Rate it!

0 votes

Alberto Contador had to batter his way through a Swiss sea of spectators on the way to Verbier but was able to pull the trigger at the end.

That imaginary gunshot, carried out after two telling taps on the chest with a clenched fist, fired down the chances of his rivals - and pierced the heart of Lance Armstrong.

Oscar Freire and Julian Dean may have been shot at by airgun-wielding teenagers last Friday, but the damage was nothing like that dealt out by Contador's trigger finger. The exhausted Armstrong crossed the line, alone and bedraggled, what seemed like an eternity later. Even team-mate Andreas Kloden had given up on him.

It was a wonder why Kloden stayed so long with the American for he clearly had the legs to ride his own race. In fact, Blazin' Saddles half expected the German to turn round after Contador's attack, catch Armstrong's eye, tell him "this one's from Jan" and then juggernaut ahead.

Given Armstrong's behaviour on the preceding Col de Mosses - where he chose to climb alone on the back of the peloton while talking to David Millar instead of helping set the pace with the rest of the Astana team - Klodi had every right to ditch him.

As he crossed the line, there was no Contador-style chest thumping from Armstrong; he simply spat on the barriers and shook his head.

The world hasn't seen Lance as drained as this since the heat-wave of 2003, where he was taken so close by Ullrich. This time round, there will be no yellow jersey, for in that spittle the American shed also went any chances of him winning an eighth Tour.

---------------

Contador's victory was brilliant as it was brutal.

He didn't just damage his rivals: over-excited spectators also found themselves pistol-whipped as the Spaniard swatted the imbeciles like flies while continuing his ascent to the top of the world's-best ladder.

On the last rest day, Armstrong said we'd have to wait to the climb to Verbier to see who was "the strongest". He said it with the conviction of a man confident that he was referring to himself.

That has now been put to rest.

Credit to Armstrong's humility, he has finally admitted subservience to Contador. Still, being second best when 37 and coming out of retirement is hardly an embarrassment. He's still a more accomplished rider now than the likes of Evans, Sastre and Menchov will ever be (or have ever been).

But despite throwing in the towel, don't expect Armstrong to sign off with a whimper. He still has a lot to prove on this year's race. He may well have declared his loyalty to Contador today, but that won't stop him from trying to defy him tomorrow.

MEA CULPA: Although BS doesn't usually speak in the first person, he'd still like to put his hands up and say he was sorry about Mark Cavendish's nightmare Saturday.

In the weekend blog, BS claimed Cav had indirectly ruined team-mate George Hincapie's chances of yellow and admonished the Manxman for his role in Thor-gate.

In reality, the veteran American shot himself in the foot for riding into Besancon like a junior, while Garmin's petulant upping of the pace was the final nail in the coffin.

Garmin are obviously still reeling from their TTT defeat to Columbia in the Giro, after which the likes of Cav and Big George basked in glory as they ridiculed their rivals. Denying Hincapie yellow was revenge, served cold.

Regarding Cav's disqualification, BS thinks the officials got it wrong. Yes, Cav messed up his sprint, but there was no intention of forcing Hushovd into the barriers. If anything, it was the Norwegian's fault for trying to fit through a gap too small.

The Bull from Grimstad's appeal says a lot about the situation: Thor is clearly prepared to resort to any tactics to secure the green jersey.

Cav should take this as a compliment. If you asked the Manxman if he'd prefer five wins (for he'll certainly win on the Champs Elysees) and no green, or one win and the green, we all know what he'd take. Hushovd would probably give the same answer.

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND: "Now you know who's the best rider in the world and the best rider in the race. In the past I was the best, now he's the best." LA passes the best-baton onto AC.

PLAT DU JOUR: The riders can restock their reserves on fondue, Swiss dumplings, cervelat sausages and Toblerone, washed down with Swiss national soft drink Rivella (a type of milk whey energy concoction) or, if in Cadel Evans's case in need of something stronger, a glass of Damassine eau de vie.

REST DAY PREDICTION: Menchov to quit from the race, Evans to sob and bemoan his lack of spine, Hushovd to continue the verbal war of words with Cav and Armstrong to reassess the situation and promise the world it ain't over yet.

TALKING POINT: Wiggins: pretender or contender. Discuss.

Don't forget to follow Blazin' Saddles throughout the day on www.twitter.com/saddleblaze.

Watch the Tour de France LIVE every day on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin Media 521); Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe

Felix Lowe / Eurosport