GUEUGNON, France – Astana’s reigning champion Alberto Contador said he is desperate to fully test his climbing legs in the first mountain stages of the Tour de France this weekend.

Contador, the race winner in 2007 and 2009, complained Friday he “almost fell asleep” during a “boring” sixth stage here when the peloton chased down a breakaway and Britain’s Mark Cavendish dominated a bunch sprint.

But as of this weekend, race fans will finally get a chance to follow the yellow jersey contenders more closely.

The hilly seventh stage is a 165.5km ride from Tournus which finishes with a relatively easy 14km climb to Les Rousses ski station, while the eighth stage harbors more realistic chances of a mountain thriller.

Two-time champion Contador currently leads seven-time champion Lance Armstrong by 50secs, but trails Australia’s Cadel Evans by 1:01 and Andy Schleck by 31secs.

And despite feeling less than 100 percent recently following a knee knock picked up on the crash-marred second stage, he believes he needs a day of climbing to determine whether he is truly on form.

“I woke up this morning and felt like my legs were much better. It’s important, because this weekend is when things become a bit more difficult. I need to be 100 percent,” he said.

“I don’t quite know how I am” before going into the mountains, he added.

“Today we’ll have a better idea, but I would say Moreso on the eighth stage to Morzine, which features the very difficult Col de La Ramaz.

“I hope my legs are with me tomorrow.”