Kirchen maintains Luxembourg's cycling tradition

By Francois Thomazeau

SUPER-BESSE, France (Reuters) - New Tour de France leader Kim Kirchen reminded fans on Thursday that the tiny duchy of Luxembourg has been a great cycling nation for a century.

The country only has a population of just over 450,000 but its riders have won the Tour four times.

In 1909 Francois Faber claimed the yellow jersey followed in 1927 and 1928 by Nicolas Frantz while half a century ago it was won by Charly Gaul, seen by many as cycling's greatest climber.

On Thursday in the ski resort of Super-Besse, Kirchen took the overall lead away from Stefan Schumacher of Germany, which has only once had a Tour-winning rider.

Kirchen tops the overall standings ahead of Cadel Evans of Australia, which has never had a Tour winner.

Luxembourg also has its hopes pinned on two other riders in this year's Tour with the Schleck brothers, Frank and Andy, standing 17th and 18th in the overall standings.

While Kirchen, seventh last year in Paris, has not yet achieved the stature of his compatriots of the past, he has big ambitions in a wide open race.

"The Tour is the Tour and there are still a lot of days ahead of us but my form is really exceptional," said the 30-year-old Team Columbia rider.

"I had set my goal on the first stage and I came close. Then I surprised myself in the time trial two days ago," said Kirchen who came fourth in the first stage and second in the time trial.

"Now we have a strong team who can help me stay with the best in the Pyrenees," he said ahead of the mountain stages.

Kirchen, who has support from former Lance Armstrong aide George Hincapie in his team, is already thinking of the finish.

"If I avoid losing too much time in the Pyrenees, I can tell you I'll be near the front in the Alps and perhaps in Paris as well," he said.

(Editing by Ken Ferris)