Alberto Contador is back to his best. He has won the Tirreno-Adriatico and Vuelta al Pais Vasco this year and finished runner up in both Volta ao Algarve and Volta a Catalunya. He performed impressively last week in the Basque country, where no one but Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) was able to follow him in the mountains while the TT world champion Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) was the only rider to beat him against the clock. In such circumstances than in such circumstances the Tinkoff-Saxo leader is a personification of joy on and off the bike at the moment, and after a massive block of stage racing this spring he turns all his focus to the forthcoming season’s greatest objective – the Tour de France.

Contador’s career third overall win at the Vuelta al Pais Vasco, following his back-to-back victories in 2008 and 2009, underlined the return to his best, even though the Spanish rider himself was reluctant to admit that he was far off the mark last year.

“It’s something that has been worried me. To me, my sensations during the Vuelta al Pais Vasco were very good, however, it cost me a little bit to recover well. Today [on Saturday] I rode strongly enough, but yesterday and the day before I experienced some fatigue,” Contador said during the post-race press conference.

“Maybe is was the best possible start to the season, to claim a couple of second places in the general [classifications], but I was beaten by great riders on those occasions. I’m happy and I’m about to take a longer break right now, I’m constantly aware that there’s a long season ahead.”

It came as no surprise that Contador emerged as a strongest rider in the mountains of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco, perhaps alongside Valverde, but his performance in the final individual time trial was probably the most impressive. Once very strong against the clock, Contador struggled to return to his best in that concurrence last seasons with rather inconsistent performances, but this time was surpassed only by the best time trialist in the world on a course highly suitable to his characteristics.

The 31-year old Spaniard admitted that he treats time trials very seriously this season, since the long penultimate stage against the clock is where the Tour de France general classification can be decided.

“It was a time trial which suited me quite well,” Contador admitted at the press conference.

“At first, I only wanted to ride the first part saving some forces for the demanding second climb where some more seconds could have been gained. At the first time-check I received references between me and Valverde and it gave me even more confidence that before. In fack, I tried to maintain a fairly steady rhythm in the first part of the course because I knew I had to give it all in the second, having on my mind that Kwiatkowski’s victory could have brought me down to the second place.”

Contador also compared the hilly circuit used in the Vuelta al Pais Vasco with short and technical time trial in the Volta ao Algarve, where he was beaten by Michał Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), Adriano Malori (Movistar) and Tony Martin.

“In Algarve it was a great course for Kwiatkowski, Tony Martin and Malori, but not equally favourable for me. The final time trial of the Tour will be very important, I acknowledge it and I’m aware I need to work hard.”

The Tinkoff-Saxo leader admitted that the hilly parcours of the Basque country rainy event suits him down to the ground and victories in the race, considered by himself as a lucky one, always preceded highly successful seasons earlier in his career.

“I have always shone here when I had a good season. It’s a race that gives me luck, may it be the same this year,” Contador said.

“True success is something good to start with, but now it’s all about starting everything from a scratch ahead of the Tour. Yes, good results bring you confidence and a peace of mind.”

Following the Vuelta al Pais Vasco, Contador plans to take a one-week rest period in order to recover before his Tour de France preparations kick off in earnest.

“I have to try to anticipate how they [other teams] imagine the race should develop. I think I have to remain very focused and undergo good preparations beforehand. And it needs to be taken day by day,” Tinkoff-Saxo leader explained.

“I have a strong team. The day on the cobbles will be an important one. I will join the team that rides Paris-Roubaix to inspect the stage on Monday, and then I will take a week off before focusing on my preparations for the Tour.”

“I know whom I’m going to face. I will have to observe how the other GC contenders are doing, especially Froome, considered the favorite. He has earned that role and I’m sure he will be very strong enough so we’ll know where to place ourselves,” Contador concluded.