After passing relatively easy stage at the Tour de France Saturday, Alberto Contador spoke about Mont Ventoux and what he expects from this climb which features prominently on Sunday’s itinerary. “Tomorrow will be a hard stage because of the amount of kilometres and because the Mont Ventoux is a special mountain.”
“I would divide it into two parts,” Contador continued, “the first part contains a very high average percentage gradient and is covered with vegetation, whereas the second part is windy, usually a headwind. I guess in tomorrow’s stage there will be a break until the start of the climb and many movements during the stage, by the Movistar for example. We will have to see how the legs go and what tactics the other teams apply.”
Contador confirmed that the Mont Ventoux is different from the rest. “The first part is very hard and the last 5 kilometres are easier if you are on somebody’s wheel, but it is a climb where you can lose many minutes if you have a bad day.”
He also recalled his dual experience in 2009, with two distinct sensations. “First, in the Dauphiné, I almost puked my heart out through my mouth and, second, in top form, a month later in the Tour de France, when I found it relatively easy even though I had to respond to several attacks from Andy Schleck. Tomorrow I think there will be many attacks and hope my legs will work well.”
For Sunday’s climb up the Giant of Provence, Contador forecasts a fast race. “We have to see how long it takes to establish a break, because everyone will want to catch it, and then we will see if there are teams that want to fight for the stage win, including Movistar. If not, there will be two races, one for the stage and another for the general classification, but I don’t expect alliances, unless interests coincide. Everyone rides his own race, although there may be circumstances when you can benefit and work together with other riders, but I don’t see alliances in advance,” Contador concluded.
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