Sicard aiming for Vuelta

Romain Sicard is still nursing the knee injury which has all but derailed his 2011 campaign, but the prodigious Frenchman is nonetheless aiming for some late-season glory in the Vuelta. Speaking to French newspaper Sud-Ouest, the Hasparren native revealed he's struggling to equal out the difference in power output between his legs, but is hopeful of a return to competition before the end of July. "At the moment I'd say it's (the Vuelta) possible, I'm staying optimistic", he told the French daily. "The month of July will be vital for me. If I can return to form and retake competition within four weeks, there would still be three weeks left (before the start of the race) to find my race-legs." Whilst obviously downbeat about his current predicament, the amiable climber is still looking forward to watching the Tour unfold from the comfort of his couch: "It promises to be a spectacle, what with the beautiful mountain stages and the battle between the Schleck brothers, Contador and, hopefully, our leader Samuel Sánchez."