Astana Cycling Team

Alberto Contador crossed the finish line today after starring with Andy Schleck a tactical maneuver that left the two riders in the top two positions overall. The last stage of the Alps, the hardest, proved who are the strongest riders of Tour de France’s bunch. “The differences have been bigger than expected”, Alberto said to summarize.

Then another day Contador thanked the collaboration of his team mates. “The team has done an extraordinary work. Dani (Navarro) and Paolo (Tiralongo) are brilliant on the mountain. I have decided to follow Andy, who has tried several times and finally we decided to work together. I have also decided the same and I think we won both of us”.

Alberto was clear about today’s tactics. “We had to join the others, the circumstances were like this. Now we have to be very vigilant with each other, but I'm very happy with the result and my feelings, I felt very good”.

About Schleck attacks at first, Contador said that he is now better than in Avoriaz “because the tactics were different. It is much easier to focus on a single rider. I'm also happy because my body recovers well and the team is also good”, he repeated.

Contador refused, however, that the Tour is only a matter of two. “No, there are still many riders that can be filtered on a breakaway and there are many stages to attack from far away. I should not be distracted, but like I said yesterday, the most dangerous is Andy Schleck”.

About the stage, he said it was “a nice stage, la Madeleine has been very hard and many people lost time. Once again it shows that the rest day is very dangerous”. And on his response to the attacks made by Andy only said that his goal is clear. “I know the wheel to follow is Andy Schleck’s one”.

Finally, Alberto recognized that today was a nice operation for the overall. “No doubt”, he said. “I could take time over many in the GC. Andy is still the most dangerous, but it is always better to be ahead than behind everyone”.