Alberto Contador to Garmin? Spanish Star's Possible Arrival Would Vault American Team to the Top

There have been unsubstantiated rumors swirling around the cycling world regarding the possibility of Alberto Contador signing a long term deal with the American Garmin-Slipstream team. Fresh off a dominant performance in the Tour de France, Contador's arrival to the American team would seem to make sense for both sides.

Contador, after having dispatched some of the best riders in the world almost single-handedly this past July in France, is in a seemingly no win situation as a part of the Astana cycling team. Not only has Lance Armstrong recently announced that he is starting his own team, but the brash American is also expected to bring long many of his Astana mates to his Radioshack team. Once the mass exodus is complete, Contador will be left with a handful of serviceable, if not dominant Spanish teammates and will also be staring at the return of the controversial Kazahk rider Alexander Vinokorouv to the Astana team. Vinokorouv has made it clear that he wants to ride in the Tour de France again, but whetehr the race organizers will have the Kazahk back is yet to be decided.

With so many uncertainties surrounding the status of his current Astana team, Contador will likely consider moving to another team. Garmin would be an ideal fit for many reasons. Most importantly, Garmin is known for their steadfast stance against doping, and after having fielded multiple questions about his VO2 max and dodging other doping related questions, association with Garmin would be the ammo that COntador would need to beat back any further allegations from the press or from cycling fans.

In addition to being a clean team, Garmin is also one of the best stage racing teams as well. With solid time trialers and staunch mountain men, Garmin would be able to lend very strong support to Contador as he tries for a third Tour title in 2010. From Christian Vande Velde to Bradley Wiggins, the Garmin outfit is one that is custom made for the tougher stage races, and adding Contador would thrust the American team into elite status worldwide as one of the best stage racing teams in the world.

Whether Alberto Contador will eventually sign with Garmin is still hypothetical, but it seems unlikely that he will stay with Astana. Garmin-Slipstream boss Jonathan Vaughters is a shrewd manager with an eye fo outsized talent, and he'll put up a fight to and what would be by far the biggest signing in the history of his team. Although formal negotiations won't begin until September, the buzz surrounding Contador and other big riders is sure to build over the coming weeks.

Coryn "The Prodigy" Rivera: The Future of Women's Cycling in America

Coryn Rivera, at all of 16 years old, is already showing flashes of brilliance at professional cycling events throughout America. A small, yet powerful sprinter with an unmatched desire to win, Rivera has shown well at several events thus far in 2009, and has already taken wins at the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix, the San Rafael Criterium, and just recently the Cascade Classic criterium in Bend, Oregon. To consider that she is taking these victories with a smaller gear system than the senior professionals is staggering to consider.

Rivera has long been a known commodity on the track on the Northern California racing scene, but her recent exploits on the road suggest that she is poised for greatness as a road sprinter as well. Currently riding for the ProMan Hit Squad, Rivera will be a force on the women's cycling scene in America for the foreseeable future, and it will only be a matter of time before she is mixing it up with the top riders in the world in Europe as well.

While it is doubtful that Rivera will ever become a stage racer or elite climber, there is no doubt that she is already one of the best sprinters in the domestic women's peloton today. Add the staunch support from her ProMan teammates and Rivera is in with a chance to win at every crit she enters. To imagine her taking 20+ wins from 2010 onward at the highest level of the sport is well within reason.

Coryn Rivera, while assuredly happy as a part of the ProMan Hit Squad team, is surely being eyed by some of the bigger teams in the spot. Surely Bob Stapleton, the head of the Columbia-HTC team is taking an active interest in her, in addition to several others. Stapleton has made it no secret that he is constantly on the prowl for new home-grown talent, and if he hasn't already made an offer to Rivera, he probably will in the near future. For now though Rivera will continue to add wins to her palmares, while at the same time learning from some of her more experenced teammates like Shelly Olds, Cari Higgins and Rachel Lloyd.

Peerless: Contador Confirms Superiority with 2009 Tour de France Victory

Alberto Contador, through determination and laser-sharp focus, confirmed himself as the world's greatest stage racer with an emphatic victory at the 2009 Tour de France. Contador was able to avoid controversy throughout the three week event, keeping his cool in the face of stress from both the media and from within his own team. The 26 year old demonstrated beyond a doubt that he is peerless when on form in a grand tour, and needs very little help to win a three week event.

One aspect of Contador's win though that seems to be overlooked by the masses is the fact that he benefited greatly from the support of his Astana team throughout the Tour. Internal stress was present throughout for Contador, but so was the unfailing horsepower of the best stage racing team in the world. From Haimer Zubeldia to Yaroslav Popovic, Astana's domestiques were present at the front of the bunch for all of the most decisive moment of the Tour, never once letting Contador down. The team time trial especially was a significant moment for Contador, allowing him to effectively eliminate some of the top contenders, including Cadel Evans and Carlos Sastre.

Possessing amazing individual strength from start to finish, Contador left nothing to chance out on the roads of France. Sensing that Armstrong was keen to wrestle team leadership away from him, Contador beat Armstrong back during every mountain stage. Armstrong had the will, but not the way to resist the sheer force of Contador, one of the if the the best climbers in the world. By the end of this year's Tour, all doubts about Contador's capabilities were out the window, replaced by the realization that to beat Contador in a grand tour will require not only a sublime individual performance by an individual, but a concerted team effort in support of one team leader.

Looking ahead to 2010, the conjecture can start as to who will be able to mount a serious offensive against Contador in 2010. Lance Armstrong will return to France in 2010 with the intention of winning his 8th Tour title, and he'll have full say into who he brings with him to his new Radioshack team. Already Chris Horner, Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Kloden are rumored to soon be confirmed for Armstrong's new team, and other top names can't be far behind. Expect that Armstrong will come to France with an extremely strong squad to support him in 2010, as he looks to teach the younger Contador a lesson in teamwork and tactics.

Other teams to watch for 2010 include the Italian Liquigas team and the Dutch Rabobank squad. Liquigas has an amazing young team ready to assault the Tour over the coming years, with standouts Vincenzo Nibali, Franco Pellizotti, Roman Kreuziger, and Ivan Basso. The Giro d'Italia seems to be a more important goal for the lime green team, but if they decide to target the 2010 Tour, they'll have a strong a lineup as any. Rabobank meanwhile had a terrible Tour this year, but they have the tools to field a very competitive team in France for 2010. Denis Menchov never could get himself into a rhythm at this year's Tour, but his win at the Centennial Giro d'Italia this past May and his two Vuelta wins show his ability to win a three week event. Add young climber Robert Gesink to the mix, and Rabobank forms a potent grand tour attack heading into 2010.

With the addition of up to three more Pro Tour teams as well, 2010 should see many new and interesting developments on the grand tour front. For Contador meanwhile the remainder of 2009 will see him deep in thought as he tries to find the best team to resume his career with in 2010. Astana will be a watered-down version of its former self next year, as the return of Alex Vinokorouv has soured the feelings of man of the top riders within the team. Vino will be the leader of the Kazakh squad in 2010, but he won't have even close to the level of support that Contador did this past season.

So Contador will try to find a team willing to ride exclusively for him. He was able to deal with a fractured dynamic at the Tour this year, but having to deal with such polemics in 2010 would surely be more than the Spaniard could take. Expect the two-time Tour winner to think long and hard about where he rides next year, as he lays the foundation for future dominance across the sport of cycling over the next several years.

The End for Cadel Evans? Australian Silence-Lotto Leader a Lame Duck on Own Team

Up until this year at the Tour de France, Cadel Evans had been a steady contender who was known more for his consistency than his panache or scathing attacks in the mountains. But 2009 has seen the introverted Aussie laid low in the general classification, a GC contender reduced to hitching onto the Autobus for the toughest mountain stages. Even on stage 20 to the famous Mont Ventoux, Evans lost significant time, conceding more than five minutes to race winner Juan Miguel Garate.

Pro cycling, like many other sports, is an environment of what have you done for me lately, and Cadel Evans is feeling the pressure from Silence-Lotto team management and his coaches over his lack of performance in the biggest bike race in the world. Evans has had few answers for his sudden lack of punch in the mountains, and the frustrations both from himself and his Silence-Lotto colleagues has been steadily building over the course of his poor 2009 Tour performance.

Some in the know within the sport have suggested that Cadel Evans is done, washed up at only 32 years old. Others have whispered that perhaps his past success was due to doping. Evans meanwhile is dumbfounded and has little to say about the reasons for his inability to follow the favorites in the high mountains. He allows that he is not sick, but has hinted at politics within the Silence team being one of the reasons for his downfall. At times during the Tour he has seemed almost desperate to shed his reputation as a wheel sucker, even going so far as to initiate a seemingly meaningless attack in stage 8. In the end though, when the chips were down, Cadel couldn't deliver, and found himself out of the Tour at about the 2/3 point.

Silence-Lotto Director Sportif Mark Seargent is clearly frustrated, and some of Lotto's key stakeholders have been even more vocal in their frustration about his team leader. Their young Belgian Jurgen Van Den Broek, a former Johan Bruyneel charge, has had a breakthrough performance at this year's Tour, and the team has claimed that he'll be, at a minimum, a co-leader with Evans at next year's Tour. And while the Belgian has shown well at this year's Tour, he has done so with little pressure. Riding high in the classification with no expectations is one thing, to do so with the enormous and overwhelming pressure from an entire team is entirely another.

Cadel Evans will likely live to fight another day, but at this point he should be asking himself whether Silence-Lotto is still the best place for him. With management quickly souring on his prospects as a possible Tour winner and a young Van Den Broek nipping at his heels for 2010 team leadership, perhaps a switch to a new team environment could invigorate the aging all-arounder. And with a host of new Pro Tour teams planned for 2010 (Team Radioshack, Sky, and Renault) there will likely be multiple destinations for Evans to choose from for 2010.

Another consideration that should be made by Evans is how he manages his season. For each of the past three years he has focused singularly on the Tour de France, putting all his season hopes on the Tour. For 2010, he would be well served to try to take a few early season wins ahead of the test in France. A win in a classic or smaller stage race like Paris-Nice or even the Amgen Tour of California could go a long way to easing the pressure he feels heading into France.

Cadel Evans has undoubtedly come to a crossroads in his professional cycling career. One off year at the Tour for a grand tour contender is fine, but if 2010 sees Evans dropped badly in the mountains again, his career could be sunk. Like it or not, 2010 will be a season filled with even more stress for Cadel Evans as he tries to re-establish himself as a legitimate grand tour contender.

Di Luca's Giro Positive Cheapens Current Tour de France Standings

With the recent announcement relating to Danilo Di Luca's positive result for CERA at this past year's Giro d'Italia, once again a major stage race has been cheapened by the actions of a drug cheat. Di Luca was a major animator of the three week race, taking several stage wins and finisheing second overall. He'll likely be disqualified from the event due to his transgression, and the classification will be re-shuffled to move those riders behind him up one spot. Unfortunately though, the damage has been done. Di Luca has already had the chance to pose for podium pictures and call himself the number 2 finisher of the Centennial Giro while 4th place (and soon to be 3rd) Carlso Sastre was unable to celebrate himself as the 3rd place finisher.

Perhaps worst of all is the fact that the same thing could happen at the Tour de France. There have been many surprising performances, and should one of the top GC riders test positive the cycling world would once again be forced to look back not with a positive eye regarding the Tour but with one of cynicism as each of us laments the underhanded doings of yet another cheat.

There are many riders who could be called out as possible cheats in this years Tour, and they'll (for now) go unnamed in this post. Anyone who has been watching this year's Tour will have a good idea of who appers most guilty, but whether any riders will eventually be caught is anyone's guess at this point. In fact, it is reasonable to believe that if Di Luca, as a top contender and oft tested athlete, was using CERA at the Giro, many other riders were too. Yet why were they not caught? It seems, as usual, tha the cheats remain a step ahead of the testers in most instances, and so the cycling public is forced to believe in many riders that are likely doped.

And so it continues in the sport of cycling. We see our heroes put every ounce of their effort into lighting up a grand tour, only to be informed months later that they were doing so with illegal practices. Di Luca was, for better or worse, extremely fun to watch at the Giro. His scathing attacks and never say die attitude lit up multiple stages of the Giro, and to now realize that he was cheating the whole time leaves one feeling empty inside. Worse still, now doubts will creep in regarding the winner of the event Denis Menchov and the third place finisher Franco Pellizotti. Even though they have not been caught, isn't it plausible to believe that in order to stay on Di Luca's wheel they too were cheating?

This is what cycling has become over the past two or three seasons. Riders that have not tested positive are still not, for the most part, beyond suspicion. A select few are afforded the benefit of the doubt. Carlso Sastre, a rugged, consistent rider seems beyond accusations of doping. Damiano Cunego, dropped early and often during the Giro, seems clean. And what about Ivan Basso. During the 2006 Giro he dominated to the point of absurdity. In 2009 however, he trailed several other top riders, including his teammate Pellizotti. Perhaps Basso is an example of what happens to a clean rider in the big time races: they can hope to contend, but never win as they'll surely lose to the cheats in the peloton.

The problem of cheating in sport is not unique to cycling and it will never be solved. But to see the very top contenders testing positive takes even more out of the legitimacy of the sport. From Di Luca to Basso to Ullrich to Heras to Pantani to Ricco to Rebellin and so on, the toppling of cycling's top stars seems to sting more than names like Botcharov or Astarloa, Cardenas or Villa. Yet if we are ever to permanently reduce the amount of cheating in the sport of cycling, we must identify EVERY cheat, no matter their stature. Di Luca is just the latest in a long line of high-profile cheats that has been caught. Hopefully there won't be any big names caught at the Tour, but if there are the sport of cycling will deal with it like it always has: with transperancy and a dogged determination to eradicate cheats from the sport we all love so much.

Contador Unleashed: Spaniard Strikes at Peloton Again in High Mountains, Solidifies Lead Ahead of Tour's Toughest Stages

Alberto Contador once again laid the wood to the Tour de France field in the high mountains, further distancing his rivals and cementing his lead atop the general classification ahead of two of the toughest stages of the 2009 Tour, namely the stage 18 individual time trial and the stage 20 venture to the top of the Mont Ventoux climb. Now leading by more than two minutes over his closest competitor, Contador is not likely to lose the Tour at this point unless something goes horribly wrong.

Meanwhile for Contador's teammates Lance Armstrong and Andrea Kloden, it will be case of trying to get back into the top three overall over the next few days after Contador's ill-fated attack left each well behind at the finish of the stage. Each of the two Astana riders lost significant time to the two Schleck brothers, and they'll have their work cut out for them if they are to surpass the Luxembourg duo in the general classification. The Schlecks will both look to limit their losses in the time trial before making one final assault on the yellow jersey during stage 20. The Mont Ventoux climb is one that can cost a rider having a bad day in minutes rather than seconds, so the Schleck tandem will hope for an off day out of Contador.

Wile there have been many tough stages in this year's Tour de France, the next three days will provide the most difficult challenges that the peloton has yet faced in this year's Tour. Anything can still happen, and the drama will be palpable until a winner is eventually crowned at the end of stage 20. The Ventoux has claimed many a cycling dream in its day, and a rider even slightly off form could find themselves out of the GC hunt after a stage like the one this coming Saturday. Between then and now though a time trial and then a very bumpy stage 19 await the peloton. Plenty of chances yet to attack, plenty of chances left for the other top contenders to knock Alberto Contador off his lofty perch atop the classification of the 2009 Tour de France.

Only the Strong Survive as 2009 Tour de France Embarks on Brutal Final Week

The 2009 Tour de France is now in the thick of its final week, a brutal combination of huge mountains and the final individual time trial of the event. Astana's Alberto Contador is the current and comfortable leader of the Tour thus far, and the Spaniard has enjoyed the support of the entire Astana team, including that of Lance Armstrong, who currently sits in second place on the GC. There have been a few surprises both good and bad on the roads of France over the last few days, and the final few stages promise big drama and more changes as the 96th edition of the Tour inches closer and closer to Paris.

One thing that has not been a surprise thus far is the raw and undeniable power of the Astana team. Not only are Contador and Armstrong riding superb Tours, but so too is Andreas Kloden. The third lieutenant on the Astana team has stayed with the favorites on each stage, and now sits 4th overall at 2:17 behind his two teammates. Kloden is a great time trialist and he has looked strong throughout the Tour. If he can continue riding well then Astana's podium sweep could still happen.

Armstrong meanwhile has had a mixed bag in the Alps. He lost valuable time to Contador in stage 15, but bounced back nicely during stage 16. Initially gapped by the leading group on the final ascent, Armstrong bridged to the top favorites solo, displaying his trademark climbing power with a searing acceleration to join Contador and the other big favorites. The Texan seems as though he still has a lot left in his legs, and should Contador falter even a little Armstrong will be there to reap the rewards. Contador though looks very strong, and it currently seems unlikely that he will crack enough to allow Armstrong to gain enough time to surpass him in the overall standings. Still ,on a stage like the time trial or the Ventoux, anything can happen.

Garmin's Bradley Wigging continues to ride out of his skull, and the Brit has taken a day by day approach in this year's Tour. He has been able to withstand the attacks of all riders except Contador, and with a solid time trial he'll be in with a chance to finish on the final GC podium. Wiggins has been the subject of much doping conjecture over with his new climbing prowess, but so have many of the other top contenders. Until he gets caught, the Brit deserves the benefit of the doubt. If he can climb Ventoux with the favorites meanwhile, he'll come into the 2010 Tour as a top favorite.

Carlos Sastre has been predictably gapped in the Apls as the top contenders have been able to ride away from the 2008 champion behind solid team tactics. Sastre is not a prototypical grand tour rider, and the circumstances have to be perfect for him to truly contend in a grand tour. From his lackluster time trialing skills to his inability to match the quick accelerations of Contador and the other top contenders, he has been reduced to a stage hunter for the final few stages of the Tour. Expect him to strike hard on the Ventoux stage as he eyes a stage win for his Cervelo TestTeam.

Cadel Evans looks done as a grand tour threat. He has been dropped badly in the Alps by all of the favorites, and even he has no explanation for his sudden loss of power on the steeps. Evans came to the Tour with an inferior team and has lacked support throughout the Tour, but the fact remains that Evans has not had what it takes in the high mountains. His director has lost confidence in his abilities, and is already talking about other riders within the Lotto team that will carry the grand tour torch for the Lotto team in the future. Evans, if he is to salvage the remaining few years of his career, should consider changing teams in hopes that a change of environment will recharge his batteries.

Finally, and this is important, the cycling public should be careful in how they are already annointing Alberto Contador as the eventual champion of the Tour de France. Yes, Contador is obviously strong and on great form, but anything can happen in a grand tour. Once piece of bad lluck, one tactical misstep, one bad day on the bike can lead to huge gaps, especially considering the stages yet to come in the race. With relatively small time gaps between Contador and the rest of the top ten, his place at the top of the classification is anything but secure. Saxo Bank and others will continue to try to separate the Spaniard from the yellow jersey, and with the indicidual time trial yet to come, there are plenty of opportunities for calamaties and mishaps over the coming days. While he remains the favorite to win, Contador still must complete the entire journey to Paris before he can definitively be considered the winner of the event.

Now or Never: For Tour de France GC Hopefuls, the Time is Now to Attack Astana

The Astana cycling team has controlled the GC picture at the Tour de France behind a combination of great teamwork (their winning performance in the team time trial) and savvy individual performances (Armstrong's escape in stage three, Contador's attack in stage 7). But as the Tour de France heads into its decisive last half, the Astana team seems ripe for the taking after star domestique Levi Leipheimer abandoned after breaking his wrist on stage 12.

Astana still has significant fire power left to defend against attacks, but they can't mark every attacker. And with stalwart support rider Chris Horner on the sidelines after not being selected to ride the event by team management, Astana will be stretched when the real mountains start on stage 15. For riders like Andy and Frank Schleck, Cadel Evans, Roman Kreuziger and Vincenzo Nibali, Denis Menchov, Christian Vande Velde, and Carlos Sastre, the time to attack is now, when Astana is weakened and vulnerable.

If they are smart, the other GC hopefuls will take turns attacking Astana stage by stage. First one of the Schleck's, then a Liquigas rider, then Menchov or Evans and so on. Astana is strong and tactically astute, but even the Kazakh super team can mark only so many attacks. Eventually, with constant concerted accelerations, one of the above riders will find themselves with a gap on the Astana team. Presuming this tactic is employed on every tough stage from here until the end of the Tour, it will be very difficult for Astana to maintain control at the top of the GC.

The question now though is will they do it? Will each of these team leaders be willing to align themselves, if only temporarily, with each other in hopes of thwarting the Armstrong-Contador duo? Or will they turn on each other, making Astana's job that much easier? It would seem an easy decision to form a united front against Astana, but cycling tactics are often strange and hard to understand. Secret alliances are often formed ahead of a given stage, and to assume that Armstrong wouldn't be in the ears of the other top GC riders would be obtuse. He understands that to win the Tour he'll need allies outside of his own team, and aligning with a given rider in hopes of putting them on the podium is a distinct possibility for Armstrong over the next stages.

For Contador meanwhile, it will be a search among his countrymen to decide who will assist him when the going gets tough. The Caisse d'Epargne squad is filled with talented Spanish climbers, and providing that none of them vault toward the top of the GC it wouldn't be a surprise to see the black and red team support Contador in his quest for a second Tour title. Other possible riders that may choose to help Contador include Quick Step's Carlos Barredo, a serviceable climber himself, and perhaps some of the basque Euskaltel-Euskadi riders. They'll be looking to bring Egoi Martinez to Paris as the mountain's classification champion, and riding tempo for Contador could help Martinez's cause, allowing him to follow the wheel of one of the best climbers in the world when the slopes are the steepest.

Astana, and Lance Armstrong in particular, are known for their tactical savvy. After all, they came to the Giro last year on short notice and an less than perfect Contador was still able to win the Maglia Rosa behind intelligent riding and solid team support throughout the three week stage race. Armstrong too has won even when things weren't going his way, as evidenced by his astounding fifth straight win at the Tour back in 2003.

Wish You Were Here: With Leipheimer Out of Tour, Armstrong Will Miss Horner Even More

Chris Horner was left off of the Astana Tour de France team not because his form wasn't good enough, but because Kazahkstan wanted at least one Kazahk on the team. A super domestique in the mountains and a solid addition to a team time trial squad, Horner was already missed by Armstrong, but with the recent abandon of Levi Leipheimer due to a broken wrist, both Armstrong and Alberto Contador should really feel the pain of not having the veteran Horner on the team for the tough mountain stages to come.

For his part, Horner has pulled no punches in describing how hurt he is not to have been a part of this year's Tour team. He feels slighted, which he should, and also believes that Armstrong would be in yellow right now had he been included on the team. He is probably right about that too. And now that Leipheimer is out of the Tour, Horner will have to hope that Armstrong can get enough support from Andreas Kloden and the rest of the Astana team as the Tour heads into some of the toughest stages over the next week and a half.

Whether Horner's exclusion from the Astana team will affect who wins the Tour de France is yet to be determined, but there can be no doubt that both Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong will have a tougher time controlling the peloton without Horner to assist them. Politics often have negative effects on athletes, and Horner's exclusion is another example of how subjective choices can come back to haunt management down the road. Should Armstrong or Contador fail to win the Tour, the Astana team and their management will forever be remembered as a team who was unable to close the deal on a sure bet at the Tour de France.

Armstrong's Future: 2010 Team Could Feature Big Names, Huge Talent to Support Texan in His Final Season

Lance Armstrong has hinted that he will start his own team in 2010 under the LIVESTRONG moniker. As the Astana team prepares to welcome Alexander Vinokourov back into the mix, the likelihood that Armstrong would be willing to share the spotlight with Vino and others in 2010 seems remote at best. Instead, using his huge influence in the cycling world, expect Armstrong to construct a super team to not only support his 2010 campaign, but also to sustain the venture through the next several years.

In recruiting riders to include on his team, Armstrong would no doubt lean on a few of the usual suspects. Levi Leipheimer would no doubt be invited, as would Chris Horner. Others that may follow him from Astana would include Jani Brajkivoc, Che Chu Rubiera and perhaps Andreas Kloden. Team manager and long time Armstrong side kick Johan Bruyneel would also obviously come along to the new team.

After the Astana cross overs though there are a host of other intriguing possibilities for Armstrong to include on his new team. His first impulse would be to take some of the riders from his developmental team over to his new pro outfit as a means of easing some young talent into the world of top-flight pro cycling. But after taking those three or four riders, he would still be left with several spots for other established pros.

As he rides in the Tour de France, it has been noticed that Andy Schleck has been seen speaking with and about Armstrong quite a bit. And while it is a stretch to believe that Armstrong could lure the younger Schleck away from Saxo Bank and his older brother Frank, it still is a possibility. Schleck would be a valuable asset to Armstrong in 2010, and would have a chance to lead the team outright in 2011 after having spent a year learning under the watchful eyes of Bruyneel and Armstrong.

Another big name that would seem like a logical choice for Armstrong's new team is Ivan Basso. The Italian has had a decent 2009 season, but with young guns Vincenzo Nibali and Roman Kreuziger improving by the day, leadership duties on Liquigas are becoming harder to come by for Basso. He would have to be a support rider at the Tour de France if he joined Armstrong, but the Giro would be all his. He could reasonably expect to be the team leader for the Giro for the rest of his career were he to ride for Armstrong in 2010 and beyond.

Finally, it wouldn't be all that hard to believe that Armstrong would be able to convince George Hincapie to ride with him for one more Tour. George would own leadership duties for his beloved classics and then would be able to finish his career beside his long time teammate and great friend Armstrong. Also, his cycling clothing company Hincapie Sportswear would likely be contracted to provide the kits for Armstrong's team.

While no official announcement has been made about Armstrong's new team, expect one to be made shortly after the Tour is over. Armstrong will want to get a jumpstart on next season, and he'll be keen to announce his plan to the world in order to raise awareness among the cycling world. As usual, Armstrong is bringing new excitement to the sport of cycling. And no matter what anyone thinks of him personally, what he is doing for cycling can only have a positive impact.

Unbeatable: Mark Cavendish Nets Fourth Stage Win, Tyler Farrar Edges Closer

Mark Cavendish has crossed over from top-flight sprinter to unbeatable superstar throughout the 2009 cycling season. After an excellent 2008 season, Cavendish headed into the 2009 season looking to assert himself as the most dominant sprinter in the world of cycling. And since his shocking win at the first monument of the year Milan-San Remo, Cavendish has done just that. He has won everywhere he has raced and when set up properly, he appears unbeatable.

To their credit, the other top sprinters at the Tour have been game in challenging Cavendish, but it is obvious that providing Cavendish is led to the line by his train in an organized fashion, the Englishman will win by more than a bike length when he takes over with about 250 meters to go. His ability to continuously accelerate through the finish line of a give race make it all but impossible to pass him, and with exception to Thor Hushovd's win a few stages ago, the other sprinters in the race seem resigned to fighting for Cavendish's wheel . . . and second place.

For American Tyler Farrar the season has been one of near misses, as the up and coming sprinter has notched multiple 2nd place finishes on the season, and managed to beat Cavendish only once during the year thus far. Farrar will eventually find luck on his side and he'll get a win sooner or later, but luck WILL be a part of the equation if he is to beat Cavendish. The Manxman is so far superior to the rest of the field on a flat finish that bad luck or poor tactics are the only factors that can cause him not to win a given race.

This is not to say that Farrar or Hushovd or any other sprinters are not extremely talented, but rather to underscore the fact that Cavendish is an extraordinary sprinter that comes along once every 20 or 30 years. The last time such domination was seen was when Mario Cipollini was in his prime, winning races for the Italia team Saeco. And at only 24 years old, Cavendish will likely dominate the sprinting scene for at least the next ten years.

Tour de France Standoff: No Radios for Stage 10 Lead to Negative Tactics as Peloton Neutralizes Race

In what was a major disappointment for cycling fans world-wide, the Tour de France peloton chose to soft pedal their way through most of stage 10 as a sort of unofficial protest over the ban on race radios for the stage. Many riders and directors, including many old schoolers like Jens Voigt, had complained that they were not in agreement with the radio bans for both stage 10 and 13, and in the end the peloton had their way, riding the majority of the stage at a rambling, easy pace.

While safety of the field was mentioned as the primary reason for the disagreement among the riders about the radio ban, one couldn't help but think there may be more to it than that. Most riders these days have never been without race radios, and are instead led each day from the team car by their director, who is usually watching on a TV in the car while communicating with the team via two-way radio as well. Unlike in the past when riders had to have a cohesive game plan ahead of each stage and stick with it, today's technology allows for teams to make drastic adjustments on the fly, and keep better track of the situation on the road.

Lost amid all the rhetoric about safety and progress is the fact that the race radio ban, if adhered to by the peloton, could have provided a dramatic opportunity for some exciting tactical happenings. Instead, the stage became a snooze fest as the field basically mailed in the entire day without trying to race for themselves without radio support. Hard men from yesteryear like Bernard Hinault and Eddy Merckxx must be laughing at the tentative nature of today's peloton. Just over ten years ago pro cyclists somehow managed to get along without radios while today the modern peloton acts as though it is an impossibility.

Hopefully the entire Tour de France field will do an about face come stage 13 and use the day without radios to actually race, but don't hold your breath. The pro peloton is a stubborn entity, and the riders are keenly aware that they make the race. Just because a rule is put in place doesn't mean that the field will obey and fall in line. Perhaps certain teams and riders though will relalize that they have a golden chance to take some time back on Astana with radios out of the way. Perhaps Cadel Evans or Carlos Sastre will try to spark a decisive break in hopes of grabbing back some time from the Astana leaders. If not, exect another snoozer for stage 13 in a couple of days time.

The Road Ahead: Controversy, Clashes Ahead as 2009 Tour de France Continues

Monday was a rest day at the Tour de France, a chance for each rider to re-charge ahead of what should be a brutal final two weeks of the three week stage race. The standings have been largely unchanged over the past two stages in the Pyrenees, and with multiple mountains to climb in the Alps and an individual time trial to conquer, there will be plenty of occasions for drama and controversy over the coming two weeks. Some of the biggest story lines to follow over the final half of the Tour . . .

The number one item of interest on the tips of everyone's tongues has to be the ever growing rivalry between Alberto Contador and his Astana teammate Lance Armstrong. The two are separated by only two seconds on the GC, and both riders appear to be extremely fit as they head into the meat of the Tour. Each man has managed to say the right things to the media day after day, but the fact remains that judgement day is coming for both of the riders.Stage 15 is likely to decide who will lead the team definitively, and both Armstrong and Contador seem confident that it will be them that becomes the undisputed leader of the Astana team heading into the Tour's final week. For now, both riders will play the waiting game, neither willing to give in to the other.

The other top GC contenders MUST ban together if they are to thwart the Astana juggernaut. Cadel Evans and Carlos Sastre particularly should work together to attack Astana, as each are more than two and a half minutes behind on the GC. Andy Schleck of the Saxo Bank team has intoned that he thinks the only way to beat Astana is to gang up on them, and it will be interesting to see if this eventually happens. For Sastre and the rest, it may be a more attractive option for them to lose the Tour while at the same time thwarting Astana than to allow things to stay status quo for the remainder of the Tour.

Thor Hushovd is for the time being holding Mark Cavendish at bay in the hunt for the green jersey, but will the big Norwegian be able to maintain his grasp on green for the remainder of the Tour? Cavendish has proven very hard to beat on the flat finishes, and with a few opportunities ahead of Paris the Manxman is in with a legit shot at taking green away from Hushovd. Luckily for Thor he has a great team to support him, but will Cervelo be spread to thin as they try to support Sastre as well for the Maillot Jaune?

The young rider competition may be as exciting as the battle for the GC. Currently it is Columbia-HTC's Tony Martin who holds the lead in the white jersey classification, but an on-form Andy Schleck trails by only 49 seconds. Behind Schleck, the Liquigas duo of Nibali and Kreuziger lurk, with Nibali at 54 seconds and Kreuziger at 1:40. Among the top four, only Martin is not considered a threat for the overall Tour title, so the German will have his work cut out for him if he is to take the white jersey all the way to Paris. But with a strong Columbia team supporting him, all he needs is for Schleck to have one bad day in the mountains. Considering Schleck's track record, that is a hope that is very realistic for Martin.

In the KOM competition Egoi Martinez has built up a nice lead of 19 points over his closest challenger, and his Eulskaltel-Euskadi team have little more to do in the Tour than support the climbing specialist in his quest to win the KOM overall title. However, with a lot of climbing yet to come and heavy hitter Franco Pellizotti within striking distance of the classification, Martinez and his Basque team will have their hands full. Martinez is an accomplished climber more than capable of defending the mountains jersey, but whether he can resist the power of Pellizotti remains to be seen. 

Finally, the two stages without race radios could end up helping to decide the overall Tour classification. Without the ability to track breakaways as closely, all of the GC contenders will want to stay at the front of the peloton as a means of avoiding a repeat of stage 3, when Lance Armstrong was able to escape from the group and take time out of every GC contender. This increased vigilance at the front of the bunch could lead to crashes and confusion as riders scramble to stay abreast of each break that goes up the road. Expect the two radio-less stages, 10 and 13 respectively, to provide unexpected drama on otherwise normal days.

2009 Tour de France Stage 7: Contador Issues Ominous Warning, Armstrong Toes Company Line

Alberto Contador delivered a warning to the Tour de France favorites during stage seven, attacking in the final few kilometers of the race to come within a scant six seconds of the yellow jersey. Rocketing away from a small group that featured three of his teammates and most of the top GC favorites, Contador' s symphony set a pace that no one else could match and was able to gain valuable time on all his rivals, including his own teammate Lance Armstrong.

The Texan for his part rode admirably, but like all of the other riders finished behind the Spaniard after Contador's blistering acceleration on the way to the Tour's first summit finish. Contador's tactic apparently was not ordered by the Astana team, and the tension on Armstrong's and Johan Bruyneel's part was palpable during post race interviews. Both Armstrong and Bruyneel reluctantly admitted that Contador was asked not to attack, but neither seemed surprised that he did.

As expected, the GC saw a major reshuffling, with Contador now the best placed of the big pre-race favorites. Armstrong sits only two seconds behind Contador and showed no signs of being any weaker than Contador. Armstrong, true to his word, did not chase when Contador attacked, and when the rest of the field was unable to bring Contador back, Armstrong ended up with the same time as that same elite main chasing group.

With two more tough mountain stages over the weekend, and with two upcoming stages without radios coupled with a bumpy stage 13 and summit finish on stage 15, there will be plenty of opportunities for attacks and differing tactics over the ensuing days. Contador's attack in stage seven answered Armstrong's taking of time on stage three, and the two are at a stalemate with more tough stages on tap in the coming week. If things keep going as they have been, Armstrong and Contador could find themselves heading into the brutal final week of the Tour, featuring huge climbs and a 40 kilometer time trial, ahead of the showdown on Ventoux with about the same time. Armstrong feels he is getting stronger and stronger by the day, and the time trial course of stage 18 is right in Armstrong's wheelhouse. Mostly flat with one minor climb, the parcours for the time trial will leave Armstrong with few excuses should he not pull out the win. 

Now that Contador has made clear that he will attack for the win, perhaps the splitting of the Astana is finally about to take place. Contador can surely count Jesus Hernandez in his corner, but almost every other rider on the Astana team would likely throw their support to the favor of Armastrong based on his track record. An exciting week in store at the Tour de France, the likes of which, like it or not, we've not see in past years. And for Americans an added bonus, as Christian Vande Velde is looking, like he did in 2008, like a Real Deal. Game on at the 2009 Tour de France.

Contador meanwhile seems content to let his legs do the talking, and thus far he has managed to mitigate any potential controversy when answering questions from the press. Confident in his abilities in the high mountains, Contador seems poised to go it alone if need be, but is doing nothing to sabotage his tenuous standing within the Astana team. Instead of talking, he'll remain silent over the coming days, looking for more opportunities to take time from his rivals in the future stages.

Among the favorites not a part of the Astana team, it was young Andy Schleck and Lotto's Cadel Evans that looked the strongest, as each put in big efforts in trying to bring Contador back. American Christian Vande Velde too rode very well, showing that his 2008 performance was anything but a fluke. Meanwhile his teammate Brad Wiggins, not known typically as a climber, was another aggressive attacker on the way to the finish, showing his amazing form thus far in the race. Finally, Columbia's Tony Martin, the revelation of the 2009 Tour de France thus far, continued to hang with the big favorites and maintained his hold on the best young rider's white jersey. Among the Liquigas duo of Vincenzo Nibali and Roman Kreuziger, it was the Italian Nibali who fared better than his teammate, who was dropped and finished with the second group on the road, losing valuable time.

The next two stages feature big climbs but no summit finishes, and the top favorites, barring a crash or major mechanical problem, should all finish together. There is a possibility for an escape though, as the more talented descenders may be able to force a gap on the high-speed run-ins to the finish over the next two days. Expect Nibali to try his hand on a descent to try to take a handful of seconds, while a rider like Yaroslav Popovic may be able to try for a stage win with a tactical and timely descent.

The Nitty Gritty: Tour de France Stage 7 Means Major GC Shakeup for Top Contenders as Race Hits High Mountains

As the 2009 Tour de France prepares to head into the high mountains for the first time tomorrow in stage 7, the Astana cycling team currently holds the GC in a stranglehold with four of the top five spots. Behind a blistering team time trial and tactical savvy by Lance Armstrong himself, "Big Tex" finds himself the best placed of the GC riders, even among his own team. Stage 7 will take Armstrong and the rest of the overall hopefuls to their first summit finish at the top of Arcalis, and a major shifting in the GC is expected to play out on the roads ahead of more hills over the weekend.

Much has already been made about the internal duel on the Astana team, but little attention has been paid to the other top contenders in the race. Some of the overall favorites are already too far behind to catch up (Mick Rogers, Denis Menchov), but there are still several riders in with a chance to crack the Astana juggernaut. Ahead of the first big mountain test of the 2009 Tour, let's examine the remaining contenders and their chances at knocking Astana off its lofty perch at the top of the classification.

Strictly in terms of total time deficits, it is the American Christian Vande Velde who is the best placed GC hopeful not on the Astana team. Vande Velde has had a tough season thus far in 2009, and his Tour form is a huge question mark. Not usually known as an attacker, expect Vande Velde to follow wheels for stage 7, which will probably turn out to be a smart tactic. The Garmin leader will hope that Contador and Armstrong tire each other out, giving him a chance later in the race to shine. Tomorrow though will likely be about limiting his losses, as Vande Velde looks to not only find his form, but also his confidence ahead of the last half of the Tour de France.

At only 1:31 off Fabian Cancellara's leading pace sits young Roman Kreuziger, the shining star of the Liquigas team. Kreuziger has a white jersey already to his credit from the 2008 Tour, but as of yet has not proven himself capable of staying with the top climbing guns in the high mountains of a grand tour. He'll get his chance for stage 7 though, and as an inexperienced youngster he too will likely follow wheels instead of choosing to attack. Still, if he has the legs expect to see Roman light up the field in hopes of taking time away from his rivals early in the Tour.

Next up on the GC scene is Kreuziger's teammate Vincenzo Nibali, who sits 1:36 down on the GC. Nibali like Kreuziger is an unproven commodity in a grand tour, but the Italian will be keen to show his mettle as the co-captain of the Liquigas team. Nibali talked tough about a possible top ten finish at the Tour before it started, and if he is to make good on his promise he'll need to ride well in stage 7. Between he and Kreuziger, Nibali and his Liquigas team could create headaches for Astana and others for the remainder of the Tour . . . providing they don't explode on stage 7.

Saxo-Bank's young climber Andy Schleck came into the Tour as a hot favorite, and at only 1:41 down he is still in with a big chance at glory. The problem though for the Luxembourg hero is that he is weaker in the time trial. Therefore, he has to maximize his success in the mountains. Unlike some of the other GC hopes, Schleck (and his brother Frank, 2:17 down) must attack on the summit stages. This puts pressure on the youngster, and if he can't create a gap to the Astana four and his other rivals he won't even make the podium. Stage 7 is hugely important for Andy Schleck, and unless he takes at least thirty seconds away from his rivals the stage will be deemed as a failure for Bjarne Riis' new grand tour charge.

Kim Kirchin is now Columbia-HTC's best hope for overall victory for this year's Tour after Mick Rogers lost minutes on stage 6 after a crash. His teammate Tony Martin is better placed at this point, but Martin needs more experience before he can be considered a top contender. Kirchin though is a solid all-arounder, even though he sometimes falters on long tough mountain stages. 2009 is Kirchin's chance to show he belongs among the other grand tour GC heavies, and because he is such a great time traialist he can afford to ride defensively in the mountains, at least initially. He'll hope to finish among the leaders in stage 7 with an eye on the individual time trial later in the Tour.

2008 defending Tour champion Carlos Sastre, a big pre-race favorite, at 2:44 off the leader is not out of the hunt yet, but like the Schlecks he needs to take time on the mountain stages as his time trialing is not as strong as the Astana four. Realistically, it is unlikely that all four Astana riders will crack, so Sastre has probably already seen his Tour hopes evaporate even before the race headed into the mountains. Still, Sastre is a fighter and he won;t give up. Expect the small Spaniard to climb will in stage 7, with an outside chance at the win. If he took a handful of seconds back it wouldn't be a surprise either.

Cadel Evans, like Sastre, has probably already lost his chance at winning the 2009 Tour. He is 2:59 back on the GC, riding with a weak team, and the Aussie is not known as an attacker. Like always, expect that Cadel will follow the leaders to the top of the summit finish. Unlike in previous editions though, he won;t be able even to hope to bring back enough time on Astana in the individual time trial. perhaps being so far down in the GC will bring out the killer instinct in Cadel, and we'll be treated to an ultra-rare attack in stage 7. Doubtful though.

Due to the perfect tactical racing of the Astana team and their raw talent in the time trial discipline, many of the GC hopefuls are already on their heels looking to recover from the series of body blows dealt to them by Armstrong and his team. The Tour is a strange animal and anything can happen, but the likelihood that both Armstrong and Contador will crack is unlikely. Instead, the GC hopefuls will have to take things day by day, trying to gain time where they can and taking the Tour one day at a time. Meanwhile, Armstrong and Contador will likely attack each other on stage 7, as each attempts to wrestle control of the Astana team away from the other. Stage 7, like the entire 2009 Tour de France thus far, should be nothing short of amazing.

Be a Cycling Team Owner: New Pro Cycling Concept Launched Internationally

We usually don't post press releases to EuroPeloton, but the below info is too cool not to share. Enjoy!

CrowdRiders, the world's first global mass-initiative to start a professional cycling team, has officially been launched. Spearheaded by Dutch entrepreneur Marc Frencken, the concept is set to woo cycling enthusiasts across the globe, offering 40.000 members of the public an opportunity to become joint owners and managers of their own professional cycling team.

The aim of the initiative is to enter the CrowdRiders team alongside other pro teams in the 2010 cycling season, with the intention to ride in the peloton of prestigious multi-stage competitions like the Tour de France and classics races such as Tour de Flanders and Milan San Remo.

By registering and paying a membership fee, CrowdRiders members automatically become co-owners and managers of the CrowdRiders team, allowing direct voting power in all major decisions affecting the team, including which high-profile cyclists are hired to ride on the team. Members favourite cyclists will be approached by CrowdRiders and offered a professional contract to race in the 2010 cycling season.

All decisions will be made through democratic elections on the CrowdRiders website (www.CrowdRiders.com) and members will have a say on which managers, sports directors and trainers the team should sign with, the race calendar composition, team structure as well as the design of the team?s jersey and internal team policies.

The project is working to build up a budget of $4 Million, of which 51 percent will be supplied through membership fees by the 40.000 members, who each pay $55 annually. The $4 Million budget is comparable to the budgets of other pro cycling teams such as Barloworld, Agritubel and Skil-Shimano. The remaining 49 percent of the budget will be provided by official sponsoring partners, who will have no influence over decisions related to the team.

"In its current phase, we are looking to entice 40.000 cycling enthusiasts who have a genuine interest in pro cycling team management and ownership to become aspiring CrowdRiders. Registration will be free of charge until we have reached the 40.000 members mark and the mass-project finally kicks off for real," said Marc Frencken, initiator of the CrowdRiders concept.

In addition to ownership and management rights, other advantages for CrowdRiders members include access to members only season opening and closing events, the opportunity to ride with the pro riders during specially organised global members events as well as getting the first-hand inside scoop on CrowdRiders through internal live newsfeeds, video footage, interviews and chat room sessions. To top it all each member's name will be depicted on the official team jersey and team bus, to visually showcase their ownership.

Developments on the new media front are giving the online space an empowering ability. The distance between fans and athletes is becoming less remote, and people are now even able to communicate directly with their idols through for example chat rooms, forums and twitter. For true cycling fanatics, the CrowdRiders concept is another way of bringing them closer to their favourite sport, with the opportunity to take their passion into their own hands?, said Frencken.

Registration as a member can be done on the CrowdRiders website. Until the 40.000 members target has been reached, no membership fees will be accepted. Once the 40.000 mark has been met, members will receive formal notification that the CrowdRiders project has taken off, at which point the voting processes will be activated and membership payments will be collected.

Wrecking Machine: Astana Time Trial Juggernaut Destroys 2009 Tour de France Field

Ahead of the 2009 Tour de France, most cycling fans and media agreed that the Astana team had one of the most potent line ups heading into the three week event. Between Alberto Contador, Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer, and Andreas Kloden, the Astana team seemed primed to storm the GC board at the Tour, taking no prisoners.

What the media and fans did not anticipate though was that Astana would crush the overall hopes of many of the top contenders in the first week. Everyone who talked or wrote about this year's Tour spoke about how the race would be decided on the second to last stage on the mountain top finish to the Mont Ventoux, "The Giant of Provence." It was believed that a tight GC battle would finally get sorted out on the Ventoux stage, leading to a dramatic and exciting finish to the 96th edition of the race.

However, after a stage 4 team time trial that saw the Astana utterly destroy and demoralize the competition, it now seems as though there will be few GC riders within striking distance of the general classification for the Ventoux stage. Cadel Evans, Carlos Sastre, Denis Menchov and most of the other top GC threats are now better than two minutes or more behind the Astana foursome of Armstrong, Contador, Leipheimer and Kloden. Assuming that the four Astana riders climb like they normally do, there is no way that they will be passed on the GC by any of the other big pre-race favorites. A few months ago EP wondered whether it was possible for Astana to sweep the GC. Now, it seems a decent probability that Johan Bruyneel's team will occupy all three steps of the final podium. Putting this possibility into perspective is nearly impossible. It has never been done before.

Now that the classification has been shuffled, the next big day seems to be this coming Friday into Andorra Arcalis. The first summit finish of the 2009 Tour, Arcalis will provide the four headed Astana monster a chance to establish a clear hierarchy within the team. Contador and Armstrong particularly will be looking to establish themselves as the leader of the Astana team. Whoever is able to finish first among the Astana riders will likely assume the leadership of the team for the duration of the Tour. What will be interesting though is what could happen if there is no clear winner in the fight to control Astana. If Armstrong, Contador, and Leipheimer all finish together at the end of stage 7, then the uncertainty will continue until the next decisive stage.

In looking at the demeanor of each of the top four riders for Astana, it seems as though Kloden and Leipheimer are resigned to being domestiques for the Tour, while Armstrong and Contador both seem to believe in their heart of hearts that they deserve to lead the team. Armstrong has a mental advantage after his amazing escape during stage 3, while Contador is doing all he can to remain calm and not spark further controversy. Friday though will sort everything out, as both Armstrong and Contador will go mano a mano in the high mountains of France to determine once and for all who the 2009 Tour de France team leader for the Astana team will be.

Time Bandits: Columbia-HTC, Astana-Led Stage 3 Breakaway Dishes Time Losses to Top 2009 Tour de France Contenders

Like he had never left the Tour de France, Lance Armstrong sent out a vivid reminder to the cycling world during stage 3 that the 7-time champion should not be underestimated as he searches for his 8th Tour de France title. Behind astute tactical awareness and solid team support, Armstrong was able to make a decisive 25 man breakaway along with two of his teammates, leaving many of the top GC contenders, including his own teammates Levi Leipheimer and Alberto Contador, more than a half minute behind on the stage. And by the time the clock stopped, Armstrong found himself in third place overall, 19 seconds ahead of prohibitive overall favorite Alberto Contador. Armstrong's advantage on the other top GC riders now stands at over a minute in most cases.

Armstrong did as he had done in so many previous Tour de France stages: Stay at the front of the peloton and remain vigilant for any possible moves going off the front. And when the Columbia-HTC team punched the accelerator about 30 kilometers from the line, Armstrong was the only big time GC candidate that made the split. He had two of his teammates with him in the form of Yaroslav Popovic and Haimer Zubeldia, while nearly the entire Columbia contingent drove hard at the front of the break group as they took Mark Cavendish to the line for his second consecutive satge win.

That none of the other GC men were able to make the front group is astonishing, and speaks to Armstrong's ability to disappear into thin air despite being one of the most heavily marked riders in the race. Never satisfied with the status quo, Armstrong showed once again why he has been so successful at the Tour each year that he contested it. He takes nothing for granted, and around every corner is testing both the minds and bodies of his competition. That veteran riders like Sastre, Evans and Menchov didn't see it coming is astonishing.

In the days leading up to the Tour many media outlets and fan forums explored the possibility that Alberto Contador was making alliances with other teams in case he should find himself in need to support during the Tour. After all, Armstrong was back on Astana and making no secret about wanting to try to win the Tour for an 8th time, so Contador's actions seemed justified and pragmatic considering the circumstances. What no one anticipated though was that perhaps Armstrong was doing the same thing for his own chances.

In what was too much of a coincidence to ignore, Armstrong's old teammate George Hincapie was one of the Columbia-HTC riders who was instrumental in creating the decisive stage three gap. To allege that Armstrong had possibly spoken to the American-registered team during the race was plausible, if not blatantly obvious. Additionally, Armstrong took two teammates with him, Popovic and Zubeldia, that Contador likely was not watching. Levi Leipheimer, a staunch Armstrong supporter, and Andreas Kloden meanwhile, remained in the main field, perhaps putting Contador at ease. By the time the Spaniard realized what happened, his teammate and rival Armstrong was up the road, never to be seen again on the stage.

Clearly, the 2009 Tour de France will be unlike any other edition of the race over the past ten years. Astana, obviously the strongest team in the race from a GC perspective, is fractured no matter what management says. There is an Armstrong camp and a Contador camp, and to all appearances the deck is firmly stacked in Armstrong's favor within the Kazahk-based team. Ever the tactician though, Armstrong is leaving nothing to chance. Like Contador, he is making alliances with other teams to ensure he has the best possible chance to win. Contador, far less experienced than Armstrong, is over his head from a mental perspective. As usual, the winner of the Tour will be that rider who has the best legs AND the keenest mind. Armstrong, at least for now, seems to have the advantage in both.

Please No More Vino: Kazakh Dope Cheat Wants Back with Astana or Else

Alexandre Vinokourov is a perfect example of everything that is wrong with the "old guard" of professional cycling. Unapologetic, entitled, and arrogant, Vino stated yesterday that upon his return to professional cycling at the end of July, he'll join the Astana team . . . whether team director Johan Bruyneel likes it or not. In a flippant display of classless self-rightousness, Vino claims that he began the Kazakh team and that Bruyneel will have to leave the team if he doesn't agree with Vino's return.

A word of warning to Vinokourov: Be careful what you wish for. Johan Bruyneel needs Astana far less than they need him. He brought in many of the big guns on the Astana team (Contadro, Armstrong, Leipheimer, Horner, Brajkovic, etc.) and many of those riders would likely follow him where he to switch teams. Add in the strong possibility of Lance Armstrong beginning his own team, and you suddenly have an Astana team seriously lacking in fire power should Bruyneeel decide to leave.

That Vinokourov even has a chance to demand that he be let back into the Astana team shows just how week the upper management on the team is. Willing to take back a cheat who has yet to admit he cheated is something few other teams would do. Hopefully Bruyneel leaves, takes his stable of talent with him, and then blows the doors off Vinokourov and the rest of the remaining Astana dregs. Until then though we the fans will have to endure the obtuse ramblings of a known cheater, while we hope for his eventual permanent banishment from the sport of cycling.

Before the Flood: 5 Bold 2009 Tour de France Predictions

Predicting the outcome in a bike race can be like trying to tell the upcoming weather. You may think you see a pattern, but chaos eventually ensues leaving your predictions looking like the ramblings of a madman. Nevertheless though, predicting things can be fun, so EP will take a stab at 5 bold predictions for this year's Tour de France. Please just remember to take it easy on us if chaos ends up ruling this year's edition of the Tour de France.

1. Robert Gesink, not a Frenchman, will win the KOM title at this year's Tour

Many are predicting that a French rider will emerge as the winner of the polka dot jersey come Paris in about three weeks time. Robert Gesink however is a pure climber capable of staying with the world's best on the uphills. He'll likely lose a chunk of time over the first week of racing, which should afford him a chance to set out on his own in search of the climber's jersey. Gesink has been touted as a possible TdF winner for the future, and he'll make good on that promise with a KOM jersey for 2009 in his first attempt at the world's biggest bike race.

2. Luis Leon Sanchez will notch a top 5 result in the overall at this year's Tour

Perhaps more than any other rider, Sanchez has benefited greatly from Alejandro Valverde not starting this year's Tour de France. A young, yet experienced stage racer, Sanchez seems poised for a breakout performance in this year's Tour. In fact, even before Valverde was definitively ruled out of this year's Tour, the media had already been talking Sanchez up as a possible dark horse leader for the Caisse d'Epargne team. A dark horse no more, Sanchez will time trial well, follow wheels in the mountains, and deliver a top 5 result on the overall in 2009. For 2010, he'll be a favorite to win.

3. At least 5 riders will be caught as cheats during the Tour

With the UCI promising more tests than ever before, cheats will have nowhere to run for this year's race. Last year several riders were caught out, and 2009 will be more of the same. Hopefully the Tour will be able to withstand yet another year of dopers being caught, as the battle to rid cycling of cheats continues.

4. Nicolas Roche or Dan Martin will win a stage for Ireland in this year's Tour

Nicolas Roche has had a nice 2009 season thus far, but the Irishman is desperate to break through with a huge win. Riding for an Ag2R team that is completely devoid of GC candidates, Roche will have a good chance to get into a breakaway at some point or points throughout the Tour. Meanwhile, his countryman Martin will have more responsibility in supporting Christian Vande Velde's GC efforts, but he still may get a chance to go up the road in one of the mountain stages. With the right legs, perhaps the ultra young Martin will win a stage in his first try in the Tour. Either way though, between the two, it seems like Ireland may be due for a big result at the Tour after years of obscurity.

5. Cervelo TestTeam will be the most dominant team at this year's Tour

Between 2008 defending champion Carlos Sastre, former green jersey winner Thor Hushovd, and young up and coming sprinter Heinrich Haussler, the Cervelo TestTeam have a legitimate chance to win stages with three different riders. Sastre's durability is well-suited to the 2009 race route, while Hishovd and Haussler provide a one-two sprinting punch that is hard to rival. In only their first season, the Cervelo TestTeam have established themselves as one of the most feared teams in all of cycling. Expect that trend to continue at the 2009 Tour de France.

Bold predictions for a bold Tour, courtesy of EuroPeloton. Hopefully we'll get at least one right!