U.S. rider Vande Velde still contender

CUNEO, Italy – Somehow, Christian Vande Velde has slipped under the radar at the Tour de France.

The American with deep cycling roots is fifth overall, only 39 seconds behind race leader Frank Schleck.

If Vande Velde can keep pace with the other leaders in the final mountain stages today and Wednesday, he could gain time on his rivals in the final time trial Saturday and contend for victory.

“I’m totally content with how the race has unfolded – more than I ever expected,” Vande Velde said Monday, the Tour’s final rest day. “Now I just need to be smart the next few days and smash that last time trial.”

Vande Velde fell two positions after finishing 10th in Sunday’s stage – the first in the Alps – but he hung tough, and even gained seven seconds on race favorite Cadel Evans, who had the yellow jersey.

“Christian Vande Velde is a dangerous rider,” said the American’s former CSC teammate Jens Voigt. “Not enough people talk about him, but he is an excellent time trialer. He is still very close and within striking distance.”

At 32, Vande Velde is riding his sixth Tour. His best previous individual finish was 23rd in 2006, but he also helped Lance Armstrong to victory twice with the U.S. Postal Service team, including Armstrong’s fist win in 1999 – the year Vande Velde made his Tour debut.

Vande Velde left the powerful CSC team to join the fledgling American squad Garmin-Chipotle this season, and transformed himself from a domestique – or support rider – to team leader.

“That’s the biggest difference. So many times I’ve had decent form but I’ve always been riding for a great leader, whether it be Lance or (Ivan) Basso or Carlos (Sastre),” Vande Velde said.

While Vande Velde credits Armstrong with teaching him how to ride the Tour and carry himself, his biggest inspiration was his father.

John Vande Velde was a two-time Olympian and appeared in the classic cycling film “Breaking Away.”

“He was one of the famous Italian guys,” Vande Velde said of his father’s cameo role. “I would never be sitting here if it wasn’t for my father. He’s been my biggest fan and supporter since Day One.”