From Spain, not a Dane _ Alberto Contador shrugs off anthem mishap at Tour de France ceremony

September 3rd, 2009 PARIS — Two-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador has decided to pull out of the cycling world championships later this month in Switzerland. Contador, who won his second Tour title in July, is not in top shape and doesn't want to prevent another rider from competing at the worlds, spokesman Jacinto Vidarte said Thursday in an e-mail.

July 27th, 2009 Congratulations Alberto, yes as expected Tour de France 2009 Winner is none other than Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador. He was also the winner of 2007, this is his second victory.

July 26th, 2009 Alberto Contador wins Tour de France againPARIS — Alberto Contador won the Tour de France for a second time Wednesday, and Lance Armstrong capped his return to the race with an impressive third-place finish. Mark Cavendish of Britain collected his sixth stage win of this year's Tour in a sprint after the 101.9-mile course ride from Montereau-Fault-Yonne to the Champs-Elysees.

July 25th, 2009 Contador keeps yellow jersey at TourMONT VENTOUX, France — Alberto Contador has all but locked up the Tour de France title, keeping the yellow jersey after a punishing mountain ride in the next to last stage. The final leg is Sunday, a ceremonial ride into Paris.

July 24th, 2009 Contador leads as 19th stage of Tour beginsBOURGOIN-JALLIEU, France — Alberto Contador looks poised for overall victory as Tour de France riders have set off on a relatively flat 19th stage. Lance Armstrong has a tenuous hold on third overall, though he isn't expected to lose ground during Friday's 110.6-mile trek from Bourgoin-Jallieu to Aubenas in eastern France.

July 23rd, 2009 Contador wins time trial; Armstrong in 3rd placeANNECY, France — Alberto Contador has won the final time trial in the Tour de France, and Lance Armstrong moved up a spot to third place overall. Contador now looks all but assured of his second Tour victory after increasing his overall lead in Thursday's 18th stage.

July 22nd, 2009 Schleck wins 17th stage; Contador leads TourLE-GRAND-BORNAND, France — Alberto Contador has finished second in the 17th stage of the Tour de France as the overall leader moved closer to victory. Frank Schleck won Wednesday's stage as the Tour left the Alps, while Lance Armstrong finished more than two minutes back and dropped from second to fourth overall after the 105-mile ride from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Le Grand-Bornand.

July 21st, 2009 Contador in yellow as 16th stage of Tour startsMARTIGNY, Switzerland — Tour de France leader Alberto Contador and second-place teammate Lance Armstrong have started on the 16th stage of the race, which goes into the Swiss Alps. The pack is heading on a 98.8-mile ride from Martigny to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, France, via Italy and up the Grand-Saint-Bernard and Petit-Saint-Bernard passes.

July 19th, 2009 15th stage of Tour de France under wayPONTARLIER, France — Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong is facing a tough test as the first Alpine stage of the Tour de France has gotten under way between Pontarlier and the Swiss ski resort of Verbier. Fourth-placed Armstrong was 8 seconds behind overall leader Rinaldo Nocentini as riders set out Sunday on the 128.9-mile 15th stage.

July 17th, 2009 Hinault: Contador will win again _ not ArmstrongCOLMAR, France — Five-time Tour de France champion Bernard Hinault believes that Lance Armstrong won't win this year's race, saying the American's rivalry with Astana teammate Alberto Contador is motivating the Spaniard. In an interview in Friday's edition of French sports newspaper L'Equipe, Hinault claimed Armstrong's age — 37 — and Contador's superior climbing skills mean the American won't win the Tour an eighth time, breaking his own record.

July 10th, 2009 Feillu wins 7th Tour stage in PyreneesARCALIS, Andorra — Brice Feillu of France has won the seventh stage of the Tour de France in a solo breakaway. It was not immediately clear who would take the yellow jersey from Fabian Cancellara, who trailed far behind the main pack.

July 9th, 2009 GERONA, Spain — Tour de France riders have set off on the sixth stage as cycling's premiere race dips into Spain for two days. The 177 riders are heading southwest along the Mediterranean on a 112.8-mile course along plains, the coast and a few small hills from Gerona to Barcelona.

June 30th, 2009 AP Interview: Armstrong set for Tour support rolePARIS — Lance Armstrong says he's capable of winning an eighth Tour de France but is ready, if necessary, to put his ambitions on hold for teammate and rival Alberto Contador. Contador and Armstrong will ride for the Astana team at the three-week race that starts Saturday.

June 25th, 2009 Astana team announces Tour de France lineupPARIS — Astana announced its lineup for the Tour de France on Thursday, with its challenge built around 2007 winner Alberto Contador as its leader and seven-time champion Lance Armstrong. In a glitzy presentation on its Web site, the Kazakh team said the two stars will be backed by past Tour podium finishers including Andreas Kloeden of Germany and American Levi Leipheimer.

June 7th, 2009 Evans wins Dauphine Libere prologue stageNANCY, France — Cadel Evans of Australia won the opening prologue at the Dauphine Libere on Sunday, beating Tour de France rival Alberto Contador of Spain by eight seconds. Contador pushed Evans hard over the 7.5-mile route around Nancy, but Evans won in 15 minutes, 36.64 seconds.