the latest skuttlebutt

So after Astana made its first deadline, it had to meet another deadline last week and wasn't going to make it.

Lance made arrangements so that when the team folded, he would immediately take over and have the team toe the line at the Tour in Livestrong/Nike outfits.

In the meantime Slipstream/Garmin/Chipolte entered negotiations to hire Contador away from Astana when the team folded, since the switch to Lancestrong/Nike would invalidate Contador's contract.

From reports Vaughters was going to get $2 mill from Hebalife and hire away Contador, the Astana Spaniards Benjamin Noval and Sergio Paulinho, and Contadors mechanic. Then put the best guys from Slipstream behind Contador to kick the crap out of Armstrong.

Armstrong ( allegedly) got wind of the deal and "miraculously" an unnamed American company gave...GAVE...the Kazakstan government enough money to pay their tab, thereby obligating Contador to stay on Astana.

Then Astana named their tour roster which includes all of Armstong's guys

Astana

Six riders confirmed: Lance Armstrong, Alberto Contador, Andreas Klöden, Levi Leipheimer, Yaroslav Popovych and Haimar Zubeldia.

Three riders to be selected from: Jani Brajkovic, Chris Horner, Benjamín Noval, Dmitriy Muravyev, Sergio Paulinho, Gregory Rast and Tomas Vaitkus.

I'd be willing to bet a fair amount of money that 2 the final 3 are Horner and Brajkovic. Then it just comes down to whether they're going to throw Contador a bone with one rider or just bone him completely and add Rast.

If Armstrong shows up for the prologue wearing a Darth Vader helmet, I won't be the least bit surprised.