In spite of struggling through Friday's Tour de France stage, pre-race favorite Alexander Vinokourov will definitely start on Saturday as the peloton enters the Alps.
The Astana team director was not so sure about Vino's teammate Andreas Kloden, who is suffering from a hairline fracture on his tailbone.
Both were injured in separate crashes on Thursday, but made the starting sign-up Friday morning.
According to Reuters:
“I am sure Vino will start the stage tomorrow,” (Astana team manager Marc) Biver told reporters. “I know him, he is a warrior, he's not going to let it go without a fight.
“He is going to go to the limit, he is ready to die on his bike.”
Asked if Kloeden, who finished third overall last year, would pull out of the three-week race, Biver added: “Honestly, I have no idea. We will have to see what the doctors say.”
Vino was the top vote-getter in the Biking Bis Tour de France poll, followed by Levi Leipheimer and Kloden.
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