Making do with 3rd place
AUBENAS, France — Lance Armstrong almost certainly won't be beating Alberto Contador for the yellow jersey.
He still has a chance to finally best another old rival, though, in Saturday's penultimate stage of the Tour de France: the daunting Mont Ventoux.
The 37-year old Armstrong has met his match on the three-week race this year in Astana teammate Contador.
The Spaniard turned in impressive performances in the mountains as well as Thursday's time trial in Annecy. He leads Andy Schleck of Luxembourg by 4 minutes and 11 seconds, putting him in position for a second Tour win after his 2007 success. Armstrong is third.
"(Saturday's) stage is going to be very hard," Contador said. "I would really like to have an easy stage (Saturday), with no climb. But this mountain pass is a demanding one, with very high gradients."
Traditionally, the Tour finishes with a time trial on the penultimate day, before a largely ceremonial ride into Paris on the last day. But this year, Ventoux, a huge moonscape of rock in Provence with no vegetation, is the 20th of 21 stages.
The punishing climb, on which British rider Tom Simpson died in 1967, is unlikely to decide the outcome — yet it is expected to be crucial in Armstrong's race for third place.
Bradley Wiggins of Britain, a three-time Olympic pursuit champion who has turned into a fully qualified climber, is only 15 seconds behind Armstrong and Germany's Andreas Kloeden is fifth, 17 seconds behind his Astana teammate.
Andy Schleck's older brother Frank is sixth 38 seconds back of the seven-time champion before tackling the 13-mile ascent with an average gradient of 7.6 percent Saturday."
Contador, whose relationship with Armstrong has been confrontational, said he is ready to help his rival keep his third-place position.
"Tomorrow my goal will be to make sure I bring the yellow jersey to Paris," Contador said. "Then, if possible, I am OK to help a teammate, in particular Lance Armstrong so he can stay on the podium."
Following 3Z\x years of retirement, Armstrong will achieve an amazing feat if he stays on the podium. But it's not enough for the cancer survivor, who is expected to ride the 2010 Tour with his new Radio Shack team.
Armstrong has already said he will be in a better shape with another season under his belt and hopes he can beat Contador next year with a team fully dedicated to his ambitions. Contador is likely to leave Astana at the end of the season and has been linked to a move to Spanish outfit Caisse d'Epargne.
Armstrong said he hopes to lure some of his Astana teammates onto the American squad, after finishing 12th in Friday's stage won by Mark Cavendish.
