Stage 7 recap...

Today’s stage, just one of three mountain finales in this 2009 Tour de France, was destined to start winnowing the contenders from the pretenders. But the subtext and hype was would this also be some type of showdown between the two stars of the Astana Pro Cycling Team, 7-time champion Lance Armstrong, and Alberto Contador, the Spanish sensation most agree is the best stage racer in the world today. Contador was keeping his cards close to his chest, the norm for the soft spoken 3-time Grand Tour champion. Lance had said he would follow the race, do his best, and if Contador “flew” then he would stay back with the other leaders and not chase him down. Fans believed in his word, skeptics doubted Lance could ever be such a team player. They were wrong.

As a break of 9 riders went down the road, Lance’s Astana team massed at the front of the peloton, controlling the tempo reminiscent of the old USPS / Discovery Channel days. With a gap at around 7-8 minutes at the base of the climb the Astana armada kept plugging along, no other team daring to come to the front. But Astana was not looking like they were hunting for a stage win, more so sending a message.

With the day’s race leader Cancellara already dropped off the pace, the only question really to be answered was who would be in yellow? As the break up front fell apart, Agritubel’s Brice Feillu survived to take the stage win. As the French rider celebrated and the other 7 riders scrambled in, it was Contador lighting up the final 2kms, coming around hard on the left hand side and accelerating away. What would Lance do now? He kept his word.

Lance said yesterday, “If he (Contador) goes, and nobody can hang onto him, then I'll just stay with the other leaders. That's the way to be.” And that’s the way it was, too. Lance did not follow Contador’s attack and came in with main rivals Evans, Sastre, Menchov, the Schleck brothers, and Vande Velde.

However, a funny thing happened on the way to the podium … AG2R’s Rinaldo Nocentini – who was in the day’s escape - was sitting pretty far down on GC at 2’53” back from Contador, but thanks to his 4th place showing today he managed to edge Contador by 6” and Lance by 8” – a brand new Maillot Jaune!

So what to think of this? All in all it’s a very good thing for Team Astana. AG2R had no real plans to be in yellow, but with a valued gift like this they will now defend it their utmost for as long as possible. Astana couldn’t be happier: they have their top men in the 2,3,4 and 6 spots and over a minute or more on their main rivals. With two more days in the mountains that shouldn’t be decisive they can now focus on staying in the front area of the pack, watching their rivals, and conserving as much energy for the days ahead. A good day in the mountains and a good day for Lance and his team here at the Tour.

Ciao for now!

Guest Blogger, Chris