Alberto Contador

It’s wrong for cycling fans, the media or riders to vilify Alberto Contador for “The Chain of Events” situation between Contador and Andy Schleck on the hors categorie Port de Balès Monday.

Lance Armstrong and teammate Chris Horner jump into a long breakaway, but in the end Pierrick Fedrigo (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) nabs the stage win. GC picture unchanged.

Spanish polls find support for Contador's response, but VeloNews.com readers have a different take.

Armstrong, Vino, Hunter and others weigh in on Contador's reaction to Schleck's problem.

To wait or not to wait — that was never the question when race leader Andy Schleck dropped his chain on the Port de Balès in Monday’s wild ride over the Pyrénées.

Schleck had them right where he wanted them ... until he dropped his chain.

The battle between the two climbers is at stalemate, their GC difference the result of the prologue and the cobbles

Armstrong says he's not playing favorites, but Contador looks strongest.

Alexander Vinokourov received an emotional finish-line hug from Astana teammate Alberto Contador moments after winning Saturday’s 13th stage.

The defending champ warns, however, one bad day can ruin months of hard work and preparation.

Both Contador and Vinokourov ride Specialized Tarmac SL3 road bikes. Zack Vestal checks them out.

Ten seconds might not mean much by the time the Tour hits Paris, but they meant the world to Alberto Contador on Friday.

The Tour has quickly become a two-man race. The question is who has the upper hand.

Contador says he learned not to try to mark every attack.

Contador said he's content with stage 8, but didn't have the punch to match Schleck in the final k

"There will be a selection tomorrow," predicts Lance Armstrong.

Astana's climbers have been off the back lately because they'll need to be off the front come the mountains.

As the heat in France goes up, Contador and Armstrong seem to be tired of the drama

“We’ve had a meeting with the sponsors and all that remains are a few details. ...” said Fran Contador, who acts as his brother’s manager.

Alberto Contador stops by the RadioShack bus with gifts for Armstrong and Bruyneel.

As tensions mount in the Tour peloton, Fabian Cancellara is emerging as the new patron.

Alexander Vinokourov remains an enigma for many watching the 2010 Tour de France.

The defending Tour champ thanks Vino for the help

Alberto Contador stayed upright but got a blow to his leg in one of the finale crashes. Basso smacked his knee after dodging dog.

Prologue time differences may be small, but they are a good indicator of overall success at the Tour..

Lance Armstrong was happy to have a good ride in Saturday's Tour prologue — and even happier to put some time on his rivals.

Alberto Contador admits he doesn’t have the strongest team in the Tour de France, but he’ll be sleeping easier at night knowing that his eight Astana teammates this year will be working for him.

Inside the Tour with John Wilcockson: With scattered thunderstorms, a 40-percent chance of rain and a brisk north wind in the forecast for Rotterdam Saturday, the 97th Tour de France could open with some major surprises.

Tour de France chief Christian Prudhomme believes the quality of challenger to reigning champion Alberto Contador will make for the most openly competitive race in years.

Ivan Basso (Liquigas) says returning to the Tour de France for the first time since 2005 makes him an outsider for victory and insists the favorite will be Alberto Contador.

Alberto Contador admits that his Astana squad might not be the strongest, but at least he’s not losing sleep over whom it will be backing come July.

Defending champion Alberto Contador will saddle up for the Tour de France in a little more than a week's time with more than just the mountains, or former teammate Lance Armstrong, on his mind.

For RadioShack team director Johan Bruyneel, “We Might As Well Win” — the title of his 2008 book — has given way to a more relaxed attitude.

Contador will not defend his Spanish TT title

Contador: ‘Alps won’t decide Tour’

Tongues are wagging that Alberto Contador looks vulnerable after he couldn’t dominate the Critérium du Dauphiné, his final test before July’s Tour de France.

Astana's Alberto Contador won atop L'Alpe d'Huez on Saturday as RadioShack's Jani Brajkovic defended his overall lead in the Criterium du Dauphiné Libéré.

RadioShack sports director Alain Gallopin says no one can stay with Contador when he is in top form

Brajkovic takes over at Dauphiné

Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Columbia) is hoping to cap the first half of his successful debut with a strong showing overall at the Critérium du Dauphiné.

Lampre's Grega Bole scored the biggest win of his career after countering Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) to claim the first stage of the Dauphiné Criterium stage race Monday.

Reigning Tour de France champion Alberto Contador will count Ivan Basso among his biggest challengers this year after the Italian's impressive victory in the Giro d'Italia.

Contador: 'Tour prep, not Dauphine win, is crucial'

The Astana captain completed a four-day reconnaissance of the decisive climbing stages in the mountains along the French-Spanish border and came away convinced that’s where the 2010 Tour will be decided.

With a second Giro victory in the books, Ivan Basso is ready to start thinking about a return to the Tour de France

Defending Tour de France champion Alberto Contador took to the treacherous cobbled roads of northern France on Tuesday, preparing for terrain he admits could dent his bid for a third yellow jersey this year.

Alberto Contador is undeniably the reigning king of the grand tours, but one day he wants to come to the Ardennes and add one of the major classics to his palmares.

Alberto Contador might not be racing much between Sunday’s conclusion of Liège-Bastogne-Liège and July’s Tour de France, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be busy.

John Wilcockson re-caps Flèche Wallonne and compares its victor to the those on the podium at the concurrent Giro del Trentino.

Alberto Contador (Astana) is aiming his pistol at the Ardennes classics.

Alberto Contador (Astana) did what he didn’t do in Friday’s summit finish, winning Saturday’s 15.1km individual time trial at the Vuelta a Castilla y León and taking the overall leader’s jersey.

Alberto Contador is hoping to use this week’s Castilla y León tour – which clicks into gear Wednesday – as a springboard into the Ardennes classics.

Basque hills and French cobblestones dominate what’s sure to be an action-packed week of racing in Europe.

Alberto Contador and Carlos Sastre are content with their performances to date as March nears its end.

Graham Watson photographs the final leg of the 2010 Critérium International.

Pierrick Fedrigo (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) wins the Critérium International.

Double Tour de France champion Alberto Contador endured a painful start to the Criterium International on Saturday when he suffered an allergic attack.

Andrew Hood takes a look at what's sure to be one of the busiest weeks of the year.

Alberto Contador is skipping the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya in favor of the Critérium International — where Lance Armstrong is also slated to race.

Our readers sound off on Alberto Contador's victory salute, Portuguese standout Tiago Machado and bringing track cycling to the Winter Games.

The 2010 Tour won't be a two-man race between Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador, says José Azevedo.

Alberto Contador (Astana) finishes second in the final time trial to take the overall title at the Volta ao Algarve.

Alberto Contador isn’t happy about the UCI’s decision to ban his Specialized Shiv time trial bike on the eve of Sunday’s decisive final TT in the Volta ao Algarve.

With the star-studded RadioShack roster, Sébastien Rosseler never expected it would be him to score the new squad’s first victory. The stocky Belgian rider pulled it off in Saturday’s hilly fourth stage at the Volta ao Algarve, powering away from a breakaway with nearly 30km still to go.

Racing this Week: The big story this week is the season debut of defending Tour de France champion Alberto Contador and several other big names at the Volta ao Algarve.

Alberto Contador is quietly growing confident that the re-fitted Astana team will be up to the task of defending his Tour de France title come July.

Tour de France champion Alberto Contador is starting a training camp in Calpe, Spain, Thursday, prior to his season opener at Portugal's Volta au Algarve stage race next month.

Alberto Contador and his Team Astana mates will be riding Specialized bicycles as he strives to win a third Tour de France in 2010.

Alberto Contador said Friday he will kick off his 2010 season with Portugal's Tour de Algarve in mid-February.

Former Astana boss Johan Bruyneel dismissed suggestions by Alberto Contador that he didn’t receive the technical support he needed during the 2009 Tour de France.

French officials have confirmed that they are investigating blood doping equipment discovered in a search of medical supplies belonging to the Astana team of Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong during this year's Tour de France.

Benjamín Noval is more motivated than ever to get back to the Tour de France.

Defending Tour de France champion Alberto Contador is expressing confidence that the re-rigged Astana will be able to support him as he searches a third maillot jaune in four years.

Alberto Contador is getting to know his “new” Astana teammates at the team’s first training camp.

Alberto Contador says he's at ease with his decision to remain with Astana for 2010 and is confident about winning his third Tour.

Our readers pipe up about rescuing track races, the proper pressure for ’cross clinchers and Contador's decision to stick with Astana.

When the lights dimmed in the Congrés de Palais in Paris for the presentation of the 2010 Tour de France, the unexpected was the plat du jour. Surprises are always part of the Tour presentation, and 2010 certainly didn’t disappoint. Hard days in the Pyrénées and a long, penultimate-day time trial in Bordeaux set the stage for a final week clash that should keep fans on the edge of their seats.