Contador set to attack as Tour enters Alpine stages
Source: Agencies |
July 19, 2011, Tuesday
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RECOVERY permitting, Alberto Contador will revert to his usual attacking style in the Alps with his Tour de France title looking in jeopardy after two weeks of racing.
The 28-year-old Spaniard lost crucial time after being held up behind a pile-up on the first stage and also hit the deck in the first week, sustaining a knee problem that forced him to sit and wait in the Pyrenees.
The three-time champion - who won May's Giro d'Italia in awesome fashion - lies seventh in the overall standings, four minutes behind leader Thomas Voeckler of France and about two minutes adrift of his main rivals.
"Because of the crash, I had to change my pedaling. My (right) knee was hurting so I had to compensate with the other knee and it changed my way of pedaling," Contador told a news conference in Valence yesterday as the peloton enjoyed its second rest day in the three-week race.
"But I feel better, I'm confident for the Alps."
The Spaniard will have two gruelling stages in the Alps on Thursday and Friday to make up for lost time, as well as a 42.5-kilometer individual time trial on Saturday.
"The Galibier stage (from Pinerolo to Serre Chevalier on Thursday) is the hardest with the last 10 kilometers of the ascent to the Col d'Agnel," the Saxo Bank rider explained.
"I'm not as good or as fresh as at the Giro but I think I will be better in the Alps than in the Pyrenees. If I have good legs, it is certain that I will attack because it is my style."
In the first two mountain stages in the Pyrenees, Contador benefited from a waiting game between the overall contenders as Cadel Evans refused to attack while attempts by the Schleck brothers (Andy and Frank) were not sharp enough to unsettle the other favorites.
But Contador cannot wait for the final time trial to make the difference, especially against Australian Evans, who shines in the solo effort against the clock. "I can't win the Tour with the time trial if the standings after the Alpe d'Huez are the same as today," he said.
The 28-year-old Spaniard lost crucial time after being held up behind a pile-up on the first stage and also hit the deck in the first week, sustaining a knee problem that forced him to sit and wait in the Pyrenees.
The three-time champion - who won May's Giro d'Italia in awesome fashion - lies seventh in the overall standings, four minutes behind leader Thomas Voeckler of France and about two minutes adrift of his main rivals.
"Because of the crash, I had to change my pedaling. My (right) knee was hurting so I had to compensate with the other knee and it changed my way of pedaling," Contador told a news conference in Valence yesterday as the peloton enjoyed its second rest day in the three-week race.
"But I feel better, I'm confident for the Alps."
The Spaniard will have two gruelling stages in the Alps on Thursday and Friday to make up for lost time, as well as a 42.5-kilometer individual time trial on Saturday.
"The Galibier stage (from Pinerolo to Serre Chevalier on Thursday) is the hardest with the last 10 kilometers of the ascent to the Col d'Agnel," the Saxo Bank rider explained.
"I'm not as good or as fresh as at the Giro but I think I will be better in the Alps than in the Pyrenees. If I have good legs, it is certain that I will attack because it is my style."
In the first two mountain stages in the Pyrenees, Contador benefited from a waiting game between the overall contenders as Cadel Evans refused to attack while attempts by the Schleck brothers (Andy and Frank) were not sharp enough to unsettle the other favorites.
But Contador cannot wait for the final time trial to make the difference, especially against Australian Evans, who shines in the solo effort against the clock. "I can't win the Tour with the time trial if the standings after the Alpe d'Huez are the same as today," he said.
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