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Contador optimistic heading into Paris-Nice

By VeloNews.com
Published: Mar. 7, 2009

Alberto Contador says he’s quietly optimistic ahead of Paris-Nice, which begins Sunday with an individual time trial in Amilly.

Contador, already a winner at the Volta ao Algarve in his first race of the 2009 season last month, said he hopes to be among the best.

“I am not obsessed with winning, because for this time happen everything has to go the right way,” Contador said in an interview released by his press agent. “My idea is to do the best possible and I believe the fans understand this.”

The hilly route, including a summit finish atop the Montagne de Lure in stage 6, could play into Contador’s hands.

Contador highlighted such riders as Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Toni Colom (Katusha), Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto), Frank Schleck (Saxo Bank) and Luís León Sánchez (Caisse d’Epargne) to be candidates for victory.

Contador won Paris-Nice in 2007 in an exciting, final-day battle into Nice. That victory helped catapult him toward the yellow jersey later that year in the 2007 Tour.

“I am very motivated, because this race was my push toward the Tour. I am excited because I like to race the bike, because this is an important race and I like it a lot,” he said of Paris-Nice. “And of course I am looking forward to returning to race in France after having passed one year out of this country.”

Contador’s last race in France was the 2007 Tour.

In 2008, his Astana team was excluded from both Paris-Nice and the Tour. Contador went on to win the Giro and Vuelta a España in 2008 to complete the grand tour “triple crown.”

Contador also said he’s looking forward to racing with Astana teammate Lance Armstrong at the Vuelta a Castilla y León later this month.

It will be the first time the pair will compete together since Armstrong announced his comeback last fall.

Contador said the five-day stage race across northern Spain will provide a chance to prove there’s no tension between the two.

“It will be good for the team, because it will calm everyone down to see that there are no problems between us, either to share the team or in our relations,” Contador said.

Armstrong announced his next races include Milan-San Remo (March 22) and the Castilla y León tour (March 23-27).

Contador, a two-time defending champion, knows the route well and said it’s ideal for the team and for Armstrong’s plans for the Giro d’Italia and the Tour.

“It’s a good idea that Lance has decided to come to this race, because it will be very good for his preparation,” he said. “It’s a race that makes you comfortable, especially if the weather is good.”