Contador will make his debut in the Tour of Algarve

Team Astana’s Alberto Contador will make his much anticipated 2009 debut next month at the Tour of Algarve (February 18-22).

Meanwhile his new teammate, seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, anxiously awaits his start in the Tour Down Under later this month. The Australian race will be his first race since coming out of retirement.

Armstrong will be participating in the Giro d’Italia for the first time this year, a race he has avoided in the past to concentrate solely on the Grand Boucle. Both of Astana’s Tour contenders are using different races to prepare for their attempt to rack up another title, adding more curiosity about the extent of the fireworks come July.

Contador told Sportwereld, “After I Algarve I will ride Paris-Nice, Castilla Leon and the Tour of the Basque Country. I will then take a break, and explore some of the key stages in the Tour.”