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Tour-Contador takes over on Armstrong’s return

Jul 26, 1:37 pm EDT

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* Contador wins second Tour after 2007 triumph

* Armstrong finishes third

* Cavendish takes Champs-Elysees stage

(Adds Armstrong quotes, details)

By Julien Pretot

PARIS, July 26 (Reuters) - Alberto Contador emerged as the new cycling boss on Sunday when the Spaniard wrapped up his second Tour de France title on seven-times champion Lance Armstrong’s return to the race.

The 26-year-old Contador stayed safe in the main bunch as the last stage, over 164 km from Montereau Fault-Yonne, went to Briton Mark Cavendish.

“I am really happy. It was an especially difficult Tour for me but that’s why I am enjoying the victory all the more,” Contador said on the podium.

Over three weeks, Contador proved the strongest rider in the mountains and in the time trials, beating Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck by four minutes 11 seconds. Armstrong, back from 3-1/2 years in retirement, finished third overall 5:24 off the pace.

Schleck, who also took the white jersey for the best under-25 rider, said: “He (Contador) was the strongest rider. He is the boss of the peloton.”

The victory kept the Spanish flag flying high on the Champs-Elysees following triumphs for Oscar Pereiro in 2006, Contador in 2007 and Carlos Sastre last year.

Contador, who missed last year’s Tour after Astana were not invited because of their past doping record, took the overall leader’s yellow jersey with a strong attack in the first Alpine stage in Verbier, Switzerland.

But throughout the race, he had to contend with criticism from team mate Armstrong, who twice said publicly the Spaniard had ignored team orders.

“This Tour was very difficult as you could see and although it sometimes seems easy on television it wasn’t because of other factors,” Contador, who is set to leave Astana at the end of the year, told Spanish television.

“I will enjoy this second Tour win as if it was a double victory.”

‘TOTALLY INCOMPATIBLE’

“The only thing I can tell you is that I will be here next year with a team that has the most secure guarantees and that is the most focused on winning this race.

“There are several possibilities but what is clear is that we are totally incompatible and Armstrong will go one way and I will go the other,” Contador added.

Armstrong, 37, stayed in contention for almost two weeks but he discovered his limits in the Alps and in the final time trial in Annecy, which Contador won.

However, the American, who dominated the race from 1999 to 2005, was satisfied with his comeback Tour, during which he finally struck a positive relationship with the French crowd.

“It feels good, I feel like I did my best. There are many young guys and it’s difficult to compete against them,” he said.

“I am happy. I am as happy as I was in 2005.”

Armstrong, who will launch his own team with electronics company RadioShack in 2010, was confident he would be back next year.

“I will certainly be here and I hope to be stronger,” he said.

Cavendish outsprinted Columbia team mate Mark Renshaw of Australia and American Tyler Farrar on the Champs-Elysees to clinch his sixth stage win in this year’s race.

“I wanted so bad to reach Paris, my team mates helped me to this,” said Cavendish.

“And winning on the Champs-Elysees… All my dreams come true.”

Norway’s Thor Hushovd clinched the green jersey for the points classification and Italy’s Franco Pellizotti won the polka dot jersey for the best climber.

(Additional reporting by Iain Rogers in Spain; Editing by Alison Wildey; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Updated Jul 26, 1:37 pm EDT
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291 Comments

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  1. <i>diagun@...</i>
    291. Posted by diagun@... Mon Jul 27 1:20am EDT

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    Now we start hearing about all the dirty tricks Armstrong was playing against Contador behind the race. Like how Contador found no one from his team waiting for him at the hotel lobby right before the time -trial at Annecy (Armstrong had send the assistants to pick up his wife, children and friends at the airport,), so Alberto had to call his own brother for a ride. Or Armstrong always sleeping in a hotel suite while Contador had to share his room. Or how Armstrong and "his friends" occupied Alberto's seat in the team bus after Alberto's attack in the mountains. Or Bruyneel's car following Armstrong during the time-trial in stead of helping Contador (the lider in the race). And this is just the beginning...Armstrong is a great athlete, but a man of two faces.
  2. <i>selegnavic</i>
    290. Posted by selegnavic Sun Jul 26 11:38pm EDT

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    Martin Rogers is a retard. Just like Jason Whitlock in MSN. Rogers professes to know something about sports when he clearly doesn't know anything. Just read his previous blogs. Fugly Woods winning the British Open, really? Anyway, One-Ball Armstrong is a prikc. Pi$$ off!
  3. Mateles
    288. Posted by Mateles Sun Jul 26 10:00pm EDT

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    What about the Armstrong's dinner with another team.?. That shows his persistent "ego" and bad loser he is. Meanwhile Contador never lost the smile because he knew is going to win anyway
  4. <i>almanzor07869</i>
    287. Posted by almanzor07869 Sun Jul 26 9:52pm EDT

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    AC is clearly the best rider in the world and he showed it in this tour. It will clearly be a lot better for him next year with a new team where he will not have to deal with the political BS that he had to deal with in the Astana team this year. If was an amazing victory to win the Tour, despite LA's attempts to undermine it, even though if it wasn't for AC's help LA would not even have made it to the Podium. It is unfortunate that LA portrayed himself as such a sore loser after a brilliant career.
  5. <i>jsaez@...</i>
    286. Posted by jsaez@... Sun Jul 26 8:28pm EDT

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    Mateles, I agree with your last sentence in #284.
    People keep focusing on the Kloeden incident with AC, which I think is much to do about nothing, since the attack was short with AC looking back to see how K was doing, and, K was clearly out of gas. The LA of old would have done exactly what AC did, or did he sacrifice for his team in his 7 TDF wins?
    The point that others fail to consider the fact that later in that same stage AC could have attacked the Schleck brothers, and they would have in turn attacked AC, so the 3 would have climbed a lot faster. Frank Schleck could have easily got another minute on LA, and this could have changed the podium positions. Well, Contador did not attack the Schlecks, and LA did not lose his chance for podium. LA getting 3rd is a great accomplishment, but I do not respect his blaming and disrespect for AC, who won this tour with very little support. Wait next yer when AC gets a real supportive team. They'll make a paella with the rest of the field!
  6. cyrus o
    284. Posted by cyrus o Sun Jul 26 6:38pm EDT

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    Contador, the strongest this 2009, Armstrong the most resilient, Andy SCHLECK the most aggressive attacker. But the greatest in a decade span is ARMSTRONG! Phenomenal! To those who say Armstrong should retire, must ask Sastre and other contenders...
  7. Mateles
    283. Posted by Mateles Sun Jul 26 6:30pm EDT

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    Alberto Contador is a team rider, Armstrong is a "ego" rider. He is almost 38 years old, so yes, he needs a lot of help. Not idea how is going to do next year, it doesn't matter his tactics, but not yellow jersey, there are better young rideres better than him, or has been Contador's fault that Armstrong has not gotten the yellow jersey in this Tour?
    And talking about doping scandals, I think is a very bad taste and unpleasant to bring that now, when is VERY CLEAR and PROVED that Contador was and is VERY CLEAN
    Armstrong has gotten the third position thank to Contador, no more no less
  8. Chris
    282. Posted by Chris Sun Jul 26 6:01pm EDT

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    Alberto Contador is not a team rider. He only cares about his own results. If Lance hadn't decided early on that he would ride for Contador the rsults of this tour would have been a lot different. That's what a real teamate does. I'm also very glad that Lance will not be inviting Contador on his new Radio Shack team so this way he can really go for the yellow jersey next year. Will see just how good Contador is without the help of Armstrong and all the other strong riders that astana had this year. Alberto has begun to burn a lot of bridges as of recent whether it be the doping scandals (which he's been aquitted from but was not willing to provide his own DNA to prove his innocence) or the way on at least 2 stages at this years tour he broke away from his other riders when it was completely unecessary which cost Astana having thie 1st, 2nd and third podium positions. The other riders on the tour are starting to realize exactly what Contador's about and he should not expect any help or respect in future tours.

    The real hero today is Mark Cavendish: 6 stage wins - unbelievable!
    Definitely the fastest sprinter out there. He should have won the green jersey as well but Thor Hushovd had to @#$% to the officials but Cav leaving his line. I watched that replay many times and it's completely bogus to think that he cut him off in any way. There is no way Hushovd will ever beat Cav in a sprint and Thor knows it that's why he complained. If Cav would have not had those point stripped he would have been wearing the Green jersey today.
  9. <i>dobbersworld</i>
    281. Posted by dobbersworld Sun Jul 26 5:43pm EDT

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    Both Contador and Armstrong are excellent athletes and at the top of their sport. Only a handful of other cyclists can realistically complete at that level. However, lets be realistic...Contador didn't "beat" Armstrong this year. Both knew the team strategy and it was Contador that deviated from the strategy at critical moments. He took advantage of Astana's trust that everything was being done for the good of the entire team. Armstrong and the rest of the team never attacked him in those critical moments because they assumed that Contador loyal to the team. Just as in any other sport, if you know your rival's playbook and strategy then it becomes easy to take advantage and use that knowledge against them. Honestly, Contador appears to be the strongest cyclist in the world right now, but the Tour is a team sport and I don't know if his is good enough without the support of a strong team. Don't get me wrong - the team probably was revolved around getting Armstrong into the yellow and Contador also wanted a shot at it. I'm not saying that either one was right or wrong. However, we won't know who is the best until the next Tour. I can't wait til 2010.
  10. Mateles
    280. Posted by Mateles Sun Jul 26 5:24pm EDT

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    TC, you are so right!!!. I'm so glad that Contador and Armstrong are not going "to work" in the same team any more. From the begining of the Tour, day by day I can imagine what a nightmare Contador had to go through. Thank God, the Tour has finished and the young Contador has won!!!
    Next year more and better
  11. t d
    279. Posted by t d Sun Jul 26 5:24pm EDT

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    To all who believe that Contador does not have fans outside of Spain you are wrong. Also in 07 when Levi was the team leader of Astana, Contador was the one who was able to respond to Micheal Rasmussen's attacks, not Levi. So when he was appointed as team leader it should have stayed that way, whether Lance came to the team or not.

    By the way who did Lance deny someone else the chance of being on the TDF squad by returning? Did they not earn their spot and just because he was Lance Armstrong they have to wait for another year? If all he wanted to do was ride and work for the team, then I am sure that most teams would have accepted him. But he knew that if he came to Bruhnels team he could ride on his terms, other teams would not have changed their leadership structure just because he is Lance Armstrong.

    I like both guys but if it was the other way around would Lance have been willing to turn the team over without a fight?
  12. <i>ricarbarreras</i>
    278. Posted by ricarbarreras Sun Jul 26 3:30pm EDT

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    I'm grateful to live in a country where we can all equally voice our respective opinions. And while it's genuinely understandable that Lance has easily acquired his share of enemies throughout his many years atop the cycling world, nobody; and I mean "nobody" can diminish what he's already achieved and all he has contributed to the overall sport. I being a 38 year old Spaniard of Basque descent am proud of what Contador has accomplished, and was ecstatic to see one of my home-town team members (Ie. Euskaltel- Euskadi) realize a stage win. But despite my patriotic pride, I cannot deny the fact that a 38ish year old man, that has been away from competitive cycling for approximately 3 1/2 years and recently suffered a broken collar bone once again made it onto the podium of the sports pinnacle Tour! So whether you're Spanish, German, Norwegian, French, Swiss, Polish, Italian or American and are understandably on the fence about Lance's overall character (especially after failing to attend the Astana Team's celebration), you CANNOT ignore what he continues to achieve and how much more fun this year's TDF was with him in it! I mean.. "Come on"... 4 years of Spaniards winning and all, was GREAT (patriotically), but... Did the world watch, or did the world care??? Cycling is a great sport, and it truly fails to retain International attention if it doesn't possess a gimmick, a storyline... Armstrongs sudden participation was great for the sport and great for Contador! Next years TDF is going to be that much better and I contribute such directly to Lance! So say what you want, but we all enjoyed it because of him... Whether you're a fan or not. Thanks for your time!
  13. TC
    277. Posted by TC Sun Jul 26 3:05pm EDT

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    Watchdog, Lance is a sore loser with a lot of problems with AC. For someone as great as Lance Armstrong to make comments and say he will bite his tongue about a teammate is wrong. I think the comments people have made about poor sportsmanship etc are not an opinion but fact. Let someone else have the glory keep your mouth shut and come back next year and win would be a better position for Lance. If that happens then the story is closed and you don't have to make these comments. Also, I wonder if Alberto still looks to Lance Armstrong as his idol which he has said in earlier interviews before the tour. Also, the arrogance that he came back to save the sport. Only in America do we fell it took Lance to save the sport which is dying.
  14. Watchdog
    276. Posted by Watchdog Sun Jul 26 2:44pm EDT

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    Bobby Castillo. If you had any talent at all outside of having a propensity for running your opinionated mouth like a sick birds butt, you wouldn't be the wanna be that you are. Lance is the best until someone surpasses the marks that he is establishing. So take your roll of Charmin and stuff it in that stupid pie hole of yours.
  15. AK
    275. Posted by AK Sun Jul 26 2:39pm EDT

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    Now that the TdF is over and the charade of the "co-leader" team Astana has come to an end we'll probably see more frank comments from both Contador and Armstrong. To me it's a little like Kobe and Shaq. If the Zen-meister couldn't keep those two happy (and basketball is a more of a team sport than cycling), it doesn't surprise me that JB couldn't ease the tension between LA and AC and had to choose sides (in his case, the person who will likely be paying him next year). Next year's Tour will be interesting. Contador looked like he could win with just about any team this year, but in all fairness he'll need a good team and has some decisions to make. Assume the Schlecks will stay put. Lance will probably poach a few from Columbia and Astana. Contador has some options. In the end, it wouldn't surprise me to see LA and AC get along better as fierce competitors on separate teams than they did as "teammates." There won't be the resentment of AC of being upstaged, and LA won't have to play second fiddle.
  16. Eva
    273. Posted by Eva Sun Jul 26 1:53pm EDT

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    I raced and trained for six years on a velodrome team. The 3-4 hundred miles training on road bikes and track bikes taught me quickly that you will put an enormous amount of time and effort into becoming even semi-competitive. Twenty-three day competition with 2 days off. Over 2150 miles! All with leg power. If there is a sport that requires more training and dedication than cycling in the tour, please tell us what it is. Get on a freaking bike and cycle just one mile and don't let your speed drop under 20-25 MPH. Now multiply that times what these guys do. Only a jerk with no knowledge of pro sports conditioning and performing could make such inane statements. Walk a mile in someones shoes before you open that stupid pie hole of yours!
  17. mars
    272. Posted by mars Sat Jul 25 7:37pm EDT

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    really #264? can you or your grandma, or anybody who does not believe that cyclists are not athletes, can ride the bike for 1-6 hours straight up to 49km/hour and climb the steepest mt of them all? really? when you guys can do that, join the TDF....
  18. Tom
    271. Posted by Tom Sat Jul 25 2:16pm EDT

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    arguing on the internet is like racing in the special olympics... even if you win, you're still retarded!
  19. mangstadt
    270. Posted by mangstadt Sat Jul 25 2:12pm EDT

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    "Contador, who won his first Tour in 2007 and was banned from taking part last year"
    It was his team, Astana, that was banned from the Tour de France last year. So Alberto Contador took part in the Giro de Italia at short notice (he was on vacation) and won it, subsequently winning the Vuelta de España in September 2008.
  20. <i>jsaez@...</i>
    268. Posted by jsaez@... Sat Jul 25 12:53am EDT

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    David (263), you should not forget Indurain.
  21. Paul F
    267. Posted by Paul F Fri Jul 24 10:56pm EDT

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    Athlete- a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina.

    Guess golfers might just qualify, but there again so do tai chi practitioners, and my brother when he wins Twister every Christmas.
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