Around the corner

What with Michael Jackson dead and Lance Armstrong back this years tour will be unlike anything in the past few years - guarenteed. Though, to be fair, we've said that every year since the predictable Disco show left the roads of France after 7 years of utter domination.
The return of the texan is not the only news in this, the last week before Le Tour 09 hits the asphalt.

2 Leaders at Astana and counting...
So Bert and Lance don't get a long, but the third and fourth contenders vying for Bruneels attention are Levi and the ever weird Kloden. Both have pudium time in Paris and neither are particularly good at playing second fiddle. Sort of makes you wonder who in Astana will ride on the front. But then, this worked so well for T-Mobile...

Cervelo split focus
Not that this is die to lack of confidence in the reigning golden boy Sastre, but Cervelo are taking Thor along to try for the double - yellow AND green in Paris. With no Boonan to fight, Thor just needs to hold a few second places behind Cav then make it over the hills to secure another fancy green sweater. BUT (and it's a big one) will splitting the team just make victory in either competition all the more elusive? Lotto?

Caisse crossing fingers
With no Valverde, I guess Caisse will cross their fingers and look to Pereiro - so long as he has recovered from that truly terrible fall last year.

Garmin offering cash to anyone. Anyone.
Rumours have it Garmin were hoping to nab Albert should Astana miss their rental payment, but with the Kasakhs coming through with the cash (or at least some of it) the deal never game off. Nor will we be seeing a Livestrong team at the tour this year (though maybe next time) - but how committed to the Astana label do we think Albert is now... With no Albert, Garmin will hope VV has a very good day. It has happened before.

As always at this crazy time of year the news is thick and fast, and there will doubtless be more to roll out before a cleat is clicked in Monaco.