Mayo says he's after stages at the Tour

By Antonio J. Salmerón

The Saunier Duval - Prodir team are holding their training camp in the south of Spain, in Estepona. At the camp, team rookie Iban Mayo once again denied to Cyclingnews.com any involvement with doctor Eufeniano Fuentes (Operación Puerto), refuting recent media claims implicating him: "(Those reports are) totally false," he said. "Nobody has said to me that my name has appeared in all this (affair). I do not know doctor Fuentes. I have always worked with the team's doctor".

The Basque rider says he feels motivated by the confidence Saunier Duval-Prodir displayed by signing him. "The truth is that I do not aspire to reach the podium of the Tour, although I am going to fight to be there. What I have already demonstrated is that I am able to be protagonist in the mountain, so that I want to gain stages. On the other hand, I desired to made debut in the Giro. In Italy, the objective is clear: to help Simoni, who has already gained it twice. At the same time, if the race circumstances allow me to takes advantage of my options, I will do as well as possible".