Lance Armstrong's former team mate and Garmin-Chipotle squad director Jonathan Vaughters believes his rider Christian Vande Velde can stop the seven-time Tour de France winner's quest for an eighth title.
Armstrong announced on Tuesday he planned to return to racing in 2009 after a three-year absence but Vaughters doubted his ability to win another tour title.
Vaughters told reporters after the American took the lead at the Tour of Missouri: ‘At the end of the day, I think Christian will be a better bike rider than Lance.
‘He (Vande Velde) can show the fact he was fifth in the Tour de France this year was not because of the absence of other people.’
This comment was in reference to 2007 winner Alberto Contador of Spain and American Levi Leipheimer's Astana team being banned this year.
Vaughters continued: ‘It's because he's actually that good of an athlete. So to me, there's really only up side. We just have to up our game a little bit.’
Armstrong, who turns 37 on September 18, will unveil his exact plans in New York next week but is expected to race in the 2009 Tour de France where he would attempt to become the race's oldest winner.
Belgian Firmin Lambot, who won the event at age 36 in 1922, currently holds that record.
Vande Velde welcomed former team mate Armstrong's return and played down his own chances.
Vande Velde – five years Armstrong’s junior – said: ‘It'll have to wait to see if Lance's level of fitness at age 37.
‘It's difficult to know how I can do.
‘But I've always felt like I've had something to prove, that's just me. I think Lance will just bring up everyone's level, so I welcome it. I like it.’
