More Good News: Levi Leipheimer Signs with Team Radio Shack

I am very happy to see a nice ensemble of riders forming for Team Radio Shack. Armstrong of course announced during the TdF that the new team was forming. Soon after, team director Johan Bruyneel announced his move, and now Levi Leipheimer has made a similar announcement.

All three individuals were part of Contador’s TdF 2009 victory and all three will now be against him. Furthermore, with any luck, Vinokourov will be able to help dismantle Contador’s run for the title in 2010.

Notably, Leipheimer crashed and broke his wrist in the TdF 2009 but was back on his bike in no time.

Elsewhere in the cycling world, Big George Hincapie has signed with BMC. I think most of us hoped he would go to Radio Shack too. Although after the incident earlier this year maybe it shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Mikel Astarloza tests positive for EPO

I wrote about Mikel Astarloza winning Stage XVI of the 2009 Tour de France, and commented he didn’t look very happy when he won the stage, he looked angry. Maybe it was because he knew he’d be banned due to a positive test for EPO in a urine sample collected June 26.

Robbie McEwen summed it up nicely when he said, “Astarloza, you’re a wanker.”

In other cycling news, after accusations of doping, Bradley Wiggins released more than a years worth of blood tests. Wiggins hope to dispel any ideas that his 4th place finish was due to the dope. It may work, Garmin-Slipstream has said there is no evidence of “blood manipulation.” Also, Contador has turned down an offer to stay with Team Astana (surprise, surprise).

Of course, Astarloza’s b-sample has yet to be analyzed, but I still think he’s a guilty wanker, If you’re not smiling or crying when win a stage, you’re probably a doper.

Contador — “I have never had great admiration for Armstrong”

Interesting news about the Armstrong-Contador dynamic. Contador cuts loose in a recent news conference. In a way, I feel bad for Contador when he says the time in the hotel was harder than the time on the road. Then again, he could have won the tour and been a good teammate.

Read about the news conference at the New York Times (link: Contador news conference).

Tour de France Stage XXI: Montereau-Fault-Yonne — Paris Champs Elysees (101mi)

Today is the last stage of the Tour de France. While the ride around Paris and down the Champs-Elysees is mostly ceremonial, there will be at least one fight between Thor Hushovd and Mark Cavendish for the Green Jersey.

The Versus Commentators (all clad in suits) told their favorite moments from the tour.

Phil Liggett: Armstrong’s ride on Mont Ventoux.

Paul Sherwan: Cavendish’s finish in Stage 19.

Bob Roll: Seeing Armstrong on the start ramp in Monaco after a 4-year absence.

For me, this year’s tour has been full of rich characters and story arcs. For Team Astana, it started on Stage I when Armstrong showed he could still ride a bicycle but the team leader position would not be his by default. Armstrong showed he was a wiser cyclist than Contador on Stage III and overtook him in the GC.

Team Saxo Bank displayed their prowess immediately too, when Fabian Cancellara won Stage I, the invidual time trial. Frank and Andy Schleck, the brothers from Luxemborg, would be formidable. On Stage XVIII, one day after their teammate Jens Voigt crashed, they were relentless in attack and won.

During the Team Time Trial, Astana put aside all else and won Stage IV as a unit.At Arcalis, Contador made a savage accelearation up the mountain to earn back the best GC position for Astana. El Pistolero won again at Verbier and took the Maillot Jaune.

And who could forget the constant battle for sprinter supremacy and the green jersey? On days when the stages were colorless until the last kilometer, Mark Cavendish, Thor Hushovd, and Tyler Farrar lit up the road in frame-bending bursts of speed. Cavendish was clearly the man to beat, he would go on to win 6 stages in the tour. But Hushovd was more than just a sprinter, by winning critical intermediate sprint points, he was able to win the battle for the Green Jersey. Americans can look to Tyler Farrar to beat out both men and win a stage in the Tour de France 2010.

On the day of the final time trial, the riders in the top ten GC were solidly there. However, the final configuration was certainly not set. Cancellara, like Stage I, set the time to beat early on, but beaten it was by the final rider and yellow jersey of Contador.

Then up Mont Ventoux, hundreds of thousands of people watched as five men fought for their positions on one of the most fabled climbs of the Tour de France. Ultimately, we were all left with the status quo in the GC, which is not to say it wasn’t a brillant race.

In Paris, around the Arc de Triomphe and down the Champs-Elysees, Cavendish annihilated the other sprinters. Everyone else of consequence were just holding on to the rapid pace set by Columbia-HTC.

1. Contador, 2. Shleck, & 3. Armstrong

Congratulations Alberto Contador.

Tour de France Stage XX: Montelimar — Mont Ventoux (103mi)

Since I helped today, Can I come to Radio Shack?

The beast is done, the riders are over Mont Ventoux in one piece. Aside from the parade on the Champs-Elysees the 2009 Tour de France is over.

Stage Winner: Juan Manuel Garate

General Classification Leader: Alberto Contador (81:46:17)

Lance Armstrong (GC): 3rd (+00:05:24)

Laura Antoine: You tell me… I’m tired of keeping tabs on this one.

Woke up fairly early to watch the last “real” stage of the TdF today with my wife and good neighbor, one of the first times I’ve had company for the tour this year. I expected Mont Ventoux would be the best stage of the tour to watch, with so much on the line, this late in the Tour, there would be fireworks (as Bobke would say). I can say it was fun to watch but there wasn’t much (any?) shake-up in the GC.

On Ventoux, the riders to watch were the current holder of the Maillot Jaune, Alberto Contador, the Maillot Blanc, Andy Shleck, his brother Frank Schleck, Lance Armstrong and the Brit Bradley Wiggins. They were all marked by each other and stayed in a close pack for a good amount of time. Andy accelerated up the beast several times always with Contador on his wheel. Once Andy realized he was only losing his brother, he sat-up.

Armstrong needed only to prevent Wiggins or F. Schleck to gain time on him. When it counted, Armstrong was able to do that, and stayed on the wheels of his opponents. Eventually “the elastic snapped” for Wiggins and he became a non-threat for Armstrong. The Schlecks saw an opening for Frank to leap-frog Wiggins in the GC but their efforts were to no avail.

In summary, today’s race up Mont Ventoux went alright, it could have gone better, but it definitely could have gone all wrong for the “old fart.” Welcome back Lance, looking forward to next year and everything in between.

As an aside, pretty sure ol’ Zombie-Face, Tony Martin, blew chunks a handful of times on his way to a second-place finish.

Tony Martin's Zombie Face of Pain (Middle)

Tour de France Stage XIX Bourgoin-Jallieu — Aubenas (110mi)

Cavendish for Stage Win and GBR Record

Stage Winner: Mark Cavendish (GBR record, 9 stage wins)

General Classification Leader: Alberto Contador (77:06:18)

Lance Armstrong (GC): 3rd (+00:05:21)

Laura Antoine: The return of the Podium Girl — Laura and Andy Schleck kiss cheeks.

Big ups to Mark Cavendish who was able to stay with the peloton over the climb and make a v. strong finish. A deserved win. Hushovd retains the green jersey with a second place finish, but there is no question Cavendish will fight for it on the Champs-Elysees.

Anyone else ready for Mont Ventoux?

Lance Armstrong’s Tour de France Annoucement: Radio Shack

With a planned-surprise announcement posted online today, Texas based company, Radio Shack has partnered with Lance Armstrong to form a new professional cycling team. It was not mentioned who would be the General Manager (directeur sportiff). Johann Bruyneel has said he will not return to Astana, and I can’t imagine Lance riding without Bruyneel.

You can read the Radio Shack press release here, and view Lance’s video here.

With this announcement and the happenings of the 2009 Tour de France, it is clear Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador will be arch-rivals in the 2010 Tour de France. And, Oh! What a fight it will be!

Tour de France Stage XVIII: Annency — Annency (TT) (25mi)

Yesterday I predicted the results for the individual time-trial. I thought Armstrong would finish first. From 1999 to 2005, Armstrong won each individual time trial except 2003. As a time trial specialist and now a GC contender, I thought Bradley Wiggins would finish second. Finally, Kloden would finish third, the German has always been a strong time-trialist.

Stage Winner: Alberto Contador (00:48:30)

General Classification Leader: Alberto Contador (73:15:39)

Lance Armstrong (GC): 3rd (+00:05:25)

Laura Antoine: You’re guess is as good as mine. Is she no longer a podium-girl?

Watching time trials are nerve-wracking, I can’t imagine being a rider, racing against the ticking clock. An early man out, Fabian Cancellara made the best time, until the final man on the course finished. Alberto earned the best time of the day.

Astana was afraid of Bradley Wiggins for good reason, he was setting the bar at each of the time checks but slowed down near the end. He ended up 43 seconds behind Contador. Next, Andreas Kloden finishes 54 secs behind Contador’s time.

Now for Lance Armstrong. At the first time check he was a little over 20 secs behind the best time of Wiggins, and over 40 secs behind Wiggo’s time at the summit of the small climb. In a great finish he bested Wiggo with a final time of 50 min to secure his 3rd position in the GC.

Frank and Andy Schleck were both expected to drop lots of time against the others because time-trialing is not their speciality. Frank lost 2min 34 secs to Contador, while Andy exceeded expectations with a finish of 1min 45secs behind Contador

Alberto Contador tore it up and I was dissapointed. Not only were my predictions incorrect, but also the cyclist who has spurned his teammates has been rewarded again.

I am my own team.

Tour de France Stage XVII: Bourg-St.-Maurice — Le Grand Bornand (105 miles)

Four Arms are better than Two.

Stage Winner: The Schlecks (take your pick)

General Classification Leader: Alberto Contador (72:27:09)

Lance Armstrong (GC):  4th (+00:03:55)

Laura Antoine: Maybe Skoda fired her…

Today was to be the hardest stage in the TdF 2009, according to Paul Sherwan and a few others (e.g. Armstrong), the Alpine Triology, part III. Earlier in the Tour, Mark Cavendish was penalized for a bit of rough activity with Thor Hushovd near a stage finish. As a result, Hushvod was able to take the green jersey. Cavendish has been quoted saying the green jersey will have a “stain” on it.

Regardless, Hushovd broke away today and led the race, earning valuable sprint points along the way. It will be near impossible for Cavendish to take the sprinter’s title now. He will be back with a vengeance next year.

Phil Liggett spoke to Levi Leipheimer via telephone from California today. He made several predictions, one of which was that Bradley Wiggins, Lance Armstrong, and Andreas Kloden would be on the podium in Paris. His prediction for today’s stage was that the Schlecks would attack early on the penultimate climb of the day, the Col de Romme, when the inclines were 10-12%.

The attacks came fast but not from the Schlecks, Carlos Barredo and Carlos Sastre set out immediately, but they didn’t last long. Halfway up the Col de Romme, with an incline of 12.5%,  Frank Schleck, not Andy, made an attack but Armstrong followed. Now Andy attacks, Contador and Kloden follow. Frank attacks again, Armstrong and Wiggins follow. Andy goes again, Contador follows, Kloden bridges the gap, Wiggins cracks.

Contador looks relaxed and “resplendent in yellow” with co-leaders A. Kloden and Schleck Bros.  at Col Du Romme Summit. Armstrong, Christian VandeVelde, and Wiggins are making a good “diesel” tempo 1 min behind the lead group.

On the Col de la Colombiere with 1 mile to the summit, Contador attacks, Schleck Bros. follow but Kloden cannot. Bad move by Contador. In the first chase group, Armstrong attacks and drops Wiggins, deja vu. The Texas Flag leads Armstrong up the mountain. Armstrong made a great descent and caught up with his teammate Kloden as the lead group, Schlecks and Contador crossed the finish line.

Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador will be rivals in the Tour de France 2010.

Good for the Lone Star state.

Lance Armstrong: Tour de France 2010 Announcement

From Lance Armstrong’s Twitter feed:

“Making a very cool announcement on Thursday re: a new American partner for our team in 2010 (and beyond). Stay tuned!”

What could it be?

Team Livestrong TdF 2010?