Evans-Contador: first duel at Mont Ventoux

Tour de France hopefuls have surely circled July 25 on their calendars, the day of the Tour's crucial penultimate stage with its summit finish at Mont Ventoux. "Nobody will be able to say ‘I've won the Tour' until the Ventoux," said Tour de France race director Christian Prudhomme and perhaps the same can be said of the ongoing Dauphiné Libéré.

While the Tour de France seldom uses the Ventoux, included only 13 times in its history, relatively few when compared to the 73 ascents of the Tourmalet, the Ventoux has made a more regular appearance at the Dauphiné since the mid-90s. The race returns there on Thursday after a one-year absence with race leader Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) holding a 45-second lead over Alberto Contador (Astana) in second place.

The last big race that has finished at the Ventoux was stage four of last year's Paris-Nice, a stage won by Silence-Lotto's Cadel Evans. The finish line was not at the top, though, but at Mont Serein, the ski station of the Ventoux.

"To beat Robert Gesink in March is one thing but to beat Alberto Contador in June at the Dauphiné is another thing," said Cadel Evans who has a few advantages on Contador heading into Thursday's showdown on the Ventoux. Evans has more experience on this climb as Contador has only seen it twice in competition (the 2005 Dauphiné when he cut his fingers in his spokes and the 2007 Dauphiné in which he finished 10th, just nine seconds behind Evans) and Evans has the confidence of wearing the Dauphiné's leader's jersey entering the stage.

"To be sure to beat Contador in the mountains you'd better take 37 minutes on him rather than the 37 seconds I gained today in the time trial," the Silence-Lotto rider said after taking the yellow jersey back after the Valence time trial.

"I'm just here as a spectator, I'll see on the Mont Ventoux who takes the initiative," Contador said after completing his time trial.

Evans was skeptical about his rival's low profile. "Contador in the mountains is normally the man to beat," he said. "He'll probably show his intentions tomorrow and later in the week. When you say that you are not here for the win, it's an excuse when you fail.

"I just want to see how good I can go on Mont Ventoux. Like many other people, I'm interested to find out. I haven't raced in the mountains since the Tour of the Basque country. I came to the Dauphiné with intentions but not with great expectations. We have to consider others as well."

In addition to Evans' and Contador's battle for general classification supremacy, Alejandro Valverde of Caisse d'Epargne announced he'll enter into action. "I will give it all to try and win the race. In fact, the time trial did not change anything in the classification and the three big favorites, Evans, Contador and myself, are still the same," said the defending champion of the Dauphiné.

Whatever happens between Evans and Contador on Mont Ventoux at the Dauphiné, there is a revenge scheduled 45 days later at the very end of the Tour de France.

The last time the Tour de France visited Mont Ventoux occurred in 2002 with Richard Virenque soloing to victory.