After taking second in yesterday's second stage of the Vuelta al País Vasco, Alberto Contador was satisfied but still a little disappointed with taking Liberty Seguros' 11th second place for 2006. "The most important thing was to take time in the general," said Contador after the finish. "For me the best thing is that I felt very good during the entire stage and that I took some time in a finish that no one favored me for, because it wasn't a real climbing finish," he added.
"In the end we gave it everything," said Contador. He praised his climbing companion for the day, Aitor Osa. "With me was a rider as strong if not stronger than me, and he did a great job." Still without a win in 2006, Contador isn't worried that he's missing opportunities for victories. "I didn't see myself winning so soon - my aim was to be in full form in April, but I wasn't thinking of winning, because if I had wanted that I might have selected easier races."
This month his aims are the Vuelta al País Vasco and the Tour de Romandie, and he's confident of gettting win number one in either of these tours. "I like this race [Pais Vasco] very much, because last year it gave me the opportunity to be known internationally," he said. According to the Spaniard, his main rivals in Pais Vasco will be Frank Schleck, Thomas Dekker, Davide Rebellin and Alejandro Valverde if he can perform in time trial, with Jose Azevedo and Andriy Grivko also offering a threat. "This tour seems to be harder than it looks, and doesn't have real climbing finishes, which means that victory will be played out in the time trial.
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