While he rides in the Tour de France as its defending champion, Alberto Contador awaits the decision of a panel of judges that could find him guilty of a doping violation—a decision that would strip him of his titles. It's no surprise to anyone that cycling fans have been booing him lustily all over France.

Contador's Tour isn't off to a crackling start. An opening-day pileup put him more than a minute behind his rivals and he was nipped at the line during Tuesday's stage by Australian Cadel Evans. But if he climbs back into...