Can Astana Sweep? A 1-2-3 at 2009 Tour de France Within Reach

Now that the 2009 cycling season is off and running, one thing has been made abundantly clear: The Astana Cycling team is the best stage racing team in the world, and all but unbeatable in any race they enter. From Levi Leipheimer at the Tour of California to Alberto Contador at the Tour of Algarve in February and this week at Paris-Nice, the Astana team has yet to be bested in a stage race. Contador has shown himself to be a cut above everyone else, but there are many other riders on the Astana team that are equally impressive stage racers in their own right.

With the 2009 Tour de France less than six months away, the Astana team is looking like a huge force to be reckoned with at the biggest bike race in the world. In fact, as far-fetched as it may seem, discussions should begin in the cycling world as to whether the Astana team can try to sweep the podium at the Tour this year. They have an unprecedented stable of stage racing talent, and if the pieces are put together the right way, it could be game over for the rest of the teams at the 2009 Tour.

At this point in the season, you would find it hard to come upon (outside of America at least!) anyone saying that they don't think Contador will win the Tour. He has been nothing short of dominant in every race that he has entered, and is entering the prime of his career. Meanwhile, his new teammate Lance Armstrong, intent on coming back to France for another try at the Grand Boucle, is looking better by the day as he reagins his form lost over a three year lay off. Levi Leipheimer, currently Astana's #3 for the Tour, has shown that he could contend in July as well. All that said, suspend your disbelief for a moment and consider the following scenario . . .

Johan Bruyneel sits quietly at his desk several weeks after learning of Lance Armstrong's comeback. As Armstrong and the rest of the team prepares for the fast-approaching 2009 season, Bruyneel pours over his entire roster, trying to get an idea who will make the cut for the nine man Tour de France team. Then, like a bolt of lightening, it hits him: Why can't Astana try for the podium sweep at July's Tour?

Quickly, Bruyneel chooses who he thinks will be the nine man team come July: Contador, Armstrong, and Leipheimer as team leaders, and Chris Horner, Janez Brajkovic, Haimer Zubeldia, Andreas Kloden, "Che Chu" Rubiera, and Yaroslav Popovich. Eyes twinkling, he then breaks up the nine man squad into three smaller designations. With each of the three team leaders as "protected riders," the three "teams" look like this:

Team Contador: Chris Horner, Haimer Zubeldia
Team Armstrong: "Che Chu" Rubiera, Yaroslav Popovich
Team Leipheimer: Janez Brajkovic, Andreas Kloden

Realizing that he has this level of talent in his hands, Bruyneel rubs his hands together, a wide Cheshire Cat grin forming across his face. "We'll own France," he mutters as he reviews his master plan. Days later, he shares his vision with his three leaders. Warning each of them that the plan could change if they show they are not fit enough for riding under this special set of circumstances, he wishes them good luck on the rest of the training camp and gently hangs up the phone.

Although a bit dramatic, the description above may not be far from the truth. Bruyneel has done everything there is to do at the Tour de France EXCEPT the unthinkable. To sweep the podium would not only be overwhelming justification for the Astana team after being left out of last year's Tour, it would also entrench Bruyneel as one of the best directors in the history of cycling.

Although it seems crazy to consider such a scenario actually playing out, consider the following. Zubeldia and Kloden, although domestiques for Astana, were team leaders on their previous teams. Chris Horner, although a veteran, still has plenty of fire power left in his legs. Ditto for Yaroslav Popovich. Janez Brajkovic has shown his ability as a trusted domestique, as has "Che Chu" Rubiera. With a team like the one described above, trying for a podium sweep really isn't that far away from reality. Whether it will happen is still very much in question, but you have to admit, it would be cool to see them try.