Menchov aims for double with win at Tour de France

MONACO Denis Menchov won the Giro d'Italia and will attempt to capture the Tour de France to become the first man to win both races in the same year since the late Marco Pantani in 1998.

The 31-year-old Russian impressed in claiming the biggest win of his career in Italy in May and turns his attention to the Tour where he will have the help of his strong Rabobank team and rising star Robert Gesink.

The best young rider of the Tour in 2003, Menchov is one of six riders considered joint-favorites this year along with Alberto Contador, Lance Armstrong, Cadel Evans, Andy Schleck and defending champion Carlos Sastre.

"I feel good, comfortable and confident," Menchov said on Friday during a press conference at the eve of the first stage in Monaco. "I feel relaxed after my victory on the Giro and I'm looking forward to starting the race tomorrow. It will be difficult, but I know that I can win."

With Gesink on his side, Menchov's ambitions carry added legitimacy. The 23-year-old climber from the Netherlands will be riding in his first Tour but has already confirmed his talent this season with a third-place finish in the Amstel Gold Race and by taking fourth place in the Dauphine Libere.

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"Robert is an important piece of our team," Menchov said. "He is a strong guy and he is good in the mountains. I hope that we can do the same race we did last year and that we will be able to a play some tactics in the mountains."

Gesink said he wants to learn from Menchov and promised to dedicate himself to working for the Russian's victory.

In Italy, Menchov secured victory by winning two of the race's key stages a hilltop finish and a challenging time-trial. The Russian said the Tour's opening time-trial Saturday, a 9.6-mile route with climbs, tricky hairpin bends and fast curves, would be crucial.

Besides the overall standings, the Rabobank team can aim for stage victories with riders such as the Spanish duo of Juan Antonio Flecha and former world champion Oscar Freire. Hampered by back problems this season, Freire hopes to retain the best sprinter's green jersey he won last year. But he will face a strong challenge from Briton Mark Cavendish, considered to be the king of sprints.

"It will be difficult but not impossible," Freire said. "I won the green jersey last year, so why not this year?"