Spain's controversial three-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador rejected claims he was the 'big boss' of the Giro d'Italia despite having taken the overall leader's pink jersey after Sunday's stage.
The 28-year-old - bidding for his second win in the race after the 2008 edition - was speaking on the first rest day of the Tour after a superb performance on Sunday winning the stage on Mount Etna to take the lead.
However, Contador was sanguine about his prospects of staying in front until the finish of the race on May 29 in Milan.
"I don't think at all I'm the big boss," he said in an interview on his Saxobank team website.
"Yesterday was a good day, I could take some differences and it was very important, but is insignificant to be the patron or not, because most eyes are on me and the whole world is watching what I do.
"I don't think that's going to change the behaviour of my rivals."
Contador, who leads Belarus rider Kanstantsin Siutsou by 59sec, admitted that although he had struck the first significant blow there were many stages lying ahead which could see his major rivals test him.
"The Giro has only just begun, the first nine days have been intensive," said Contador. "We have made the first move, but now come incredible stages in the Dolomites plus the two time trials.
"This has just started, but it's always good to take time on your rivals."
Contador, who saw some of his major rivals suffer a bad day on Sunday including Russian Denis Menchov who trails him by over three minutes, is confident his team will be up to the task of protecting him.
"Yes, I have full confidence in them! We must be aware that the Giro is very difficult to control by only one team but they are very motivated and the first few days I have been very confortable, they allowed me to be as relaxed as possible in the peloton.
"I hope we can have everything under control."
Contador is competing here while still awaiting a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which could overturn a Spanish cycling federation decision to clear him of any wrongdoing following a positive test for clenbuterol at last year's Tour de France.
Tuesday's 10th stage is the 159km ride from Termoli to Teramo.
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