Perhaps Alberto Contador is just too young and too green to realize precisely what he is on the cusp of achieving if he can drop Michael Rasmussen for good on the slopes of the Aubisque.

At just 24, he’s already being hailed as cycling’s next Lance Armstrong (or Miguel Indurain, in the Spanish press). Contador hopes to live up to the pedigree in Wednesday’s decisive climbing stage culminating on the HC steeps of the Aubisque.

“I have nothing to lose,” Contador said during Tuesday’s rest day, the Tour’s second.

“I will risk all to attack Rasmussen and try to win the Tour,” he said.

Contador trails the Dane by 2:23 and took confidence from his searing attacks on the Peyresourde when he was able to isolate Rasmussen and put him under pressure. His attacking gear on the Cat. 1 ramps was a 39x17, leaving him the ability to bolt away from everyone at this year’s Tour except Rasmussen.

Although the Rabobank rider was able to latch on to his wheel, Contador promises more of the same in Wednesday’s show down.

“I gapped him a little bit. I feel more confident and I’m sure he will be thinking about that as well,” he said. “Tomorrow will be full war. I will try again at the maximum and give all. Everything is possible. I will try.”

Contador didn’t discount being able to overtake Rasmussen in the final TT. He reckons if he pulls within one minute of Rasmussen, he’ll have a shot to claim the maillot jaune in the Tour’s penultimate stage. Contador took 37 seconds out of Rasmussen in the Albi time trial in stage 13.

Contador has single-handily re-energized Spanish cycling after a decade-long post-Miguel Indurain hangover.

If he pulls off the miracle finish, he will be the first Spanish rider to win since Indurain won his fifth and final Tour in 1995.

“I am an ambitious person. On Plateau de Beille I fulfilled one of my dreams of winning a Tour stage, but I also want to take advantage of the opportunity that I have right now,” he said. “I would rather risk all and finish sixth than settle with what I have right now.”

Discovery Channel team manager Johan Bruyneel has been publicly endorsing Contador all season. He’s already called him the next great Tour champion.

“I don’t like to make comparisons between riders, because every one is different and there will never be another rider like Armstrong, but I believe the next Lance Armstrong is sitting right next to me,” Bruyneel said. “He’s 24. He has a big future ahead of him. He’s already made a great Tour. Next comes the hard part, to confirm it and stay on top. His future is very bright.”

Armstrong himself has taken interest in Contador, so much so that he’s expected to arrive at the Tour de France this weekend for a personal visit.

Contador has taken all the adulation in stride.

“It’s an honor to be compared to such riders as Indurain and Armstrong, but I am my own person,” he said. “I will always ride in their shadows.”

Puerto Questions
As cycling faces renewed scrutiny, Contador had to face a few of his own tough questions during the one-hour press conference. When asked if the world can trust him, he smiled and said, “Yes, of course.”

Contador also elaborated on why his name appeared last year on the infamous Puerto list. His name was among five Astana riders who were alleged to be linked to the Operación Puerto investigation last year in Spain.

Contador was among nine riders from five teams who were not allowed to start last year’s Tour de France.

“I was on the wrong team at the wrong time. My name was on this infamous list, but one week later, the UCI had more time to examine the documents and I was taken off. My relation with Puerto was annulled,” Contador said. “I was cleared of any link with the scandal.”

Bruyneel said he checked out Contador’s story before signing him to a contract, saying the Spaniard’s situation was different than Ivan Basso’s, who eventually confessed he was part of the Puerto doping ring despite insisting he wasn’t for nearly one year.

“I have no reservations about Alberto,” Bruyneel said. “The UCI admitted they made a mistake by including Alberto in this case. It’s a whole other story for Alberto.”

Contador hopes to put his own ending to the story on Wednesday.