Spanish sports daily MARCA has reported that Lance Armstrong's long-standing sports director Johan Bruyneel believes that Alberto Contador may be unbeatable in the 2010 Tour de France.
"If Alberto's got the same condition in 2010 as he had in 2009, I don't know how to beat him," Bruyneel is quoted as saying in MARCA.
Before jumping ship with Armstrong to create the new US-based RadioShack team for 2010, Bruyneel was directeur sportif at Contador's Astana squad.
"He's got very few weak points and has shown that he's the best in the world. He's won the last four Grand Tours he's raced and very few people can achieve that," said Bruyneel.
MARCA reports that Bruyneel even believes that Contador could beat Armstrong's register of seven Tours, "although it would be very difficult".
"To win seven lots of different factors have to come into play, but there's no doubt that Contador is on the way."
He also denied that this year's Tour will be a straight duel between Armstrong and Contador, saying "there are lots of riders with serious options, such as Andy Schleck, Cadel Evans, Ivan Basso and Alejandro Valverde." (Curiously enough, he doesn't mention one Bradley Wiggins.)
Further down the line, Bruyneel has said that it is "very probable that I'll leave the sport when Lance does" - currently planned for the end of 2011. Afterwards, one option for Bruyneel would be setting up a cycling academy in the United States.
Related links
Contador receives UCI best rider trophy
Contador signs preliminary agreement with Astana
Alberto Contador: Rider Profile
Lance Armstrong: Rider Profile
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