the fact the gaps are really small, I won't be letting my guard down."
