Contador, not Armstrong, will lead Tour team
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Thu June 25 2009
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Posted Jun 25, 2009
- 7,887
PARIS - Astana's Tour de France challenge will be built
around 2007 winner Alberto Contador as its leader and not
seven-time champion Lance Armstrong.
In a glitzy presentation on its Web site, the Kazakh team
announced Thursday the two stars will be backed by past
Tour podium finishers including Andreas Kloeden of Germany
and American Levi Leipheimer.
The selection has been widely awaited by cycling fans
because it suggests who team manager Johan Bruyneel
believes Astana should build its team around for this
year's Tour. Bruyneel coached Armstrong and Contador during
their Tour wins.
Contador, who has five stage wins this season, "has worked
very hard, earning the right to represent our team as the
leader this July," Bruyneel said on the Web site.
Bruyneel said he was "very happy" with Armstrong's form
during his comeback season, adding: "I know he is extremely
motivated for the Tour de France."
Astana, seen as one of the strongest teams this year, had
already announced a list of six Tour riders, including
Ukrainian Yaroslav Popovych, the 2005 Tour's best young
rider, and veteran mountain specialist Haimar Zubeldia of
Spain.
The three additions Thursday were Dmitriy Muravyev, the
only Kazakh rider on the squad and a Tour newcomer;
Portugal's Sergio Paulinho — a strong Contador ally; and
Gregory Rast of Switzerland.
The three-week race starts July 4 in Monaco
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