Lance Armstrong’s Duel with Former Teammate Looming, Signs Are Iffy

We’ll be keeping an eye on what journalists and cycling pundits around the world are saying as 2010’s much-anticipated Tour de France nears. This year’s edition starts Saturday, July 3 with a prologue, a short spin of 8 kilometers, around Rotterdam in the Netherlands. For Americans, the most compelling storyline is Lance Armstrong’s return to the race with a new team (Radio Shack) facing his former teammate and defending champion, Spain’s Alberto Contador. But with only days left before things kick off, expectations for Armstrong seem to be modest. Will the 38-year-old prove writers wrong?

Lance hinting at weakness?

Sam Abt says Lance Armstrong’s statement about playing the “team card” might be an acknowledgment of weakness — but if he does need to fall back on teammates, he’s got a great bench.

Aussie blogger Philip Gomes doesn’t see Lance finishing in the top ten at this year’s Tour.

Lance wasn’t happy about Outside magazine photoshopping the reference to his age — “38 BFD” — on his T-shirt for its latest cover (above). But that seems to be the least troublesome aspect of that photo — could they have made Armstrong look any more ancient?

Tom Boonen out

Tom Boonen will miss this year’s Tour, says Barry Ryan (Cyclingnews.com). The Belgian sprinter will also miss out on a chance to defend his national road racing champion’s jersey because of tendinitis in his left knee.

Brad Wiggins feeling ambitious

British cyclist and last year’s revelation, Bradley Wiggins, tells the Guardian‘s Richard Moore that he’s “in the ballpark” for a Tour de France win this year.