SAINT-GIRONS, France — Lance Armstrong is trying not to let his rivalry with Alberto Contador distract him and the rest of the Astana team at the Tour de France.
On Saturday, the status quo between Contador and Armstrong prevailed as Luis Leon Sanchez of Spain won the eighth stage in the Pyrenees, while Italy’s Rinaldo Nocentini retained the yellow jersey.
Contador eclipsed the seven-time Tour champion Armstrong a day earlier in the first Pyrenean ride, and trails the Italian, who is not seen as an overall title threat, by six seconds. Armstrong is eight seconds back.
The Astana team, facing new questions about whether teamwork still trumps its brewing two-man rivalry, had a powwow on the team bus Friday about the breakaway by Contador a day earlier.
“What’s said in the bus, stays in the bus,” said team sporting director Johan Bruyneel, confirming the breakaway was discussed but refusing to offer details to reporters.
Before the ride Saturday, when Versus’ Frankie Andreu asked whether Astana was more divided after Contador’s breakaway, Armstrong dodged the issue.
“I’m going to refuse to comment on that,” Armstrong said. “At the end of the day, we’re all professionals — and even if there were some hurt feelings, we’re going to do our job.”
Armstrong didn’t speak to reporters after Saturday’s stage, a 110-mile trek along three big climbs from the Pyrenean principality of Andorra to Saint-Girons, France.
Armstrong posted on Twitter: “St8 done. Tough but not 2 challenging. Had anti-doping control AGAIN.”
Cycling’s governing body UCI and France’s anti-doping agency have stepped up urine and blood tests this year in an effort to root out cheats who have marred cycling’s premier race in recent years. That means top performers like Armstrong face more checks.
Contador, in a statement from his spokesman, didn’t make any mention of relations within the team, and simply credited a strong effort from Astana riders to beat back the attacks of rivals Saturday.
The 26-year-old Contador is already one of cycling’s top riders, having won all three Grand Tours of France, Italy and Spain — a feat accomplished by only five riders. Armstrong isn’t one of them.
Tour de France at a glance
A look at Saturday’s eighth stage of the Tour de France:
Stage: A 109.7-mile trek featuring three big climbs from La Vella, Andorra, to Saint-Girons, France.
Winner: Spain’s Luis Leon Sanchez, in a sprint ahead of three other breakaway riders. Yellow jersey: Rinaldo Nocentini, the first Italian to wear the yellow since 2000.
How Garmin-Slipstream fared: Christian Vande Velde was 33rd in the stage, 1:54 behind. Bradley Wiggins remained 46 seconds back, fifth overall.
Next stage: Today’s ninth stage is the third and last in the Pyrenees, taking riders from Saint-Gaudens to Tarbes on a 100-mile ride featuring two big climbs.
