Saturday 19 March 2016 12:01, UK
Alberto Contador fears he will be off the pace in the first few stages of the Volta a Catalunya as he continues to recover from a cold he picked up at Paris-Nice.
The seven-day Volta, which starts on Monday, has attracted arguably the strongest field seen at a stage race since last year's Tour de France, with Contador being joined by Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, Nairo Quintana, Fabio Aru, Richie Porte, Tejay van Garderen and Joaquim Rodriguez.
The 33-year-old Spaniard showed good form on the way to finishing second at Paris-Nice a week ago but has revealed the race's inclement weather took its toll.
He said: "A lot of us that were there got a cold. I was one of them, and for that reason, this week I focused myself, above all, on trying to recover in order to be able to take the start at the Volta a Catalunya.
"The cold causes me to doubt a bit, but I hope to have totally recovered at the start, even if it might cost me a bit more in the first days. However, I have a good foundation and I trust my body will respond well."
Contador has not yet managed to win the Volta a Catalunya and expects the battle for overall victory to be fiercer than ever this year.
"The level of the line-up can only be matched, probably, by the Tour de France," he added. "There are so many rivals that there isn't any in particular that can be singled out, because virtually all teams will bring a favourite, who will be flanked by a very strong squad."
The race is set to hinge on stage three and four's back-to-back summit finishes at La Molina and then Port Aine.
La Molina is 10.5km long with an average gradient of 4.5 per cent and a maximum of eight, while Port Aine is 18.5km long with an average gradient of 6.8 per cent and a maximum of 12.
However, Port Aine is currently under heavy snow and it remains to be seen if there will be a repeat of the stage cancellations at Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico last week.
Contador said: "I hope to be lucky and have good weather, because something similar to Paris-Nice or the Tirreno could take place and be forced to cancel a summit finish.
"The two summit finishes will mark the race. La Molina isn't really tough and differences there are always slim, although this year there are two mountain passes.
"As far as Port Aine is concerned, I'm not familiar with it. I think it's quite an irregular climb but since the previous day we would have already climbed various mountain passes, it will be the stage to mark the race the most."
