Team Astana pose at their team presentation(Image credit: Team Astana)
Vino, Contador and Pereiro present the new Astana jersey(Image credit: Team Astana)
The Astana Tour trio: Vinokourov, Contador and Pereiro.(Image credit: AFP Photo)
The Astana team is on Specialized this year.(Image credit: AFP Photo)
Alberto Contador (Astana)(Image credit: AFP Photo)
Alexander Vinokourov is introduced(Image credit: AFP Photo)
The president of the Kazakh Cycle Racing Federation, Kairat Kelimbetov (L), shakes hands with Astana team leader Alberto Contador of Spain during the official presentation of the Astana cycling team in Vienna(Image credit: AFP Photo)
Alberto Contador has confirmed that the Tour de France will again be his big goal in 2010 season but insists he is not the only favourite for the yellow jersey.
The 2007 and 2009 Tour winner was the star of the official Astana team presentation in Vienna, Austria on Saturday. Looking fit and happy, Contador posed with Alexandre Vinokourov, Oscar Pereiro, and his 24 teammates in the bright blue and white Astana kit.
"The big goal is to repeat my victory in the Tour de France. But I know it won’t be easy because there are lots of other riders who also have the same goal. I think there are eight or maybe ten riders with a real chance but both the team and I will be giving everything to win it," Contador said.
"I don’t like saying that I’m the big favourite. There are other favourites because of their physical strengths and because of tactical factors, such as the strength of the teams. If I had to say one name of someone who could cause me trouble in the mountains, I’d say Andy Schleck because he was second last year."
Happier without Lance
"Of course Lance will be one of my rivals this year but I'm more relaxed," Contador said.
Both Vinokourov and Pereiro said they would back Contador 100% in the Tour de France.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"The aim is to win the Tour de France for Astana and show that, with Alberto Contador, we are the best team in the world. I think that with his talent and my experience, we can count on him to succeed," Vinokourov said.
Pereiro almost retired before joining Astana but is now one of five Spaniards in the team.
"When Alberto is in the team, all the riders will work for Alberto, this team is for Alberto. He's the best rider in the world and that’s motivation for everyone," he said.
Pereiro, Enrico Gasparotto and Alan Davis will lead the Astana team in Sunday’s Gran Prix La Marseillaise in the south of France.
Contador will begin his season at the Volta ao Algarve stage race in Portugal on February 17.
Stephen is one of the most experienced members of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. Before becoming Editor-at-large, he was Head of News at Cyclingnews. He has previously worked for Shift Active Media, Reuters and Cycling Weekly. He is a member of the Board of the Association Internationale des Journalistes du Cyclisme (AIJC).
