Contador Breaks from the Team

July 11, 2009

OK, he didn’t break from Team Astanà entirely, but he certainly paid no mind to the direction of the manager when he attacked and jumped a few seconds ahead of Lance into second place.

The Stage 7 results proved that Alberto is a bit miffed at how well Lance is riding and the next few days will show us all who’s going to be the rider for Astanà.

I can’t believe that Bruneel would allow this infighting to continue. He soon has to choose the team leader. And if not on Stage 8 or 9, it’s got to happen before the Alps.

What do you think?

Here’s how they were lined up after Stage 7…

1. NOCENTINI Rinaldo 87 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 25h 44′ 32″
2. CONTADOR Alberto 21 ASTANA 25h 44′ 38″ + 00′ 06″
3. ARMSTRONG Lance 22 ASTANA 25h 44′ 40″ + 00′ 08″
4. LEIPHEIMER Levi 24 ASTANA 25h 45′ 11″ + 00′ 39″
5. WIGGINS Bradley 58 GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM 25h 45′ 18″ + 00′ 46″
6. KLÖDEN Andréas 23 ASTANA 25h 45′ 26″ + 00′ 54″
7. MARTIN Tony 76 TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC 25h 45′ 32″ + 01′ 00″
8. VANDE VELDE Christian 51 GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM 25h 45′ 56″ + 01′ 24″
9. SCHLECK Andy 31 TEAM SAXO BANK 25h 46′ 21″ + 01′ 49″
10. NIBALI Vincenzo 95 LIQUIGAS 25h 46′ 26″ + 01′ 54″
11. PINEAU Jérôme 156 QUICK STEP 25h 46′ 42″ + 02′ 10″
12. MONFORT Maxime 77 TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC 25h 46′ 53″ + 02′ 21″
13. SCHLECK Frank 36 TEAM SAXO BANK 25h 46′ 57″ + 02′ 25″
14. KREUZIGER Roman 93 LIQUIGAS 25h 47′ 12″ + 02′ 40″
15. SASTRE Carlos 1 CERVELO TEST TEAM 25h 47′ 24″ + 02′ 52″
16. FRÖHLINGER Johannes 184 TEAM MILRAM 25h 47′ 26″ + 02′ 54″
17. PELLIZOTTI Franco 91 LIQUIGAS 25h 47′ 35″ + 03′ 03″
18. EVANS Cadel 11 SILENCE – LOTTO 25h 47′ 39″ + 03′ 07″
19. MARTINEZ Egoi 64 EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 25h 47′ 42″ + 03′ 10″
20. KIRCHEN Kim 75 TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC 25h 47′ 48″ + 03′ 16″
21. RIBLON Christophe 88 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 25h 47′ 52″ + 03′ 20″
22. GUTIERREZ José Ivan 115 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 25h 48′ 14″ + 03′ 42″
23. KARPETS Vladimir 161 TEAM KATUSHA 25h 48′ 21″ + 03′ 49″
24. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 118 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 25h 48′ 42″ + 04′ 10″
25. ZUBELDIA Haimar 29 ASTANA 25h 48′ 46″ + 04′ 14″
26. POPOVYCH Yaroslav 27 ASTANA 25h 48′ 52″ + 04′ 20″
27. GERDEMANN Linus 181 TEAM MILRAM 25h 48′ 52″ + 04′ 20″
28. ROCHE Nicolas 89 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 25h 48′ 57″ + 04′ 25″
29. FEILLU Brice 174 AGRITUBEL 25h 48′ 58″ + 04′ 26″
30. EFIMKIN Vladimir 81 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 25h 49′ 08″ + 04′ 36″
31. URAN Rigoberto 119 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 25h 49′ 19″ + 04′ 47″
32. ASTARLOZA Mikel 61 EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 25h 49′ 28″ + 04′ 56″
33. BOTCHAROV Alexandre 162 TEAM KATUSHA 25h 49′ 32″ + 05′ 00″
34. MENCHOV Denis 41 RABOBANK 25h 49′ 34″ + 05′ 02″
35. ZABRISKIE David 59 GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM 25h 49′ 50″ + 05′ 18″
36. HINCAPIE George 74 TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC 25h 49′ 57″ + 05′ 25″

As with past years, I’m cutting the standings sharings off wherever big George Hincapie is slotted. Sadly he’s 5+ minutes behind now.