Armstrong to win 8th Tour title this July

To some that may be a shocking headline. For me it's a shock to pick Lance to win this month in Paris. I've thought about this for a long time and while I do think Alberto Contador is clearly the best rider today, there can be no denying that cycling is a team sport and Alberto's squad is simply not up to the task. Astana is a top flight team, enough to deliver a super star to the top step of the podium. However, standing in the way is the Radioshack juggernaut, Team Director Johann Bruyneel at the helm. Lance and Bruyneel form a tandem rarely seen in sports, akin to Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan at their best in Chicago. Plug and play the other guys at will and knock off championships like bowling pins.

In this case Radioshack is sitting in a better situation than even the Bulls of lore. Andreas Kloden, Levi Leipheimer, Chris Horner and Janez Brajkovic are more than mere teammates, they can pretend to be Lance in their dreams and every single one of them can manifest those dreams on any given day. This gives Boss Hog Bruyneel a winning hand, one King and four Deuces Wild. Contrast this with Astana and their Team Director.....Vinokourov, the Joker. Well nobody really ever knows what will happen with Vino in charge. Contador is the Ace, but in the world of cycling the Joker on this team is the one to watch. Will Vinokourov dedicate himself to towing Contador around like a guardian angel? I doubt it. Vino attacks, that's what he does. It's probably a better tactic as well. Things that make you go hhhmmmmmm.

What about Bjarne Riis' Saxo Bank team? He's got a decent hand with one Ace, Andy Schleck, and one Jack, Frank Schleck. But without the Wild Card Sastre in the mix, Saxo is left a little short. What about Sastre? All that leads to is more and more questions; what about Basso?, what about Menchov?, what about Cadel Evans?, what about Mick Rogers? Those are all good questions. But we're talking about winning the Tour de France. Lance Armstrong and Johann Bruyneel quite simply, will not let any one of those guys win the Tour. Nope, this is about defeating Contador and Vinokourov. The others are supporting cast at best, chorus members, some may get an outstanding solo but that's it.

Lance has announced that the intention is to control from the first pedal turn to the last. He has also announced that he is close to his all time fitness with a final lead up test on the Col de la Madone near his home. This is a regular test he has done nearly throughout his career. This behavior signals a different Lance than we saw last year. This behavior is more reminiscent of his earlier self, the one who not once ever accepted defeat. When Lance announces these things, the peloton is on notice. I'm coming through, get the hell out of the way.

This year's course is yet another bike pump to throw into Contador's front wheel. Holland, Wind, Cobbles, Le Tour... these are all institutions, monuments to the sport of cycling. Alberto Contador is still but a child, almost a baby, while Radioshack is the Dream Team. You tell me, how in the world is the immature, almost infantile Contador going to handle all of this? He could barely handle it last year when he was an ally. Now he is enemy number one. By hook or by crook, Contador and Vino are going down. I just hope nobody gets hurt when it's all said and done, it could get ugly.

Trecker's Tour de France top 10 GC
1. Lance Armstrong
2. Andy Schleck
3. Alberto Contador
4. Bradley Wiggins
5. Michael Rogers
6. Roman Kreuzinger
7. Robert Gesink
8. Christian Vande Velde
9. Andreas Kloden
10. Levi Leipheimer

Points Classification (Green Jersey)
1. Oscar Freire
2. Tyler Farrar
3. Thor Hushovd

Mountains Classification (Polka Dot Jersey)
1. Damiano Cunego
2. John Gadret
3. Christophe Moreau