Levi Leipheimer News

TEAM Columbia's Australian sports director, Allan Peiper, believes what many don't after only five days of the tour: that the grip Lance Armstrong and his Astana team have on the race can be broken if teams with legitimate podium contenders are willing to attack once the race reaches the Pyrenees.

Lance Armstrong, right, and Levi Leipheimer, left, react on the podium after winning the fourth stage of the Tour de France cycling race, a team time-trial Tuesday.

Cadel Evans 's hopes of winning the Tour de France are almost gone following the poor performance of Silence-Lotto in the team time trial.

MOTTE, France - If age is Lance Armstrong's enemy, then experience is his friend.

THE value of Victorian Cadel Evans' fifth place in the opening stage of the Tour de France will hopefully convert into his team producing its best-ever ride in the crucial stage-four, team time trial tonight .

This 2009 Tour de France -- starting Saturday in Monaco -- might seem like old times for viewers, as many of the seven cyclists from the US are blasts from the past.

Versus begins its coverage of the Tour De France July 4 with an old friend competing again in the world's most famous bicycle race.

Seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong, right, and '07 winner Alberto Contador lend punch to Astana.

Spanish ace Carlos Sastre faces the race of his life over the next 21 days if he is to become the first rider since seven-time champion Lance Armstrong to successfuly defend a Tour de France crown.

Why He Will Win Contrary to popular belief, this year's parcours sets up perfect for Levi Leipheimer.

The Tour de France begins Saturday and officials of the race say it will be the most rigorously-tested sports event in history.

When the Tour de France starts Saturday, some cyclists may as well wear targets on their backs.

Lance Armstrong's return to the race he dominated for seven years should not stop teammate and hot favourite Alberto Contador from stamping his authority on a Tour de France more scrutinised than ever before.

Lance Armstrong leads the pack en route to winning the Nevada City Classic in California on June 21.

Alberto Contador Astana, 26 The Hype: Having won every Grand Tour he's entered since the '07 Tour, this fiery Spaniard is the best stage racer of his generation* because he's capable of winning TTs and mountaintop stages.

Soon-to-be-ninth-grader Kyle Clayton of ColfaxA A received a special perk for completing the Nevada City Classic Sunday a ' a moment with cycling star Lance Armstrong.

Nevada City's annual bike race was a classic long before Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer and their friends descended on it at the last minute Sunday.

It was a bike race, a festival, a tourist town's promotional dream. But most of all, the Nevada City Bicycle Classic was the Lance Armstrong show, from the moment he arrived in town Sunday until he crossed the line in first place, arms extended overhead, his muscular legs glistening in the early evening sun.

The 2,000 participants in the inaugural LiveStrong Challenge in Seattle this Sunday might be disappointed to learn that Lance Armstrong won't be appearing at the charity bicycle ride.

Lance Armstrong will be on Astana Cycling's final nine-rider roster for the Tour de France next month.