Armstrong faces uphill battle in Tour
Thursday July 02 2009
Seán Kelly has tipped Spain's Alberto Contador to spoil Lance Armstrong's return to the Tour de France when the riders finish in the Champs Élysee at the end of this month.
Contador will begin "Le Tour" as favourite on Saturday having triumphed in 2007 and having won the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta á Espana in 2008.
Ireland's Kelly, who won four green jerseys between 1982 and 1989, says that the demands of the race are more suited to 26-year-old Contador,
"Climbing mountains is his strong point; he's such a great climber. Contador would be my bet for the win."
Lance Armstrong will be without the support of his previously unbeatable US Postal team and will have to play second fiddle in the Astana line-up to Contador.
But Kelly does not totally rule out Armstrong saying the Texan knows what it takes to win,
"He's one of these guys that seems to recover and be stronger in the third week. That's a big tour rider, that's the way they are."
