LORIOL-SUR-DROME, France — Ivan Basso won the white jersey for best young rider in the 2002 Tour de France, setting up what looked like a glittering career for the Italian. It's been a long nine years.

Far from a favorite this year, the 33-year-old Basso was fifth overall after two weeks, just over a minute behind Andy Schleck and 44 seconds ahead of defending champion Alberto Contador.

Basso and Contador are the only riders among the group vying for the title who've won a major tour before — the Italian is a two-time winner of the Giro d'Italia — and he knows that experience could be invaluable.

"In the final week, the legs are important but the head makes the difference," Basso said.

"It's been one of the hardest tours, for the weather, for the route, for the new sprint rules," he added, pointing out that the lack of a dominant team of the sort that existed when Lance Armstrong was racing has meant no one is really controlling the race.

Basso has made the Tour podium twice, in 2004 and 2005. But he was excluded from the 2006 race because of his involvement in the Operation Puerto doping affair, and was given a two-year doping ban.

He returned to cycling following the ban, but chose not to race the Tour in 2009. In 2010, following his victory in the Giro d'Italia, he failed to shine, finishing 32nd overall.