The Race Opens Up And The Best Is Out

Thank you Lance

Slowed down this past week-end and missed two updates.  At least today is a rest day, giving me a chance to catch up a bit.
Stage seven did not turn out as I predicted (most don't), but I was surprised how well Alberto Contador looked in both stage seven and eight.  A much more mature cyclist, ready to work with his team to win the Tour.  I am also surprised on how well Team Astana is performing and the so-so performance of Team Radio Shack.  After all, The Shack is composed of 75% of last years overall Team winner, Team Astana.  The Shack's performance though, is a bit mis-leading when you consider the amount of riders that stayed back to assist Lance after the crash that occurred 32 km from the finish in stage eight.  This may change some now that Lance Armstrong is no longer a threat for a podium finish and will probably be Levi Leipheimer's lead rider in the mountains.  You have to consider the fact that Lance is now out of contention, not because of his age, ability or readiness, but because of a series of crashes and a flat tire on the cobblestones of stage three.


Now the yellow jersey race is wide open.  You still have the big three and every body's pick for the final podium, Contador, Cadel Evans and Andy Shleck, but there are quite a few that can spoil that threesome.  I still like Denis Menchov of Team Rabobank and Samuel Sanchez of Euskaltel-Euskadi.  With Frank Schleck now out of the Tour, I can't see Andy finishing in the top three and Cadel has been left without team support on the climbs and he deserves better.  Give Cadel the support that Contador, Shleck and Menchov has and he will win the Tour de France. Roman Kreuziger and Michael Rogers can also place if they can make up some time in the mountains before the final individual time trial and how well can Leipheimer perform with Lance as his lieutenant.  We will all find out on stage nine.
Prediction for stage nine: Contador is still the best and he can steal the show on Tuesday, but will he want the yellow before the Tour reaches the Pyrenees?  I believe he will stay in the front and counter attack any of his GC contenters that may attack on the final climb.  Look for Team Radio Shack to go for the stage win if they can lead the pack over the brutal Col de la Madeleine.

General Classification (Yellow Jersey)

1	Cadel Evans (AUS) BMC Racing Team	37:57:09
2	Andy Schleck (LUX) Team Saxo Bank	0:00:20
3	Alberto Contador  (ESP) Astana	0:01:01
4	Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto	0:01:03
5	Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank	0:01:10
6	Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Garmin - Transitions	0:01:11
7	Roman Kreuziger (CZE Liquigas-Doimo	0:01:45
8	Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack	0:02:14
9	Samuel Sánchez  (ESP) Euskaltel - Euskadi	0:02:15
10	Michael Rogers (AUS) Team HTC - Columbia	0:02:31
11	Robert Gesink (NED) Rabobank	0:02:37
12	Carlos Sastre (ESP) Cervelo Test Team	0:02:40
13	Ivan Basso (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo	0:02:41
14	Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Sky Professional Cycling Team	0:02:45
15	Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ) Astana	0:03:05
16	Nicolas Roche (IRL) AG2R La Mondiale	0:03:11
17	Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP) Team Katusha	0:03:23
18	Thomas Löfkvist (SUI) Sky Professional Cycling Team	0:03:30
19	Rafael Valls  (ESP) Footon-Servetto	0:04:27
20	Luis León Sánchez  (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne	0:05:03
21	Andreas Klöden (GER) Team Radioshack	0:05:39
22	Damien Monier (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne	0:06:19
23	Christopher Horner (USA) Team Radioshack	0:06:33
24	John Gadret (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale	0:07:12
25	Johan Van Summeren (BEL) Garmin - Transitions	0:07:28
26	Ruben Plaza Molina (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne	0:07:52
27	Kevin De Weert (BEL) Quick Step	0:07:58
28	Daniel Moreno Fernandez (ESP) Omega Pharma-Lotto	0:08:15
29	Juan Manuel Gárate  (ESP) Rabobank	0:08:39
30	Christophe Le Mevel (FRA) Française des Jeux	0:08:53
31	Christophe Riblon (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale	0:09:57
32	Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) Quick Step	0:10:05
33	Maxime Monfort (BEL) Team HTC - Columbia	0:11:00
34	Sandy Casar (FRA) Française des Jeux	0:11:08
35	Pierre Rolland (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom	0:11:14
36	Rémi Pauriol (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne	0:13:01
37	Grischa Niermann (GER) Rabobank	0:13:13
38	Kanstantsin Siutsou (BLR) Team HTC - Columbia	0:13:17
39	Lance Armstrong (USA) Team Radioshack	0:13:26
40	Janez Brajkovic (SLO) Team Radioshack	0:13:56
41	Bram Tankink (NED) Rabobank	0:14:11
42	Thomas Voeckler (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom	0:14:45
43	Volodymir Gustov (UKR) Cervelo Test Team	0:15:45
44	Julien El Farès (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne	0:17:30
45	Amaël Moinard (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne	0:18:18
46	Gorka Verdugo  (ESP) Euskaltel - Euskadi	0:18:41
47	Steve Morabito (SUI) BMC Racing Team	0:20:55
48	Egoi Martinez  (ESP) Euskaltel - Euskadi	0:22:57
49	Iban Velasco  (ESP) Euskaltel - Euskadi	0:23:09
50	Carlos Barredo  (ESP) Quick Step	0:23:50