My prediction is that Contador will stand tall as the winner of the 2009 Tour with Lance and Levi along side. Lance in second place and Levi in third place. And for once in history, a single team will be talked about as a team.

Go f’ing figure that it took an American to put “team” into a sport that’s been dominated by the words “I, me, mine, I” – which isn’t surprising to those who understand it’s a FRENCH race. The press continues with its onslaught of crappy-crap related to “who is the leader of Astana.” All the while Lance is out front hedging Astana’s bets of remaining calm in the midst of an all-out racing war.

The FRENCH believe that the strongest man is the leader, and leadership can change during the race depending on who is strongest. It’s a warped philosophy that, in my opinion, has kept the FRENCH from winning its share of the Tours the past two decades.  The American bicycle racing philosophy, on the other hand, is 180 degrees away from “I, me, mine, I.” Our philosophy and working model doesn’t originate around the “strongest” – it originates around the person most capable of leading. Typically it is the person with the wisdom to lead and the common sense to follow when required.

When the difficult climbs come, you’ll see him (Lance) follow, or set tempo and win. But Lance cannot climb with Contador every day. Yes, if we backed up five years, Lance would/could do it. But it’s 2009 and Contador has more current racing miles in his legs than Lance. The other factor is age. Like it or not, there is a 10-year age difference between the two. And you can bet that a decade makes a huge difference in what the human engine can produce. OK then. Even with the differences, Lance Armstrong is the leader of Astana. Fact.

Love him, like him or hate him – Lance IS the leader. I would add, however, that every man on the squad is leading in some form or fashion.

The standings today attest to one other significant point: when a team acts like a team it dominates like a team. Four of the top 10 cyclists thus far are from one team: Astana. In my mind they’ve already won the greatest bike race – or the greatest test of man’s endurance – on earth.

Ride oneth.