Actions speak louder than words

The action in last few kilometers of stage eight of the Tour de France spoke volumes.

What are we to make of Alberto Contador's acceleration away from the second group, one that contained all of the pre-race favourites, not the least of which was the big boss of Astana, Lance Armstrong?

Certainly, the Texan sounded less than impressed, saying, "Things didn't really go according to the plan we mapped out before. I was a little surprised, but it doesn't matter. Like I said yesterday, I expected him to assert himself in the race and he did that."

Team director Johan Bruyneel appeared similarly perplexed.

"We didn't have a specific plan to attack, our plan was to maintain our collective strength first and wait for attacks from the others. Alberto counter-attacked after an attack, our plan had been for the riders to communicate and respond. No one had specific instructions to go out and attack, I had no race radio at that time or TV, so it was something they decided themselves."

They decided themselves? It sure didn't look like that to me.

Astana was in control of the stage, dictating the rules of engagement and covering every move. There was no real motivation for the team to do any more that it already was.

They had effectively neutered their rivals to the point of Contador's attack, so there was no need to play cards they might need later, when, as was evident to anyone except those who are hiding in a cave in Pakistan, they had planned to put Armstrong in yellow.

This was clearly a message from Contador, one that, to me, expressed a no confidence vote in having team support around him when it really counts.

Lets assume Contador plays the dutiful pupil and an increasingly fit Armstrong grabs the yellow, do you think team orders will be for Contador to go up the road at a crucial stage and just assume the mantle of race leader? Unlikely.

By now we all know Armstrong. In that scenario he would - with Johan Bruyneel's absolute blessing - marshal all of the resources of the team around him, leaving Contador isolated.

In response, Contador really has no choice but to kill off that possibility; eventualy take the jersey for himself and in doing so, force Astana's racing calculations in his favour.

The race for the Tour de France is not between Astana and rivals like Saxo Bank - the race for the Tour de France is between Astana and Contador.

Let me know your thoughts, on what was a fascinating night of racing.