7a.m. Saturday – Versus
It was around 9p.m. as Versus lead Tour de France analyst Phil Liggett in Montélimar was going over his notes and doing his best to relax the night before the biggest stage yet of the Tour de France. The big duel Saturday on Mont Ventoux looms in the morning.
We had a chance to chat for a few moments before the cell reception in France gave out.
I asked him about what Lance Armstrong would have to do to make it to a second or third place podium finish behind teammate Alberto Contador?
Liggett:”Look for Lance to stay with Andy Schleck and to push once they hit the mountain portion of the stage. I think that Lance will not have to worry about Bradley Wiggins he has the drive to get a podium finish depending on how the battle with Schleck goes. This will be decided on Mont Ventoux which what the Tour de France organizers wanted.”
How will team Astana help Lance get the podium finish?
Liggett:”They will help Lance mark Schleck, look for Andreas Kloden and maybe even Contador do their best to push him. The goal will be to break Schleck so that Lance can gain time and finish at least third and if all goes right perhaps second. But they will have Frank Schleck the brother of Andy there to disrupt things and so this is far from an easy assignment. Contador will win the Tour de France but there not doubt the rest of the podium will be decided by the end of the day Saturday. I really think that Lance will get a podium finish because he is so strong in the mountains and is just what Lance lives for and a third place finish would be a great ending for Lance .”
Sunday the Tour de France will end in Paris and clearly the Lance Armstrong comeback tour will be decided at Mont Ventoux.
