Lance Armstrong prefaced his autobiography by foreshadowing, somewhat tongue in cheek, the manner in which he expected to die: hurtling down a steep descent with the lone star of Texas draped across his shoulders.
This reckless abandonment of self, or maybe, more aptly, his perpetual and staunch resistance to defeat, suggests Armstrong is unlikely to slip quickly, or quietly into obscurity at this year’s Tour De France.
Thus the stage is set and the curtain raised for a cycling legend to ascend to immortality.
But in a cruel twist of fate, Armstrong’s destiny might yet be sealed, not by those around him, but by those right next to him – namely Astana team leader, and team mate Alberto Contador.
This anomaly has scantly existed in Tours gone by.
Armstrong’s US Postal team rode selflessly during his successful years, whilst Carlos Sastre’s victory in 2008 was achieved, in no small part, by the unity and cohesion of team CSC.
So as the Tour enters its second, crucial week, the question remains: can Astana juggle the conflicting objectives of its two superstars? And perhaps pertinently, who – out of Contador and Armstrong – will emerge as Astana’s true team leader?
The first question, on the basis of current standings, appears to have been answered conclusively.
A devastating week of dominance, highlighted by victory in the team time trial, has seen not just Contador and Armstrong, but team mates Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Kloden occupy four of the Tour’s top six positions.
The dominance, although undoubtedly present, has its price.
With the exception of Armstrong’s quick thinking on Stage 3, and Contador’s show of strength on Stage 7, the two have been content to work off domestiques Kloden and Yaroslav Popovych.
The weight of two, as opposed to one, leaders proved a burden too significant for Astana as its domestiques imploded up the Col da Tourmalet
This subplot highlights that, for all of Armstrong and Contador’s brilliance, they simply cannot survive alone. A decision must be made. The sustainability of Astana’s title bid may ultimately rest upon it; Armstrong or Contador?
The most telling insight came with Contador’s 11th hour attack on Stage 7.
The attack was brief, hardly fatal and suggested Contador intended to simply mark his territory. The result was insignificant, yet the means were telling.
Contador is brutal.
Armstrong couldn’t, or perhaps didn’t, respond, preferring instead to ward of the advances of Cadel Evans and Any Schleck. To confuse matters, Armstrong and Contador have both stated that team instructions, as opposed to individual preferences, will dictate tactics.
This stand-off may extend beyond the second week.
A resolution may only be determined on Stage 18 – a 40k time trial in the French town of Annecy. Contador proved on Day One superior amongst his Astana team. But will the Kazak outfit have burned out all its bridges by then?
One decision hovers ominously: Contador or Armstrong? One answer remains: the legend will not go quietly
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