Contador Breaks from the Team

OK, he didn't break from Team Astanà entirely, but he certainly paid no mind to the direction of the manager when he attacked and jumped a few seconds ahead of Lance into second place.

The Stage 7 results proved that Alberto is a bit miffed at how well Lance is riding and the next few days will show us all who's going to be the rider for Astanà.

I can't believe that Bruneel would allow this infighting to continue. He soon has to choose the team leader. And if not on Stage 8 or 9, it's got to happen before the Alps.

What do you think?

Here's how they were lined up after Stage 7...

1. NOCENTINI Rinaldo 87 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 25h 44' 32"
2. CONTADOR Alberto 21 ASTANA 25h 44' 38" + 00' 06"
3. ARMSTRONG Lance 22 ASTANA 25h 44' 40" + 00' 08"
4. LEIPHEIMER Levi 24 ASTANA 25h 45' 11" + 00' 39"
5. WIGGINS Bradley 58 GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 25h 45' 18" + 00' 46"
6. KLÖDEN Andréas 23 ASTANA 25h 45' 26" + 00' 54"
7. MARTIN Tony 76 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 25h 45' 32" + 01' 00"
8. VANDE VELDE Christian 51 GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 25h 45' 56" + 01' 24"
9. SCHLECK Andy 31 TEAM SAXO BANK 25h 46' 21" + 01' 49"
10. NIBALI Vincenzo 95 LIQUIGAS 25h 46' 26" + 01' 54"
11. PINEAU Jérôme 156 QUICK STEP 25h 46' 42" + 02' 10"
12. MONFORT Maxime 77 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 25h 46' 53" + 02' 21"
13. SCHLECK Frank 36 TEAM SAXO BANK 25h 46' 57" + 02' 25"
14. KREUZIGER Roman 93 LIQUIGAS 25h 47' 12" + 02' 40"
15. SASTRE Carlos 1 CERVELO TEST TEAM 25h 47' 24" + 02' 52"
16. FRÖHLINGER Johannes 184 TEAM MILRAM 25h 47' 26" + 02' 54"
17. PELLIZOTTI Franco 91 LIQUIGAS 25h 47' 35" + 03' 03"
18. EVANS Cadel 11 SILENCE - LOTTO 25h 47' 39" + 03' 07"
19. MARTINEZ Egoi 64 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 25h 47' 42" + 03' 10"
20. KIRCHEN Kim 75 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 25h 47' 48" + 03' 16"
21. RIBLON Christophe 88 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 25h 47' 52" + 03' 20"
22. GUTIERREZ José Ivan 115 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 25h 48' 14" + 03' 42"
23. KARPETS Vladimir 161 TEAM KATUSHA 25h 48' 21" + 03' 49"
24. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 118 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 25h 48' 42" + 04' 10"
25. ZUBELDIA Haimar 29 ASTANA 25h 48' 46" + 04' 14"
26. POPOVYCH Yaroslav 27 ASTANA 25h 48' 52" + 04' 20"
27. GERDEMANN Linus 181 TEAM MILRAM 25h 48' 52" + 04' 20"
28. ROCHE Nicolas 89 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 25h 48' 57" + 04' 25"
29. FEILLU Brice 174 AGRITUBEL 25h 48' 58" + 04' 26"
30. EFIMKIN Vladimir 81 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 25h 49' 08" + 04' 36"
31. URAN Rigoberto 119 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 25h 49' 19" + 04' 47"
32. ASTARLOZA Mikel 61 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 25h 49' 28" + 04' 56"
33. BOTCHAROV Alexandre 162 TEAM KATUSHA 25h 49' 32" + 05' 00"
34. MENCHOV Denis 41 RABOBANK 25h 49' 34" + 05' 02"
35. ZABRISKIE David 59 GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 25h 49' 50" + 05' 18"
36. HINCAPIE George 74 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 25h 49' 57" + 05' 25"

As with past years, I'm cutting the standings sharings off wherever big George Hincapie is slotted. Sadly he's 5+ minutes behind now.