CYCLING

Alberto Contador wins Tour de France

Monday 27th July, 05:49 AM JST

PARIS —

Alberto Contador won the Tour de France for a second time Sunday, and Lance Armstrong capped his return to the race with an impressive third-place finish.

Mark Cavendish of Britain collected his sixth stage win of this year’s Tour in a sprint after the 164-kilometer course ride from Montereau-Fault-Yonne to the Champs-Elysees.

Over nearly 3,500 kilometers and 21 stages of racing over three weeks, Contador repelled many challenges in the mountains, excelled in the two time-trials—winning a pivotal race against the clock in the 18th stage—and won the first Alpine stage.

Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, Contador’s biggest rival among title contenders in the mountains, was second overall.

Contador, the 2007 champion, also had to battle a rearguard action within his Astana team, where the comeback of Armstrong to the Tour after 3 1/2 years of retirement raised questions about who would be the team leader.

“It has been an especially difficult Tour for me, but I savor it and it is more special because of it,” Contador said after the prize ceremony.

The subtext to the race was the open tension between Armstrong and Contador within Astana—a battle of egos between a proven cycling giant and another making the strong case that he’s one, too.

The body language on the winner’s podium said it all. As he climbed onto the victor’s stage, Armstrong gave a perfunctory handshake to Contador, then heartily shook Schleck’s hand.

The quintessential American competitor cast a long sideways glance at the victor’s bowl as Contador took it. Armstrong only gave a quick glance at his own crystal trophy.

The American had his whole clan on hand: his son Luke, twin girls Grace and Isabelle—all dressed in yellow—and their mom, Kristin; and his girlfriend Anna Hansen, with their baby Max in a sling.

Luke got a high-five and a word of congratulations “on the third place of your dad,” from Astana manager Johan Bruyneel outside the team bus.

“Thanks,” the twins said.

Massive crowds poured out onto Paris’ most famous avenue for the finish: Norwegians in Viking helmets, flag-waving Britons and an American in a stars-and-stripes top hat among them.

By the end of the race, Armstrong was talking less of squabbling within Astana and more about Contador’s greatness as a rider—and admitted his form wasn’t the best.

“I’m realistic. I did everything I could,” Armstrong said before the final stage. “For me, and even more for my kids, it’s probably a healthy thing for them to see, because they saw their dad that never lost, and the kids in their class (say) ‘your dad never loses,’ so it’s good for them to see dad get third and still be cool with that and still be happy.”

Asked on French TV what the hardest moment in this race, Contador replied: “It was in the (team) hotel,” without elaborating.

Contador and Armstrong reportedly had differences early in the race, as tensions grew over who was the No. 1 Astana rider.

“We are totally incompatible. In the end, Armstrong will go his way and I’ll go mine,” Contador said.

Some old habits died hard for the Texan.

On the ride into Paris, Armstrong—reviving a habit from his heyday—sipped Champagne in the saddle, only this time it was to celebrate Contador’s win and their collective win as a team.

Armstrong and Contador both took a few sips and posed with glass in one hand, handlebar in the other, but then tipped away the rest of the bubbly half-drunk and threw away the glasses.

The Spaniard did enjoy this victory more than in 2007. Four days from the finish that year, then race leader Michael Rasmussen of Denmark was sent home for lying about his whereabouts during pre-Tour doping controls.

“In the key stages of this Tour, I found myself feeling more at ease than I did in 2007. But in situations outside of racing, I didn’t feel so comfortable,” Contador told Spanish broadcaster TVE.

After Oscar Pereiro’s victory in 2006 and Carlos Sastre’s in 2008, the Tour has been won by a Spaniard for four straight years.

Contador began the Tour on July 4 as the pre-race favorite. At only 26 years old, he is already one of cycling’s greats, having won all three Grand Tours of France, Italy and Spain.

He had to sit out last year because of a doping scandal at Astana before he joined.

Contador finished in 85 hours, 48 minutes, 35 seconds. The race looped from Monaco, across the Mediterranean rim into Spain, up the Pyrenees, diagonally across central and northeastern France to the Alps, and then down to Saturday’s race climax on the dreaded Mont Ventoux in southeast France before the Paris finish.

Schleck was 4:11 seconds behind. Armstrong was 5:24 back.

After three straight Tours decided by less than a minute between first and second place, Contador’s margin of victory was the largest since Armstrong collected his last title in 2005.

The 24-year-old Schleck won the white jersey awarded to the Tour’s best young rider. Franco Pellizotti of Italy picked up the polka-dot jersey given to the race’s King of the Mountains.

Armstrong, the 37-year-old seven-time Tour champion, is the second-oldest rider to reach the Tour podium. Raymond Poulidor of France was 40 he placed third in 1976.

Cavendish set his own record: no rider has ever won six Tour stages in a sprint. But Thor Hushovd of Norway beat the 24-year-old Briton for the green jersey given to the Tour’s best Tour sprinter.

Cavendish made it look easy, winning by several bike lengths in the last mad dash, trailed in second by his own lead-out man on the Columbia team, Mark Renshaw. Tyler Farrar of the United States was third.

“For sure, winning on the Champs-Elysees is a dream for every single sprinter—to see the Arc de Triomphe in the distance,” said Cavendish, acknowledging it would have been a “bonus” to take home the green jersey.

“I can’t go home from this Tour being disappointed _ I won six stages,” he added.

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Latest 15 of 21 Total Comments Show All

LoveUSA at 08:27 AM JST - 28th July

Armostrong is so jealous of Contador but times change and now there is somebody better than him, and the king of cycling is Contador. The Kotooshu of cycling!
northlondon at 10:46 AM JST - 28th July

Armostrong is so jealous of Contador but times change and now there is somebody better than him, and the king of cycling is Contador. The Kotooshu of cycling!

Lance Armstrong is 37 years old. Contador is 26. Armstrong still gave him a race for his money, despite being out of competitive racing for 3 years and 11 years older. Contador is not in the same class as Lance Armstrong and if Armstrong continues his race fitness and doesn't have to put up with Contador's selfish team attitude, then he will get even closer to him next year.
spudman at 12:31 PM JST - 28th July

Northlondon: no way can you suggest that LA was beaten due to AC disregarding team tactics. LA needs to stop sounding like Cadel Evans and just tip his cap to a younger and better rider. Coulda woulda shoulda is so unbecoming.Armstrong is now packing up his toys and going home to build his own team. Yeah and if he still gets beaten what excuse will he use? I'm old? He is, should've left with dignity but now his legacy is tarnished by pouting about others. AC will win the tour a couple more times.
northlondon at 01:02 PM JST - 28th July

LA needs to stop sounding like Cadel Evans and just tip his cap to a younger and better rider. Coulda woulda shoulda is so unbecoming.Armstrong

I cannot believe that anyone with half an idea about sport would diss Lance Armstrong after all he has achieved in life. Contador will never win as many Tours as Armstrong, even with his selfish 'me only' attitude.

should've left with dignity but now his legacy is tarnished

37 years old. Out of competition for 3 years. Finished 3rd in this years Tour. His legacy is tarnished ? You haven't got a clue about cycling have you ?
mazdb8a at 01:16 PM JST - 28th July

Northlondon whats the "3 years out of competition" got to do with an aging star trying to make a comeback? Tour of California, Tour Down Under weren't competitions? You should stop making personal comments about posters who disagree with you, correctly in spudmans case. Armstrong was a great champion racer in his day but the sun is going down and when you are on a team and another rider has the lead and attacks to expand that lead a class athlete would suck it up.Lance spat the dummy and came off as a sore loser. As to Lance winning seven tours, that's all he concentrated on for those seven years, that and chasing skirt.
lostrune2 at 04:36 PM JST - 28th July

Lance Armstong did tip his hat to Contador:

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/tdf2009/news/story?id=4356850

[quote] "I'm realistic, I did everything I could," Armstrong said before the final stage. "For me, and even more for my kids, it's probably a healthy thing for them to see, because they saw their dad that never lost, and the kids in their class [say] 'your dad never loses,' so it's good for them to see dad get third and still be cool with that and still be happy."

By the end of the race, Armstrong, who admitted his form wasn't the best, was talking less of squabbling within Astana and more about Contador's greatness as a rider." [/quote]

Armstrong was satisfied where he finished this year and admitted that Contador was strongest in this Tour. They just have separate ambitions.

Being 37 years old finishing on the podium is a great accomplishment - nobody that old has done that in 33 years. Plus, doing that after 3 years off competitive cycling with only 9 months preparation (excluding time lost due to a broken shoulder bone). Many young pros with years preparation couldn't even do that. Ironically, Armstrong has become beloved by the French people for actually struggling this time.

Contador attacked for the first time in the Pyrenees, and Armstrong did not chase, partly because he's not as strong and partly because etiquette says you do not chase an attacking teammate and thus let the tag-along peloton catch up. That's fine, as Contador wants to gain time and win the Tour. But in the Alps, against team tactics, when Contador unnecessarily attacked when he's already the yellow jersey in the lead group with Kloeden and Armstrong helping him, all Contador did was drop Kloeden and a bit off Armstrong when they all could've worked together for a possible podium sweep (in effect, Contador didn't reward Kloeden any favors when Kloeden was doing the hard work to help him). That doesn't garner loyalty among lieutenants; they may not work as hard for him in the future.

Anyways, it'll be interesting next year. Astana by far has the best team this year. Next year, Armstrong will own his team and his choice of lieutenants. We'll see where Contador ends up. And will the Schleck brothers take the next level?
Nessie at 05:07 PM JST - 28th July

What the heck is an Astana?
TeruSensei at 05:43 PM JST - 28th July

Nessie, Astana is the capital of Kazakhstan, which is where the team's bankrollers are.

But it has no money left and all the major players are jumping ship, so don't get used to seeing Astana around the major races for much longer.
bdaniel08 at 07:29 PM JST - 28th July

northlondon

Contador may be a great rider, but any team who employs him will end up with a selfish ego who is not a team player.

Hotbox08

As well as every rider on Team Astana. That team has a whole bunch of egos on it.

And the worst one is of course Armstrong an aging and finished cyclist !
bdaniel08 at 07:48 PM JST - 28th July

TeruSensei

But it has no money left and all the major players are jumping ship, so don't get used to seeing Astana around the major races for much longer.

Last news :

Asana is not dead ...is right now trying to keep Contador in the team until 2012 with, as a "model" teammate, Vinokourov who has just purged his two years ban from the 2007 Tour de France.
TeruSensei at 08:44 PM JST - 28th July

Everyone else wants to leave because Vinkourov is back.
bdaniel08 at 09:19 PM JST - 28th July

Thats why i wrote "model"...but finally, it doesnt change anything...some got busted some not but everybody cheated (even Contador).

Only Popovych, Klöden, Rast and Zubeldia should go with Armstrong.
BurakuminDes at 09:53 PM JST - 28th July

Everyone knows the Tour de France is just a contest of who can cheat the system best and get away with it. Joke sport.
Sarge at 10:03 PM JST - 28th July

"Joke sport"

Har!
lostrune2 at 07:50 PM JST - 29th July

Definitely team director Bruyneel and Armstrong-buddy Leipheimer (who was 4th before sidelined with broken wrist) would go with Armstrong. Probably Kloeden too, as Armstrong looks for a successor for the team's future. He'd also court the Schleck brothers.

Kazakh Vinokourov should go to Kazakh team Astana, but Astana would have difficulty recruiting prized riders due to all the financial troubles this year. Riders would be reluctant joining a team when there's uncertainty when/if they'll be paid on time.