Ivan Basso's (Liquigas-Cannondale) form hasn't been the very best in the last couple of weeks as he has suffered from lack of energy. Perhaps because he has raced quite a lot since his season started.

At this moment, he is racing the Tour de Romandie, as he prepares for the Tour de France.

“I started in January when I rode the Tour de San Luis in Argentina,” Basso told L’Équipe. “I’ve racked up racing days without ever being totally relaxed because a rider of my stature is always a little at the centre of attention.”

Basso took victory at the GP Lugano in February and did well in the Tirreno-Adriatico. But didn't feel very week at the Volta Catalunya and was forced to abandon the Tour of the Basque Country.

He participated in some Spring Classics, without top results of course, but still.

Before the season started, he was thinking of taking a number of victories in the spring, but now he says his main focus is the 2011 Tour de France.

“My body finished up by saying ‘stop’ and my sole concern from now on is to get my approach to the Tour back on track,” he said.

The time before the Tour de France will be spent home in Italy but he will also race the Critérium du Dauphiné in June.