 Schleck (left) and Sastre are both in overall contention for CSC |
Race leader Frank Schleck believes his CSC team can strengthen his grip on the yellow jersey as the tightest Tour de France in years enters its final week. The Luxembourger holds a seven-second lead over Austrian Bernhard Kohl with favourite Cadel Evans a further second back and three others within a minute. Two more Alpine stages follow on Tuesday and Wednesday, with Saturday's time-trial likely to be decisive. "With a team as good as this I can continue to attack," Schleck said. "The team has been very aggressive so far and that has helped. But I must be realistic. I am not a time-trial specialist, even with the wings the yellow jersey has given me!" On Tuesday, the riders face two hors categorie climbs on the 157km from Cuneo to Jausiers including the Col de la Bonnette, the highest pass in Europe at over 2800m. Three more, including the 21 hairpins of the Alpe d'Huez, follow on Wednesday.  | Evans lost time on Sunday and he will lose some more in the next two stages Rabobank team sports director Erik Dekker |
Schleck was assisted by younger brother Andy and team-mate Carlos Sastre, another overall contender back in sixth place, 49 seconds adrift, as he attacked Evans in Sunday's stage to take the yellow jersey. And CSC team manager Bjarne Riis believes the trio can put more distance between Schleck and Evans over the next two days, with the Australian favoured to be around two minutes quicker than his rivals in Saturday's penultimate stage, a 53km individual time-trial. "Sunday's stage was not a mountain stage," Riis warned. "With its long flat sections, it favoured Evans. Serious matters begin tomorrow (Tuesday)." Evans, who lost the overall lead he had held for five days, remains confident ahead of the final six stages. | 606: DEBATE |
"You can see what a beautiful race this is. It's closer than ever and nothing's over," the Australian said. Russian Denis Menchov, another strong time-triallist currently lying 38 seconds back in fourth, is also in confident mood despite crashing in Sunday's 15th stage when attacking Schleck and Evans. "He (Menchov) is pretty confident," said his Rabobank team sports director Erik Dekker on Monday, adding that Menchov now had the support of the entire team behind his bid for yellow. "First, we must get rid of Evans. He lost time yesterday and he will lose some more in the next two stages."
Overall standings (after 15 stages): 1. Frank Schleck (Lux/CSC) 63hrs 57mins 21secs
2. Bernhard Kohl (Aut/GST) + 7secs
3. Cadel Evans (Aus/SIL) + 8secs
4. Denis Menchov (Rus/RAB) + 38secs
5. Christian Vandevelde (US/GAR) + 39secs
6. Carlos Sastre (Spa/CSC) + 49secs
7. Kim Kirchen (Lux/COL) + 2mins 48secs
8. Vladimir Efimkin (Rus/AG2R) + 3mins 36secs
9. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/GCE) + 4mins 11secs
10. Samuel Sanchez (Spa/EUS) + 4mins 34secs Selected others: 51. David Millar (GB/Garmin) + 52mins 37secs
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