On undoubtedly the hardest climbing stage of the 97th Tour de France, which featured the infamous "Circle of Death" in the Col de Peyresourde, Col d'Aspin, Col du Tourmalet and Col d'Aubisque, the finale came down to a bunch sprint among nine gamely but tired breakaway companions.

Frenchman Pierrick Fedrigo (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) proved to be the fastest at day's end, but sentiments were certainly with the former 7-time Tour champion, Lance Armstrong (Team RadioShack), who looked to push the sun back up into the sky just one more time in his illustrious cycling career.

The winning selection, which included Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux), Ruben Plaza Molina and Christophe Moreau (Caisse d'Epargne), Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Farnese Vini), Christopher Horner and Armstrong (Team Radioshack), Quick Step teammates, Carlos Barredo Llamazales and Jurgen Van De Walle, and Fedrigo formed shortly before the ascent of the Tourmalet, although Armstrong, Horner and Barredo were among the the day's initial escapees at the 5km mark.

After the group cleared the final climb of the day, the Col d'Aubisque, Barredo attempted to go solo. Ultimately 44km proved too great a distance as the Quick Step rider was caught within the final 5km and did not contest the sprint finish. The move; however, forced Team RadioShack and Caisse d'Epargne to expend more energy than they had hoped for in the chase.

Inside the flamme rouge, Armstrong was one of the first to take out the sprint. But after seeing Fedrigo fly by and finding his own tank empty, a disappointed Armstrong sat up to take in the finale of what would most likely be his final attempt at Tour glory.

Fedrigo would pip countryman Casar and Spaniard Molina at the line to win the epic and claim his third Tour de France victory of his career.

Stage 16 Results
1. Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
2. Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux
3. Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne

General Classification After Stage 16
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:00:08
3. Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi - 0:02:00
4. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank - 0:02:13
5. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto - 0:03:39
6. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank - 0:05:01
7. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack - 0:05:25
8. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha - 0:05:45
9. Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana - 0:07:12
10. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Transitions - 0:07:51

Jersey Leaders After Stage 16
maillot jaune - Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
maillot vert - Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team
maillot à pois rouges - Anthony Charteau (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
maillot blanc - Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank

Next: Rest Day #2; Thrusday - Stage 17 -Pau to Col du Tourmalet (174km)

Although Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) has been one of the more prominent figures in the Tour de France the past few years - finishing second overall last year to Alberto Contador (Astana) - he had never won a stage, that is until now.

The 25-year old Luxembourger broke away late on the difficult 189km Stage 8, which featured a mountain top finish at Morzine-Avoriaz, and pipped Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez (Euskatel-Euskadi) at the line to claim the first Grand Tour stage victory in his young career. Robert Gesink (Rabobank) would finish in third by holding off an elite group that featured current Tour de France champion, Contador, Gesink's teammate, Denis Menchov, Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), the Liquigas pair of Ivan Basso and Roman Kreuzinger and Levi Leipheimer (Team Radio Shack), among others.

The first real vetting of the contenders to the overall certainly lived up to expectations. An early break would once again make the race, but as we have seen time and time again in the sport of cycling, those that make the race are not often to ones who end up winning it.

The unlucky seven of Mario Aerts (Omega Pharma-Lotto), Koos Moernhout (Rabobank), Benoit Vagrenard (Française des Jeux), Christophe Riblon (AG2R La Mondiale), Imanol Erviti (Caisse d'Epargne), and Cofidis teammates Sebastien Minard and Amael Moinard would be the ones left out in the cold on this day as the contenders decided to flex their climbing muscles.

Team Sky and their leader, Bradley Wiggins were the first to have a go. On the penultimate climb up the Col de la Ramaz, the British team set a wicked tempo up front to make the day's first selection. But their day in the limelight was short-lived as Astana's Daniel Navarro took up the pace-making and shed all, including Wiggins, but an elite group of 13.

In the finale, Sánchez looked to be the beneficiary of the infighting between Contador and Schleck, who looked to cover each others' moves. But Schleck was finally able to outmaneuver a seemingly tired Contador and come around Sánchez in the closing meters to take the win.

Meanwhile, Cadel Evans climbed into the yellow jersey as the race leader for the first time since he wore it in 2008.

Stage 8 Results
1. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
2. Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
3. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank

Requiem For A Cyclist

Notably missing from the elite pack of riders who contested for the Stage 8 win was Lance Armstrong (Team Radio Shack). Fortune, which seven times before had smiled brightly upon the face of the Texan, had now become a foreigner.

Armstrong was involved in three separate incidents out on the roadways that taken in combination effectively took away any chances he might have had in securing an eighth Tour victory. This time there was no riding through a field to stay upright and continue racing [well maybe a little bit of that, but not as significant or as timely as in 2003], there was no spring coiled return to action after being felled by a child's musette bag, or even a recovery from slipping off his pedals in the high mountains. In this case, the karma-tic umpire had called three strikes and signaled for an out.

While we would all like our heroes and champions to leave their respective sports victorious, we must remember that life does not always offer up a Hollywood ending, and that Lance's final victory really came to fruition at this same time last year, when he decided to return to cycling to raise awareness for cancer and possibly give one of its victims a chance at his or her own happy ending.

General Classification After Stage 8
1. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:00:20
3. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana - 0:01:01
4. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto - 0:01:03
5. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank - 0:01:10
6. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Transitions - 0:01:11
7. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo - 0:01:45
8. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack - 0:02:14
9. Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi - 0:02:15
10. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia - 0:02:31

Jersey Leaders After Stage 8
maillot jaune - Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
maillot vert - Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team
maillot à pois rouges - Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quick Step
maillot blanc - Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank

Next: First Rest Day; Tuesday, July 13 - Stage 9 - Morzine-Avoriaz to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne (204.5km)
After a needed rest day, the riders tackle another tough day in the mountains. Follow our LIVE Tour de France coverage on LIVESTRONG.com.

Photo: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

For the second day in a row, Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) proved, once again, that he is currently the fastest man on two wheels. The 25-year old sprinter from the Isle of Man took his second stage in as many days when he won the 227.5km Stage 6 from Montargis to Gueugnon.

Three intermediate sprints and four categorized climbs highlighted the longest stage of the 97th Tour de France, in what many expected to be the final play day for the sprinters for sometime as the race would soon turn toward the mountains. At the very outset, the trio of Sebastian Lang (Omega Pharma-Lotto), Ruben Perez Moreno (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Mathieu Perget (Caisse d’Epargne) went out on what has been the customary suicidal effort the past few days and quickly built a lead of over 8 minutes. The three exchanged blows over the course of the day, contesting each of the sprints out on the road as well as three of the four climbs.

The breakaway was joined late in the stage by Dmitri Champion (AG2R La Mondiale), who contested the day's final climb, and then by Anthony Charteau (BBox Bouygues Telecom). These latter two moves; however, only seemed to agitate the angry peloton, which was already positioning itself for the run into the finish in Gueugnon.

The catch inevitably came with ten kilometers left to go. After a few precarious turns in the final three kilometers, the sprinters lined up for the drag race into the finish. Mark Renshaw (HTC-Columbia) would once again take out the sprint in the closing meters with teammate Cavendish closely on his wheel. Left out front, Cavendish sealed the deal in dominating fashion, leaving the next two closest riders, Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions) and Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini), simply grasping at air.

Recap - As It Happened

Stage 6 Results
1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia
2. Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Transitions
3. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini

And So It Begins

With the mountains no longer looming but directly in front of the peloton, the battle for the overall will finally begin. The unfortunate circumstances on Stage 3 sent a number of contenders reeling, most notably Lance Armstrong (Team Radio Shack), who currently sits in 18th place 2'30" in arrears.

A brutal third week may make the contenders to the Tour de France crown wary of attacking too soon, but if the hopes of those like Armstrong or Michael Rogers (HTC-Columbia) are to be buoyed at all, each should look to put these early mountain stages to good use.

General Classification After Stage 6
1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank
2. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team - 0:00:23
3. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team - 0:00:39
4. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Transitions - 0:00:46
5. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step - 0:01:01
6. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:01:09
7. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team - 0:01:19
8. Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana - 0:01:31
9. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana - 0:01:40
10. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto - 0:01:42

Jersey Leaders After Stage 6
maillot jaune - Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank
maillot vert - Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team
maillot à pois rouges - Jerome Pineau (Fra) Quick Step
maillot blanc - Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team

Next: Stage 7 - Tournus to Station des Rousses (165.5km)
The 97th Tour de France heads into the mountains. Will Lance Armstrong (Team Radio Shack), who currently sits in 18th place, begin his assault on the maillot jaune? Follow our LIVE Tour de France commentary on LIVESTRONG.com.

The 213 kilometer Stage 3 from Wanze to Arenberg Porte du Hainaut, with seven cobbled sectors, was billed as the first real selection, but it may eventually prove to be the tipping point for those contenders to the crown and in the rivalry between Lance Armstrong (Team Radio Shack) and Alberto Contador (Astana).

Upset with the previous day's decision to neutralize the race, Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team) would finally get another opportunity to claim a stage as well as the maillot vert, green points jersey. The best sprinter in an elite lead group of six riders that included Geraint Thomas (Sky Professional Cycling Team), Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team), Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin - Transitions), and the Team Saxo Bank pair of Andy Schleck and Fabian Cancellara, Hushovd easily laid claim to a classic stage that was revered by some and cursed by others afterward.

Geraint Thomas (Sky Professional Cycling Team) would cross in second and Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) in third.

Stage 3 Results
1. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team
2. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team
3. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team

Natural Selection

As Tour de France director, Christian Prudhomme, stated during the unveiling of this year's route, "We don't put cobblestones for riders to fall, but to make a selection...There will be some damage." And despite the protestations by riders and team directors alike, that is exactly what transpired on Stage 3 of the 97th Tour de France; cycling's version of natural selection.

These days, stage racing and especially Grand Tour stage races, have become formulaic and riders specialized. If you can time trial and climb, you will be in contention to win a Grand Tour. Gone are the days of great champions such as Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Sean Kelly; true all-rounders who won Grand Tours and the cobbled Classics alike.

It was pure delight to see a rider like Andy Schleck, and for that matter Alberto Contador, a wiry thin climber fly over the cobbles with some alacrity and wreak havoc on the true hard-men of the peloton. After all, shouldn't the champion of the biggest race also be the best rider?

Lots of Luck

As the cycling axiom goes, what is hoped for is not good luck, but not to have any bad. On Stage 3 of the 97th Tour de France, there was plenty of luck thrown around, unfortunately most of it was bad.

The definitive winners from the aftermath of the pave sectors were: Andy Schleck, Alberto Contador, Cadel Evans and Jurgen Van den Broeck (Omega-Pharma Lotto), as each pulled themselves up in the General Classification while putting some time on their rivals.

The definitive losers of Stage 3 were: Team Saxo Bank, Lance Armstrong, Michael Rogers (HTC-Columbia), and Carlos Sastre (Cervelo TestTeam). The latter three all lost significant time to their rivals and placed their Tour hopes in serious jeopardy, while the loss of Frank Schleck will certainly affect Team Saxo Bank in the mountains.

General Classification After Stage 3
1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank
2. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team - 0:00:23
3. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team - 0:00:39
4. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Transitions - 0:00:46
5. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step - 0:01:01
6. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:01:09
7. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team - 0:01:19
8. Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana - 0:01:31
9. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana - 0:01:40
10. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto - 0:01:42

After a strong ride, which seemed more in support of his leader, Andy Schleck, rather than for his own fortunes, Fabian Cancellara received a bigger prize than a stage victory, the maillot jaune. The anticipated shake up in the General Classification occurred as Cadel Evans, Andy Schleck, Alberto Contador, and Jurgen Van Den Broeck are now all well placed to stake their claim on the final yellow jersey in Paris.

Jersey Leaders After Stage 3
maillot jaune - Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank
maillot vert - Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team
maillot à pois rouges - Jerome Pineau (Fra) Quick Step
maillot blanc - Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team

Next: Stage 4 - Cambrai to Reims (153.5km)
Short and flat, what else could a sprinter ask for? Follow our LIVE Tour de France coverage of Stage 4 on LIVESTRONG.com.

Photo: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

One hundred and ninety-seven* men would start today's Prologue in Rotterdam, but at the end the story would be written by only four of them.

Tony Martin (Team HTC-Columbia), one of the revelations of last year's Tour de France, was given the dubious honor of being one of the first riders, 11th, out of the start house. The wearer of the maillot blanc, for best young rider, for 12 days and runner-up on last year's Stage 20 up Mont Ventoux; however, had more ambitious plans than simply being the hare to the wolves, who were sitting in wait well down the start list.

The 25-year old German went out and set the early, best mark, covering the 8.9km route in 10'10". He would sit anxiously and hopefully in the hot seat as one rider after another failed to best his mark. As the final three riders took to the road, it finally became apparent that he might lose his grip on the Prologue when 196th rider out of the start house came in under his intermediate mark.

Ultimately, Martin would only have to slide down one spot into second, losing the honor of wearing the first maillot jaune of the 2010 Tour de France by only 10 seconds. Though disappointed the HTC-Columbia rider garnered a measure of solace in the fact that it took the quality of a World Time Trial Champion to beat him.

Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank) came out as he usually does in the shorter time trial events, with engine revved on high and his piston-like legs firing in concert. Next to last coming out of the start house, the current World Time Trial Champion wasted little time in proving that he deserved each and everyone of those championship stripes. With Martin's time clearly in his sight, Cancellara came in under the young German's time by 10" at day's end. For his efforts, the Swiss rider would once again take home the most honored prize of the race, the maillot jaune.

* Xavier Florencio of the Cervelo TestTeam was a non-starter.

Its Not Just About Two Guys, Really?

Though the Tour organizers may have their faults, they are not without a sense of history. They understand that much of what makes the Tour, well The Tour, are the rivalries among its teams and between its riders.

With the exception of the final starting spot in an opening time trial event, which is usually reserved for the previous year's winner, each starting assignment is up to their discretion. So it was not without coincidence that Lance Armstrong (Team Radio Shack) and Alberto Contador (Astana) started only one rider apart in today's 8.9km Prologue.

As the two took to the road, all the hype surrounding their rivalry and seeming disdain for each other, whether real or manufactured, overshadowed everything else in the race. For a moment, it was not about who would win the stage, as someone eventually has to, but more about who would get the first jab in, who would draw first blood.

When it was all said and done, Armstrong took home a bigger prize than an opening day stage win. The Texan was able to put 5" into his biggest rival, and perhaps more importantly placed Contador immediately into a defensive position.

Prologue Results
1. Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank)
2. Tony Martin (HTC-Columbia)
3. David Millar (Team Garmin-Transitions)
4. Lance Armstrong (Team Radio Shack)
5. Geraint Thomas (Team Sky)
6. Alberto Contador (Astana)
7. Levi Leipheimer (Team Radioshack)
8. Tyler Farrar (Team Garmin-Transitions)
9. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky)
10. Janez Brajkovic (Team Radio Shack)

Argyle In Style

With the Tour spotlight firmly entrenched on Armstrong and Contador, it would be easy to overlook the efforts put in by a pair of Team Garmin-Transitions riders, David Millar and Tyler Farrar.

Without the weight of external pressure and expectation, Millar finally showed his talents in the event for which he known. A former British National Pursuit and Time Trial champion, Millar would finish third on the day.

I'm satisfied, I was hoping to go well and, contrary to my usual performances of late, I actually went well, said Millar afterward. "The wet roads weren't nearly as hazardous as I thought they'd be. There were one or two corners where I was too cautious. I knew I was going really fast and I didn't want to be slapped off and make a fool of myself. I'm 33 after all. I followed Tyler and had a look at the course beforehand and I'm blown away by how fast he went. It fills me and, no doubt, our team with confidence for the coming days."

While many expected Millar to do well in the Prologue, the same cannot be said for his teammate Tyler Farrar. The former Classics man turned sprinter sat in second place for most of the day and finally finished in eighth.

"It was really a surprise. I went into today assuming that I was just riding to get through to the sprint stages and I happened to have a good ride," commented Farrar on his performance. "I think I'm as surprised as anyone. And pleased."

The high placing will certainly help Farrar in the chase for the maillot vert.

General Classification After Prologue
1. Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank)
2. Tony Martin (HTC-Columbia)
3. David Millar (Team Garmin-Transitions)
4. Lance Armstrong (Team Radio Shack)
5. Geraint Thomas (Team Sky)
6. Alberto Contador (Astana)
7. Levi Leipheimer (Team Radioshack)
8. Tyler Farrar (Team Garmin-Transitions)
9. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky)
10. Janez Brajkovic (Team Radio Shack)

Jersey Leaders After Prologue
maillot jaune - Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank)
maillot vert - David Millar (Team Garmin-Transitions)
maillot blanc - Tony Martin (HTC-Columbia)

Next: Stage 1 - Rotterdam to Bruxelles (225.5km)
A long, but relatively flat stage awaits. Look for the sprinters to have their day. Follow our LIVE Tour de France coverage of Stage 1 on LIVESTRONG.com.

Photo: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

For the second year in a row, we will be providing live commentary during the Tour de France for LIVESTRONG.com.  Follow us daily over the next three weeks as we take in all the happenings during what will be Lance Armstrong's last appearance at the biggest bicycle race on the professional racing calendar.

And remember to check back to the Triple Crankset for post-stage recaps and reactions.

Pyrenees, Not Cobbles Will Be Decisive

When the route for the 2010 Tour de France was unveiled in October of last year, it looked as if the the Tour organizers had once again reached into their devilish bag of tricks to test the mettle of its participants.

Beginning on July 3rd and running through to the 25th, the route for the 97th Tour de France is highlighted by cobblestones and high mountains. In the early going, the Tour will pay homage to the Classics by incorporating seven cobblestone sectors, traditionally used in Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Paris-Roubaix, on Stage 3. And with only one Individual Time Trial, on the next to last day before the stroll into Paris, the organizers were certainly looking for the cobbles to help make the initial selection.

"We don't put cobblestones for riders to fall, but to make a selection," said race director, Christian Prudhomme. "There will be 11 kilometers of cobblestones in the last 30 kilometers. There will be some damage."

While the placement of the cobbled sectors and the cobbles themselves have many including Lance Armstrong believing that there will be some carnage, do not expect it to decide the overall. With 18 stages remaining, any of the contenders that make it through the cobbled gauntlet safely will still have plenty of road to make up any lost time.

The final, and perhaps decisive selection; however, will be made in the Pyrenees. There will be plenty of high mountain drama in Alberto Contador's backyard during the Tour's final week as it includes not one, but two ascents of the Col du Tourmalet, which is being celebrated for it's 100th anniversary from its first inclusion in the race. The first pass through will be as part of the legendary gauntlet of the Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet and Aubisque, better known as "The Circle of Death," on Stage 16, and the second will be on the following stage as one of only three mountain top finishes along the entire route.

Schedule
Prologue - 3 July : Rotterdam ITT, 8.9 km
Stage: 1 - 4 July : Rotterdam - Bruxelles, 223.5 km
Stage: 2 - 5 July : Bruxelles - Spa, 201 km
Stage: 3 - 6 July : Wanze - Arenberg Porte du Hainaut, 213 km
Stage: 4 - 7 July : Cambrai - Reims, 153.5 km
Stage: 5 - 8 July : Épernay - Montargis, 187.5 km
Stage: 6 - 9 July : Montargis - Gueugnon, 227.5 km
Stage: 7 - 10 July : Tournus - Station des Rousses, 165.5 km
Stage: 8 - 11 July : Station des Rousses - Morzine-Avoriaz, 189 km
Stage: 9 - 13 July : Morzine-Avoriaz - Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, 204.5 km
Stage: 10 - 14 July : Chambéry - Gap, 179 km
Stage: 11 - 15 July : Sisteron - Bourg-lès-Valence, 184.5 km
Stage: 12 - 16 July : Bourg-de-Péage - Mende, 210.5 km
Stage: 13 - 17 July : Rodez - Revel, 196 km
Stage: 14 - 18 July : Revel - Ax-3 Domaines, 184.5 km
Stage: 15 - 19 July : Pamiers - Bagnères-de-Luchon, 187.5 km
Stage: 16 - 20 July : Bagnères-de-Luchon - Pau, 199.5 km
Stage: 17 - 22 July : Pau - Col du Tourmalet, 174 km
Stage: 18 - 23 July : Salies-de-Béarn - Bordeaux, 198 km
Stage: 19 - 24 July : Bordeaux - Pauillac ITT, 52 km
Stage: 20 - 25 July : Longjumeau - Paris Champs-Élysées, 102.5 km

A Young Man's Game - The Contenders

Any list of contenders has to begin and end with the current and three time Tour de France champion, Alberto Contador (Astana), but if he should happen to win this, the 97th Tour de France, it will not be easy.

Alberto Contador (Astana) - He is without doubt the best stage racer at this moment. If the young Spaniard does not fall by the wayside on the cobbles as former Tour contender and countryman, Iban Mayo, did in 2004 he will certainly be salivating once the high mountains of the Alps and Pyrenees come into play. Prediction - 1st

Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) - Second only to Contador last year, Schleck has not shown particularly great form this year, but if he has timed his training well and peaks in the final week look for him to be on the podium again. Prediction - 3rd

Lance Armstrong (Team Radio Shack) - What else can be said about the former 7-time Tour de France champion? He seems to have lost the decisive accelerations in the high mountains that he repeatedly used during his previous seven Tour victories, but with his impending retirement from the Grand Boucle no one will have more motivation to win the the race. Prediction - 2nd

Carlos Sastre (Cervelo Test Team) - The former Tour de France champion has much to prove given last year's underwhelming performance in the race. The Spaniard is still considered a good to great climber, but will need a great deal of team support to put him into any type of contention. Prediction - Top 15

Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Transitions) - A fourth place in 2008, a healthy Vande Velde will have the use of a strong and flexible team to help him garner a podium placing. Prediction - 4th

Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) - Riding for the first British team to compete in the Tour de France in 20 years, Wiggins and Sky will most likely impress early, but it remains to be seen whether he will have enough help to contend in the mountains. Prediction - Top 10

Michael Rogers (HTC-Columbia) - The 2010 Amgen Tour of California winner has yet to put it all together in July, but has HTC-Columbia sacrificed his chances in supporting Mark Cavendish? Prediction - Top 10

Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) - Evans represented himself well at this year's Giro d'Italia, but how much does he have left in the tank? Prediction - Top 10

Denis Menchov (Rabobank) - The Russian has been a perennial contender and only needs to win the Tour de France in order to claim victories in all three Grand Tours. A strong fighter, Menchov will be in the mix. Prediction - Top 10

Roman Kreuzinger (Liquigas-Doimo) - If you are looking for a true dark-horse, look no further than Kreuzinger, who could be the first Czech on the fabled Tour podium Prediction - 5th

Tony Martin (HITC-Columbia) - The same that was said about Kreuzinger certainly applies to this young German. One of last year's revelation of the Tour, Martin is sure to be in the mix again. Prediction - Top 10

Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Omega Pharm Lotto) - The Belgian was a revelation at the Giro a few years ago and should not be discounted. Can he finally shake the up-and-comer label and compete in the biggest race? Prediction - Top 15

The Biggest Race, The Most Confident

Big events usually bring out the best in the most competitive. Lance Armstrong proved it time and time again, and the same can be said of HTC-Columbia's Mark Cavendish. While it may be sometime before anyone can shake away any of the Brits' confidence in the sprint, he still has a ways to go to claim the maillot vert in Paris.

Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) - Unfortunately for Manxman, the maillot vert goes to the most consistent finisher over the span of the three week race and not the most dominant sprinter. Cavendish is sure to win his share of sprint stages, but his inability to climb well will hurt him at this edition of the race which features miles and miles of mountains. Prediction - 2nd

Tyler Farrar (Team Garmin-Transitions) - Farrar has certainly come into his own as a sprinter and this year he has the team to compete with Cavendish's HTC-Columbia train. Prediction - 3th

Thor Hushovd (Team Cervelo Test Team) - A former maillot vert winner, the ever consistent Norwegian will be vying for the jersey all the way up to the finish on the Champs-Elysees. Prediction - 1st

Oscar Freire (Rabobank) - The former multiple World Champion will certainly be in the mix of every bunch sprint, but he will have a hard time catching a wheel and working his way through the teams fielding strong lead out trains. Prediction - 4th

Dots In My Eyes

Its often difficult to name the contenders for the maillot pois a rouges, let alone predict who might win it as there are a host of good climbers in the race who may be allowed to venture off the front at anytime during the race. Here are but a few.

Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) - Always one to go off the front, Chavanel will represent his Quick Step sponsors well. Prediction - 2nd

Christophe Moreau (Caisse d'Epargne) - Similar to Chavanel in thought process, this may be Moreau's jersey to lose. Prediction - 1st

Robert Gesink (Ned) - An extremely strong climber, Gesink could certainly be considered as one of the maillot jaune contenders in the future. He may be given the freedom to ride for stage wins late in the race, if team leader Menchov falls out of contention. Prediction - Top 10

Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale) - A former maillot jaune wearer, the Italian may have other designs on which jersey to compete for this year. Prediction - Top 10

Amets Txurruka (Euskatel Euskadi) - Another great Spanish climber who will have his day in the sun once the mountain stages arrive. - Prediction - 3rd

Start List

Prologue - Rotterdam ITT, 8.9 km
It all kicks off in the Netherlands this year, a country which will surely be clad in orange after their national team's victory over Brazil in the World Cup. Look for Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team), Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank), David Zabriskie (Team Garmin-Transitions) and Levi Leipheimer (Team Radio Shack) to pull on the first maillot jaune of 2010. Follow our LIVE Tour de France coverage on LIVESTRONG.com.

Sacramento, CA - The 2010 Amgen Tour of California is scheduled take flight later today, Sunday, May 16th.

But if Lance Armstrong (Team RadioShack) is to be believed, the Amgen Tour of California has already arrived.

At Friday's Kick-Off Press Conference, Armstrong would remark, “The Amgen Tour of California is a big race for us. It’s no secret that this is a huge priority for us. I might even take it a step further by saying it’s second only to the Tour de France.”

Second only to the Tour de France, really?

If you were to read into his statement, it could easily be construed as a not so subtle jab at the organizers of the Giro d'Italia, who upon learning that Team RadioShack's biggest stars were opting instead to participate in the Amgen Tour of California decided not to extend an invitation to the entire Pro Tour team. But then again, Armstrong may actually have a more than valid point.

In its 5th year, the Amgen Tour of California has undoubtedly become America's signature race. This year's event features nine Pro Tour teams, and with a move down the racing calendar from its usual February spot, the race provides riders an early season alternative to the grueling demands of a three-week stage race.

But second only to the Tour?

In the minds of many, the Amgen Tour of California will never supplant the Giro d'Italia or Vuelta a Espana in either historical value or prestige, but take a moment to consider this hypothetical, if at this juncture we had the opportunity and power to switch this year's Giro field with that of the Amgen Tour of California, which race would capture your attention more?

Or let's go one step further, how likely would it be for a breakaway to succeed, let alone two on back-to-back days if the likes of Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) and Tom Boonen (Quick-Step) were contesting sprints on Italian rather than American soil?

Second to the Tour...if not, its certainly on the verge.

Schedule
Stage 1: Nevada City to Sacramento (Sunday, May 16)
Stage 2: Davis to Santa Rosa (Monday, May 17)
Stage 3: San Francisco to Santa Cruz (Tuesday, May 18)
Stage 4: San Jose to Modesto (Wednesday, May 19)
Stage 5: Visalia to Bakersfield (Thursday, May 20)
Stage 6: Palmdale to Big Bear Lake (Friday, May 21)
Stage 7: Los Angeles Individual Time Trial (Saturday, May 22)
Stage 8: Thousand Oaks/Westlake Village/Agoura Hills Circuit Race (Sunday, May 23)

Quotable Notables

Lance Armstrong

On the team’s condition:
“Personally, I struggle to find the condition that I like. There have been moments I thought it was getting better. I like to think we’re heading in the right direction. This is an event where you can truly test yourself. I do think it’s a team sport and we bring a deep team.

On Tour predictions:
“Anything can happen at the Amgen Tour of California. We’re excited. We’re motivated. For me, it’s good to be back with a great group of guys. But from the team’s perspective, our best chance is Levi. We’re going in with the sole purpose of supporting him. But it depends on what the road dictates. I’m happy to be here as a team rider.”

On his emotional drive:
“My emotional drive is good. When you have bad days, as we all do, your drive takes a hit. If you asked what my emotional drive was after the Tour of Flanders, I would have said, ‘I did a pretty good job for an old man.’ I still believe that I can win the Tour de France.”

On his condition:
“One thing I’ve tried to do is simplify my life. Life is hectic for me now. Professional cycling, four kids with a fifth on the way, all the travel. At the end of it all, people ask, ‘How do you do that?’ It’s not something that I can easily do. I’ve tried to cut back as much as I can, but we have 50 days until the start of Tour de France, so I can’t rest too much.”

Levi Leipheimer (USA), Three-Time Defending Champion

“There’s a lot new about the Amgen Tour of California. It’s taking place in May as opposed to February. The whole feeling about it is different because it’s summertime. The riders of the peloton are much more fit. We’re going higher in the mountains, in Big Bear. I’m looking forward to seeing exactly what happens that day.”

“I’ve always said that riding into Santa Rosa with the world’s best riders in my hometown is really special. It’s not something that everyone gets to experience, especially wearing the Amgen Leader Jersey. It’s an overwhelming experience.”

“I’m ready for the race. Like the last few years, I’m ready to win.”

“I’ve known Lance over the years. I know he’s professional and I’ve seen him work for guys in the past. Someone who wins the greatest race in the world knows he can’t do it without the team. When you have a teammate who can win the race and he has better form, you help him. That’s the way cycling works. That’s just the way it is.”

George Hincapie (USA) BMC RacingTeam

“The new team has been great so far. We started the year with slight growing pains, being a new team. But the team’s really gaining some momentum right now and we’re hoping to continue that.”

Fabian Cancellara (SUI) Team Saxo Bank

“This is my first race after my break. I’m happy to come back to this race but how good am I? I don’t know. What I know for sure is I didn’t have the best preparation for coming here. What’s important is that I’m getting back. I think it’s important that I am relaxed and I’m looking forward to this beautiful race. Hopefully the weather will stay the way it is.”

“I have the energy that I need and the form to be in the top. The most important thing was to rest after the Classics. The team is strong.”

Mark Cavendish (GBR) HTC - Columbia

“I’m excited to be here. We’re a great team, this is a great race. We’re looking forward to it.”

Andy Schleck (LUX) Team Saxo Bank

“We arrived a few days ago, so hopefully we can get ready for the race. I heard there’s a really hard climb ahead of us.”

Dave Zabriskie (USA) Garmin-Transitions

“I’m looking forward to racing in my new hometown, Los Angeles. But I’d be looking forward to it regardless if I was a resident or not.”

Andrew Messick, President, AEG Sports

“In our five years we’ve succeeded in becoming an increasingly exciting race on the international cycling calendar. We are giving cycling fans in the U.S. the opportunity to see the very best cyclists in the world.”

“We are really happy that the sun is shining and our move to May has put us in the heart of the cycling season. It’s also given us a chance to showcase new and more scenic parts of the state and give the fans of California blue skies and warm weather. We are continuing to work with our partners to craft an event that we think will be competitively challenging for the riders and exciting for the fans to watch. We have eight great days of racing and the best riders in the world with us.”

Jim Birrell, Race Director, Amgen Tour of California

“We have 16 host cities that will let us grace their city with a worldwide audience. As we hit the streets of San Francisco and head down the coast of California, you will see that this year’s Amgen Tour of California will be more challenging than previous years.”

“We are heading to the home of L.A. LIVE and STAPLES Center where the time trial in Los Angeles will prove to be quite challenging compared to previous time trials. Then we’ll move close to the home of Amgen for another decisive stage, Stage 8, the conclusion to the 2010 race.”

Phil Liggett, VERSUS Announcer

“I felt it was a big gamble to move away from February. It was a way of testing the strength of the organization. Riders are not too willing to travel a long distance as they are preparing for the Tour de France. The big teams, the big riders always come to the Amgen Tour of California. This will be the fourth year VERSUS has broadcast the race. This year, VERSUS has strengthened its coverage. We’re going live two hours every day. We’re going out to every continent in the world. The Amgen Tour of California is on par with all of the great races in the world.”

Stage 1 - Nevada City to Sacramento (167.7 km)

Follow the Triple Crankset for all your Amgen Tour of California coverage.

The parcours for Thursday's Stage 4 of the 2010 Santos Tour Down Under were as close to ideal for the sprinters as they come. And when the occasion arose, the fastmen did not disappoint.

Andre Greipel (Team HTC-Columbia) remained the peloton's unsolvable puzzle as he would take the bunch sprint ahead of Australians Robbie McEwen (Team Katusha) and Graeme Brown (Rabobank), and stake claim to his third stage in four tries.

Since Greipel arrived Down Under in 2008, the 27-year-old German has essentially owned the race. The overall champion and points classifications winner in 2008, Greipel has now won 8 of the 13 stages he has started. Although the Stage 5 profile, with several passes up Willunga Hill before an uphill finish, does not particularly suit his talents, Greipel is more than likely to win his second Tour Down Under championship, and perhaps one last stage in the process.

At this point, would you bet against him?

In addition to fighting another day of high temperatures, the peloton was besieged by strong winds along the 149.5km route from Norwood to Goolwa. Nonetheless, the baroudeur-rouleur would give it another go.

David Kemp (UniSA-Australia) and Olivier Kaisen (Omega Pharma-Lotto) would once again launch themselves off-the-front, accompanied this time by Thomas Frei (BMC Racing), Stef Clement (Rabobank), Thomas Rohregger (Milram), Anthony Ravard (AG2R-La Mondiale) and Jonathan Castroviejo (Euskaltel-Euskadi). The break would stay away for the majority of the Mutual Community Stage 4 only to be swept away, literally, by day's end.

At the peloton's arrival into Goolwa, Lance Armstrong and Team RadioShack teammate Tomas Vaitkus would launch a late attack, but like the earlier break, they would not survive the onslaught from the voracious, hard charging sprinters.

Results - Stage 4
1. Andre Greipel (Team HTC-Columbia)
2. Robbie McEwen (Team Katusha)
3. Graeme Brown (Rabobank)

General Classification After Stage 4
1. Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia)
2. Robbie McEwen (Team Katusha)
3. Greg Henderson (Team Sky)
4. Gert Steegmans (Team RadioShack)
5. Graeme Brown (Rabobank)
6. Jurgen Roelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
7. Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team)
8. Andriy Grivko (Astana)
9. Robbie Hunter (Garmin-Transitions)
10. Baden Cooke (Team Saxo Bank)

More:
Andre Greipel has Tour Down Under at his mercy
Lance attacks but Greipel too good

Next: Jayco Stage 5 - Snapper Point to Willunga (148km)

With the 2010 road cycling season set to kick-off with the Tour Down Under this weekend, the Associated Press checked in with arguably the greatest cyclist of all-time, Eddy Merckx, at a presentation in Paris for next month's inaugural Tour of Oman, for his take on this summer's battle in France.

Although Merckx expects the main  battle to be waged by former Astana teammates Lance Armstrong, who will line up for the first time this year with his new squad, Team RadioShack, this Sunday in Australia and Alberto Contador, the reigning Tour de France champion, he also cautions Armstrong to be wary of other rising stars.

"Contador has shown he is the most complete rider, when you see the way he won the Tour de France. He is much younger than Lance,'' Merckx said. "But there's not just him, there's other young wolves like the Schleck brothers ... I think it will be a very open Tour.''

While "skeptics argue that Armstrong's age is a barrier to success given that the Tour's oldest winner, the Belgian rider Firmin Lambot, was 36 when he triumphed in 1922 [Armstrong incidentally was 33 when he won his last, the 2005 edition], Merckx argues that Armstrong's 3 1/2-year retirement after winning his seventh straight Tour may have helped keep his body younger. While others trudged up the torturous climbs of the Alps and Pyrenees, Armstrong's body was spared that punishment during those doping-marred 2006-08 Tours."

"That also counts. We'll see, it's a challenge and hats off to what he is doing,'' Merckx said. "What wears you out is the competing, not the training.''

In the end, Merckx feels little can dim Armstrong's ambition to win an unprecedented 8th Tour.  "He's doing it for himself,'' Merckx said.