Astana press conference at Tour — clearing the air

Team Director Johan Bruyneel spoke emphatically when he stated that there is no confusion within his SRAM RED-equipped Team Astana, stating, "Alberto Contador is our leader he will wear our team’s number one (21). And while others try to divide us, there are no politics at Astana."

Bruyneel is trying to limit misinformation that there is a power struggle between seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong and three-time Grand Tour winner Alberto Contador, two of the most successful Grand Tour riders ever who both will race for Astana at the 2009 Tour de France.

Bruyneel added, "we are here as a team and our job is to win. The Tour is the World’s biggest event and it’s our biggest goal."

He went on to mention that is not a bad thing to have two or three strong riders, in case something unfortunate happens out on the road to one of the leaders. He also reminded everyone that Lance and Alberto have only raced together one day, at the castilla de Leon, where Armstrong crashed and broke his collar bone.

Bruyneel says a lot will be determined from the opening time trial, and that it may determine the strongest on the team as well as the top competitors from other teams. He named the list of team rivals as Saxo Bank (Andy and Frank Schleck), Rabobank (Menchov), and Cervelo (Sastre). Adding that Carlos Sastre is at least as good as last year when he won.

SRAM is excited to have many of the top favorites riding SRAM RED including Contador, Armstrong, plus Frank and Andy Schleck.