Tour de France - Contador bullish on Tour prospects

Eurosport - Tue, 30 Jun 12:11:00 2009

Hot Tour de France favourite Alberto Contador is concentrating on regaining the title he won in 2007 and not the issue of a possible power struggle with Astana team mate Lance Armstrong.

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The Spaniard was named Astana's leader for the Tour by team manager Johan Bruyneel last week, leaving seven-times champion Armstrong as one of his helpers for the three-week race which starts on Saturday.

"What Johan said recently about me being number one in the team is something I appreciate, but I don't feel it's that important," Contador said.

"Whether I was number one or number three, my focus and concentration on the Tour would still be the same.

"I don't consider the question of hierarchy in the team to be significant," the 26-year-old said. "Right now, I'm not worried about it at all.

"The race will decide how that plays out, and depending on who's strongest, the team will work for one rider or another," he added.

Seven-times Tour champion Armstrong returned to the sport in January after 3 1/2 years in retirement but Contador said he had had very little direct contact with his American team mate.

"We haven't really been able to get to know one another because our paths have only crossed in one training camp and one day's racing," he said.

Aside from former champions Contador and Armstrong, the Astana team for the Tour also boasts podium finishers Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Kloeden.

"This year it's clear that in terms of names, Astana is the most powerful in the Tour," Contador said.

"But that's no automatic guarantee we'll be the best. Other teams, like Saxo Bank, with fewer big names may be stronger."

Contador was unable to defend his Tour crown last year after Astana were barred from the race following their implication in doping scandals, prior to the Spaniard joining the team.

Instead, Contador won the Giro d'Italia and the Tour of Spain to become only the fifth man to complete the `Triple Crown'.

"In comparison with how I was in 2007, I'm a much stronger rider all round, I'm better at reading races, and I know myself and my rivals a lot better," said Contador who won the Spanish time trial title this month.

"The only problems are that I can no longer spring surprises on my rivals, and there's a lot more pressure on me to win the Tour.

"If I finish second or third, to some people that will seem like failure.

"I'll try to win it as hard as I possibly can," he added.

"The last three winners in the Tour have all been Spanish and I'd like to continue our country's run of success. That's why I'm preparing for this race as well as I can."

Contador has racked up overall wins in the Tour of the Algarve and the Tour of the Basque Country this season. He also took two stage wins and fourth overall in Paris-Nice.

"I'm in the condition I want to be in for the Tour, particularly bearing in mind the third week is the most important," he said.

Tour de France stage 1 LIVE from 2.30pm on Saturday 4th July on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin Media 521); Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe

Reuters

Comment 1 - 10 of 10

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  1. Prologue

    1. Hushovd
    2. Cancellara
    3. Contador
    4.­ Evans
    5. Leipheimer

    From bobcha78, on Tue 30 Jun 9:52PM

  2. whatever happens this one is going to be a cracker and­ for me its down to armstrong shaking it all up after 3­ years away. thks lance for making the tour really­ exciting again.

    From ralph, on Tue 30 Jun 8:29PM

  3. Cancellara will win the prologue for sure, but I am­ interested who will beat who in the Armstrong vs­ Contador battle.

    From stanof, on Tue 30 Jun 7:43PM

  4. 4 days left

    From bobcha78, on Tue 30 Jun 6:23PM

  5. 4 days left

    From bobcha78, on Tue 30 Jun 6:23PM

  6. Aaa Sorry guys I've made a mistake I was thinking­ about a Portuguese name and Colom came to my mind. Yes­ it is Paulinio who is supposed to be loyal to Contador

    From lubvezenkov, on Tue 30 Jun 3:55PM

  7. Two points: Colom doesn't ride for Astana, he rides­ for Katusha and the last rider added was Sergio­ Paulhino (Portugal). Horner was "arguably"­ fit, but he also had very little real race time this­ year because of two unfortunate crashes. I'd like­ to believe that that was the only reason he was left­ off the squad. But the reality is that it was clear he­ was backing Armstrong, just as it is clear that Noval­ is partial to Contador. Both were left off the team in­ exchange for more neutral riders. Levi has ridden for­ both and both have ridden for Levi. The other team­ members have roles to fill. It should be exciting.

    From KJ, on Tue 30 Jun 3:09PM

  8. lubvezenkov, Isn't Colom suspended due to suspect­ blood passport a couple of months ago? Or am I­ confusing him with someone else?

    Contador bullish on­ Tour prospects - an unfortunate headline considering­ what they do to Bulls in Spain!

    From keir_williams, on Tue 30 Jun 2:31PM

  9. ffgogil Chris is fit but he is not in the Astana­ selection because of the internal intrigues in the­ club. They took one Kazak rider to satisfy the Sponsor­ and Contador chose Colom as a spanish team mate to have­ some support. You can imagine that there are already­ small groups in the team and Contador don't want to­ be isolated without a single person he can trust.­ It's a shame because of course Chris showed great­ form in the Giro and he is a real team rider.

    From lubvezenkov, on Tue 30 Jun 1:25PM

  10. Can anyone tell me if Chris Horner will be fit for the­ Tour - thank you

    From ffogil, on Tue 30 Jun 1:07PM
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