Contador vows to revert to usual attacking style

VALENCE, France, July 18 (Reuters) - Recovery permitting,
Alberto Contador will revert to his usual attacking style in the
Alps with his Tour de France title looking in jeopardy after two
weeks of racing.     

The 28-year-old Spaniard lost crucial time after being held
up behind a pile-up on the first stage and also hit the deck in
the first week, sustaining a knee problem that forced him to sit
and wait in the Pyrenees.     

The three-times champion -- who won May's Giro d'Italia in
awesome fashion -- lies seventh in the overall standings, four
minutes behind leaders Thomas Voeckler of France and about two
minutes adrift of his main rivals.     

"Because of the crash, I had to change my pedaling. My
(right) knee was hurting so I had to compensate with the other
knee and it changed my way of pedaling," Contador told a news
conference on Monday as the peloton enjoyed their second rest
day in the three-week race.     

"But I feel better, I'm confident for the Alps."     

Contador will have two gruelling stages in the Alps on
Thursday and Friday to make up for lost time, as well as a
42.5-km individual time trial on Saturday.     

"The Galibier stage (from Pinerolo to Serre Chevalier on
Thursday) is the hardest with the last 10 kilometres of the
ascent to the Col d'Agnel," the Saxo Bank rider explained.     

"I'm not as good or as fresh as at the Giro but I think I
will be better in the Alps than in the Pyrenees. If I have good
legs, it is certain that I will attack because it is my style." 

In the first two mountain stages in the Pyrenees, Contador
benefited from a waiting game between the overall contenders as
Cadel Evans refused to attack while the Schleck brothers'
attempts were not sharp enough to unsettle the other favourites.

But Contador cannot wait for the final time trial to make
the difference, especially against Australian Evans, who shines
in the solo effort against the clock.     

"I can't win the Tour with the time trial if the standings
after the Alpe d'Huez are the same as today," he said.     

"In the Alps, the ascents are longer and go higher above
ground level.    Some who were good in the Pyrenees will be
disappointed in the Alps."