Team Saxo Bank-SunGard's ace for the overall classification in the 2011 Giro d'Italia, three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, has been down with a serious flu in the days leading up to the start of the Giro d'Italia.

"One never knows exactly where one is (form and performance-wise) before a big race. I have suffered from a cold and the flu lately and I have had problems with breathing, so I have been forced to take it easy and relax for a few days," Alberto Contador told Roadcycling.com.

The Spaniard, however, tries to ease the nerves of his many fans by announcing that he feels better prepared for the 2011 Giro d'Italia than he did for the 2008 Giro, which he won.

"This year I know which riders to keep an eye on, I know the route, and I have been able to tailor my preparations and training for the Giro," Contador said.

Watch video highlights from each stage of the 2011 Giro d'Italia in the video section right here on Roadcycling.com and watch live coverage from the Giro on www.universalsports.com/cycling. Tell your friends!