Here is a New York Times story about today's stage of the Tour de France, which I watched live on Versus starting at 7:00 this morning. The reporter makes it seem as though Lance Armstrong couldn't stay with his teammate Alberto Contador on the final climb. We don't know that. Armstrong said after the stage that he played the good teammate. This means (or implies) that he could have stayed with Contador, or ridden up to him, but chose not to, for the sake of the team. Had Armstrong ridden up to Contador after the latter's attack, Armstrong would have taken other contenders with him, which would have nullified Contador's effort. It was perfectly acceptable for Armstrong to stay on the wheel of those chasing Contador, but he couldn't help them. You don't chase down your teammate(s).
I have never liked it that Armstrong and Contador are on the same team. It complicates things immensely. Suppose they were on different teams today. When Contador attacked, Armstrong would have been able to chase him. If he couldn't, then that would show that Contador is stronger. But all we know about today's events is that Contador attacked first, not that he is stronger. Had Armstrong attacked precisely when Contador did, it would have been Contador, rather than Armstrong, who stayed behind for the sake of the team. The same thing happened a year ago on L'Alpe d'Huez, when Carlos Sastre attacked early in the climb. This prevented his teammates, Andy and Frank Schleck, from trying to stay with him. If I remember correctly, the Schlecks were surprised that Sastre attacked so early. They planned to attack themselves later in the climb. Do you see how one teammate can screw another?
I sense that Armstrong was upset by Contador's attack. You could hear it in his voice during the post-race interview. The mere fact that Armstrong mentioned that he was being a good teammate indicates that he wants the world to know that he could have stayed with Contador had he wanted to. It's possible that the team's plan was for everyone to stay together on the climb, trying to ride rivals off their wheels. If this is so, then Armstrong will get his revenge on Contador. The next time they are together on a climb, it'll be Armstrong who attacks, and it will be merciless. This will force Contador to be the good teammate, as Armstrong was today, and allow Armstrong to take time out of everyone. When Armstrong takes time out of everyone, it won't be 21 seconds. It will be minutes.
Addendum: The New York Times story has been updated and rewritten since I wrote the post. Here are several paragraphs from the revised story:
Armstrong fell to third, eight seconds behind Nocentini. After the stage, he was nearly crushed by a mass of reporters who surrounded him. “Step back!” he had to yell several times, as he tried to answer questions, many of which focused on Contador. Armstrong said he was “a bit surprised” that Contador had taken off when he did.
“Like I said yesterday, I expected him to assert himself in the race, and he did that,” Armstrong said.
“Things didn’t go according to the plan we had set out earlier, but it didn’t matter,” he added, not long before chugging an entire can of grapefruit drink. “It was a fine day over all.”
Armstrong and his teammates, including Levi Leipheimer, had been out front of the peloton nearly all day, with Contador riding just behind Armstrong for a chunk of the ride. When Evans attacked with about a mile to go, it was Armstrong—jersey zipped open and mouth agape—who reeled him in.
In the team car behind them was Astana’s team leader, Johan Bruyneel, who said the team’s plan was uncomplicated: to keep its rivals at bay. Contador’s late-race attack, however, was not as scripted, Bruyneel said, adding that he was getting no information about the move on television or his race radio.
“The only thing I said this morning was you guys sit and talk about the day, and I think that’s what they did, then Alberto went,” Bruyneel said of Contador’s attack. “It was really something that they decided.”
Armstrong is quoted as saying that he was "surprised" by Contador's attack and that things didn't go according to plan. Team manager Johan Bruyneel is quoted as saying that Contador's attack was "not as scripted." What this tells me is that Contador tried to screw Armstrong. Contador knew that if he attacked, Armstrong would not be able to follow him—because of team loyalty. This is bound to infuriate Armstrong. On the next mountaintop finish (a week from Sunday), Armstrong will get his revenge. Mark my words. He will attack early on the final climb and take several minutes out of Contador, who, as Armstrong's teammate, will be unable to follow.
Addendum 2: Here is the Cyclingnews account of the stage.
Addendum 3: Here is a video of Armstrong after the stage. Does he sound upset?
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 