Apres Lance, les deluge?

Yahoo! Sport | Tour seeks new boss, fluent English an advantage

So, what's next for the Tour? Atop the race organization, Christian Prudhomme takes over for Jean-Marie Leblanc. Atop the podium, who knows?

Discovery manager Johann Bruyneel:

"Nobody will take over from Lance, simply because there's no candidate."

CSC's Bobby Julich, 17th in the Tour:

"I find it very exciting to ride with riders of the new generation. Some of them are really exceptional but the most impressive I think is Alejandro Valverde," said Julich.

"He has so much natural class, he's a pleasure to see. He needs to test himself at the highest level of the Tour but he is one of the riders I will be thrilled to watch in the future. Also Ivan and Tom Boonen."

Armstrong himself, quoted on BBC Sport:

"Jan is a special, special guy to me," Armstrong said. "I truly believe that Jan can win the Tour again, not just once but more than once.

"Clearly he has to show up to the event in a little better shape, because what you see toward the end of the event is the guy who can win the race."