Alberto Contador has the Yellow Jersey
Can he keep the Yellow Jersey after Stage 16?
Alberto Contador proved last Sunday that he is the sport’s next big star after winning Stage 15 of the 2009 Tour de France. The win also let Contador seize the yellow jersey, something he and his teammate, Lance Armstrong, have been salivating over ever since we kicked it off in Monaco.
While Alberto Contador had one of the best performances of his career to take the lead in the standings, Lance Armstrong had one of his worst. Armstrong finished in ninth place, finishing a minute and a half behind Contador. And because of his somewhat unimpressive performance, he sees his chances of an eight Tour de France title, fading.
‘’It will be hard. A day like this really shows who’s the best, and I wasn’t on par with what is required to win the Tour,’’ Lance Armstrong said. ‘’That’s the reality; that’s not devastating news or anything.’’
‘’I gave it everything that I had, and I wasn’t the best.’’
Being the best is what Alberto Contador is hoping to be once Armstrong walks away from the sport for good. He finally recovered the celebrated yellow jersey, something he hadn’t worn since his Tour victory two years ago, and now that he has, he’s making it clear that he is the man to beat this year.
And as far as his Astana teammate, Lance Armstrong is concerned, the guy agrees.
With a 1-minute, 37-second gap between him and Contador, Armstrong now sees himself playing the domestique role to help and support Contador win it all this year. Does this mean that Armstrong is quitting on the 2009 title already? Who knows, but at least he tried to sound happy for his teammate last Sunday.
‘’[Contador] is the best in the race, and he deserved to win,’’ Armstrong said.
For Armstrong to say that his teammate is best at something is puzzling considering that it was only last week when Armstrong acknowledged the tension within the Astana team amid his rivalry with teammate Contador. Armstrong even claimed that Contador had much to learn.
I guess a lot of things can happen in a week huh? Especially if you’re 37 years old trying to still play in a young man’s world.
Can Lance Armstrong win the 2009 Tour de France? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.
Lance Armstrong 3.50
Alberto Contador 1.73
Cadel Evans 21.00
Mark Cavendish 501.00
Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more Tour de France betting odds. Want to watch the Tour de France live? Get sporting events tickets online now.
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