Contador wins a prologue, Armstrong heads to Europe

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Alberto Contador, Astana teammate of Lance Armstrong, put on a dominating performance Sunday in the opening time trial of the Paris-Nice stage race that, like the Amgen Tour of California, began in the rain.

As the cycling season heats up, the question of whether Contador or Armstrong will be Astana’s lead rider in the Tour de France, which begins July 4 in Monaco, will certainly be debated endlessly. Armstrong has raced twice this year, at the Tour Down Under and Tour of California, and been content to first test his legs and then support teammate Levi Leipheimer’s successful winning effort at the Tour of California.

Armstrong has also remained visibly committed to his stated intention that his decision to leave retirement for the cycling circuit is based both on a desire to compete and to raise more money and awareness for his Lance Armstrong Foundation’s efforts to find a cure for cancer. While Contador has been seen only training and racing this season, Armstrong has done hospital visits and made fundraising pitches at both the Tour Down Under and Tour of California.

Saturday night Armstrong was in Hollywood to help kick off a fundraising effort that incorporates the art world into the cycling world. Renowned artist Shepard Fairey, who did an iconic Barack Obama poster, even conceived a mural that was painted on the side of the Ricardo Montalban Theater to honor Armstrong.

Armstrong then left Los Angeles for Europe. He next races later this month at the one-day Milan-San Remo race in Italy. Can Armstrong continue to be the public face of his foundation’s fundraising efforts and challenge Contador for leadership of their cycling team? Watching that battle should be some fun for cycling fans.

Cable network Versus is providing coverage of Paris-Nice this week.

-- Diane Pucin

P.S.: Check out Lance’s new trek bike in the short video clip below: