Astana Cycling Team

Alberto Contador in Paris-Nice

“It was like a Tour stage, but the hard ones”

Photo ContadorInfo

Alberto Contador retained the lead jersey today in Paris-Nice after a particularly tough day, which was done at a great pace and where he fought from the first km to last. “It was like a Tour stage, but the hard ones”, said the Astana’s leader.

“You have to be super attentive and there has been a moment”, said Contador, “that I had to answer to an attack because they where Joaquin Rodriguez, Kreuziger and Luis Leon. That's what this race is that there are many riders in a few seconds and is very difficult to control. Although I wear the yellow jersey now, I will not take the whole responsibility because neither my team nor I can”.
Contador said his team “has done what it could. The stage seemed for the sprinters, but nothing at all, has been a very hard stage and almost impossible to control, because in the kilometer 100 had not yet made the break”.
Alberto said he is “feeling good, but in this race you need a very, very strong team to keep it under control, it is a race that is easier to win at counter-attack than being defensive. Tomorrow will be very difficult and I will not take more responsibility than me and my team can take”.
Finally, Alberto said he is not a duel “between Valverde and me, although I wish it were. Tomorrow will be like to start the race again, although I have in my favor the Sunday’s stage. If I keep the yellow tomorrow, I would prefer that was not the last stage, but depending on what happens tomorrow, also I can play my cards on Sunday”, he said.

(Automatic translation. Forgive imprecisions).

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Jacinto Vidarte
Jefe de Prensa / Press Officer