When Astana’s Alberto Contador rides into Paris today, he’ll not only be riding in with the coveted Maillot Jaune, but he’ll also be riding in on these special Alberto Contador Look Keo 2 Max Carbon Pedals.

No official word yet, on whether these will go into production or not, but would you rock yellow pedals?

More pics….

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Alberto Contador is within a stage of winning his second Tour de France as the much anticipated Mont Ventoux stage failed to shake up the GC standings. Tried as they may, the Schleck brothers launched attack after attack, but were not able to shake the rest of the GC contenders.

For Rabobank, Juan Manuel Garate was able to win the penultimate stage 20, staying away with an early break and finishing ahead of Tony Martin for the win. Andy Schleck and the GC leaders finished 38 seconds afterwards.

Stage 20 Results
1 Juan Manuel Garate Cepa (Spa) Rabobank - 4:39:21
2 Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC - 0:00:03
3 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:00:38
4 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
5 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana - 0:00:41
6 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:00:43
7 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas - 0:00:46
8 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas - 0:00:56
9 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas - 0:00:58
10 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:01:03

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Mark Cavendish of Team Highroad - HTC sprinted to his fifth stage win at this years tour, edging out Thor Hushovd and Gerald Ciolek. This stage win breaks the British record of 8 total tour stage wins, with Cavendish’s ninth career win.

Alberto Contador remains in the Maillot Jaune leading into the mountain top finish at Mont Ventoux.

Stage 19 Results
1 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - HTC - 3:50:35
2 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team
3 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Milram
4 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Silence - Lotto
5 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank
6 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quick Step
7 Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Skil-Shimano
8 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale
9 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux
10 Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Garmin - Slipstream

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FORT WORTH, Texas and AUSTIN, Texas, - RadioShack Corporation (NYSE: RSH) is proud to announce a partnership with seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong to form a new American Pro-Tour cycling team. Beginning in 2010, Lance Armstrong will compete for Team RadioShack as a cyclist, runner and triathlete in events around the world, including the 2010 Tour de France.

Lance Armstrong returned to the world stage of professional cycling in order to promote the efforts of the LIVESTRONG Foundation and their fight against cancer. From the start of the 2009 season at the Tour Down Under in Australia, Lance’s return has generated significant attention and has allowed LIVESTRONG to step up awareness, grassroots action and fundraising in the global fight against cancer.

“This has been a great season so far - the response in the countries we’ve been to has been amazing and it’s clear now that this was the right choice. Utilizing the massive media attention that the sport receives has been the perfect vehicle to help spread the LIVESTRONG message around the world,” said Lance Armstrong. “To be able to compete for an American team comprised of the world’s top cyclists, supported by the best coaches and staff - I couldn’t be happier to partner with RadioShack, a truly iconic American brand,” said Armstrong.

“Teaming up with RadioShack makes sense for a number of reasons. For one, it’s very appealing to me that they have a huge base of stores throughout the U.S. and Mexico. We have an incredible opportunity to leverage RadioShack’s connection to tens of millions of people to spread the LIVESTRONG message,” said Armstrong. “Also, in cycling, the technology we use on our bikes matters - it allows us to compete at the highest level. It’s important to me to partner with a brand that understands the role technology plays in people’s lives.”

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Overall leader Alberto Contador took a giant step towards his second Tour de France victory when he humbled the time trial specialists over 40.5-km to take the 18th stage around the lake of Annecy on Thursday.

The Spaniard, who outshone Olympic champion Fabian Cancellara by three seconds, now leads his nearest rival for final victory, Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck, by four minutes and 11 seconds, a comfortable gap three days before the finish in Paris.

Lance Armstrong, who announced he will be riding for a new American team, backed by RadioShack in 2010 is in third place and may podium.

Stage 18 Results
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana - 0:48:31
2 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank - 0:00:03
3 Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Team Katusha - 0:00:15
4 Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Team Saxo Bank - 0:00:32
5 David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:00:40
6 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:00:42
7 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne - 0:00:43
8 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Agritubel - 0:00:45
9 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana - 0:00:53
10 David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:01:01

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Los Altos, California – Make sure to check your local listings so you don’t miss Amber Rais and Team TIBCO at the Tour de Nez in her hometown of Reno, Nevada today and Friday.

Versus will air the Truckee and Reno stages of the race from 4:30 – 5:00 p.m. ET today, with the third stage from Northstar at Tahoe airing Friday from 4:30 – 5:00 ET. Please check your local listings to confirm the air time, as they may be airing the program at 1:30 p.m. Pacific time both days.

Rais won the first and third stages of the race and finished 2nd in the second stage to win the overall title.

Bend, Ore. — Rock Racing’s Oscar Sevilla threw down an attack that only Peter Stetina (Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin) could follow on the slopes leading to the Three Peaks Snow Park Wednesday.

The result was a stage win and the overall lead for the Spaniard at the 30th annual Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic. Rock Racing teammate Francisco Mancebo was third on the day and moved into second overall, 27 seconds behind. Chris Baldwin (OUCH presented by Maxxis) is third, 35 seconds back of Sevilla.

Rock Racing Team Director Laurenzo LaPage said after putting five riders in the 23-man breakaway that decided Stage 1 on Tuesday, it was no accident that Rock Racing was calling the shots again.

“Our plan this morning was to send Victor Hugo Pena or David Vitoria into the breakaway to put pressure on the leaders and that’s exactly what we did,” LaPage said. “ It couldn’t have been more perfect.”

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As expected, Saxo Bank took to the hills today to hopefully deliver their GC hopeful Andy Schleck into a podium spot and ride they did. Frank Schleck paced his younger brother, Andy Schleck, up the final climbs shedding all other contenders. With only Alberto Contador able to hang with the pace, the elder Schleck took the stage win and with that put the two Schleck brothers in second and third respectively.

Stage 17 Results
1 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 4:53:54
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
3 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
4 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 0:02:18
5 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
6 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0:02:27
7 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:03:07
8 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Agritubel - 0:04:09
9 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
10 Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne - 0:06:10

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - Kestrel Bicycles has been named the official bike of ironguides coaching, a worldwide company dedicated to serving endurance athletes of all skill levels. The partnership provides ironguides’ clients the opportunity to train and race on Kestrel bicycles - one of the most preeminent triathlon bike brands in the world. ironguides coaches will work with their athletes to fit them with the Kestrel model that’s best for them.

“While Kestrel isn’t the only bicycle we work with, it is the one we recommend to our athletes. Kestrel’s philosophy of delivering the best quality product meshes with ironguides’ philosophy to deliver superior coaching, training services and information to our athletes,” said ironguides coach Kristian Manietta. “I have been on the new Kestrel Airfoil Pro SE since January 2009 and it’s the most aero, responsive, comfortable and fastest time trial bike I have ever ridden. We can’t wait until the unveiling of the new TT machine from Kestrel.”

“We look forward to helping ironguides’ clients reach their potential,” said Steven Harad, Kestrel Bicycles Brand Manager. “Working with the coaches, each athlete will complete a Kestrel Fit Form and from that we’ll get them the best bike to achieve their goals.”

For more information on ironguides coaching services, visit www.ironguides.net. For more information on Kestrel, visit www.kestrelbicycles.com.

Mikel Astarloza of Euskaltel Euskadi timed his sprint just right to break away from his group and take the win at stage 16 of this year’s Tour de France. Accelerating away from Sandy Casar and Pierrick Fedrigo who ended up second and third. Nicolas Roche ended up fourth, not too far behind.

Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong finished the stage together and remain first and second.

Near the finish, Jens Voigt of Saxo Bank crashed unexpectedly and was taken away by ambulance to a local hospital. It’s unclear what caused the accident.

Stage 16 Results
1 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi - 4:14:20
2 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux - 0:00:06
3 Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom
4 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale
5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Silence - Lotto
6 Amaël Moinard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne
7 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas - 0:00:11
8 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
9 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Agritubel - 0:00:59
10 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana

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