PRESS RELEASE: Team Astana / Alberto Contador

Alberto Contador finished the time trial today with the sixth fastest time on a course that was not adapted to his characteristics, very plain, poor road conditions and strong wind. In any case, Contador played down the result and remembered that he is in the Dauphiné to prepare for the Tour de France. “I couldn’t take the pedal stroke” he said as a summary of his sensations.

Contador said he started trying to “take the pace, especially at first. I have tried to regulate a little, but did not take the pedal stroke. It was an extremely rough road and although I thought to push a little at the end, it was a not super day”.

Alberto doesn’t want to risk a crash, he knew he was not in time. “In the curves I didn’t want to risk so much because I knew that was not the best time. These days I’m trying to get little by little the pace of the Tour de France”.

Regarding the general classification, he repeated that he didn’t come to fight for it. “As I said since the first day, the goal here is to get ready for the Tour and, as in previous years, the way I have been preparing is ideal. Fight for the general is for other riders, in my case I will dedicate myself to see a little from behind, as a spectator”.