Defending champion Bjarne Riis of Denmark has made up some ground since starting last in a Tour de France stage July 5.
But will he have enough to catch current leader Jan Ullrich of Germany with four days in the Alps coming up?Riis believes he can - with a strong ride up to l'Alpe d'Huez on Saturday.
"Of course, I will attack again in the Alps, but if Jan is riding so strongly as in the Pyrenees, I won't be able to catch him," said Riis as the race continued today after a break Thursday.
Ullrich has a 2 minute, 38-second lead over France's Richard Virenque and 4:46 over Spain's Abraham Olano. Riis is 4:53 behind.
"The Pyrenees were difficult, but the Alps will be more difficult," Ullrich said. "I've survived well so far, but it's hard to predict what can happen in the next days."
Ullrich has had more than just his opponents to worry about so far in the Tour de France. He is being hindered by German tourists cheering his wearing of the yellow jersey as the Tour de France's leader.
"I didn't understand the implications of wearing the yellow jersey," Ullrich said. "There are a lot of Germans on vacations. A lot of them are encouraging. A lot want to take photos and sometimes get in the way. I nearly fell a few times."
As the leader he will go off last in the 34.2-mile loop around St. Etienne.
After the Alps, the cyclists will spend a few days in eastern France before another time trial around Disneyland Paris on July 26, before ending July 27 at the Champs Elysees in Paris.