Enough with the nagging mind games: that’s basically what Alberto Contador told Lance Armstrong when he moved ahead of the American with a brutal attack in the final ascent of the Tour de France seventh stage.
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
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11 comments so far
You guys make way too much out of the “mind games” issue. You sound like a bunch of girls. Being in front and winning the race is foremost in each mans mind or he would not be in the race in the first place. There can only be one winner and that will be the man with the stamina, drive and conviction to push forward when his body is played out. It is a human drama but not for drama queens. Focus on the real issues. If Armstrong comes in 2nd or 3rd ths time, he is still a far superior competitor than most in the world.
- Posted by Michael NearContador is reacting exactly as a relatively immature rider would comapred to a 7-times champion - by striking out. If he keeps attacking his own team, he’ll wear out.
Lance is known for throwing down the hammer at the right time. This ride was not it. Perhaps Contador has the legs to keep the silliness going. Charlie Mottet thought having the yellow jersey would be hari kari at this point. I tend to agree.
- Posted by Chuck Staplesif anything, contador showed his immaturity and armstrong displayed his sense of team spirit. when contador shot off the front, a move he admitted later was “spontaneous” and definitely not part of astana’s team plan, he showed a lack of teamwork. armstrong, on the other hand, stuck to astana’s plan of riding the front of the peleton and peeling the yellow jersey off the back of the pack.
so, did contador’s lashing out prove he’s stronger than armstrong? maybe. but we all saw how armstrong reeled in evan’s attempt to break free and we know he has power yet in his legs.
if armstrong wins this race, it won’t be by grandstanding and showing off and creating a rift in his own team. it will be with teamwork.
contador won’t be able to say the same i’m sure.
- Posted by marion cherneyLA following team tactics?
only if they suit his and JB’s agenda for win number 8.
My case:
The infamous stage 4; LA and 2 of his lieutenants making the break alongside Hincapie (no coincidence there - although difficult to prove he was tipped off). The Astana duo at the visible instruction of LA made sure they put the effort in up front, no press statement from JB complaining that LA had eaten into AC’s time. LA knew the team TT was a foregone conclusion and wanted Yellow. Not a peep from JB moaning about the potential of protecting Yellow after LA drew level with Cancellara.
But on Friday following team orders that were to benefit no-one but LA, AC showed in just 2 km that he is no mug. It was a brief demonstration of raw god given talent that acted as a reminder to all those taken in by LA; he is a class rider and the only grand slam rider in the peloton; he is not some upstart rookie and should not be disrespected in the manner to which he has been subjected to by LA all year. Nonetheless he complied with JB tactics of not taking Yellow albeit by 6 secs, although JB complained about this: smacking of hypocrisy.
I am sure the impending Livestrong-Nike team and the bond between LA and JB has nothing to do with current team tactics - Not.
As for mind games are for drama queens! Review the 1986 tour. Competitive sport is all about Psychology.
- Posted by MBArmstrong is a great champion, there is no doubt about that. But I think the critics are too harsh against Contador.
- Posted by julienAfter all, he won his first Tour as a 24-year-old while Armstrong took his first aged 27. Also, Contador has since then won the Giro and the Vuelta (Armstrong has not). He would also have probably won another Tour had his team not been barred entering the race last year. And I’m pretty confident he will win this year’s. I’ll explain myself in another blog.
contador’s achievements are proof of maturity beyond his years. He is an exciting young rider and it is good to see that he hasn’t allowed Armstrong to manipulate or browbeat him. Unlike armstrong’s often disrespectful comments on other riders, contador has shown nothing but grace. May the best man win!
- Posted by LrI agree with Micheal Near’s comments. You can’t lash out at the way Contador attacked. This guy is the best and upcoming star in the world of professional cycling. He won a Tour in the past and two Grand tours in succession. You think he’s immature? Well if immaturity can bring you courage and strength to pull off some feats that no can attempted, I would take immaturity any day. Astana is pretty unbalanced. Contador was on this team way before his majesty Armstrong decided to break his news of coming out of retirement and joining the team. Being the champion that he is, I cannot see Contador playing sitting duck with Armstrong. He’s got a title to go for and I’m sure Armstrong he doesnt have what Contador has. Please, lets all support the current young riders in the race than battling words in support of a guy who’s been there, done it all, has all the power and influence in the world and is constantly in the media 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I feel sick already.
- Posted by RGthe only choice alberto has is attacking directly to armstrong. the spaniard is stronger than the american by now, but bruyneel wants lance to win (more popular rider, more money, they are friends…) so the team is going to work for armstrong, it already happened in one of the stages i it will happen again. so contador has to battle alone, even attacking to his own team.
- Posted by yulbriSorry, but rival or not, and regardless of whatever personal ax you may have to grind against Armstrong, one simply does not attack a teammate when you know he has different instructions and would therefore not be in a position to respond. Just as Armstrong didn’t go on the attack against Jan Ullrich when the latter ran off the course (a courtesy Ullrich returned to Armstrong a couple of years later, when the tables were turned).
It’s completely different from studying the course ahead of time, being aware of the wind, watching the Columbia team’s formation at the head of the peleton, anticipating a break-away and putting yourself in position to take advantage of it. That’s just smart riding and AC was undoubtedly embarrassed by getting caught in the back with his pants around his ankles. At least the other GC riders who were similarly caught had the grace to admit they fell asleep at the wheel. Not AC — he petulantly acts out on his own to make up the time he no doubt thinks he “unfairly” lost.
Bottom line: Attacking Armstrong (or the other rivals, as AC claims) was a bush league move by Contador, and one I’m sure other riders won’t forget anytime soon. If you don’t believe me, check out the blogs and Twitter entries by various other Tour riders - both past and present. While some said they understood AC’s thinking, they almost uniformly questioned the appropriateness. Even the great Eddy Merckx apparently (per the TV commentators) said AC was wrong to do it.
- Posted by krAC goofed. He should be man enough to admit it, unfortunately he’s not a man yet. He can win no doubt. He can work in a team no doubt. Problem he has is he’s in the shadow of on of the greatest riders ever who’s trying to teach him how to be great.
Being great doesn’t just mean winning and definitely doesn’t mean ignoring team orders and attacking your own team. It’s about how you treat other riders, the sport’s history and the media. He has work to do and unfortunately for him, he’s lost his team’s respect and will have to pull himself up the Alps.
As for Kloeden and Leipheimer, my money is on them pulling Lance up. Maybe next year Alberto.
- Posted by DavidI heard Alberto Contador, speaks five languages, and plays chess near the Grandmaster level. A very very extraordinary and gifted man for the sport of cycling.
- Posted by XT