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Contador wins stage, in control

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The Associated Press

Published: July 20, 2009

VERBIER, Switzerland - The Tour de France star pedaled up out of his saddle in a mountain stage, dusted his rivals, and seized the yellow jersey that he knows all too well and covets so much.

This time, it wasn't Lance Armstrong, but his teammate and one-time rival Alberto Contador, who won Sunday's 15th stage and made a case to be the Texan's successor at cycling's premier event.

After such a dominant display in which Armstrong finished in ninth place - 1 minute, 35 seconds after Contador and among other also-rans - he sees his chances of an eighth Tour victory fading.

"It will be hard. A day like this really shows who's the best, and I wasn't on par with what is required to win the Tour," Armstrong said. "That's the reality; that's not devastating news or anything."

He added, "I gave it everything that I had, and I wasn't the best."

As the three-week race entered the Alps, the 26-year-old Spaniard recovered the celebrated shirt that he hadn't worn since his Tour victory in 2007.

He made it clear he'll be the man to beat this year.

Race contenders knew that after a week of mainly flat stages that didn't alter the top standings much, the 128.9-mile ride from Pontarlier, France, to the Swiss ski resort of Verbier was critical.

Armstrong rose from fourth to second in the standings but lost time to Contador, whom he now trails by 1 minute, 37 seconds.

Now, he sees his job as serving as a "domestique" - or support rider - for Contador, putting an end to speculation about whether he or the Spaniard deserved the role of Astana team leader.

"Lance Armstrong was my idol, but dropping him today wasn't important - he was just like any other rider. ... It's an honor for me to have him working for me," Contador said through a translator.

Riders get a rest day today before the two other Alpine stages.

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