Alberto Contador – “I don't think the Tour is over...”

“I did everything I could. I put all my strength into the climb. I thought I’d attack between four and five kilometers from the finish but when I saw the work that was done by the Saxo Bank Team, and the fact that the group was already reduced to a handful of favorites, I decided to move into action earlier than planned.
“I needed this stage to happen because we’ve always had two difficult weeks and I really need it to happen like it did, to make some big difference against my rivals. The only thing that concerned me was that I had good legs. I felt very good bit there were still come doubts before I went into action… including the level of the others.
“I don’t think that the Tour is over because the hardest stages are yet to come in the final week. And I image that there will be more difficult stages in the days ahead. Thors who have moved up are now dangerous.
“I’m obviously delighted to take the yellow jersey this afternoon. But it’s more important that I dropped the other riders, not Lance Armstrong in particular. I grew up with Armstrong as a model and it’s an honor to know that he will ride for me.”