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MONACO : Who really has a chance of winning this year's yellow jersey at the Tour de France became a shade clearer here Friday, a day before the race clicks into gear with a potentially revealing time trial.
Spaniard Carlos Sastre, the 2008 champion, is confident his two-tone Cervelo team can help him defend his crown - although his team owner Gerard Vroom admits it's not even their priority.
Race favourite Alberto Contador's chances were boosted after he was told he would have Astana full backing amid recent speculation that he could make way for seven-time champion and teammate Lance Armstrong.
Saxo Bank's team leader Andy Schleck, two-time runner-up Cadel Evans and Russian Denis Menchov remain the other main challengers - but all will be employing different tactics in a bid to triumph in Paris on July 26.
Schleck's team have promised to hammer themselves into the ground, as they did for Sastre last year, in a bid to get him into the golden tunic.
Not the best of time triallists, 24-year-old Schleck's chances could depend on how much damage his team inflict on the peloton before the crucial climbs, where the Luxemburger will then have to outperform Evans, Menchov, Contador and perhaps a few other Astana riders.
But team boss Bjarne Riis, a master tactician, warned: ""We're ready for some big results, no doubt about that. Although Carlos is no longer here, we're ready to defend our yellow jersey."
A possible race decider is the climb to the summit finish on Mont Ventoux on the penultimate satage, and Schleck, a superb climer, added: "I'm pretty sure this year's race is going to be decided on the climbs."
For Menchov, little has changed in the past few days. The taciturn Russian who rides for Rabobank is "in great form" and confident after his recent triumph in the Giro d'Italia.
Evans arrives with arguably the strongest team at his disposal in years and because of Astana's presence he loses the race-favourite tag bestowed upon him last year when the Kazakh-backed team were not invited by the organisers.
"With Contador and Armstrong back, and the fact Sastre's on another team and the Schleck brothers (Andy and Frank) leading Saxo Bank, for me personally it makes it better because more teams will be looking to control the race," said Evans.
But Evans, like many race contenders, believes Contador will have stepped up a gear since the Spaniard's third place finish behind Evans when the Australian finished second at last month's Dauphine Libere race.
"I'm expecting a much better Contador than the one we saw at the Dauphine," he added. "I'm sure we'll see the Contador of the past years here at the Tour."
Astana team manager Johan Bruyneel meannwhile finally poured water on speculation that the Spaniard would not be given the team's full commitment.
"At the moment, Alberto is our number one with good reason and it was something I spoke to Lance about, because we want to show him some loyalty and respect.
"For me, it's easy to have confidence in him, because he's a professional bike rider and he just wants to win races."
Nearly eight years separate Contador and his 34-year-old compatriot Sastre, but the reigning Tour champion remains relaxed and confident about his chances - despite his team owner Gerard Vroomen admitting they were "not desperate" to win the race.
Sastre might not agree but he will have to cope with some of his team using precious energy on helping Thor Hushovd win the race's green jersey for the points competition.
The rather discrete Spaniard insisted: "I feel confidence in myself and my teammates.
"I know I'm not known for being aggressive. But I like being a dark horse, and I like to strike while the iron is hot."
- AFP /ls
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