 Basso finished third in last year's Tour |
CSC rider Ivan Basso says he is aiming to test six-times winner Lance Armstrong in the mountain stages of this year's Tour de France. Basso came third behind the American in last year's Tour and says although he cannot beat him overall, he hopes to come out on top in the mountains.
"He is unbeatable," Basso told French sports newspaper L'Equipe.
"I know I am stronger than last year, in the time trials and in the mountain. So you can be sure I will attack."
Germany's Andreas Kloden was runner-up to Armstrong last year, with his fellow countryman Jan Ullrich fourth, but Basso says he does not think Ullrich is in good enough shape to challenge this year.
"In the Tour of Switzerland, he was not on top form," he said.
Armstong will be going for a record seventh straight win in this year's Tour, the 92nd, which starts on 2 July with an individual time trial in Fromentine Noirmoutier.
It finishes on 24 July on the Champs Elysees in Paris.
MMIX
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