Alberto Contador will return to competition on Thursday, June 18th, after being proclaimed winner of the Giro d'Italia on May 31st. After fifteen days of active rest, he is very motivated in view of his next challenge, the Tour de France. “If it were easy I wouldn't have this motivation. I hope to reach the start in top condition," states Tinkoff-Saxo's leader two days before the start of the Route du Sud.

"Physically and muscularly I still feel the wear from the Giro, especially that of the final week, which was very hard. As a result, I tried above all to rest as much as possible during this time," stated Alberto Contador. “I focused on recovering and I have only done three days of specific training to activate my body."

How do you think you will feel in the four stages of the Route du Sud?
For me it is an unknown. I can't know now in what form I will be. I took great care of all the details, both rest and nutrition, which is somewhat complicated, because you have to eat little, just the opposite of what happens in a competition. The most important thing is that I look forward to racing in the Route du Sud because it will give me speed in the legs and I will be in motion again. Surely, it will take some time to ramp up, but I have a good foundation and this will allow me to carry out a good training in racing mode.

Do you already think about the Tour de France? How do you see it right now?
I see it with uncertainty, but also with the motivation to experience something that is new to me. I'm mentally very excited and motivated with this challenge. Physically, when I get up, my legs still hurt, I feel some muscle fatigue, but this is normal. If it were easy, I wouldn't have this motivation and, on second thought, there are still more days ahead to recover than days that have passed since the end of the Giro. I hope to reach the start in top condition.

Where have you been training?
After going to Pinto to celebrate the victory with my friends and family, I went to Lugano and from there to Livigno, where I was isolated and concentrated. It's a good place, with iconic mountain passes very close, such as Gavia and Stelvio, but also with the possibility to train in flat terrain at an altitude of 1,800 meters. I took advantage of this to prepare my return to competition, although I will face this race in a more relaxed mode.

Alberto Contador will race at the Route du Sud from June 18 to 21. The Tour de France start in Utrecht on July 4.