Contador optimistic about the Alps

PLATEAU DE BEILLE, France, July 16 (Reuters) - Alberto
Contador looked nothing like his usual brilliant self in
Saturday's 14th stage of the Tour de France but the three-times
champion found comfort in the fact that he followed the pace all
day. 

The 28-year-old Spaniard, who was dropped in the final
kilometre in the first mountain stage on Thursday, finished
sixth at the top of the Plateau de Beille, two seconds behind
Luxembourg rival Andy Schleck.     

Contador crossed the line in the same time as Cadel Evans,
Frank Schleck and Ivan Basso after never being dropped despite
Andy Schleck making several attacks on the final ascent.     

Contador, who still has to make up for a gap of some two
minutes behind his main rivals, quickly turned his sights
towards the two tough stages in the Alps next week.     

"It (the Tour) will be decided in the Alps, when everybody
will be more tired," the Saxo Bank-Sungard rider told reporters
seconds after crossing the line.     

"The climbs are bigger (than in the Pyrenees), at a higher
altitude and I like it when we go over 2,000 metres."     

Next week, the 18th stage will go to Serre Chevalier, 2,645
metres above sea level, and the 19th stage to l'Alpe d'Huez will
go through the Col du Galibier at 2,556 metres.     

Although he looked better than on Thursday, Contador, who
has been nursing a knee problem since he crashed last week, was
not able to attack on Saturday.     

"It's not my style of racing," he said. "But it's still a
long way to Paris and I think I'm getting better every day." 

Saxo Bank-Sungard team manager Bjarne Riis also noted that
his protege was in better shape than in the first mountain stage
to Luz Ardiden.     

"He has improved, he's better. It's important," the Dane
told reporters.     

"He did not have any problem, that's what is important.
Nobody (among the favourites) managed to pull away, expect
(Samuel) Sanchez."     

Contador's brother Fran, who has been following the
defending champion on the French roads, believes that the man
who is unbeaten on every grand Tour he has entered since 2007 is
improving as the race progresses.     

"Alberto was better than in Luz Ardiden. It was a harder
climb, a harder stage," Fran Contador told Reuters.     

"We will see if he gets one day with the same legs as on the
Giro d'Italia," he added in reference to Contador's impressive
win in May.     

"He is on the way up, we have yet to see the true Alberto
Contador."