Anthony Tan

Cycling journalist Anthony Tan joins SBS's Tour de France coverage where he'll bring us his unique news and views of the great race from behind the scenes.

Name not Contador? How’s second sound?

21 July 2009 | 0:00 - By Anthony Tan

Wit the second week of the Tour de France out of the way, and barring a game changing incident, it looks like a race for second place, writes Anthony Tan.

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Team Astana's Alberto Contador (AAP)

For anyone whose name is not Alberto Contador, the 2009 Tour de France is a race for second.

Contador’s previous Achilles heel, the time trial, is no longer. He can now match it with the best, be it on a flat, winding, hilly, technical, or undulatingparcours.

In my opinion, the Spaniard’s only small weakness is his ability to ride in crosswinds, but the Tour is now through the areas of France most prone to severe wind conditions – apart from the penultimate leg to MontVentoux – such as those experienced on the third stage to La Grande-Motte, where Lance Armstrong was the only serious podium contender to make the crucial break of 28.

Since then, Contador has proven himself to be superior: superior on the climb to Andorra Arcalis, superior in last Sunday’s mountain-top finish to Verbier Switzerland, the superior rider at Astana, and to date, by far the superior rider at the Tour de France.

The way I see it, there are three key stages remaining in this final week: Stage 17 to Le Grand-Bornand, a beast of a stage containing four Cat. 1 climbs, which Armstrong famously won on Stage 17 in 2004; the following day’s 40.5-kilometre time trial inAnnecy; and, of course, the second-to-last stage to the scree-sloped Mont Ventoux.

On paper, none of these legs should bother Contador. Rather, they should suit him more than they suit his rivals, particularly Andy Schleck of Saxo Bank, who still needs to improve his time trialing if he’s to have any chance of toppling the Spanish juggernaut in future Toursde France.

But stranger things have happened. Contador can have a bad day, like he did in Paris-Nice earlier this year when he didn’t eat enough, paving the way for compatriot Luis Leon Sanchez of Caisse d’Epargne to steal victory.

Contador isn’t one to make the same mistake twice, though cumulative fatigue can play bizarre games on one’s mind, which in turn lead to lapses of concentration and poor decision-making when under duress.

Sure, Armstrong has said he’ll now work for Contador and concedes the Spaniard is the better rider – “he is the strongest man in the race,” Armstrong said after the stage to Verbier – but if the 2007 Tour champ has just one bad day, expect the Texan to assume leadership within Astana.

For now, though, Contador will be Astana’s protected rider: “I think now is time to put my chances aside and focus on the team,” said Armstrong.

But also expect to see Armstrong back at next year’s Tour de France, and in better shape. Remember, he’s only had six months’ worth of racing leading to the world’s toughest bike race, and he’s been racing well enough to lie second overall on the classement générale; in today’s competition, and against men 10 years or more younger than he, that’s no mean feat.

Concerning Armstrong’s role in this Tour, the question for me now is whether Lance will put all his chances aside for Contador, or will he use some of his biscuits to maintain his position on the overall classification, and the remainder of his cookie jar to helpContador win the race.

In my opinion, there are two riders that have a chance of stealing Armstrong’s spot.

One is Garmin-Slipstream’s Bradley Wiggins, clearly the revelation of the 96th Tour and currently third overall – I’m really excited to see what ‘Wiggo’ can do in the Annecy TT, and how he’ll fare on Ventoux in his first year as a legitimate Grand Tour contender.

The other is Andy Schleck, who will need to: a) distance himself on Stage 17 to Le Grand-Bornand to compensate for his lack of time trialing ability; and b) launch an all-out assault on Ventoux. So far, the younger of the Schleck brothers has shown to be only the second-best climber.

Defending champion Carlos Sastre said on the second rest day in Martigny that it’s been a boring Tour de France. I’d agree with that, but it only takes one slip-up to enliven the race, stir the senses, and put you on the edge of your seat.

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25 Jul 2009 18:02 AEST

Bobby

From: Sydney

oh it's now the british tour TDF

Johnny come latelys, now it's all about the british hey chaps? not about the nationality, not even about the teams, talented individuals win 3 week tours! Yellow, Green, polkadot and white, thats what it's about and thats it!

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24 Jul 2009 4:07 AEST

Ross

From: Melbourne

Schleck boys

These 2 brothers have made this tour. 2 for the price of one - beat me/ then beat my brother also.. Its a compelling story and they are sensational riders in the hills. A future winner in Andy for sure. Personalities like this keep us coming back - I'm getting a SaxoBank tricot.

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24 Jul 2009 2:22 AEST

Dave

From: Melbourne

hmmm

I hesitate to say something about a site that provides a lot of great articles, but andrew i think all you've done is state the fairly obvious (yes even when it was originally posted). And the title to this piece....urrghh, it's awkward as hell, like you're trying to find some clever way to say something that's already written on the wall. And Contador's weakness is....his ability to ride in crosswinds?!?! rofl, *tries to stop uncontrollable asphyxiation from laughter*, what, because he got caught early in the race the day armstrong made the break?! you make it sound like if a crosswind springs up, Contador just loses his legs or something....so get it right, if he has one weakness, it's that he doesn't have quite the depth of experience that some do, so he occasionally does miss a chance (eg. with the crosswind break) or prep/race badly (when he bonked earlier this year). By the way, with every expert out there (including people like Phil Andersen, Paul Sherwen and our more recent Aussie ex-tour riders) talking about who's going to win the race, perhaps you could write about something we don't already know about??

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23 Jul 2009 2:31 AEST

Falcon

From: Sydney

On Contador, Wiggens and Astana

After the 17th stage, it looks like anything that the Schlecks can throw at Contador, he responds 100% (and even more, as we saw with his attack on the final climb). Guess, barring something highly unlikely, like an injury, Contador will win this year's TDF. Great attempt from team CSC to try to break him but he is just too talented a climber...As for Wiggins, it was sad to see him break today under the relentless pace set by Frank Schleck, would've been really interesting to see a ITT battle between Wiggins and Contador but this was not to be. The only thing that has annoyed me about the TDF this year is the effect of the money team-Astana. I mean, wouldn't it be a lot more exciting to have more competitors actually battle it out, with potentially 4 team leaders and 4 great riders in Astana (Armstrong, Contador and Kloden, not to mention Levi Leimpeimer). All 4 showed they would have been in with a good chance to win the TDF but the problem was that they could not put pressure on Contador and really test him because they were on the same team...Hope to see a better spread of the top riders.

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23 Jul 2009 1:24 AEST

Jimmy

From: Sydney

@Alex

Are you like dumb? because of TTT? so tell me what happend in the climbs?

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22 Jul 2009 18:06 AEST

Daniel

From: Tasmania

Lance = God

@ Alex I don't agree, i think Lance is one of the two best riders in this tour and after what he did last night, i think that should be confirmed to all of you!

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22 Jul 2009 12:09 AEST

Brad

From: Melbourne

AC and drugs

@Paddy - Seriously?? What piffle are your reading? It's Cadels' misfortune to be riding with a under-strength team.

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22 Jul 2009 11:03 AEST

Greg

From: Noosa

Wiggens

Got to admit Wiggens is consistent this year Peter. But I wouldn't say he is one of the best. Unfortunately he is reminding me of Cadel's style of riding. Consistent and gutsy but lacking the brilliance of about six other riders in the bunch. A tip of the hat to him though, it is good to see how track riders can adapt to the mountains and that's pretty rare. He should certainly get a best and fairest award at least. Please don't get me wrong, I admire the entire bunch - I get tired just watching them on TV (when that silly cricket doesn't get in the way).

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22 Jul 2009 10:45 AEST

sam uri

From: melbourne

mr a mr c

yes sir , it will take a real kamakasi ride to blow these two out of the water. who will get a devine fresh wind behind them ? then is ZEN and now is win or grin. CAD-EL, get physical.

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22 Jul 2009 10:23 AEST

Peter

From: Gold Coast

British?

Yes I was born in England but I don't understand how you can't see how Wiggens has been one of the best riders this year. As for Lance of course I admire him but the guy has won the tour seven times and contador has been there before too and I'm just thrilled to see someone else unexpectedly perform well. As for my roots I would prefer to see Cadel win over all of them but it's not going to be his tour this year.

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