Bourgoin-Jallieu, France, July 24 (DPA) The 19th stage of the 2009 Tour de France began Friday in the city of Bourgoin-Jallieu with most riders thinking about Saturday’s decisive stage and Lance Armstrong already looking forward to next year.
The 178-km stage to Aubenas includes only one difficulty, a gently sloping 14-km climb, and is regarded as a chance to rest up by the riders after Wednesday’s gruelling day in the Alps and Thursday’s difficult time trial around Lake Annecy.
Most of the 158 riders remaining in the race will be saving their energy for Saturday’s stage and the punishing climb up Mont Ventoux, considered by many the toughest ascent in the sport.
Barring accident, illness or unforeseeable weakness on Saturday, Spain’s Alberto Contador seems assured of winning the second Tour de France title of his career.
He leads Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck by 4 minutes 11 seconds, with Armstrong in third place, 5 minutes 25 seconds adrift.
The 37-year-old Armstrong has impressed many observers with his performance after being away from the sport for nearly four years. But he has looked uncharacteristically vulnerable in the mountains and could lose much time on Mont Ventoux.
His thoughts may already be on next year’s Tour de France, in which he will be competing with a new team.
Late Thursday he announced that the US electronics retail giant Radio Shack would be sponsoring his new team in 2010. It is widely assumed that Johan Bruyneel, the manager of Armstrong’s current team, Astana, would be joining him in the new venture.
Bruyneel directed all seven of Armstrong’s Tour titles and has already said he would be leaving Astana by the end of the year.
The Tour ends Sunday in Paris.
rounak