With the Giro d’Italia still almost six weeks away, two of the races favourites have already identified one another as the riders to watch, according to biciciclismo.com. After their battle in last week’s Volta a Catalunya, Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-SunGard) and Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) have each tipped the other as the man to beat in May’s race.
“The most dangerous opponent will be Scarponi,” Contador said after his race victory; now Scarponi has returned the compliment.
"Contador is the strongest of all and this is beyond dispute,” Scarponi told la Gazzetta dello Sport. “But I’m not going just to be there, I always race to win.
Contador does have the threat of suspension hanging over him, with the news that the International Cycling Union (UCI) has appealed the Spanish federation (RFEC) decision not to sanction him over his positive test for clenbuterol at last year’s Tour de France. It’s highly unlikely that the Court for Arbitration in Sport (CAS) decision will arrive until after the race anyway, but Scarponi is putting this from his mind.
“I do not think about the CAS,” he said. “I do not care. If Alberto attacks, I’ll follow him. I would like to beat him on the road. For me the only result that counts is the one on the line.
“Andorra [in Catalunya stage 3 – Ed] was the first fight between us and he was very strong,” he added. “Now it’s my turn to respond.”
As well as Contador, Scarponi identified Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) as a potential winner. “He rides well and is strong in the time trial,” he said. “You can’t forget him.”
Scarponi has further plans to prepare from the Giro, which involve checking out a number of the race’s key stages. This is something that he’s done a deal of already, but he hopes to do much more, time permitting.
"On the 4th or 5th of April, I'll train at altitude on Mount Etna to ready myself for [Giro del] Trentino,” he explained. “Then, before the Giro, I see some milestones late as Gardeccia, the Nevegal and maybe the Grossglockner. I don’t know; the problem is finding compatible dates. There’s no stress.”
Scarponi has been one of the top riders of 2011 to date, with a stage victory in the Giro di Sardegna, as well as overall podium finishes in Tirreno-Adriatico and Catalunya. While the compliments of his rival are good to hear, they are not without foundation.
“I’m flattered Contador’s words but the results speak for themselves,” he said. I’ve had a very good spring and now I want to take a little breather; I want to spend some time at home. [My home life is] extraordinarily normal, I spend time with my wife Anna, my dog Lamú and a nice sofa to rest on!”
Contador and Scarponi do have some history; with both riders being members of the Liberty Seguros team six years ago. While the Italian is the elder of the two, they were both considered to be up-and-coming talents at the time.
“We were both very young,” said Scarponi. “It was 2005 and Alberto had not yet exploded, but everyone considered him a phenomenon, as someone who was always quiet and nice.
“We lost touch a bit,” he added, “but our relationship has always been good.”