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On the eve of the ascent to Mont Ventoux, Blazin' Saddles thinks that those Contador-to-Garmin rumours might well have something in them.

It just makes perfect sense, doesn't it? With the birth of a third US-based team, the Lance Armstrong-led RadioShack, Garmin would need something to make them more than also-rans - especially given Columbia-HTC's continued dominance on the flat with Mark Cavendish.

RadioShack's probable boss Johan Bruyneel, whose dislike of Garmin is as apparent as BS's lack of humour today, would see his alleged mistreatment of Contador come back to bite him in the balls, while the Spaniard would have that extra bit of motivation to turn the screw on his old employers.

Before Friday's stage 19, Eurosport cameras were allowed in the Astana team bus and caught Bruyneel giving instructions to ensure that under no circumstances were Garmin allowed to be involved in any breakaway.

This made Contador laugh, to which Bruyneel responded: "You know it's a personal thing, Alberto." The Belgian is obviously still reeling after the rival team of Bradley Wiggins ruined his old friend George Hincapie's chance of taking yellow before the Alps.

Despite the unexpected highs of Wiggins' Tour this year, however, Garmin, for all their promise, have little to show for their efforts: Tyler Farrar won no sprints, the team were beaten by Astana in the ITT and big guns Millar, Zabriskie, Vande Velde and Wiggins didn't deliver a stage victory.

Adding Contador to a clearly exciting mix of riders would take Jonathan Vaughters' outfit to the next level. It would elevate them above the old foe in Columbia and would be a huge psychological blow for the new RadioShack. Of course, Wiggins might not be best pleased, but there's no guarantee the Britain will prove a solid contender next year.

Asked about the possibility of Contador's arrival on Friday, Vaughters just said: "Next question" - proving the Spaniard's touch is already rubbing off a little.

But Garmin are also renowned for their stringent ethical code and the hiring of a rider whose past is not entirely unblemished - and whose present abilities were only too recently questioned by a former Tour winner - may prove the stumbling block. Contador has never failed a test, but Vaughters may prefer to wait a couple of months before he puts a firm offer down on the table.

CAV CINQ: BS has picked on the Isle of Man sprinter in the past but that's because he's such an easy target. Just listening to most of his interviews is enough to will a mass pile-up of Columbia riders during the next stage's sprint finish.

But on Friday Cav displayed true grit in securing a record-breaking ninth Tour triumph after the tricky second-category Col de l'Escrinet and a slippery, uphill finish in Aubenas.

With Tony Martin and not Mark Renshaw assuming lead-out duties, Columbia also proved their train has more than a solitary driver and so it was a doubly sweet win. BS was even moved by the humility and graciousness displayed by the 24-year-old in his post-race interview.

Of course, until he is willing - and capable - to climb mountains twice as hard at the beginning of a stage and just for a handful of intermediate sprints (a la Hushovd), the green may elude him. Still, with an astonishing sixth win a near dead-cert on Sunday, it's hard to criticise him.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I may not be in the yellow jersey but I feel I've won. Look at the impact this comeback has had on the (Lance Armstrong Cancer) Foundation, it doesn't matter if I win or lose and that's reality."

Let's clear this up: BS is no Lance-hater. Like Cav, the guy's an east target - and he actively courts it by his constant interaction with both the media and public. Being on course for a podium finish aged 37 and after so many years out - not to mention that collarbone injury - is almost as great an achievement as winning the darn thing for the first time in the first place.

Besides, anyone who, in a rather short space of time, has had romantic dalliances with people old enough to be BS's mother (Sheryl Crow) and BS's daughter (Ashley Olsen) certainly commands respect.

PLAT DU JOUR: A glass of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and an omelette with fresh truffles will do nicely, s'il vous plait.

PREDICTION: It's been a rotten Tour for previous big guns Cadel Evans, Carlos Sastre and Denis Menchov, the latter going down more often than an obliging prostitute on the Kursk.

BS would like to see them give it one final effort for old times' sake - they have nothing to lose. Two riders who will certainly give it their all are the Schleck whippets who, if there was a Weight Watchers team, would certainly be front-runners for a place.

The sentimentalists out there will hope to see Armstrong break his Ventoux duck, however, and with Contador promising to lend his team-mate a hand, BS can envisage the two riding over the summit together, arm in arm, a la Hinault-Lemond, before Alberto speeds ahead and nicks it by a wheel's length to give Lance a third career 2nd place atop the Giant of Provence.

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

STAGE 20 LIVE at 12:15pm on Saturday 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