France's Ligue 1

I had not expected much from this match, which ended in a depressing goalless draw last season. Both teams had played in the Champions League earlier in the week -- yes, there are French teams in that competition -- and I suspected they would play conservatively, probably settling for draw.

If you look at my Predictions League ranking, you'll see I'm not actually the bookies' nemesis.

Lyon and Marseille did indeed draw, but not before scoring five goals each in probably the best Ligue 1 game since Marseille came back from four goals down to beat Montpellier 5-4 in the 1998-99 season.

Here is how it unfolded:

1-0 (3rd): Miralem Pjanic volleys home after a bad clearance by the Marseille defence

1-1 (11th): Souleymane Diawara heads home from a corner kick. The ball is deflected by Stephane M'Bia but the league hands the goal to Diawara.

2-1 (14th): Sidney Govou runs free in the Marseille half and beats Mandanda with a curling shot.

2-2 (44th): Benoît Cheyrou unleashes a 25-metre strike, Lloris fails to handle.

2-3 (47th): Ivory Coast striker Bakari Kone spins the ball past Lloris.

2-4 (80th): Brandao makes it four from close range

3-4 (81st): Lisandro Lopez flicks the ball past Mandanda after outpowering the Marseille defenders.

4-4 (84th): Lopez levels from the penalty spot after the referee stated Gabriel Heinze handed the ball in the box

5-4 (90th): Michel Bastos is set up by Pjanic and gives Lyon the edge

5-5 (90+3): Jeremy Toulalan inadvertently scores an own goal.

Classic drama, that prompts one question... How long has it been since you witnessed such a game in your league?

PHOTO: Olympique Lyon's Lisandro Lopez (top) celebrates after scoring against Olympique Marseille during their French Ligue 1 soccer match at the Gerland stadium in Lyon, November 8, 2009. REUTERS/Robert Pratta

The Tour de France is still more than eight months from now, but the much-awaited duel between Alberto Contador and his illustrious challenger Lance Armstrong has already begun.
 
The Spanish champion and the American veteran, third this year after an impressive comeback following 3-1/2 years in retirement, both attended the 2010 route presentation in Paris on Wednesday.
 
Seated in the second row of the Palais des Congres, they were only separated by Luxembourg's Andy Schleck, one of the riders hoping to settle the dispute with victory on the Champs Elysees on July 25.
 
Contador and Armstrong shook hands on Wednesday, but the tension between the two was already palpable.
 
The Spaniard, who has won every Grand Tour he has raced since claiming his first Tour de France in 2007, will be the hot favourite when next year's event kicks off in Rotterdam.
 
He is the best climber, and Fabian Cancellara -- not an overall contender -- looks like the only man able to beat him in a time trial.
 
With four stages in the Pyrenees and a total of 23 passes, it is hard to imagine that Armstrong can compete.
 
But the Texan is 38 years old and has the experience that goes along with it.
 
While Contador is still unsure about his future -- Astana ? Garmin ? Quick Step ? -- former Astana man Armstrong has already set up his new team, bringing Levi Leipheimer and probably Andreas Kloeden to RadioShack.  

The American outfit, given a Pro-Tour Licence on Friday, will no doubt be strong.
 
Contador still does not know who will be his lieutenants next season. If he stays at Astana, he will be able to rely on Alexander Vinokourov, but who else? He wants Haimar Zubeldia to stay but the Spaniard is willing to join Armstrong.
 
Armstrong is ready to start preparing for the 2010 Tour, Contador is not.
 
Before the race enters the mountains, the first week will be potentially treacherous. Armstrong has the experience to deal with it, while Contador sometimes has problems holding his nerve. Not good when you are set to face strong crosswinds and nasty cobblestones in Northern France.
 
Basically, Armstrong has until July 6 -- the Tour third stage with 13 km of cobbled sections -- to unsettle Contador. After that, it could be too late.

PHOTO: From L to R : Champion cyclists Lance Armstrong of the U.S., Andy Schleck of Luxembourg and Alberto Contador of Spain attend a news conference in Paris October 14, 2009 to announce the itinerary of the 2010 Tour de France. REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen

One hundred years after first featuring on the Tour map, the Pyrenees could be the scene of a classic battle between Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong.

Tour de France organisers unveiled the route for next year's race here in Paris on Wednesday, with four stages, including a gruelling 16th stage with four daunting climbs, to be held in the mountains that form the border between France and Spain.

Defending champion Contador sounded pretty pleased with the prospect.

"The route is better than last year's because there are more mountains," Contador told reporters. "Finishing with the Tourmalet is great for me," he added, referring to the last mountain stage which ends at the top of the 2,115-metre high Col du Tourmalet.

The three-week race over almost 3,600km will start with an 8km prologue in Rotterdam before heading into the heartland of cycling -- Belgium.

The first stage will take the riders along the North Sea, with 12km and 6km sections on an embankment, with crossing winds likely to split the peloton.

The opening stage to Brussels will also go through Antwerp and Meise, the home town of five times winner Eddy Merckx. A tribute will then be paid to the classics, with the second stage going through roads used on Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

Leaders will have to be extremely cautious in the third stage, which features treacherous cobbled sections used for Paris-Roubaix, the Queen of the Classics. “There will be 11km of cobblestones in the last 30km. There will be some damage,” said Tour director Christian Prudhomme.

"Cobblestones are nice on TV, but not on the bike," said Contador, who has never taken part in the Paris-Roubaix race.

Although the Alpine stages will not prove too arduous, a one-stage detour in the Jura mountains is expected to prove tricky, with 56km of climbs over the last 120km in the seventh stage to Station des Rousses. “That could cause havoc,” said Prudhomme.

Those who survive the Pyrenees will then head to Bordeaux after the last rest day on July 21 before a final individual, 51km time trial to Pauillac through the Bordeaux vineyards.

The race will end on the Champs Elysees in Paris on July 25. Will Contador be in yellow again?

Here is how the day is panning out (French time, new items now at top):

There we are! Contador set to win his second Tour de France. Andy Schleck is second.
Armstrong’s comeback is a success with what looks like a wonderful podium finish.

Wiggins set to miss out on podium.

1631 - Garate wins stage in front of Martin

1630 - Contador is guarding Armstrong

1629 - Tony Martin has caught Garate. Endless last k!

1628 - Last Schleck attack. Game over for Wiggo.

1627 - Garate leaves Martin, set to win the stage

1624 - Wiggins back. Next attack could be fatal, though. Just 1.8 km to go

1623 - Podium finish looks safe for Armstrong, Yellow jersey will stay on Contador's shoulders

1621 - Wiggins is dropped! He is suffering a lot but tries to come back

1618 - Joint attack from Andy and Frank. Contador pulls Armstrong back. what a team mate!

1616 - Polkadot jersey holder Pellizotti goes solo to try to catch Martin/Garate. None of the leaders seem interested in stage win

1613 - Everyone's riding defensively. Contador, Andy, Nibali to be caught by Armstrong/Frank/Wiggo. Stage win looming for Martin or Garate

1612 - Gap is growing again between Martin/Garate and Contador group.

1609 - TIME CHECK with 7km left: 1.Martin/Garate 2.Andy S, Contador, Nibali 1:17 behind, 3. Armstrong, Frank S, Wiggins 1:55 behind

1606 - Andy and Contador, with Nibali, just ahead of third placed hopefuls led by Wiggins

1602 - 9 km to go. Andy Schleck has attacked again but Contador is vigilant. Martin and Garate still 1:50 ahead but who cares ?

1559 - Tony Martin and Juan Manuel Garate are resisting. 2:15 ahead of Contador and co

1557 - Here is how it pans out: Andy attacks Contador. Frank attacks Armstrong. Wiggins just follow. Beware of the Briton!

1555 - Wiggins is still with Armstrong and Frank Schleck. Stalemate for now for 3rd place as Andy Schleck attacks again, always followed by Contador

1554 - Armstrong on his own as Kloeden is already dropped!

1553 - Andy Schleck attacks, Contador, up on his pedals, follows. Armstrong then attacks Frank Schleck

1552 - It is going to be a massacre. Andy Schleck now tries his luck, Contador and Armstrong on his wheel

1551 - Armstrong looks very well

1550 - Andy Schleck staying cool behind, as well as Contador

1549 - Frank Schleck attacks, Armstrong chases him

1547 - The Ventoux culminates at "only" 1,912 metres but many riders claim it is extremely hard to breathe as you close in on the top

1545 - 14km to go. The hardest. Contador, the Schlecks, Armstrong and Wiggins still protected by team mates

1544 - Just 20 riders in the favourites' group as the climb has really started, with the road going skyward

1541 - The road is narrowing as thousands of people cheer for the riders

1537 - Garate , Martin and Riblon now on their own as the climb starts.

1532 - Time trial specialists Garmin, Wiggins's team, step up a gear in front of the favourites' group. The breakway looks doomed

1530 - The climb starts, with a 5-km "easy" part

1525 - All favourites are in the first group as the fugitives' lead is now down to 5:55

1525 - All favourites are in the first group as the fugitives' lead is now down to 5:55

1520 - Split in the peloton after a sudden acceleration by team Astana

1517 - TIME CHECK - The gap is now down to 7:20 as the fugitives are less than four km from the village of Bedoin, where the climb will finally start

1508 - Contador and Armstrong's Astana team are now in control of the peloton

1506 - Some 500,000 people are waiting for the riders along the roads leading to the top of the Ventoux. There were 800,000 people lining up the roads around the lake of Annecy during Thursday's time trial

1505 - The Schleck brothers's Saxo Bank team is setting the tempo at the front of the pack

1504 - Temperature in the final part of the Ventoux si expected to be around 12°C

1455 - With everyone riding at a leisurely pace, the breakaway should reach the foot of the Mont Ventoux by 1530. The peloton is just over nine minutes back

1452 - With the strong headwinds blowing on the Ventoux, it will be hard to attack - Advantage Armstrong, then

1446 - The peloton has yet to start working to reduce the gap with the escapees

1432 - TIME CHECK - The 16 fugitives lead the peloton by 8:35

1430 - Contador himself says he is ready to help Armstrong - once he has made sure he will win the Tour (http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE56N4G820090724). But the likely scenario is an attack from the Schleck brothers, with Contador following - not sure Armstrong will be able to sustain the pace.

1428 - Kloeden should not be a problem for Armstrong as he will not be allowed to attack -- unless the American cracks.

1423- But the battle will be tough for the last podium place between Armstrong  (3rd, 5:21 off the pace), Wiggins (4th, 5:36), Kloeden (5:38) and Frank Schleck (5:59)

1421 - If he does not crack completely, Contador will win the Tour. Andy Schleck, 4:11 behind, should be second.

1420 - Alasdair Fotheringham met with Bradley Wiggins. Here is what the Briton had to say before tackling the intimidating climb: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/bradley-wiggins-tom-will-be-watching-over-me-on-ventoux-1760541.html

1414 - Among them is German Tony Martin, who showed some climbing abilities in the Paris-Nice race last March.

The riders are now some 45 kilometres from the foot of Mont Ventoux, 21.1km at an average gradient of 7.6 pc. Strong headwinds on the top of that hill (110 kph)

They will pass near the memorial for Briton Tom Simpson, who died in 1967 during the 13th stage of the Tour de France in the ascent of Ventoux

1413 - 16 men broke away early in the stage, building a maximum gap of almost 11 minutes

PHOTO: Astana rider and leader's yellow jersey holder Alberto Contador of Spain cycles with the pack of riders past a cow during the 19th stage of the 96th Tour de France cycling race between Bourgoin-Jailleu and Aubenas, July 24, 2009. REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel

Alberto Contador is closing in on Tour de France victory having won the 18th stage on Thursday, a time trial in Annecy.

If he succeeds, and I have no doubt he will, the Spaniard will owe it to nobody but himself.

Since the Tour started –- and even before –- Contador has felt like an outsider at Astana. Team manager Johan Bruyneel is much closer to Lance Armstrong, who was gunning for an unprecedented eighth victory in the world’s greatest race.

It all started when Armstrong announced his return to competitive cycling last September. Two months later, the Astana riders were in a training camp in Tenerife with Armstrong, Bruyneel and Contador holding a press conference.

After that, I spoke to Bruyneel and he said he had been a bit bored since the American retired after his record seventh win on the Tour in 2005. Had Contador’s 2007 Tour victory not really thrilled Bruyneel?

Since the Tour started, Armstrong's presence has failed to get to Contador, who has snatched every opportunity to prove his worth.

He was the favourite in the opening time trial (2nd behind Cancellara), he beat all the Tour hopefuls in Arcalis and won the stage in Verbier. On Wednesday, he did not need anyone’s help to resist the Schleck brother’s relentless attacks.

Behaving like the race boss, he did not work during the descent from the Col de la Colombiere, awarding one of the Schlecks the stage win in compensation.

Far behind was Armstrong, who was the perfect team mate on the day –- until he criticised Contador again for attacking in the final climb on Wednesday.

PHOTO: Astana rider Alberto Contador of Spain wears the leader's yellow jersey on the podium after the 17th stage of the 96th Tour de France cycling race between Bourg Saint Maurice and Le Grand Bornand, July 22, 2009. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

Tarbes-Lourdes airport, Sunday, around 6pm.

Lance Armstrong is greeted by massive cheers as he enters the airport before boarding the plane taking the Tour de France riders to Limoges for their first rest day.

Alberto Contador signs a few autographs. Both riders did not exchange a look, let alone a word, in the bus that was taking them to the airport.

Armstrong leaves the rest of the Astana team for an interview with French TV while Contador gets on board.

As I get into the plane, I am quite surprised not to see him in one of the two front rows with a 'do not occupy' tag.

I struggle past a few riders to find a seat towards the back of the plane and there is Contador with team mate Andreas Kloeden.

Armstrong arrives and takes a seat in the front row next to team manager Johan Bruyneel, the man behind his seven Tour de France triumphs.

As the plane takes off, Contador bends his cap infront of his eyes and has a quick nap. Later Kloeden gives him his video game and the Spaniard plays for a few minutes.

Then we chat. He won't name Armstrong, but reckons: "My legs cannot betray me even once."

The crucial part of the race is set to start on Saturday in the Alps. Then we will see who is really in front of whom.

PHOTO: Astana rider Alberto Contador of Spain (R) cycles with his team mate Lance Armstrong of the U.S. during the ninth stage of the 96th Tour de France cycling race between Saint Gaudens and Tarbes, July 12, 2009. REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel

Since the Tour started, and even long before the peloton got to Monaco for the Grand Depart, Armstrong has been trying to unsettle Contador.

"Great talent, but still a lot to learn", the 37-year-old Texan said on his Twitter feed minutes after Contador had cracked in a stage of the Paris-Nice race in March.

"When you see what the wind is doing and you have a turn coming up, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out you have to go to the front. I've won the Tour de France seven times, so it makes no sense not to be there," Armstrong said after Contador was trapped by an acceleration of Team Columbia in the third stage of the Tour.

The seven-times champion was the only favourite to catch the break and that helped him move above Contador in the GC.

On Friday, Contador was on his terrain and it took him just two kilometres to set the record straight.

A violent, morale-sapping acceleration from the main pack left everybody stuck on the tar and the Spaniard eventually leapfrogged Armstrong by two seconds.

It wasn't decisive but Contador could now be poised to win this race... unless the mind games eventually wear the young Spaniard out.

PHOTO: Astana rider Alberto Contador of Spain signs autographs as team mate Lance Armstrong of the U.S. arrives to the start of the eighth stage of the 96th Tour de France cycling race between Andorre la Vieille and Saint Girons July 11, 2009. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

Lance Armstrong was agonisingly close  to taking the yellow jersey for first time since

Here's how Julien Pretot, a member of our reporting team on the Tour, saw the 39-km team time trial in Montpellier as it happened.

1500. Still in the car following Rabobank team. Menchov crashed in turn number two. Team mates waited for him. Astana gunning for yellow jersey thru Armstrong -- starting last.

1503. Very tricky course, lots of twists and turns in and around sunbathed Montpellier. Time is taken on the fifth rider to cross the line. Team cohesion obviously key to a good performance today.

1509. Four teams are clearly looking for a stage win today: Astana with Armstrong and Contador, Columbia with Tony Martin, Cancellara's Saxo Bank and David Millar and Bradley Wiggins's Garmin-Slipstream team.

1520. A race doctor is behind Rabobank - in case Menchov would need medical assistance after his crash, although the Dutch team has been riding very strong over the last 10 km.

1525. First intermediate times In Grabels: 1.Caisse d'epargne 12min35s, 2.Katusha +9s, 3.Rabobank +53s.

1526. CRASH - Four riders from the Bouygues Telecom tram crash early in the course. Definitely a very tricky one.

1527. Dutchman Stef Clement is dropped by his Rabobank team mates.

1532. Rabobank's usual strong men on flat roads are having a hard time: Joost Posthuma also dropped.

1540. CRASH - A Silence Lotto rider crashes when his front wheel touches the rear wheel of a team mate. The whole team loses ground in the incident. Bad news for Cadel Evans, one of the Tour favourites.

1558. 1.Katusha, 47:52. 2.Caisse d'Epargne +6s. 3.Rabobank +58s.

1616. Team Katusha still leading provisional standings after 10 teams crossed the line.

1617. Cadel Evans's Silence Lotto team finished 1:06 off the pace - Bad news for the Australian.

1619. Bradley Wiggins and David Millar's Garmin team to start in four minutes. Armstrong and Contador starting at 16:43.

1624. Garmin have started, looking for stage win. No crash reported yet...

1627. Liquigas, with underdogs Roman Kreuziger and Vicenzo Nibali, take the lead at intermediate point #2.  Clean ride so far for the Italian team.

1640. Four Garmin riders have dropped! Still a long way to go, it will be extremely hard for Jonathan Vaughters's team.

1643. Lance Armstrong and his Astana team have started. Alberto Contador is wearing the Spanish time trial champion jersey.

1646. Smooth ride for Astana for now. They perfectly managed the turn where Giro winner Menchov and world champion Ballan crashed.

1649. Liquigas take the lead in provisional standings in 47:27.

1650. Garmin, although they are down to five men, clock the best provisional best at second intermediate point. Outstanding.

1652. Bike used by Team Columbia is worth 15,000 euros. The most expensive in the peloton.

1656. Astana are 7 seconds off the pace at intermediate point #1. Good performance

1657. Gregory Rast is the first Astana rider to drop out of the team.

1659. Armstrong now 28 seconds from the yellow jersey at intermediate #1 as Astana lead Cancellara's Saxo Bank by 12 seconds after 10 km.

1701. Wow. Garmin smashing the field, opening a 31-second gap at top of intermediate #3 standings.

1707. Astana down to 7 men as Dmitriy Murrayev drops out.

1708. Garmin take the lead in 46:47.

1709. Astana on fire! They lead Garmin by 23 second at intermediate #2.

1720. Armstrong now set to take the yellow jersey as Astana are powering through the course. Looks like Saxo Bank will lose more than 40s.

1729. Huge media scrum at the Astana bus...

1733. And Lance just misses out! It's incredibly close... Looks like Cancellara and Armstrong are dead level on the GC. So Cancellara keeps the yellow jersey.

PHOTO: Armstrong laughs as he cycles during the third stage of the 96th Tour de France between Marseille and La Grande-Motte July 6, 2009. REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel

The 18th rider to set off in Monaco, Armstrong clocked 20 minutes 12 seconds for the 15.5-km course to briefly top the standings. He ended up in 10th spot behind Fabian Cancellara in the yellow jersey.

"I was a bit nervous but it is logical," the 37-year-old told reporters. "What a beautiful race. It was fun. I felt pretty good, overall, I feel good. I was a little bit all over the place."

But it is not.

Valverde's pat on his back by the end of the last stage even showed it was all good news for the Spaniard.

The 2007 Tour winner, arguably the best big Tours rider in the world, never suffered during the one-week race featuring the gruelling climbs of the Col de l'Izoard and the Mont Ventoux -- where the penultimate Tour de France stage will end.

He did not attack on the punishing ascent to the Ventoux, where Valverde took the overall leader's yellow jersey. Contador just stayed on Evans's wheel, with the Australian clearly puzzled as to why he did not get any help to catch Valverde.

Clearly not the best way to win a race, Alberto. But the Astana rider has only one goal in sight: the Tour de France.

And the apparently strange tactics he used during the Dauphine actually probably secured him the support of Valverde's Caisse d'Epargne team should he be struggling on the French roads this summer.

With Valverde likely to miss the Tour since he was banned to race in Italy (a country the Tour will visit this year), the Caisse d'Epargne team will probably be without a top contender for the GC.

They will then be available to support Contador, who has yet to receive the full backling of his team management. The Spaniard still does not know if he will be Astana's leader in July -- Americans Levi Leipheimer and Lance Armstrong are also candidates.

Should things go nasty during the Tour, Contador will be able to count on the support of one of the strongest teams in the peloton. Worth losing a one-week race for, isn't it ?

PHOTO: Alejandro Valverde of Spain, second placed Cadel Evans of Australia (R) and third placed Astana's Alberto Contador of Spain (L) celebrate on the podium after the last stage of the Dauphine Libere cycling race in Grenoble, French Alps June 14, 2009. REUTERS/Robert Pratta