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The first three stages through the Pyrenees haven’t yielded the clear leader most of us were hoping for. Instead, the 31 second lead held by Andy Schleck has been erased, and Alberto Contador now holds an 8 second lead. Since my last post, both Denis Menchov (2 minutes back) and Samuel Sanchez (2 minutes 13 seconds back) have been able to close the gap on the leaders.

On October 14, 2009 the Tour de France organizers released he map for the 2010 tour. 2010 makrs the 100th anniversary to the Tour’s first time through the Pyrenees. The 2010 tour will be more brutal than average, really separating thee players, beginning with a short 8 km prolouge in Rotterdam and culminating with the only timetrail (51 km) from Bordeaux to Pauillac 19 stages later.

On a team with more than one strong rider, the team must work together to fend off the other teams, but if the strong riders start competing, the whole team loses. In the case of Astana, it is pretty clear that the team director had told the team to work together to get the yellow jersey from Cancellara, and have it naturally fall to the highest place Astana rider, Lance Armstrong. However, the best laid plans go awry when a team member goes out for himself.