Vinokourov at Kessler's service

Astana's Alexandre Vinokourov has made it clear that he wasn't going to be team leader at the upcoming Liège-Bastonge-Liège. "I'm not here to win," the Kazakhstani told Sporza one day before the last of the Ardennes Classics. Instead, he will be a first-class helper for his German team-mate 'Matze' Kessler.

"My form is on the right path, but I'll ride a 100 percent for Matthias Kessler," Vinokourov continued. "In the Flèche Wallonne, I felt that I had good legs. But this year, everything is for the Tour. That is my main goal. Of course you have to race to prepare for it, though - and Liège is a beautiful and hard competition."