PAMPLONA, Spain, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Britain's Chris Froome
was the strongest rider at the Tour de France and is Alberto
Contador's biggest rival for the upcoming Vuelta a Espana, the
Spanish cyclist said on Friday.
The 29-year-old Contador, who was stripped of his 2010 Tour
de France title and banned for two years after testing positive
for the anabolic agent clenbuterol, is aiming for victory in the
event which starts on Saturday in Pamplona, his first major race
back.
But the Saxo Bank rider warned that Froome, second in the
Tour de France behind Sky team mate Bradley Wiggins and also
second in last year's Vuelta, could be his biggest obstacle.
"Froome could be the most dangerous because he's also a good
time triallist and has a very strong team," Contador, who won
the Vuelta in 2008, told reporters.
"He could have won the Vuelta last year and he was the
strongest rider in the 2012 Tour de France, although it was
impossible to say if he would have won it because Wiggins was
very strong in the time trials."
Fourth in Holland's Eneco Tour race earlier this month,
Contador said his own condition was good, but that he does not
expect to make any of his characteristic dramatic moves in the
first week of the race. Instead he'll concentrate on staying out
of trouble.
"I'm in good shape, but often I train harder than I race.
Ok, I'm more rested than other contenders, but they've got
better race condition and probably they'll go better than me in
the first part. It won't be my best week," the Spaniard said.
"I'm also very aware that in the Eneco Tour, there weren't
any long climbs, like the ones we'll have to tackle in the
Vuelta.
"Hopefully, though, I'll ride myself into top form and be in
better shape than my rivals in the third week."
Contador named the three consecutive mountain top stage
finishes at the end of the second week in the northern region of
Asturias as the point where he expected the race to be largely
decided.
"The [last climb] to the Bola del Mundo will also be
important, but a lot of the race's final outcome will be as a
result of what happens in the Asturian stages," he said.
"With so many summit finishes (ten in total) it will be a
very different race from the Tour, in any case, very difficult
to calculate and measure your strength."
Contador denied that any anger he might feel as a result of
his two-year ban for doping would spur him on in the upcoming
race.
"I'm in good shape, keen and motivated, even if the last two
years (of suspension) have had their effect on me. I've suffered
a lot.
"But thanks to the support I've received from people I've
been able to overcome this situation. And now I want to do this
race as well as possible, enjoy being on the bike and focus on
fighting for that victory."
(Editing by Patrick Johnston;
patrick.johnston@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging:
patrick.johnston.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)