2009 Tour de France: It's Contador's Tour to lose

CEBU, Philippines - Lance Armstrong’s so-so ride in the 40.5km ITT (16th, @1’29” behind Alberto Contador) put him back in 3rd place overall but a possible podium finish in Paris is still up in the thin air of Mont Ventoux this Saturday. It was obvious on the internet live streaming (http://www.fromsport.com/video-40383.html) that he lacked the fluid pedaling motion of the yesteryears.   

LA’s fight from now on isn’t against AC and Andy Schleck, 1st and 2nd overall, but with Frank Schleck, the revelation Bradley Wiggins and teammate Andreas Kloeden. Only 34” is separating the four riders. Frank is the better climber on paper followed by LA, Kloeden and Wiggins but I think that LA is in better a situation, tactically, physically and mentally.

If LA wants the podium finish so bad, it is my opinion that he has to ride his own race towards Mont Ventoux, irregardless of AC’s position in the race. No more playing the team game. He should look out only for himself. Besides, his ties with Contador had already been severed the moment he laced his cycling shoes back on. So if I were you, be ready to sleep late this Saturday.

LA has a new team for next year, the American electronic giant, RADIOSHACK so it should be great news for cycling in the next few years. Johann Bruyneel, who will leave ASTANA at the end of the season, is expected to join LA although no news has been forthcoming about it.

At this point in the race, it’s virtually in the bag for AC. It hasn’t happened before but only an accident can prevent him from winning. However, as with cycling and other sports, doping questions inevitably will always follow an amazing athletic feat. 3-time Tour winner Greg Lemond, in his column in the French paper, Le monde, compared AC’s win on stage 15 as, “a Mercedes sedan winning on a Formula 1 circuit”. And in the press conference following his TT win, AC had to duck doping questions with, “otra oregunta”, next question. Mind you, AC has never tested positive for doping but he was linked to the infamous Operation Puerto case. Same with Frank Schleck, who was suspended by his team early this year after he admitted transferring money to Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes of OP fame.

WORD OF THE DAY: “ROULEUR”, is a “jack-of-all-trade-master-of-none” type of rider, a diesel who can motor a steady pace for a long time. He is good in all disciplines-climb, time trial- but not exceptional enough to win. Their value is a domestique to a team leader. George Hincapie is an example.   (THE FREEMAN)