Team Astana’s stage race specialists Alberto Contador and Andreas Klöden are set to begin their 2009 season at the Tour of Algarve in Portugal (18-22 Feb).
Both riders along with Levi Leipheimer and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong arguably make up one of the most formidable Grand Tour teams ever seen on paper.
Currently Leipheimer is leading the Tour of California while riding along side Armstrong. Armstrong said going into the early season race that he would dedicate his efforts to a support role for an on form Leipheimer.
This week all eyes will be on Contador, who can lay claim to being the only active rider that has won all three Grand Tours. Armstrong has already confirmed he means business this season, and the Spaniard will now have to earn his spot as “The Boss” come July.
Astana for the Tour of Algarve:
Alberto Contador, Andreas Klöden, Dmitriy Muravyev, Benjamín Noval, Sergio Paulinho, Sergey Renev, Michael Schär, Tomas Vaitkus