Vinokourov hoping to beat the numbers game
PARIS: Tour de France hopeful Alexandre Vinokourov gave warning on Wednesday that he is ready to win the world's premier cycling race this summer when he grabbed the lead in the Dauphine Libere Criterium, after winning the third stage, a 40.7km time-trial.
The 33-year-old Astana rider crossed the line nine seconds ahead of fellow Kazak rider and teammate Andrey Kashechkin with US rider David Zabriskie third at 38sec.
Vinokourov insists that he has never been in such form and believes that the figures are also on his side to win this year's Tour de France.
"In 2002, 2004, 2006, which were even numbers, I couldn't race the Tour," he explained.
"In 2003 and 2005 it worked well. I hope this time will be the one."
The Kazak rider refused to comment however on his eviction from last year's Tour, the day before the prologue in Strasbourg, when the Astana team did not have enough riders to compete because of the Operation Puerto doping scandal.
"I had my revenge two months later on the Vuelta," said the 2006 Tour of Spain winner.
"But it's true that gives additional motivation. Everyone has me as the favorite. I've been preparing 100 percent since the beginning of December. I've fixed a single objective, a single rule - win the Tour."
Vinokourov won the Dauphine Libere in 1999, but with the Tour his primary objective for this season, he will now turn his attentions to helping Kashechkin win here.
Vinokourov holds a two-second advantage on 27-year-old Kashechkin going into the fourth 197km stage which finishes on the summit of the legendary Mont Ventoux - a stage Vinokourov won last year.
"I wanted to test my legs in the time-trial ahead of the Tour de France," said Vinokourov.
AFP
(China Daily 06/15/2007 page24)
