Alexandre Vinokourov is riding his ninth and final Tour de France, which starts today at the Passage du Gois in the western Vendée region. The ever ambitious Kazakh rider has set himself some clear goals for the race, such as stage victories and wearing the yellow jersey. He gave his thoughts at a final press conference before the 98th edition of the race. He is realistic that he won't be carrying the lead into Paris, but hopes to win the teams classification with Astana.
Vinokourov has finished on the podium once, in 2003. While he would love to make it into the top three once again, his main focus is different. "My goal for that year would be to wear the yellow jersey a few days, to end my career on a beautiful note." Being Vinokourov, this is too small a goal to target. "Then, I'd like to win a mountain stage if possible. Then, we will focus on the best team classification."
Vinokourov has trained hard for that, but the general classification is less prominent on his mind. "I know I cannot expect an overall victory; I have already finished third in Tour de France and fifth [in 2005] and I am pleased to see that I'm in good shape." Vinokourov has had a good Critérium du Dauphiné as a preparation. "But three weeks is more difficult, we'll see what can happen."
He hasn't targeted any specific stages, although he clearly likes it when the road tilts upward a bit in the end. "I saw that the arrival of [Saturday, stage 1] could suit me for example. There is also the stage Tuesday with the Mur de Bretagne and other stages at the end of first week." Vinokourov can be dangerous on any terrain, though. In 2005, he foiled sprinters' dreams on the Champs-Elysees with a late attack and a solo victory. "I do not program in advance, when I feel good, I feel that the legs respond well, I'm going."
His win on the final stage in Paris in 2005 is one of those moments that stand out. "It was a great surprise - I had already tried several times to win this stage. This is the kind of event that happen once in a lifetime, it's a very good memory." It comes close to his best ever finish a couple of years prior. "My best memory is may be the final podium in 2003."
But he is ready to turn the page. "Yes, this will be my last Tour, well, my last Tour on the bike," he confirmed. September will be the end of his active career. "I will turn 38, it seems to be the right time." He also wants to stay involved with the Astana team that is based in his native Kazakhstan. "If there was not the Astana team, I think I could continue for two or three years. Not to win the long race, but to win some stages." Instead he is looking forward to a life past cycling and is happy not to miss the perfect moment to call it quits. "I want to do as riders like Richard Virenque and Laurent Jalabert, who decided to stop their career at the right time."
For now, he is still a fully dedicated bike racer, before addressing his future. "I will discuss with the sponsors of the team and the Kazakh government [after the Tour]. I'd love to continue to work within the Astana team, it is a project dear to my heart."
He could become a manager on the team that was once built around him, but he doesn't want to step in too fast."For example, I can start working alongside Giuseppe Martinelli to learn. If I had to work in the direction of the team, I want to take my time."
The team's future itself looks solid as well. "We have a Pro Tour license for three years and our sponsor has committed to three years [until 2013]. We follow a political and a sports project with this team, not a commercial purpose." This is one of the team's big plus points. "We're here to represent an entire nation and we are really proud of it."
Astana wants to focus on riders of its own nation rather than drawing big foreign names. Riders like Andrey Zeits, who finished second overall in the 2011 Tour of Turkey. Zeits his ridden a Giro d'Italia and a Vuelta a España, but heads into his first Tour de France. "He is a representative of this new generation of Kazakh riders. He has potential, and if he works hard, I think that one day he will be able to win races such as Paris-Nice."