Tour de France leader Michael Rasmussen was confident of his chances of winning the race after victory in stage 16 at the Col de l'Aubisque.

The Danish rider came home 24 seconds ahead of American Levi Leipheimer and extended his lead in the overall standings to three minutes and 10 seconds over Spanish rival Alberto Contador.

And Rasmussen admitted that he had opted to use a different strategy to the one he had used in Monday's 15th stage when Contador had given him endless problems by constantly attacking and trying to break his resistance.

"On Monday I was finding it tough to follow him," said Rasmussen.

"So I decided to use a different strategy today (Wednesday) and go at my tempo.

"It worked perfectly because he blew up."

Rasmussen added that he hoped now more Danes would believe he could see the task through and stand atop the podium in Paris on Sunday - a poll had suggested that a majority of those asked did not believe he would.

"Maybe some have changed their minds after this stage," he said.

"I have over a three minute lead over Contador and I would look to extend that in Saturday's time-trial."

Rasmussen was jeered by the crowd before the start of the stage since the Danish Cycling Union questioned his eligibility to compete saying the rider has received four warnings for failing to provide information of his whereabouts during training.

Under International Cycling Union rules, a rider must inform the sport's governing body of his personal schedule so random tests can be conducted.

If the cyclist fails to do so, he receives a warning. Three such warnings over a rolling 18-month period is considered the equivalent of a positive test and results in a two-year suspension.

And AG2r team manager Vincent Lavenu has called for him to be kicked out of the race.

"He (Rasmussen) should be kicked out of the race by organisers, whatever the cost," said Lavenu.

"He is a disgrace to the sport. When Francisco Mancebo was involved in Operation Puerto (a blood-doping episode that surfaced in Spain in May 2006) I sacked him without legal grounds and it cost me 15 per cent of my budget.

"That is about one million euros."

Eurosport