Alexander Vinokourov of Kazakhstan at the start of the 13th stage of the Tour de France, a 54-kilometre individual time trial loop from Albi to Albi, southern France, yesterday. Vinokourov won the stage. - AP

ALBI, France, (Reuters):

ALEXANDER VINOKOUROV ended a difficult week with victory in yesterday’s 54-km time trial to put himself back in contention in the Tour de France.

The Kazakh, who sustained knee injuries in a crash during the fifth stage to Autun and was in pain as the Tour went through the Alps, mastered the bumpy course of the 13th stage to clock the best time of one hour, six minutes, 34 seconds.

“I have had a very difficult week,” Vinokourov, who confessed he was on the brink of pulling out in the Alps, told a news conference.

“I was hoping there would be no infection in my knees. I had a lot of support from the fans and within the team.

“I have been better the past two days. I am happy to be back,” added the Astana team leader who needed stitches in his knee and elbow after his crash on July 12.

Vinokourov had dropped to 19th in the overall standings after cracking in the ascent of the Col du Galibier in Tuesday’s ninth stage.

The Kazakh, however, now lies ninth, five minutes, 10 seconds behind overall leader Michael Rasmussen of Denmark.

Surprised

“He surprised me,” said Vinokourov. “I thought he would lose more time but the Tour is still long.

“I know you win the Tour in the time trials and in the mountains. I have lost a lot of time in the Alps but the race ends in Paris.”

With the support of teammates Andreas Kloeden and Andrej Kashechkin, who are respectively fourth and sixth in the overall standings, Vinokourov firmly believes he still has his chances to wear the yellow jersey in Paris next weekend.

“With Andreas and ‘Kash’, I think I still can win the Tour,” Vinokourov said. “Tomorrow, we won’t have the pressure of wearing the yellow jersey. I think we’re going to attack.”

Today’s 14th stage is a 197-km ride from Mazamet to the Plateau de Beille in southern France, with two out-of-category ascents.