The Drubbing

Any hope of Lance Armstrong dawning a yellow jersey and claiming his 8th Tour championship in this years race is just about gone. Armstrong has made good on his word and done the right thing over the last three weeks. Fellow Astana teammate Alberto Contador has shown that he is without a doubt the most prolific rider in the 2009 version of the Tour.

Leading up to the start of the race it was reported that Armstrong was prepared to accept a support role, if Contador proved too much to overcome. I for one didn’t think Armstrong would let this happen or take to riding for someone else very lightly. Whether Armstrong let it happen is probably inaccurate. I think, at this point in his career, Armstrong had no choice but to embrace the role and be a professional. He checked his ego at the door, took his bike every day and rode in a manner that best suited the goals of the Astana team. For that, Armstrong can be applauded. He has shown great respect for Contador, whom he rivaled with in years past. They are now teammates, albeit for just this year.

Lance will be the lead man on his own team, once he drops Astana, and joins up with RadioShack, who will sponsor Lance next season.

It’s become apparent over the last couple of weeks that Armstrong has a much better grasp on his abilities and expectations than some outsiders do (you can put me at the top of that list). I was caught up in the mystique of his past performances and expected the same level of excellence. I’m not about to say that Armstrong hasn’t shown a level of riding that is far superior to most, but it’s just not at the level needed to wear the leader’s jersey.

Maybe with another year of training and the unwavering support of an entire team of riders, Armstrong can reclaim his place atop the podium. Maybe he can’t. The extended break from the pro-cycling circuit may have caught up with him. Either way, Armstrong has shown that he can still ride with the best in the game, and compete at a level the rest of us can’t even begin to comprehend. He’s a special rider and is doing special things.

Whether he one day wins the Tour again or not, I think Armstrong realizes that his legacy is in tact. He has larger goals that go beyond cycling which I think are more important to him.

Saturday’s Stage 20 is going to be tough. Contador has practically locked up first place while Armstrong, sits in third – a few seconds ahead of Bradley Wiggins. Armstrong will have his work cut out for him. Andy Schleck (second overall) and brother Frank Schleck are two very tough mountain climbers. They were able to hang with Contador the other day in the Alps. Wiggins, who isn’t known for his climbing abilities, is still within striking distance. It will be an all out grudge match with a handful of riders trying to position themselves for a spot on the podium in Paris, Sunday.

Enjoy the race.