Tour de France: So who is No. 1 team's No. 1 rider?

Saturday, July 04, 2009

By Suzanne Halliburton, Austin (Texas) American-Statesman

AUSTIN, Texas -- So exactly who is the leader of the most intimidating team at this year's Tour de France?

Is it 26-year-old Alberto Contador, who will be wearing Astana's No. 1 when the Tour kicks off today in Monaco?

Or is it Lance Armstrong, the 37-year-old seven-time winner who has not raced at the Tour since 2005?

That much-debated topic likely will continue to be the dominant subject until one rider establishes himself as the strongest, perhaps a week from now in the Pyrenees.

The Tour has not had such debate over a team leader since 1997, when defending champion Bjarne Riis ended up playing a secondary role and having to work for teammate Jan Ullrich, who wound up winning the race.

Astana likely will not have to reveal its strategy for a week, perhaps not even until the final days of the Tour, when the peloton hits the Alps. Some observers are suggesting the Tour standings could be in flux as late as Stage 20, after the ascent of Mont Ventoux.

Armstrong said that if Contador, the 2007 Tour winner, is the superior rider, he will ride to help him win yellow.

"I've got to do what's right for the team," Armstrong told the Austin American-Statesman.

But, if Armstrong is the stronger rider, he said, "Then, I'd expect the team to ride for me."

If it is close between the two, Armstrong said, "I'll leave that to Johan."

Johan Bruyneel is Astana's team director with eight Tour victories to his credit -- seven by Armstrong, one by Contador.

Bruyneel has not said much since he revealed the Astana team roster in a video press release last week. He said Contador, who won the 2008 Giro d'Italia and Vuelta du Espana, had earned the right to go into the Tour as the team leader.

"It's hard to find a better stage-race rider than Alberto." Bruyneel said of Contador, who has six victories this season.

Riis, who now directs the Saxo Bank team, talked about Astana's leadership dilemma Thursday. As far as directors go, there is no better rivalry in cycling than Riis vs. Bruyneel.

"To me, it's obvious that they should have one leader, and that's Contador," Riis said.

"But I'm not directing that team. That's just how it would be for me.

"If they do [have problems], it'll be fun to watch."

Potentially, Bruyneel, an ace strategist, has four cards to play in riders Contador, Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Kloden. Each has been on the Tour podium in the past four years.

Leipheimer was third in 2007 behind Contador. Kloden was riding in support of Ullrich in 2005, but finished higher than his teammate.

2009 Tour de France Stages

Today: 1st Stage, Monaco--Monaco, individual time trial, 9.6 miles.

Tomorrow: 2nd Stage, Monaco--Brignoles, plain, 116.2.

Monday: 3rd Stage, Marseille--La Grande-Motte, plain, 122.0.

Tuesday: 4th Stage, Montpellier--Montpellier, team time trial, 24.2.

Wednesday: 5th Stage, Le Cap d'Agde--Perpignan, plain, 122.0.

Thursday: 6th Stage, Gerona, Spain--Barcelona, plain, 112.8.

Friday: 7th Stage, Barcelona--Andorra Arcalis, Andorra, high mountain, 139.2.

July 11: 8th Stage, Andorra-la-Vieille--Saint-Girons, France, high mountain, 109.7.

July 12: 9th Stage, Saint-Gaudens--Tarbes, high mountain, 99.7.

July 13: Rest Day, Limoges