In competitive cycling, and especially road racing, slipstreaming is the name of the game. Lance’s team really is “Team Armstrong” in that they are guys who have determined ahead of time that Lance is the strongest cyclist and actively work to help him win. Slipstreaming is the technical name for the technique of conserving a cyclist’s energy and endurance by having another cyclist lead while the second (often others) “tucks in” behind, where the leader is blocking the wind.

To give a better example, there used to be a considerable fan base (decades ago) for the sport of motor-paced cycling, in which two-man teams competed: the first on a motorcycle fitted with a huge windshield and the second on a bicycle. Immense speeds were achieved on indoor tracks.

It is impossible for a lone racer to win the modern Tour, as organized slipstreaming provides too much of a competitive advantage.

Probably not. AFAIK this has never happened, and the teams are pretty large (I think up to nine in the tour, and more for other team competitions) and can safely adjust for the loss of a member. I’m not even certain how a team member would be able to “shaft” somebody without physically injuring them. Drafting and slipstreaming provide an edge, and over a 2500 mile race it can be a decisive one, but a single team member’s refusal to participate would seem unlikely to make much difference.