Peter Gutwald

Apparently there might be more to the story, at least in Horner's eyes... Let the speculation begin!

http://www.oregonlive.com/tour-de-france/index.ssf/2009/06/oregons_chris_horner_does_not.html

palm615@comcast.net

I agree with Matt. As much as we all love to see Chris Horner mix it up with the top professionals in the world, by his own admission he is not in top form;

"Unfortunately, I was feeling the lack of racing form right away, as the legs just were not firing the same as usual, and today's race wasn't going to give me any time to ease them back in."

(Blog entry from Nevada City, June 21)

Dave

----- Original Message -----

From: Matt Ottinger

To: Lisa Winchester , OBRA list

Sent: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:14:16 +0000 (UTC)

Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Horner left off of Astana roster for the TdF

Guys,

Let’s not go down personality conflict speculation road.

Chris is recovering from a broken leg he suffered in the Giro.

He may not be fully recovered and ready to race 2000 + miles for the team.

Matthew J. Ottinger, AIA, ASHE, Associate

C L A R K // K J O S

ARCHITECTS, LLC

333 NW 5th Avenue

Portland, Oregon 97209

Phone: 503 224 4848

Phone: 503-206-3817 direct

Fax: 503 224 7116

Email: mattottinger@ckarch.com

www.ckarch.com

Please consider the environment before printing this email.

From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org

[mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On Behalf Of Lisa Winchester

Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:12 AM

To: OBRA list

Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Horner left off of Astana roster for the TdF

This REALLY surprised me when I read it

this morning. It seems like he's always been a good support man for the

TdF for many previous years. I wonder if Contador has issues with

him? I don't want to speculate though.

~Lisa Winchester

__o "It never gets easier,

_ \<_ you just go faster."

(_)/(_) -- Greg LeMond

> From: cmurray@obra.org

> To: obra@list.obra.org

> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:44:33 -0700

> Subject: [OBRA Chat] Horner left off of Astana roster for the TdF

>

>

> Horner left off Astana Tour roster

> By Andrew Hood

> Published: Jun. 25, 2009

> Chris Horner won’t be starting the Tour de France after he was overlooked

as

> part of the nine-man squad revealed Wednesday by Astana.

>

> The veteran Horner crashed out of the Giro d’Italia in May and was hoping

to

> be back in top shape to earn a Tour slot, but he was not awarded one of

the

> nine spots on the loaded Astana team.

>

> Another surprise name missing from roster was reliable Spanish workhorse

> Benjamin Noval, a veteran of Tour-winning campaigns of Lance Armstrong and

> Alberto Contador.

>

> The team revealed last week that six of the nine spots were already

secured,

> with Armstrong and Contador being joined by Andreas Klöden, Levi

Leipheimer,

> Haimar Zubeldia and Yaroslav Popovych.

>

> That left six riders fighting for three remaining spots on the heavily

> favored Astana.

>

> Filling out the final three spots are Sergio Paulinho, Gregory Rast and

> Kazakh rider Dmitriy Muravyev, three riders who will bear the brunt of the

> work on the flats and transition stages before the big guns take over.

>

> Two other riders who were on Astana’s shortlist but didn’t make the cut

were

> Jani Brajkovic and Tomas Vaitkus.

>

> The rest of the team doesn’t need much of an introduction.

>

> All eyes will be on a possible duel between Armstrong and Contador as the

> pair wrangles for control of the race and perhaps the team, though

everyone

> insists that the squad will rally around the strongest rider in the race.

>

> Armstrong, 37, is returning to the Tour for the first time since winning

the

> last of his seven consecutive yellow jerseys in 2005.

>

> Riding to a solid 12th at the Giro d’Italia in his first grand tour in

> nearly four years, Armstrong is expected to be a major factor in the race,

> but even he admits he’s not sure how far he will be able to go.

>

> Contador is back at the Tour for the first time since winning in 2007.

> Astana was kept out of last year’s Tour, opening the door for the Spanish

> climber to win both the Giro and the Vuelta a España last year to complete

> cycling’s grand tour triple crown.

>

> Just behind them will be Leipheimer and Kloden, two former podium

finishers

> who be waiting in the wings if the top two leaders tumble and who will

> likely get their own chances in the time trials and perhaps a shot in the

> mountains to force other teams to chase.

>

> Zubeldia and Popovych will play similar roles, with the expectation they

> will step up in the key mountain

> Candi

>

> _______________________________________________

> OBRA mailing list

> obra@list.obra.org

> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra

> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org

Peter Gutwald

Apparently there might be more to the story... at least in Horner's eyes...
let the speculation begin!

http://www.oregonlive.com/tour-de-france/index.ssf/2009/06/oregons_chris_horner_does_not.html

On Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 12:09 PM, joe cipale wrote:

> I was going to say the same thing, but Matt beat me to it. From previous
> articles on this subject, it appears as if no personalities were involved
> and
> everyone seems to ride well together. I belevee that this is just a
> question
> of Chris not being fully recovered from his injury.
>
> Joe
>
> On Thursday 25 June 2009 10:14, Matt Ottinger wrote:
> > Guys,
> > Let's not go down personality conflict speculation road.
> > Chris is recovering from a broken leg he suffered in the Giro. He may
> not
> > be fully recovered and ready to race 2000 + miles for the team.
> >
> > Matthew J. Ottinger, AIA, ASHE, Associate
> > C L A R K // K J O S ARCHITECTS, LLC
> > 333 NW 5th Avenue
> > Portland, Oregon 97209
> > Phone: 503 224 4848
> > Phone: 503-206-3817 direct
> > Fax: 503 224 7116
> > Email: mattottinger@ckarch.com
> > www.ckarch.com
> >
> > Please consider the environment before printing this email.
> >
> >
> > From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
> > Behalf Of Lisa Winchester Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:12 AM
> > To: OBRA list
> > Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Horner left off of Astana roster for the TdF
> >
> > This REALLY surprised me when I read it this morning. It seems like he's
> > always been a good support man for the TdF for many previous years. I
> > wonder if Contador has issues with him? I don't want to speculate
> though.
> > ~Lisa Winchester
> > __o "It never gets easier,
> > _ \<_ you just go faster."
> > (_)/(_) -- Greg LeMond
> >
> > > From: cmurray@obra.org
> > > To: obra@list.obra.org
> > > Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:44:33 -0700
> > > Subject: [OBRA Chat] Horner left off of Astana roster for the TdF
> > >
> > >
> > > Horner left off Astana Tour roster
> > > By Andrew Hood
> > > Published: Jun. 25, 2009
> > > Chris Horner won't be starting the Tour de France after he was
> overlooked
> > > as part of the nine-man squad revealed Wednesday by Astana.
> > >
> > > The veteran Horner crashed out of the Giro d'Italia in May and was
> hoping
> > > to be back in top shape to earn a Tour slot, but he was not awarded one
> > > of the nine spots on the loaded Astana team.
> > >
> > > Another surprise name missing from roster was reliable Spanish
> workhorse
> > > Benjamin Noval, a veteran of Tour-winning campaigns of Lance Armstrong
> > > and Alberto Contador.
> > >
> > > The team revealed last week that six of the nine spots were already
> > > secured, with Armstrong and Contador being joined by Andreas Klöden,
> Levi
> > > Leipheimer, Haimar Zubeldia and Yaroslav Popovych.
> > >
> > > That left six riders fighting for three remaining spots on the heavily
> > > favored Astana.
> > >
> > > Filling out the final three spots are Sergio Paulinho, Gregory Rast and
> > > Kazakh rider Dmitriy Muravyev, three riders who will bear the brunt of
> > > the work on the flats and transition stages before the big guns take
> > > over.
> > >
> > > Two other riders who were on Astana's shortlist but didn't make the cut
> > > were Jani Brajkovic and Tomas Vaitkus.
> > >
> > > The rest of the team doesn't need much of an introduction.
> > >
> > > All eyes will be on a possible duel between Armstrong and Contador as
> the
> > > pair wrangles for control of the race and perhaps the team, though
> > > everyone insists that the squad will rally around the strongest rider
> in
> > > the race.
> > >
> > > Armstrong, 37, is returning to the Tour for the first time since
> winning
> > > the last of his seven consecutive yellow jerseys in 2005.
> > >
> > > Riding to a solid 12th at the Giro d'Italia in his first grand tour in
> > > nearly four years, Armstrong is expected to be a major factor in the
> > > race, but even he admits he's not sure how far he will be able to go.
> > >
> > > Contador is back at the Tour for the first time since winning in 2007.
> > > Astana was kept out of last year's Tour, opening the door for the
> Spanish
> > > climber to win both the Giro and the Vuelta a España last year to
> > > complete cycling's grand tour triple crown.
> > >
> > > Just behind them will be Leipheimer and Kloden, two former podium
> > > finishers who be waiting in the wings if the top two leaders tumble and
> > > who will likely get their own chances in the time trials and perhaps a
> > > shot in the mountains to force other teams to chase.
> > >
> > > Zubeldia and Popovych will play similar roles, with the expectation
> they
> > > will step up in the key mountain
> > > Candi
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > OBRA mailing list
> > > obra@list.obra.org
> > > http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> > > Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>

joe cipale

I was going to say the same thing, but Matt beat me to it. From previous
articles on this subject, it appears as if no personalities were involved and
everyone seems to ride well together. I belevee that this is just a question
of Chris not being fully recovered from his injury.

Joe

On Thursday 25 June 2009 10:14, Matt Ottinger wrote:
> Guys,
> Let's not go down personality conflict speculation road.
> Chris is recovering from a broken leg he suffered in the Giro. He may not
> be fully recovered and ready to race 2000 + miles for the team.
>
> Matthew J. Ottinger, AIA, ASHE, Associate
> C L A R K // K J O S ARCHITECTS, LLC
> 333 NW 5th Avenue
> Portland, Oregon 97209
> Phone: 503 224 4848
> Phone: 503-206-3817 direct
> Fax: 503 224 7116
> Email: mattottinger@ckarch.com
> www.ckarch.com
>
> Please consider the environment before printing this email.
>
>
> From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
> Behalf Of Lisa Winchester Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:12 AM
> To: OBRA list
> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Horner left off of Astana roster for the TdF
>
> This REALLY surprised me when I read it this morning. It seems like he's
> always been a good support man for the TdF for many previous years. I
> wonder if Contador has issues with him? I don't want to speculate though.
> ~Lisa Winchester
> __o "It never gets easier,
> _ \<_ you just go faster."
> (_)/(_) -- Greg LeMond
>
> > From: cmurray@obra.org
> > To: obra@list.obra.org
> > Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:44:33 -0700
> > Subject: [OBRA Chat] Horner left off of Astana roster for the TdF
> >
> >
> > Horner left off Astana Tour roster
> > By Andrew Hood
> > Published: Jun. 25, 2009
> > Chris Horner won't be starting the Tour de France after he was overlooked
> > as part of the nine-man squad revealed Wednesday by Astana.
> >
> > The veteran Horner crashed out of the Giro d'Italia in May and was hoping
> > to be back in top shape to earn a Tour slot, but he was not awarded one
> > of the nine spots on the loaded Astana team.
> >
> > Another surprise name missing from roster was reliable Spanish workhorse
> > Benjamin Noval, a veteran of Tour-winning campaigns of Lance Armstrong
> > and Alberto Contador.
> >
> > The team revealed last week that six of the nine spots were already
> > secured, with Armstrong and Contador being joined by Andreas Klöden, Levi
> > Leipheimer, Haimar Zubeldia and Yaroslav Popovych.
> >
> > That left six riders fighting for three remaining spots on the heavily
> > favored Astana.
> >
> > Filling out the final three spots are Sergio Paulinho, Gregory Rast and
> > Kazakh rider Dmitriy Muravyev, three riders who will bear the brunt of
> > the work on the flats and transition stages before the big guns take
> > over.
> >
> > Two other riders who were on Astana's shortlist but didn't make the cut
> > were Jani Brajkovic and Tomas Vaitkus.
> >
> > The rest of the team doesn't need much of an introduction.
> >
> > All eyes will be on a possible duel between Armstrong and Contador as the
> > pair wrangles for control of the race and perhaps the team, though
> > everyone insists that the squad will rally around the strongest rider in
> > the race.
> >
> > Armstrong, 37, is returning to the Tour for the first time since winning
> > the last of his seven consecutive yellow jerseys in 2005.
> >
> > Riding to a solid 12th at the Giro d'Italia in his first grand tour in
> > nearly four years, Armstrong is expected to be a major factor in the
> > race, but even he admits he's not sure how far he will be able to go.
> >
> > Contador is back at the Tour for the first time since winning in 2007.
> > Astana was kept out of last year's Tour, opening the door for the Spanish
> > climber to win both the Giro and the Vuelta a España last year to
> > complete cycling's grand tour triple crown.
> >
> > Just behind them will be Leipheimer and Kloden, two former podium
> > finishers who be waiting in the wings if the top two leaders tumble and
> > who will likely get their own chances in the time trials and perhaps a
> > shot in the mountains to force other teams to chase.
> >
> > Zubeldia and Popovych will play similar roles, with the expectation they
> > will step up in the key mountain
> > Candi
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > OBRA mailing list
> > obra@list.obra.org
> > http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> > Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org

Matt Ottinger

Guys,
Let's not go down personality conflict speculation road.
Chris is recovering from a broken leg he suffered in the Giro. He may not be fully recovered and ready to race 2000 + miles for the team.

Matthew J. Ottinger, AIA, ASHE, Associate
C L A R K // K J O S ARCHITECTS, LLC
333 NW 5th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97209
Phone: 503 224 4848
Phone: 503-206-3817 direct
Fax: 503 224 7116
Email: mattottinger@ckarch.com
www.ckarch.com

Please consider the environment before printing this email.

From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On Behalf Of Lisa Winchester
Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:12 AM
To: OBRA list
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Horner left off of Astana roster for the TdF

This REALLY surprised me when I read it this morning. It seems like he's always been a good support man for the TdF for many previous years. I wonder if Contador has issues with him? I don't want to speculate though.
~Lisa Winchester
__o "It never gets easier,
_ \<_ you just go faster."
(_)/(_) -- Greg LeMond

> From: cmurray@obra.org
> To: obra@list.obra.org
> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:44:33 -0700
> Subject: [OBRA Chat] Horner left off of Astana roster for the TdF
>
>
> Horner left off Astana Tour roster
> By Andrew Hood
> Published: Jun. 25, 2009
> Chris Horner won't be starting the Tour de France after he was overlooked as
> part of the nine-man squad revealed Wednesday by Astana.
>
> The veteran Horner crashed out of the Giro d'Italia in May and was hoping to
> be back in top shape to earn a Tour slot, but he was not awarded one of the
> nine spots on the loaded Astana team.
>
> Another surprise name missing from roster was reliable Spanish workhorse
> Benjamin Noval, a veteran of Tour-winning campaigns of Lance Armstrong and
> Alberto Contador.
>
> The team revealed last week that six of the nine spots were already secured,
> with Armstrong and Contador being joined by Andreas Klöden, Levi Leipheimer,
> Haimar Zubeldia and Yaroslav Popovych.
>
> That left six riders fighting for three remaining spots on the heavily
> favored Astana.
>
> Filling out the final three spots are Sergio Paulinho, Gregory Rast and
> Kazakh rider Dmitriy Muravyev, three riders who will bear the brunt of the
> work on the flats and transition stages before the big guns take over.
>
> Two other riders who were on Astana's shortlist but didn't make the cut were
> Jani Brajkovic and Tomas Vaitkus.
>
> The rest of the team doesn't need much of an introduction.
>
> All eyes will be on a possible duel between Armstrong and Contador as the
> pair wrangles for control of the race and perhaps the team, though everyone
> insists that the squad will rally around the strongest rider in the race.
>
> Armstrong, 37, is returning to the Tour for the first time since winning the
> last of his seven consecutive yellow jerseys in 2005.
>
> Riding to a solid 12th at the Giro d'Italia in his first grand tour in
> nearly four years, Armstrong is expected to be a major factor in the race,
> but even he admits he's not sure how far he will be able to go.
>
> Contador is back at the Tour for the first time since winning in 2007.
> Astana was kept out of last year's Tour, opening the door for the Spanish
> climber to win both the Giro and the Vuelta a España last year to complete
> cycling's grand tour triple crown.
>
> Just behind them will be Leipheimer and Kloden, two former podium finishers
> who be waiting in the wings if the top two leaders tumble and who will
> likely get their own chances in the time trials and perhaps a shot in the
> mountains to force other teams to chase.
>
> Zubeldia and Popovych will play similar roles, with the expectation they
> will step up in the key mountain
> Candi
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org

Lisa Winchester

This REALLY surprised me when I read it this morning. It seems like he's always been a good support man for the TdF for many previous years. I wonder if Contador has issues with him? I don't want to speculate though.

~Lisa Winchester

__o "It never gets easier,
_ \<_ you just go faster."
(_)/(_) -- Greg LeMond

> From: cmurray@obra.org
> To: obra@list.obra.org
> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:44:33 -0700
> Subject: [OBRA Chat] Horner left off of Astana roster for the TdF
>
>
> Horner left off Astana Tour roster
> By Andrew Hood
> Published: Jun. 25, 2009
> Chris Horner won’t be starting the Tour de France after he was overlooked as
> part of the nine-man squad revealed Wednesday by Astana.
>
> The veteran Horner crashed out of the Giro d’Italia in May and was hoping to
> be back in top shape to earn a Tour slot, but he was not awarded one of the
> nine spots on the loaded Astana team.
>
> Another surprise name missing from roster was reliable Spanish workhorse
> Benjamin Noval, a veteran of Tour-winning campaigns of Lance Armstrong and
> Alberto Contador.
>
> The team revealed last week that six of the nine spots were already secured,
> with Armstrong and Contador being joined by Andreas Klöden, Levi Leipheimer,
> Haimar Zubeldia and Yaroslav Popovych.
>
> That left six riders fighting for three remaining spots on the heavily
> favored Astana.
>
> Filling out the final three spots are Sergio Paulinho, Gregory Rast and
> Kazakh rider Dmitriy Muravyev, three riders who will bear the brunt of the
> work on the flats and transition stages before the big guns take over.
>
> Two other riders who were on Astana’s shortlist but didn’t make the cut were
> Jani Brajkovic and Tomas Vaitkus.
>
> The rest of the team doesn’t need much of an introduction.
>
> All eyes will be on a possible duel between Armstrong and Contador as the
> pair wrangles for control of the race and perhaps the team, though everyone
> insists that the squad will rally around the strongest rider in the race.
>
> Armstrong, 37, is returning to the Tour for the first time since winning the
> last of his seven consecutive yellow jerseys in 2005.
>
> Riding to a solid 12th at the Giro d’Italia in his first grand tour in
> nearly four years, Armstrong is expected to be a major factor in the race,
> but even he admits he’s not sure how far he will be able to go.
>
> Contador is back at the Tour for the first time since winning in 2007.
> Astana was kept out of last year’s Tour, opening the door for the Spanish
> climber to win both the Giro and the Vuelta a España last year to complete
> cycling’s grand tour triple crown.
>
> Just behind them will be Leipheimer and Kloden, two former podium finishers
> who be waiting in the wings if the top two leaders tumble and who will
> likely get their own chances in the time trials and perhaps a shot in the
> mountains to force other teams to chase.
>
> Zubeldia and Popovych will play similar roles, with the expectation they
> will step up in the key mountain
> Candi
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org

David Saltzberg

Boo, hiss!

-----Original Message-----
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of Candi Murray
Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 8:45 AM
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Horner left off of Astana roster for the TdF

Horner left off Astana Tour roster
By Andrew Hood
Published: Jun. 25, 2009
Chris Horner won’t be starting the Tour de France after he was overlooked as
part of the nine-man squad revealed Wednesday by Astana.

The veteran Horner crashed out of the Giro d’Italia in May and was hoping to
be back in top shape to earn a Tour slot, but he was not awarded one of the
nine spots on the loaded Astana team.

Another surprise name missing from roster was reliable Spanish workhorse
Benjamin Noval, a veteran of Tour-winning campaigns of Lance Armstrong and
Alberto Contador.

The team revealed last week that six of the nine spots were already secured,
with Armstrong and Contador being joined by Andreas Klöden, Levi Leipheimer,
Haimar Zubeldia and Yaroslav Popovych.

That left six riders fighting for three remaining spots on the heavily
favored Astana.

Filling out the final three spots are Sergio Paulinho, Gregory Rast and
Kazakh rider Dmitriy Muravyev, three riders who will bear the brunt of the
work on the flats and transition stages before the big guns take over.

Two other riders who were on Astana’s shortlist but didn’t make the cut were
Jani Brajkovic and Tomas Vaitkus.

The rest of the team doesn’t need much of an introduction.

All eyes will be on a possible duel between Armstrong and Contador as the
pair wrangles for control of the race and perhaps the team, though everyone
insists that the squad will rally around the strongest rider in the race.

Armstrong, 37, is returning to the Tour for the first time since winning the
last of his seven consecutive yellow jerseys in 2005.

Riding to a solid 12th at the Giro d’Italia in his first grand tour in
nearly four years, Armstrong is expected to be a major factor in the race,
but even he admits he’s not sure how far he will be able to go.

Contador is back at the Tour for the first time since winning in 2007.
Astana was kept out of last year’s Tour, opening the door for the Spanish
climber to win both the Giro and the Vuelta a España last year to complete
cycling’s grand tour triple crown.

Just behind them will be Leipheimer and Kloden, two former podium finishers
who be waiting in the wings if the top two leaders tumble and who will
likely get their own chances in the time trials and perhaps a shot in the
mountains to force other teams to chase.

Zubeldia and Popovych will play similar roles, with the expectation they
will step up in the key mountain
Candi

_______________________________________________
OBRA mailing list
obra@list.obra.org
http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org

Candi Murray

Horner left off Astana Tour roster
By Andrew Hood
Published: Jun. 25, 2009
Chris Horner won’t be starting the Tour de France after he was overlooked as
part of the nine-man squad revealed Wednesday by Astana.

The veteran Horner crashed out of the Giro d’Italia in May and was hoping to
be back in top shape to earn a Tour slot, but he was not awarded one of the
nine spots on the loaded Astana team.

Another surprise name missing from roster was reliable Spanish workhorse
Benjamin Noval, a veteran of Tour-winning campaigns of Lance Armstrong and
Alberto Contador.

The team revealed last week that six of the nine spots were already secured,
with Armstrong and Contador being joined by Andreas Klöden, Levi Leipheimer,
Haimar Zubeldia and Yaroslav Popovych.

That left six riders fighting for three remaining spots on the heavily
favored Astana.

Filling out the final three spots are Sergio Paulinho, Gregory Rast and
Kazakh rider Dmitriy Muravyev, three riders who will bear the brunt of the
work on the flats and transition stages before the big guns take over.

Two other riders who were on Astana’s shortlist but didn’t make the cut were
Jani Brajkovic and Tomas Vaitkus.

The rest of the team doesn’t need much of an introduction.

All eyes will be on a possible duel between Armstrong and Contador as the
pair wrangles for control of the race and perhaps the team, though everyone
insists that the squad will rally around the strongest rider in the race.

Armstrong, 37, is returning to the Tour for the first time since winning the
last of his seven consecutive yellow jerseys in 2005.

Riding to a solid 12th at the Giro d’Italia in his first grand tour in
nearly four years, Armstrong is expected to be a major factor in the race,
but even he admits he’s not sure how far he will be able to go.

Contador is back at the Tour for the first time since winning in 2007.
Astana was kept out of last year’s Tour, opening the door for the Spanish
climber to win both the Giro and the Vuelta a España last year to complete
cycling’s grand tour triple crown.

Just behind them will be Leipheimer and Kloden, two former podium finishers
who be waiting in the wings if the top two leaders tumble and who will
likely get their own chances in the time trials and perhaps a shot in the
mountains to force other teams to chase.

Zubeldia and Popovych will play similar roles, with the expectation they
will step up in the key mountain
Candi