http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/3908017.stm



Basso aims to attack


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Ivan Basso will continue to push Lance Armstrong when the Tour de France resumes in the Alps on Tuesday.

The Italian was the only rider to stay with Armstrong in the Pyrenees and lies third overall, 1:17 off the American and 1:39 behind leader Thomas Voeckler.

"If I attack it'll be to try and land the knock-out blow, to win the Tour," said Basso, who rides for CSC.

Stage 15 from Valreas takes in seven climbs, including the mountain-top finish at Villard-de-Lans.



Basso is determined to make the most of the rich vein of form he is in.

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"I've never been as strong in my life and if there's just one chance of winning I'll take it, but I won't attack just to gain 10 or 15 seconds," he added.

"I'm convinced in my head and my heart that everything is still possible in the Tour, but we can't forget that Lance has won the last five Tours."

Voeckler's lead is now down to just 22 seconds and is expected to surrender his lead to Armstrong on Tuesday.

Johan Bruyneel, Armstrong's US Postal team manager, has been impressed by Basso's performance and pinpoints him as the leading rival to his team leader now that the likes of Jan Ullrich and Iban Mayo have fallen out of contention.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gifFeature:
History beckons Armstrong (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/3903299.stm)

"Ivan confirms what I knew all along," Bruyneel said.

"I've been following him for some time. He was the best young rider in the Tour two years ago and he has improved a lot because he's a real professional and works hard.

"In the two Pyrenees stages, Lance attacked twice but was unable to finish on his own. Ivan, Georg Totschnig and Andreas Kloeden were there and they remain a threat."

And Bruyneel criticised Ullrich's preparation for the Tour, although he expects the German to restore some pride with a strong showing over the final stages.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gifUllrich backs Kloeden (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/3907775.stm)

"He went from having bad form to great form too quickly, in a period of about five weeks," he added. "It's entirely possible, but the danger is that it can totally zap your energy reserves. I think that in absolute terms, he is still Lance's biggest rival - that's why I'm happy to see him so far down the standings. "But he's always very strong in the third week and I can't see why it should be any different this time."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/3907775.stm



Ullrich backs team-mate


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Overall standings (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/tour_results_and_standings/default.stm)



Jan Ullrich appears to have given up winning this year's Tour de France by pledging his support to T-Mobile team-mate and fellow German Andreas Kloeden.

Ullrich was tipped to rival six-time champion Lance Armstrong but has instead been overshadowed by Kloeden.

"Kloedi has been a revelation. I hope he can maintain his current level all the way to Paris," Ullrich said.

"He was clearly the better man in the Pyrenees, so I've given him carte blanche in the Alps."



While Ullrich struggled in the Pyrenees, losing more than five minutes to Armstrong, Kloeden lost just two minutes to the American and now lies fourth overall.

Kloeden, one of Ullrich's most loyal assistants, said he still considered himself a team-mate rather than a leader.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif If I think he has the stronger legs then he must go for it alone


Ullrich on Kloeden



"I haven't written Jan off. The Tour is only over when we reach Paris and we still have a hard week's racing ahead of us," he said.

"Jan can still make up time in the Alps and in the mountain time trial in particular. I still think that he can make the podium in Paris, but the exact step remains to be seen."

The 29-year-old, who won Olympic bronze in 2000, played down his chances of a podium place.

"I'm very happy with how the Tour has gone for me so far. I will do all I can to stay with the leaders," he added.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gifTour guide:
Stage 15 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/tour_route_guide/3837531.stm)

A top-10 finish is possible, but my first priority is still to ride for Jan. He is still our captain." The Tour resumes on Tuesday when the riders head into the Alps.