Alexandre Vinokourov targets podium at 2011 Tour de France
Kazakh rider Alexandre Vinokourov has said he hopes to challenge for the 2011 Tour de France after supporting the triumphant Alberto Contador during this year's race.
Vinokourov, who served a one-year suspension after being banned for blood doping in 2007, announced his retirement from cycling but returned to the sport in 2009.
This year, the 2006 Vuelta a Espana winner rode in support of Contador at the Tour, winning the 13th stage of the race.
With Contador having left Astana to join Danish team Saxo Bank, Vinokourov said he would bid for the Tour's yellow jersey during 2011.
"As it stands today, we’re thinking in terms of the general classification, why not?” the 37-year-old told
astanafans.com, having first joined the team in 2007. "Let’s just say that in this year’s Tour, in cycling terms, I could have fought for third place with [Rabobank's Denis] Menchov. So there is always a chance."
The Kazakh, who said he would relish the hilly route of the 2011 Tour, said Atana's objectives will be to finish in the top three.
"We won’t give up on the battle for the overall before the start. We will fight for the yellow jersey, and after that, the mountains jersey, team classification or the beautiful stages. But today, at least, the aim is to fight for the podium."
Cannot judge Contador case
Vinokourov also lent his opinion on Contador's doping case. The Kazakh's former team-mate, who tested positive for Clenbuterol during this year's Tour, has been provisionally banned by the International Cycling Union (UCI) and is due to
attend the Spanish Cycling Federation's hearings against him.
"Nobody needs Contador’s disqualification, not us at Astana, not cycling, not the Tour de France and not the UCI," the rider commented. "I find it hard to judge, as I don’t know all the nuances. I hope he doesn’t get disqualified and that
the victory remains with the Astana team."
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