Bodog Beat

For once Lance Armstrong wasn't the focus of the tour after Sunday, but there's still plenty of time for him to regain the limelight. (Wikimedia Images)

It wasn't Lance Armstrong but his teammate Alberto Contador who won Sunday's 15th stage and made a case to be the Texan's successor at cycling's premier event.

As the three-week race entered the Alps, the 26-year-old Spaniard recovered the celebrated shirt that he hadn't worn since his Tour victory in 2007. He also made it very clear he'll be the man to beat this year and books agree, listing him at -1000 to win.

Armstrong (+1400) rose from fourth to second in the standings but lost time to Contador, whom he now trails by one minute 37 seconds.

By the end of Sunday's stage, Armstrong huffed across the line in ninth place, after riders like two-time Tour runner-up Cadel Evans of Australia and 2008 Tour champion Carlos Sastre of Spain.

Lance had started the day fourth and eight seconds behind Rinaldo Nocentini, the Italian whom Contador stripped the yellow jersey from.

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