Garmin ready for team time trial duel with Astana

BRIGNOLES, France (Reuters) - Time trial specialists Garmin-Slipstream were confident their rider Bradley Wiggins would take over the Tour de France yellow jersey in Tuesday's team effort against the clock in Montpellier.

Should the American team master the tricky 39-km course in Montpellier, Briton Wiggins, now third overall, would be likely to take the overall lead in the world's greatest stage race.

"We've got to do everything we can to get it," Garmin-Slipstream manager Jonathan Vaughters told Reuters.

With Spaniard Alberto Contador one second ahead of Wiggins, Garmin will have to beat Astana if they want the double Olympic pursuit champion to swap his argyle jersey for the yellow one.

Swiss Fabian Cancellara of Saxo Bank is expected to start the stage with an 18-second lead over Contador but Vaughters believes it will be down to a duel between his team and Astana.

"I think, looking at (Saturday's opening time trial), it will be a rivalry between Astana and ourselves for sure," the American said.

"They have more horsepower but we have a really united team, and good communication between the riders (in a team time trial). Horsepower or team work. We will see."

Wiggins, who joined Garmin this season, will be notably helped by specialists David Millar of Britain and American David Zabriskie, as well as Christian Vande Velde.

The four were in the top 20 in Saturday's time trial in Monaco, while Astana, with Contador, German Andreas Kloeden as well as Americans Levi Leipheimer and Lance Arsmtrong, had four riders in the top 10.

Garmin were not just thinking about Tuesday, with Vaughters hope for a stage win before that.

"Keeping it cool to Montpellier is easier said than done," he said.

"We will still try and win a stage with (sprinter) Tyler (Farrar). With the heat, the wind, we've got to keep our eyes open."

(Editing by Sonia Oxley)