fbpx
Wikipedia

Alberto Contador

April 17, 2023

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Contador and the second or maternal family name is Velasco.

Alberto Contador Velasco (Spanish pronunciation: [alˈβeɾto kontaˈðoɾ βeˈlasko]; born 6 December 1982) is a Spanish former professional cyclist. He is one of the most successful riders of his era, winning the Tour de France twice (2007, 2009), the Giro d'Italia twice (2008, 2015), and the Vuelta a España three times (2008, 2012, 2014). He is one of only seven riders to have won all three Grand Tours of cycling, and one of only two riders to have won all three more than once. He has also won the Vélo d'Or a record 4 times.

Alberto Contador
Contador at the 2017 Tour de France
Personal information
Full nameAlberto Contador Velasco
NicknameEl Pistolero
Born (1982-12-06) 6 December 1982 (age 40)
Pinto, Madrid, Spain
Height1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)[1]
Weight62 kg (137 lb; 9 st 11 lb)[1]
Team information
Current teamRetired
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Rider typeAll-rounder
Professional teams
2003–2006ONCE–Eroski
2007Discovery Channel
2008–2010Astana
2011–2016Saxo Bank–SunGard
2017Trek–Segafredo
Major wins
Grand Tours
Tour de France
General classification (2007, 2009)
Young rider classification (2007)
3 individual stages (2007, 2009)
Giro d'Italia
General classification (2008, 2015)
Vuelta a España
General classification (2008, 2012, 2014)
Combination classification (2008, 2014)
7 individual stages (2008, 2012, 2014, 2017)

Stage races

Paris–Nice (2007, 2010)
Tirreno–Adriatico (2014)
Tour of the Basque Country (2008, 2009, 2014, 2016)
Vuelta a Burgos (2016)
Volta ao Algarve (2009, 2010)
Route du Sud (2015)

Single-day races and Classics

National Time Trial Championships (2009)
Milano–Torino (2012)

Other

Vélo d'Or (2007, 2008, 2009, 2014)

He was regarded as the natural successor of Lance Armstrong and won the 2007 Tour de France with the Discovery Channel team. During his time at the Astana team, he won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España and the 2009 Tour de France. Between 2007 and 2011 he won six consecutive Grand Tours that he entered. This included winning the 2010 Tour de France with Astana, although it later emerged that he had tested positive for clenbuterol during the race. After a long battle in court, he was suspended by the Court of Arbitration for Sport and stripped of his 2010 Tour and 2011 Giro wins.[2][3]

Contador was known as an attacking rider who excelled as a climber, and on his best days was also an excellent time-trialist. He was also known for being able to turn races around to his favour, most notably during the Fuente Dé stage at the 2012 Vuelta a España. Following his return from suspension, he won the Vuelta twice and the Giro once more. On the penultimate day of his career, he won a stage victory at the mountaintop finish of the Alto de l'Angliru.

Personal life and early career

Contador was born on 6 December 1982 in Pinto in the Community of Madrid, the third of four children. He has an older brother and sister and a younger brother, who has cerebral palsy. Having previously taken part in other sports, such as football and athletics, Contador discovered cycling at the age of 14 thanks to his elder brother Francisco Javier.[4]

When Contador was 15, he began to compete in races at the amateur level in Spain, joining the Real Velo Club Portillo from Madrid. Although he got no victories that year or the next, he demonstrated great qualities and was soon nicknamed Pantani (after Marco Pantani, regarded as one of the best climbers of all time) for his climbing skills.[5] In 2000, he experienced his first victories, winning several mountains classification prizes from prominent events on the Spanish amateur cycling calendar.[4]

He dropped out of school at the age of 16 without having finished his Bachillerato and signed with Iberdrola–Loinaz, a youth team run by Manolo Saiz, manager of the professional ONCE–Deutsche Bank team. In 2001, he won the under-23 race at the Spanish National Time Trial Championships.[6]

Contador lives with his wife[7] Macarena in the city of Pinto when not competing. He has a fascination for birds, keeping personally bred canaries and goldfinches at home.[8][9]

Professional career

ONCE–Eroski/Liberty Seguros (2003–2006)

 
Contador with the Liberty Seguros–Würth team in 2006

Contador turned professional in 2003 for ONCE–Eroski. In his first year as a professional he won the eighth stage of the Tour de Pologne, an individual time trial. He deliberately let himself fall back on the morning's road stage and saved energy to deliver the winning effort in the time trial in the afternoon.[10] During the first stage of the 2004 Vuelta a Asturias he started to feel unwell, and after 40 kilometres (25 miles) he fell and went into convulsions. He had been suffering from headaches for several days beforehand and was diagnosed with a cerebral cavernoma, a congenital vascular disorder, for which he underwent risky surgery and a recovery to get back on his bike.[11] As a result of the surgery, he has a scar that runs from one ear to the other over the top of his head.[12] Contador started to train again at the end of November 2004[13] and eight months after the surgery he won the fifth stage of the 2005 Tour Down Under racing for Liberty Seguros–Würth, as the team previously known as ONCE had become.[6] He subsequently described this win as the greatest of his career.[13][14] He went on to win the third stage and the overall classification of the Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme, thus winning his first stage race as a professional. He also won an individual time trial during the Tour of the Basque Country, where he finished third, and the fourth stage of the Tour de Romandie, where he finished fourth overall.[15]

In 2006, he won stages at the Tour de Romandie and Tour de Suisse in preparation for the Tour de France. Prior to the start of the race he was implicated along with several teammates in the Operación Puerto doping case by the Spanish authorities, and the team was not able to start. He was later cleared by the Union Cycliste Internationale, cycling's governing body.[16] Contador returned to racing in the Vuelta a Burgos but he crashed after finishing fifth in stage 4, when he was riding back down to the team bus, and briefly lost consciousness.[17]

Discovery Channel (2007)

 
Contador wearing the yellow jersey during the 19th stage of the 2007 Tour de France.

After having been implicated in the Operación Puerto doping case, Contador was without a professional contract until mid-January 2007, when he signed with Discovery Channel.[18]

Contador's first major professional victory came with Paris–Nice, which he won on the race's final stage. Discovery Channel effectively wore down the remnants of the race leader Davide Rebellin's Gerolsteiner team, allowing Contador to launch an attack on the final climb. With Rebellin leading the chase, Contador held off his competitors in the final kilometres, winning him the race.[19]

In the Tour de France, he won a stage at the mountaintop finish of Plateau de Beille, and was second in the general classification to Michael Rasmussen.[20] Upon Rasmussen's removal from the race before stage 17 for lying to his team about his pre-race training whereabouts,[21] Contador assumed the overall lead and the yellow jersey, though he did not don it until after the stage.[22] In the stage 19 individual time trial, he managed to defy expectations and keep hold of the yellow jersey by a margin of only 23 seconds over challenger Cadel Evans and 31 seconds over teammate Levi Leipheimer. As this was the Tour's penultimate stage, it was the last real competition of the race (since the final stage is traditionally non-competitive save for a bunched sprint to the finish line) and it secured Contador his first Tour de France victory.[23] It is the closest the top three finishers in the Tour de France have ever finished to one another.[24]

Astana (2008–10)

After Discovery Channel announced 2007 would be its final season in professional cycling, Contador announced on 23 October 2007 that he would move to the Astana team for 2008.[25]

2008 season

 
Contador wearing the pink jersey during the 21st stage of the 2008 Giro d'Italia.

On 13 February 2008, the organiser of the Tour de France, the Amaury Sport Organisation, announced that Astana would not be invited to any of their events in 2008 due to the doping previously perpetrated by Astana, despite the fact that its management and most of its ridership had changed before the 2008 season.[26] Consequently, Contador was unable to defend his Paris–Nice and Tour de France victories. He went on to win his second Vuelta a Castilla y León, as well as the Tour of the Basque Country by winning the opening stage and the final individual time trial. His next scheduled race and objective was the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré but his team received an invite to the Giro d'Italia one week prior to the start of the race. Contador was on a beach in Spain when he was told he was going to ride the Giro.[27] Despite the lack of preparation, he finished second in the first individual time trial and took the pink jersey after the 15th stage up to Passo Fedaia. Upon winning the final pink jersey in Milan, he became the first non-Italian to win the Giro d'Italia since Pavel Tonkov in 1996 and also the second Spanish rider to win the Giro after Miguel Induráin won in 1992 and 1993. He later emphasized the importance of this win by saying that "taking part in the Giro and winning it was a really big achievement, bigger than if I'd had a second victory in the Tour de France".[28]

At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Contador competed in the road race and the individual road time trial. He did not finish in the road race, in which 53 of the 143 starters did not complete the course in particularly hot and humid conditions.[29] He placed fourth in the individual time trial, eight seconds behind his regular teammate Leipheimer.[30]

 
Contador wearing the golden jersey during the 20th stage of the 2008 Vuelta a España.

Contador entered the Vuelta a España as the main candidate to win. His biggest challenger was likely to be compatriot Carlos Sastre, who had won the Tour de France just a month before.[28] Contador won stage 13 by attacking on the fabled Angliru climb and this resulted in him capturing the golden jersey as the leader of the race. He extended his lead by winning stage 14 to Fuentes de Invierno and maintained his lead in subsequent flat stages and the final time trial, won by Leipheimer by a wide margin. Contador later took some offence to Leipheimer seemingly riding with winning the Vuelta in mind, after it had been established earlier in the race that Contador was Astana's team leader.[31] In the final standings, Contador finished 46 seconds ahead of Leipheimer and more than four minutes ahead of Sastre.[32] The win made him the fifth cyclist, at that point, to win all three Grand Tours, after Jacques Anquetil, Felice Gimondi, Eddy Merckx, and Bernard Hinault.[33] In the process he also became the first Spaniard,[34] youngest (age 25),[35] and shortest amount of time to accumulate all three wins (15 months).[36] He also became only the third cyclist to win the Giro and the Vuelta in the same year, joining Merckx (who did it in 1973) and Giovanni Battaglin (who did it in 1981).[4]

Later in the year, Contador won the Vélo d'Or award for the best rider of the year for the second consecutive season. The Giro and Vuelta winner beat Olympic time-trial champion Fabian Cancellara and Sastre in a vote by international cycling writers.[37]

2009 season

On 9 September 2008, Lance Armstrong announced that he was returning to professional cycling with the express goal of participating in the 2009 Tour de France.[38] Astana manager Johan Bruyneel, Armstrong's former mentor and sporting director, said that he could not allow Armstrong riding for another team and later signed him. Contador hinted at the possibility of leaving the team if he was given a secondary role supporting Armstrong but Bruneel said in no uncertain terms that he would hold Contador to the terms of his contract but he also said "Alberto has had a magnificent year and is currently the best professional cyclist in the world",[39] Contador was later given assurances by Bruyneel that he would remain team leader and decided to remain at Astana for the 2009 season.[40] Contador later claimed the situation was drastically overblown by the media.[41] Contador decided to miss the Giro d'Italia to focus on winning the Tour de France.[42]

Contador started his 2009 season at the Volta ao Algarve race in Portugal, winning the overall classification, placing second on stage 3, and winning the decisive 33-kilometre (21-mile) individual time trial.[43] He was in position to win Paris–Nice again after winning the prologue and the toughest mountain stage, but suffered a breakdown in stage 7, losing his yellow jersey to fellow Spaniard Luis León Sánchez. Contador and his Astana team later blamed the breakdown on Contador eating inadequately, leaving him without the energy to chase attacks.[44] Contador finished fourth overall; he continued his build up to the Tour de France by racing the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré. He put in a strong performance of the opening time trial and stayed in touch with race leader Cadel Evans on the longer time trial.[45] However, the strong ride of compatriot Alejandro Valverde up Mont Ventoux distanced Contador and he rode to help Valverde take the Yellow Jersey while finishing comfortably in third place overall.[46] On 26 June, Contador competed in the Spanish National Time Trial Championships. He stated that he entered the race in order to gain more experience on his new Trek time trial bike, but he came away with a convincing victory over Sánchez, the defending champion, winning by 37 seconds. This was his first national championship as a professional.

 
Contador wearing the yellow jersey leading Andy Schleck at the 2009 Tour de France.

Contador won Stage 15 of the Tour de France by soloing to the finish line more than a minute ahead of most of his closest general classification competitors, and in so doing took the yellow jersey.[47] He then extended his lead on Stage 17, after finishing second in a breakaway of three riders with the same time as the stage winner, and then the next day he won the second time trial, increasing his overall advantage to more than four minutes.[48][49] Contador won his second Tour de France on 26 July with a winning margin of 4' 11" over Andy Schleck, and finished 5' 24" ahead of Armstrong, who finished third in his return to the Tour after a four-year absence.[50] Contador had won the last four Grand Tour races that he had entered. During the celebration at the podium, the organisers of the Tour wrongly played the Danish national anthem instead of the Spanish Royal March.[51][52] In the aftermath of the tour, Contador and Armstrong engaged in a war of words, with Contador quoted as saying that, although Armstrong "is a great rider and [..] did a great Tour[, but] on a personal level [..] I have never admired him and never will", and Armstrong responding that "a champion is also measured on how much he respects his teammates and opponents."[53] The sniping caused others, such as the director of the Tour, to wonder "what it would have been like to have had Contador and Armstrong in different teams."[53] Contador later described the experience as "psychologically tough", likening it to having to compete in two races – one on the road, the other in the team hotel. Armstrong's control of the team during the race extended to its entire fleet of team cars, forcing Contador to rely on his brother to take him from stage finishes to the hotel.[14]

On 31 July, Contador's agent (who is also his brother) announced that Contador had turned down an offer to remain with Astana under a new four-year contract because he had felt so uncomfortable being caught between the Kazakhstan owners of the team on one side and Bruyneel on the other, and he was hoping to leave Astana at the end of the year, although his contract did not expire until the end of 2010.[54] However, on 11 August, Contador's teammate and close friend Sérgio Paulinho accepted a two-year contract with Team RadioShack, indicating that Contador might not be able to leave Astana as readily as he and his agent wished.[55] This was confirmed on 15 August, when a spokesperson for the Kazakhstan sponsors of Astana said that they intended to sponsor the Astana team on the UCI ProTour through 2013 and that they intended to enforce the last year of Contador's contract with Astana in 2010.[56]

2010 season

 
Contador wearing the yellow jersey following Andy Schleck on the Col du Tourmalet during the 2010 Tour de France. He was later stripped of this title.

On 21 February, Contador won his first race of the season, the Volta ao Algarve, by winning its queen stage and finishing second in the final time trial.[57][58] Due to new UCI regulations concerning the nose cone of time trial bikes, Contador did not use his Shiv time trial bike, and instead used the standard red Specialized time trial bike.[59] On 14 March, Contador won his second Paris–Nice, finishing ahead of other pre-race favorites like Alejandro Valverde and Luis León Sánchez. His main attack came in the hilltop finish to Mende, where he crossed the finish line alone and successfully secured the yellow jersey.[60] Contador also competed in and concluded the Critérium International with a second place in the final time trial, only 2 seconds behind stage winner David Millar, while Pierrick Fédrigo successfully defended the maillot jaune against rivals such as Cadel Evans and Samuel Sánchez.[citation needed]

Contador was a favourite coming into the Tour de France, along with Team Saxo Bank's Andy Schleck. On Stage 15 Schleck was race leader and pressing the pace over the day's final climb of Port de Bales when he threw his chain. Contador and Denis Menchov immediately moved to the front and attacked, pressing the advantage over the crest of the climb and all the way back down into Bagneres-de-Luchon. They were aided by Samuel Sánchez and two others making a group of five riders. Schleck chased hard, but had no other riders to help bridge the gap. By stage's end, he had lost the yellow jersey and 39 seconds to Contador.[61] Contador, who now had an eight-second lead in the race, met with a mixed reception as he received the yellow jersey on the podium at the end of the stage. It is an unusual occurrence in the Tour for the new race leader to be met with whistles and cat calls as he is given the yellow jersey.[62] The yellow jersey changing shoulders made a large difference in the remainder of the race, for now the onus was on Schleck to attack Contador, and not the other way around.[citation needed]

Jered Gruber, writing for VeloNation, argued that Contador was right to attack, defending him on the basis that Schleck did not wait for Contador when he was delayed behind a crash on the cobblestones in stage 3 and lost 1' 13" to Schleck, a crash that cost Schleck the aid of his best ally in the tour, his brother Fränk Schleck. But of course that was early in the race and neither rider had the yellow jersey at the time.[63] Race commentator Paul Sherwen thought the attack in poor form, whereas his co-commentor Phil Liggett thought not.[64] Schleck said he considered Contador's actions to be unsporting.[65] Hours after the conclusion of the stage, Contador voiced an apology for his behaviour on his YouTube channel.[66] Five days later in the stage 19 time trial, Contador beat Schleck again, taking 31 seconds from him. Contador went on to win the Tour de France for the third time with an advantage of 39 seconds over Andy Schleck, the exact amount of time he had taken from Schleck on Stage 15.[67] Contador became the seventh rider to win a Tour de France without winning a stage,[citation needed] but this win was later nullified due to his doping suspension.

Saxo Bank–SunGard (2011–16)

Contador signed a two-year contract with Saxo Bank–SunGard for the 2011 season, to ride under team manager Bjarne Riis, who revealed that he would like Contador to try winning all three Grand Tours in one season, a feat never before accomplished. Contador's agent and brother Fran later countered the statement by saying it was "nothing but a dream". Within two weeks, three of Contador's Spanish teammates signed to make the same transfer: Jesús Hernández, Daniel Navarro and Benjamín Noval.[68]

2011 season

 
Contador, wearing the maglia rosa as the winner of the 2011 Giro d'Italia, in Milan. He was later stripped of this title.

Amidst the clenbuterol controversy, Contador earned his first win in the Vuelta a Murcia. He won the overall classification as well as two stage victories en route to his victory. Later in the month of March, Contador entered in the Volta a Catalunya, where he claimed a win on the third stage to Vallnord, maintaining his advantage until the end of the race.[69] He also won the individual time trial of Vuelta a Castilla y León.[citation needed]

Contador competed in the Giro d'Italia, his first time racing in the Giro since his victory in 2008. Contador won the ninth stage on Mount Etna, his first stage win at the Italian Grand Tour. He attacked midway through the climb, dropping his overall rivals and gaining almost a minute on them. That stage gave him the overall lead in the Giro, as well as the points classification lead. Contador extended his overall lead to 3 minutes over second place Vincenzo Nibali where he broke away with José Rujano on the Grossglockner. He solidified his lead through stage 14 up the Monte Zoncolan and a very difficult stage 15 through the Dolomites taking his lead up to 4 minutes ahead of second place Michele Scarponi. He also won the 12.7-kilometre (7.9-mile) mountain time-trial to Nevegal. On 29 May, Contador went on to win the race for the second time finishing 6 minutes ahead of second place Scarponi.[70][71] In addition to winning the general classification, Contador also won the points classification and finished second in the mountains classification.[citation needed] This made the sixth consecutive grand tour that he entered and won.

Despite the fact that he was scheduled to appear before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in early August, Contador announced in early June he would compete in the Tour de France.[72] The CAS had planned to hear the case in early June but the dates were pushed back to early August.[73] Contador aimed to become the first rider to win both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in the same year since Marco Pantani accomplished the feat in 1998.[citation needed]

In the opening stage Contador was slowed by a crash and lost more than one minute. He lost additional time in the team time trial at Les Essarts but finished second in the fourth stage up to Mûr-de-Bretagne. Contador suffered four crashes in the opening nine days of the Tour, injuring his right knee before facing the Pyrenees mountain stages. He was dropped in the final kilometre in the stage to Luz Ardiden and finished two seconds behind Andy Schleck at the top of the Plateau de Beille.[74] On the sixteenth stage to Gap, Contador attacked on the ascent of the Col de Manse, with Cadel Evans and Samuel Sánchez joining him in taking a time advantage over the other favourites in the general classification, including more than a minute over Schleck.[75] He was also aggressive in the next stage to Pinerolo but unable to win time to the other favourites besides Thomas Voeckler and Ivan Basso. In the stage to the Col du Galibier he lost time to the other favourites after Schleck launched a solo attack 60 kilometres (37 miles) from the finish and Contador was later unable to follow the pace set by Evans.[76] Contador launched an early attack on the last mountain stage to Alpe d'Huez, reaching the top of Galibier with Schleck, but their effort proved unsuccessful and they were captured by the rest of the main contenders following the long descent from the mountain. Contador launched another attack on the first kilometres of Alpe d'Huez but he was eventually beaten to victory by Pierre Rolland with Samuel Sánchez second.[77] Contador finished fifth in the overall classification, 3 minutes 57 seconds behind Evans, bringing an end to his streak of winning six consecutive Grand Tours that he entered.[78]

2012 season

Contador started his season with still no verdict in the clenbuterol case. He finished second overall in the Tour de San Luis and he won both uphill finishes, only falling short in the time trial stage of the race. On 6 February he was stripped of these early results, as well the 2010 Tour de France and 2011 Giro d'Italia wins and many other victories. He was also suspended until 5 August and his contract with Team Saxo Bank was annulled.[79]

On 8 June it was announced that Contador would rejoin Saxo Bank–Tinkoff Bank upon the completion of his ban, signing a contract that would keep him with the team until the end of the 2015 season.[80][81] After the completion of his suspension, Contador competed in the Eneco Tour as preparation for the Vuelta a España where he finished 4th in the general classification.[82] Consequently, Contador was named leader of Saxo Bank–Tinkoff Bank for the Vuelta a España.[83] Contador attacked numerous times throughout the mountains in the first sixteen stages of the race, but with no avail, since the race leader Joaquim Rodríguez always countered and finished ahead of him. This proved costly since there were bonus seconds awarded to the first three riders of each stage: twelve seconds for first, eight seconds for second and four seconds for third.[84] Even on the queen stage of the race, finishing atop the Cuitu Negru and featuring slopes with a gradient of more than 20% close to the line, Rodríguez annulled the numerous attacks of Contador and sailed past him to the finish.[85] However, his fortunes turned around during the seventeenth stage; he attacked in that latter portion of the stage and made a solo effort up the final climb of the day after his breakaway companion Paolo Tiralongo of Astana was dropped.[86] Contador won the stage by six seconds over the first chase group and took the lead away from Rodríguez, who was relegated to more than two minutes in the general classification.[86] He held on to the race lead during the last mountain stage leading atop the Bola del Mondo, where he was dropped by Rodríguez and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team), who held second place overall. He managed to limit his losses and retain the lead of the race.[87] On the next day, Contador crossed the finish line in Madrid with the race leader's red jersey, earning the second Vuelta victory of his career.[88]

Contador participated in the UCI Road World Championships held in Valkenburg in both the road race and the individual time trial. He was ninth in the time trial, after being overtaken by eventual winner Tony Martin, who started two minutes behind him.[89] For the road race, Contador rode in support of his Spanish teammates[90] and finished 53 seconds in arrears of the victor, Belgian Philippe Gilbert.[91] Days later, Contador headed for Italy to take part in the newly resurrected Classic Milano–Torino. He took the win by accelerating on the final slope of the day in sight of the final kilometre banner, dropping all contenders. It was the first time in his career that he won a single-day race, and he dedicated the event to the memory of Víctor Cabedo, a young professional cyclist who died in a training accident a week prior.[92]

2013 season

 
Contador with Chris Froome at the 2013 Tour de France

In 2013, Contador's only victory was a stage in the Tour de San Luis in January. From then on, his season did not go as expected: though finishing 3rd in Tirreno–Adriatico he became ill during the race. This disrupted his preparations for the rest of the season. Contador returned to racing in the Tour of the Basque Country in April and finished fifth in the general classification. He was too late to be in optimal condition for the Tour de France, where he could not match up to Chris Froome and finished in fourth place.[93] After the Tour, main sponsor Oleg Tinkov expressed critical comments on Contador's style of riding. At the end of the season, Tinkov bought the team ownership, but Contador stayed loyal to the team.[94]

2014 season

 
Contador at the 2014 Critérium du Dauphiné

After a disappointing 2013 season, Contador went into the season trying to find the form that allowed him to take numerous victories in the past. Contador's first objective of the season was the Volta ao Algarve. Although he would lose time to Michał Kwiatkowski after his two consecutive stage wins, Contador showed his much improving form in the race, taking third in the second stage and fourth in the third stage individual time trial before taking his first win of the season on the fourth stage. In the stage featuring a summit finish at Alto do Malhão, Contador attacked a kilometre from the finish as he eventually soloed to the stage win, three seconds ahead of Rui Costa.[95] He eventually finished second overall, 19 seconds down on Kwiatkowski.[citation needed]

Contador's next race was Tirreno–Adriatico where he faced stiffer competition with riders such as Nairo Quintana and Jean-Christophe Péraud. He continued to show his strong form by winning the third stage of the race going to Cittareale after he outsprinted Quintana, his main rival for the race.[96] He took the lead in the general classification on the next day, winning a second successive stage as he attacked on the stage's penultimate climb before soloing to the finish.[97] He kept his lead for the remainder of the race, finishing more than two minutes clear ahead of runner-up Quintana.[citation needed] Contador raced the Volta a Catalunya next, where he had his first duel with riders such as Chris Froome and Joaquim Rodríguez. On the race's first mountain stage, he followed attacks set by his fellow general classification contenders before he had to settle for second in the stage, 5 seconds behind Rodríguez.[98] He finished the race in second place overall, just 4 seconds behind Rodríguez.[99]

Contador's next objective for the season was the Tour of the Basque Country. He got into a duel with fellow Spaniard Alejandro Valverde and both riders did not disappoint on the first stage. Contador followed Valverde's attack on the stage's last climb before putting on an attack that Valverde was not able to answer. He negotiated the descent and soloed to the stage win and yellow jersey, 14 seconds ahead of Valverde. He kept the race lead to the end, finishing second on the final stage time trial and winning the race by 49 seconds ahead of Michał Kwiatkowski.[100] As his final preparation for the Tour de France, Contador entered the Critérium du Dauphiné where he battled with Froome and Vincenzo Nibali, his main rivals for the Tour. Contador started the Dauphiné on good form, finishing second to Froome on the race's short individual time trial before dueling with Froome on the Col du Béal. Unlike in 2013 where he was unable to follow the accelerations of Froome, Contador was able to stay on his rival's wheel, eventually finishing second on the stage after Froome outsprinted him to the line. He had his next duel with Froome on the seventh stage, the queen stage of the race. Contador attacked with 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) left on the stage and Froome (who was suffering from the effects of a crash on the previous day's stage) was not able to bridge the gap to him as Contador took the yellow jersey as leader of the general classification. However, Contador fell victim to an ambush on the next stage as several riders in the top ten went into the breakaway including Andrew Talansky, who was sitting in third place overall, 39 seconds behind Contador. Contador was left isolated with no teammates around him as he tried to bridge the gap to the leading group but he ran out of steam as Talansky won the race overall. However, Contador dealt a psychological blow to Froome ahead of the Tour as Froome struggled in the stage, eventually dropping to 12th place overall.

 
Contador after his 2014 Tour de France crash, going to a medical facility with crutches

In the Tour de France, Contador entered the race in much better form. He avoided crashing during the first week but he lost a lot of time in the fifth stage of the race, the stage featuring cobbles as part of the route. He lost around 2+1⁄2 minutes to fellow overall contender, Nibali, as he was unable to bridge the gap to him after mud became stuck in his gears. On the Tour's first summit finish going to Gérardmer, he attacked as Nibali went with him. Contador made a final acceleration near the finish line as he took 3 seconds back on Nibali. On the descent of the Petit Ballon in the tenth stage, Contador crashed heavily before he was treated on the side of the road.[101] He tried to ride for nearly 20 kilometres (12 miles) after the crash but he eventually abandoned the Tour. He initially ruled himself out of the Vuelta a España as well[102] but he eventually joined the start list of the race.[103]

His Vuelta started well as his team, Tinkoff–Saxo, finished seventh in the opening team time trial, 19 seconds behind the Movistar Team, the team which fielded fellow overall contenders, Quintana and Valverde. On the race's first mountain stage to La Zubia, he was able to stay with the overall contenders as he eventually finished the stage in third place behind Froome and Valverde. He showed his improving form on the next mountain stage to Valdelinares, attacking with around 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) to go while dropping Froome and Valverde among others as he sat 3 seconds behind red jersey holder Quintana before the individual time trial. He took the red jersey on the individual time trial as he finished fourth. He showed he could defend the red jersey by staying with his fellow overall contenders. On the race's queen stage to La Farrapona, he followed Froome's attack with 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) to go while distancing other overall contenders. He stayed in his rival's wheel before putting on a finishing kick with around 800 metres (2,600 feet) to go, winning the stage and strengthening his hold on the red jersey.[104] The same thing happened on the penultimate stage to Puerto de Ancares where he followed Froome throughout the climb, distancing the other contenders once again before kicking on to take the stage, all but securing the red jersey.[105] On the final stage individual time trial, he rode conservatively in wet conditions to avoid any mishaps and though he lost time to the other favourites, he had more than enough time in hand to win his third Vuelta.[106]

During the Vuelta, Contador announced he would not contest the UCI Road World Championships in Ponferrada, saying the course did not fit his characteristics at all.[107] Contador suffered a crash in the Giro di Lombardia, injuring the knee that he had hurt in the Tour de France and ending his chances of winning the 2014 UCI World Tour overall classification, as he decided to forego the Tour of Beijing to better prepare for the 2015 season.[108]

2015 season

 
Alberto Contador at the 2015 Vuelta a Andalucía

For 2015, Contador announced that he would attempt to win both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France, a feat that had not been done since Marco Pantani accomplished it in 1998.[109] His debut race was the Vuelta an Andalucía in February. He took the race lead after the time trial on stage 1b, finishing fourth.[110] Contador then won stage 3, a mountaintop finish, by attacking with 7.5 kilometres (4.7 miles) to go.[111] He did however lose the race leader's jersey on the very next stage, another mountain affair, where Chris Froome snatched both the stage win and the race lead.[112] Froome did not relinquish his lead and Contador finished the race second in the overall classification, only 2 seconds behind. In mid-March, Contador finished fifth overall at Tirreno–Adriatico, helping his teammate Peter Sagan win stage 6 by accelerating on a climb and shedding the pure sprinters off the leading group.[113] At the end of March, Contador took fourth place in the Volta a Catalunya, where he crashed severely in the penultimate stage. Contador was able to remount and participate in the last stage, securing his general classification placing.[114] At the end of April, and days before the start of the Giro d'Italia, Contador revealed that he was ready for the Grand Tour race. His injuries sustained in the Volta a Catalunya were healed and included a micro-fissure in his sacrum. He stated: "I'm going very well, the big blocks of training here in the Canaries are all but finished and I'm now beginning to go through the recovery phase prior to the Giro. I've done a huge amount of climbing rides in these last three weeks and now what we've got to do is ease back before next week."[115]

 
Contador wearing the maglia rosa at the 2015 Giro d'Italia

At the Giro d'Italia, Contador's Tinkoff–Saxo team performed well in the opening team time trial, finishing 2nd to Orica–GreenEDGE. He gained 6 seconds on Fabio Aru, 12 seconds on Rigoberto Urán, and 20 seconds on Richie Porte.[116] Contador took the maglia rosa on the summit finish on stage 5 to Abetone. However, the next day, Contador dislocated his shoulder after crashing on the finishing straight. He was able to finish but dislocated the shoulder again before the podium presentation.[117] Despite this, Contador was able to continue in the race, holding on to the jersey. However, on stage 13, on what most assumed was an "easy day" of racing, Contador crashed in a pile-up, 3.2 kilometres (2.0 miles) from the finish; he crossed the line 42 seconds behind the peloton, including Aru. Thus Contador lost the pink jersey, the first time he lost the leader's jersey in any Grand Tour up to that point in his career.[118] However the next day, on a 59.3-kilometre (36.8-mile) individual time trial, Contador led the field, taking back the pink jersey and created a sizable time difference over the rest of the peloton.[119][120] On stage 16, Contador suffered a mechanical problem on the descent of Apria and other teams including Astana tried to take advantage. Still, Contador made contact with Aru at the Mortirolo Pass and put another two minutes into his rival as Mikel Landa became the second-placed rider on the general classification.[121] On Stage 20, Contador lost some time to both Landa and Aru but retained his pink jersey. Eventually, he won the overall classification by 1:53 over Aru.[122] Despite being stripped of his 2011 title for a doping suspension, Contador insisted that this was his third Giro victory, therefore including the 2011 race in his count.[123] With his second official Giro title, along with two official Tour de France titles and three Vuelta a España overall wins, Contador joined Bernard Hinault as the only cyclists to have achieved multiple victories at each of the Grand Tours.[124]

In preparation for the Tour, Contador chose to ride the four-day Route du Sud, where he won the queen stage and the overall classification. His main rival was Nairo Quintana, a competitor he had to contend with at the Tour de France.[125] Contador had solid opening to the first week of the tour; despite losing a little time to Chris Froome in the team time trial, he gained time on his rivals including Nibali and Quintana who both lost time on stage 2. He struggled though on the opening summit finish losing 3 minutes to stage winner Froome putting a serious dent to his victory chances. Despite this setback he improved on the next two Pyrenean stages staying in contact with his big rivals where he also remained 6th overall. His chances faded after he crashed on the descent of the Colle d'Allos on stage 17. Despite a hard effort on the finishing climb after, he lost over 2 minutes to Froome and Quintana. He was unable to recover from his crash on stage 17 and his efforts in the Giro which made him unable to match his rivals on the last 2 mountain stages. Contador finished the Tour de France in fifth place, 9' 48" down on winner Froome.[126] Though he failed to achieve the double in the end, Contador had no regrets over his attempt. "It's true that there are riders that would dream of finishing fifth. For me that was not my objective but I'm glad that I tried. If I hadn't tried then after my career I might have wondered whether I could have done the Giro-Tour double and now I know. I don't think it's impossible to do the double but it's really complicated because nobody has the experience on how to prepare it. However, I prefer having tried than being left with a desire to do it".[127]

After the Tour, Contador planned on racing the Clásica de San Sebastián but had to cancel due to sickness, ending his 2015 season.[128]

2016 season

In March 2015, Contador signed a contract extension with his team, Tinkoff, but at the same time announced that 2016 would be his final season in professional cycling.[129] He competed in his first race of the season at the Volta ao Algarve, finishing third overall and winning the final stage of the race.[130] He went on to claim runner-up finishes in Paris–Nice, where he attacked race leader Geraint Thomas from 50 kilometres (31 miles) out and again on the final climb of Col d'Èze before Thomas closed the gap on the final descent to the finish line,[131] and the Volta a Catalunya,[132] before taking the general classification and the stage six time trial at the Tour of the Basque Country, subsequently stating to the press that he would postpone his retirement for at least another year.[133]

Contador got off to a difficult start to the Tour de France, crashing in the opening stages and losing time to his rivals. He was in 20th place on the general classification with a deficit of 3 minutes 12 seconds to leader Chris Froome before the ninth stage, where after attempting to make the breakaway at the start of the day, he withdrew from the race, citing a fever which had developed overnight.[134] In August, Contador won the overall classification of the Vuelta a Burgos, beating both Ben Hermans and Sergio Pardilla by just one second.[135] He went on to finish fourth at the Vuelta a España.[136]

Trek–Segafredo (2017)

 
Contador during the 2017 Paris–Nice

During the 2016 Tour de France it was reported that Contador would race for Trek–Segafredo for the 2017 season,[137] with the deal being confirmed by the team in September, along with the transfer of teammate Jesús Hernández and Tinkoff directeur sportif Steven de Jongh.[136] This would be his final season as a professional cyclist.

In February, Contador began his season by finishing Vuelta an Andalucía, one second behind Movistar Team's Alejandro Valverde. In March, Contador missed out on victory in Paris–Nice to a Team Sky rider by a narrow margin for the second year running after Sergio Henao managed to fend off a final-day attack to win the race by just two seconds.[138] Contador had trailed by 31 seconds overnight, but had gone clear with Quick-Step Floors rider David de la Cruz and Marc Soler of the Movistar Team; after taking a couple of seconds at an intermediate sprint, Contador was beaten to the line in Nice by de la Cruz, which cost him four bonus seconds and decided the race in favour of Henao. Later that month, Contador finished second overall at the Volta a Catalunya, 63 seconds behind Valverde. In April, Contador finished second overall at the Tour of the Basque Country, again behind Valverde.

In July, Contador rode the Tour de France for the final time, but was unable to challenge for overall victory, finishing ninth overall, 8 minutes and 49 seconds down on the winner, Chris Froome. In August, Contador rode the Vuelta a España, which was to be his final race as a professional. Contador rode an aggressive race in search of a stage victory, placing fifth overall, winning the combativity award in his final Grand Tour, as well as winning the final mountain stage atop the iconic Alto de l'Angliru after attacking on the penultimate climb of the day.

Doping

Operation Puerto

After final rosters had been presented for the 2006 Tour de France, Contador and five other members of the Astana–Würth team were barred from competing due to alleged connections with the Operación Puerto doping case. Contador and four other members of his team at the time, Astana–Würth, were eventually cleared of all charges on 26 July 2006 by the Spanish courts and later two out of the five (including Contador) were cleared by the UCI.[16] Each received a written document signed by Manuel Sánchez Martín, secretary for the Spanish court, stating that "there are not any type of charges against them nor have there been adopted any type of legal action against them."[139]

In May 2006, a document from the summary of the investigation (Documento 31) was released. In it, the initials "A.C." were associated with a hand-written note saying, "Spanish: Nada o igual a J.J." (Nothing or the same as J.J.). J.J. were the initials of Jörg Jaksche, who later admitted to being guilty of blood doping prepared by the Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes in 2005.[140] Contador was questioned in December 2006 by the magistrate in charge of the Puerto file. The rider declared to Judge Antonio Serrano that he did not know Fuentes personally.[141] According to French daily Le Monde, he refused then to undergo a DNA test that would have judged whether or not he had any link to the blood bags that were found in the investigation.[142]

On 28 July 2007, Le Monde, citing what it claimed was an investigation file to which it had access, stated that Contador's name appeared in several documents found during Operación Puerto.[143] A second reference includes initials of riders' names that appeared on another training document, although neither of those two references could be linked to doping practices.[144]

On 30 July 2007, German doping expert Werner Franke accused Contador of having taken drugs in the past and being prescribed a doping regimen by Fuentes, who was connected with Operación Puerto.[145][146] He passed his allegations on to the German authorities the following day.[147] Contador denied the accusations, saying "I was in the wrong team at the wrong time and somehow my name got among the documents."[147] On 10 August, Contador publicly declared himself to be a clean rider in face of suspicions about his alleged links to the Operación Puerto blood doping ring.[148]

2010 Tour de France

In September 2010, Contador revealed that a urine sample he had given on 21 July, a rest day in the Tour de France, had contained traces of clenbuterol. He has stated, due to the number of other tests he passed and that only a tiny amount of the substance was detected in the one he failed, that food contamination was to blame.[149] Adding credibility to the explanation, anti-doping doctor Don Catlin said that of the contaminants found in food supplements, clenbuterol is one of the more common. However, when asked if it was plausible that Contador had ingested the clenbuterol through contamination, Catlin said "without knowing what the level in his sample is, it's impossible to say."[150] Contador stated that he is the victim,[151][152] and he can "hold his head high" and that he thinks he should not be punished.[153] Several people related to the sport defended Contador saying that there is little benefit from using the drug in the amounts that were discovered and that no one would intentionally take such an easily detectable substance.[154][155][156]

There was some scepticism of Contador's claim that contaminated meat was to blame. In 2008 and 2009, only one animal sample came back positive for clenbuterol out of 83,203 animal samples tested by EU member nations. Out of 19,431 animal tests in Spain over the same period, there were no samples that came back positive for clenbuterol.[157] Contador's urine sample, taken during the day before his clenbuterol positive sample, was reported to contain plastic residue (plasticizers) indicating possible blood doping as these materials are introduced to the bloodstream from blood bags used in blood doping,[158] but the test was not recognised by the World Anti-Doping Agency, so no charges in relation to this finding were brought. A theory circulated that blood doping could account for the minute traces if the clenbuterol was introduced through a transfusion, re-introducing contaminated blood that had been extracted at a time when he had been taking Clenbuterol. It was supposed that this caused the presence of it in his system and the subsequent failed test, rather than the direct ingestion or injection of the drug at the time. This theory also recognised that Clenbuterol is not very effective at all as a performance-enhancing drug, but effective if used to strip fat and hence reduce a rider's weight pre-season, and it is theorized that this is when the blood was taken which was later re-introduced by transfusion.[159]

The UCI issued a statement reporting that the concentration was 50 pg/mL, and that this was 400 times below the minimum standards of detection capability required by WADA, and that further scientific investigation was required. Contador was provisionally suspended from competition, although this had no short-term effect as he had already finished his racing programme for the 2010 season.[160][161][162] Contador had been informed of the results over a month earlier, on 24 August.[163] Later the amount discovered was clarified as 40 times below the minimum standards, rather than the 400 times originally reported by the UCI. Contador's scientific adviser claimed that he would have needed 180 times the amount detected to gain any benefit in his performance.[164]

In late January 2011, the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) proposed a one-year ban, but it subsequently accepted Contador's appeal and cleared him of all charges. Contador returned to racing in February in the Volta ao Algarve, a race he won in 2009 and 2010. The UCI and the World Anti-Doping Agency each appealed the RFEC decision independently to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in March 2011, but Contador remained free to ride until the CAS made its ruling.[165] The hearing with CAS was initially scheduled for June, but following an extension requested by Contador's legal team, it was rearranged for August, in the week following the Tour de France,[73] and later postponed again until November,[166] with the result to be given in 2012. The decision on 6 February 2012 found Contador guilty of accidental ingestion of the prohibited substance Clenbuterol[167] and hence he was stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title, and his results since that race, including victory in the 2011 Giro d'Italia and fifth place in the 2011 Tour de France, were voided, and he was suspended until August 2012.[2] The following day, in a press conference, his contract with Team Saxo Bank was annulled.[168]

Career achievements

Major results

2001
3rd Time trial, National Under-23 Road Championships
2002
1st   Time trial, National Under-23 Road Championships
9th Overall Ruban Granitier Breton
2003
1st Stage 8 (ITT) Tour de Pologne
9th Clásica a los Puertos de Guadarrama
2004
1st Mountains classification Vuelta a Aragón
5th Overall Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme
2005
1st   Overall Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme
1st Combination classification
1st Stage 3
1st Stage 5 Tour Down Under
3rd Overall Tour of the Basque Country
1st   Points classification
1st Stage 5b (ITT)
4th Overall Tour de Romandie
1st Stage 4
7th Klasika Primavera
2006
1st Stage 8 Tour de Suisse
2nd Overall Tour de Romandie
1st Stage 3
4th Klasika Primavera
5th Overall Tour of the Basque Country
9th GP Miguel Induráin
2007
1st   Overall Tour de France
1st   Young rider classification
1st Stage 14
1st   Overall Paris–Nice
1st   Young rider classification
1st Stages 4 & 7
1st   Overall Vuelta a Castilla y León
1st   Combination classification
1st Spanish rider classification
1st Stage 4
1st Stage 4 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
3rd Trofeo Sóller
6th Overall Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré
2008
1st   Overall Giro d'Italia
1st   Overall Vuelta a España
1st   Combination classification
1st Stages 13 & 14
1st   Overall Tour of the Basque Country
1st Stages 1 & 6 (ITT)
1st   Overall Vuelta a Castilla y León
1st   Combination classification
1st Spanish rider classification
1st Stages 1 (ITT) & 4
2nd Clásica a los Puertos de Guadarrama
3rd Overall Vuelta a Murcia
4th Time trial, Summer Olympics
6th Overall Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
2009
1st UCI World Ranking
1st   Time trial, National Road Championships
1st   Overall Tour de France
1st Stages 4 (TTT), 15 & 18 (ITT)
1st   Overall Tour of the Basque Country
1st Stages 3 & 6 (ITT)
1st   Overall Volta ao Algarve
1st Stage 4 (ITT)
1st RaboRonde Heerlen
2nd Overall Vuelta a Castilla y León
3rd Overall Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré
4th Overall Paris–Nice
1st Stages 1 (ITT) & 6
2010
1st   Overall Paris–Nice
1st Stage 4
1st   Overall Volta ao Algarve
1st Stage 3
1st   Overall Vuelta a Castilla y León
1st   Combination classification
1st Spanish rider classification
1st Stage 4 (ITT)
2nd Overall Critérium du Dauphiné
1st   Points classification
1st Prologue & Stage 6
3rd La Flèche Wallonne
9th Liège–Bastogne–Liège
Voided results from July 2010 to February 2012.
1st   Overall Tour de France
2011
1st   Overall Giro d'Italia
1st   Points classification
1st Stages 9 & 16 (ITT)
1st   Overall Volta a Catalunya
1st Stage 3
1st   Overall Vuelta a Murcia
1st Points classification
1st Stages 2 & 3 (ITT)
1st Stage 4 (ITT) Vuelta a Castilla y León
National Road Championships
2nd Road race
3rd Time trial
4th Overall Volta ao Algarve
5th Overall Tour de France
2012
2nd Overall Tour de San Luis
1st Stages 3 & 5
2012
1st   Overall Vuelta a España
1st Stage 17
  Combativity award Overall
1st Milano–Torino
4th Overall Eneco Tour
9th Time trial, UCI Road World Championships
9th Giro di Lombardia
2013
2nd Overall Tour of Oman
3rd Overall Tirreno–Adriatico
1st   Points classification
3rd Klasika Primavera
4th Overall Tour de France
4th Overall Tour de San Luis
1st Stage 6
5th Overall Tour of the Basque Country
5th Milano–Torino
10th Overall Critérium du Dauphiné
2014
1st   Overall Vuelta a España
1st   Combination classification
1st Stages 16 & 20
1st   Overall Tirreno–Adriatico
1st Stages 4 & 5
1st   Overall Tour of the Basque Country
1st Stage 1
2nd UCI World Tour
2nd Overall Volta ao Algarve
1st Stage 4
2nd Overall Volta a Catalunya
2nd Overall Critérium du Dauphiné
6th Milano–Torino
2015
1st   Overall Giro d'Italia
1st   Overall Route du Sud
1st Stage 3
2nd Overall Vuelta a Andalucía
1st Spanish rider classification
1st Stage 3
4th Overall Volta a Catalunya
5th Overall Tirreno–Adriatico
5th Overall Tour de France
7th UCI World Tour
2016
1st   Overall Tour of the Basque Country
1st Stage 6 (ITT)
1st   Overall Vuelta a Burgos
2nd Overall Paris–Nice
2nd Overall Volta a Catalunya
3rd Overall Volta ao Algarve
1st Stage 5
4th Overall Vuelta a España
  Combativity award Stage 15 & Overall
5th UCI World Tour
5th Overall Critérium du Dauphiné
1st Prologue
5th Overall Abu Dhabi Tour
2017
2nd Overall Paris–Nice
2nd Overall Vuelta a Andalucía
2nd Overall Volta a Catalunya
2nd Overall Tour of the Basque Country
5th Overall Vuelta a España
1st Stages 17 & 20
  Combativity award Overall
9th Overall Tour de France
  Combativity award Stages 13 & 17
10th UCI World Tour

General classification results timeline

Major stage race general classification results
Grand Tour 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
  Giro d'Italia — — — — 1 — —  1  — — — 1 — —
  Tour de France — 31 — 1 — 1  1  5  — 4 DNF 5 DNF 9
 /  Vuelta a España — — — — 1 — — — 1 — 1 — 4 5
Major stage race general classification results
Race 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
  Paris–Nice 26 15 24 1 — 4 1 — — — — — 2 2
 /  Tirreno–Adriatico — — — — — — — — — 3 1 5 — —
  Volta a Catalunya — — — — — — —  1  — — 2 4 2 2
  Tour of the Basque Country — 3 5 14 1 1 — — — 5 1 — 1 2
  Tour de Romandie — 4 2 — — — — — — — — — — —
  Critérium du Dauphiné — DNF — 6 — 3 2 — — 10 2 — 5 11
  Tour de Suisse — — 22 — — — — — — — — — — —

Monuments results timeline

Monument 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Milan–San Remo Did not contest during his career
Tour of Flanders
Paris–Roubaix
Liège–Bastogne–Liège — — — 80 27 — — 9 — — 57 —
Giro di Lombardia DNF — — — — — — — — 9 DNF 34
Legend
— Did not compete
DNF Did not finish
No. Voided result

Awards

References

  1. ^ a b . Tinkoff–Saxo. Tinkoff Sport A/S. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b "CAS sanctions Contador with two-year ban in clenbutorol case". Cycling News. 6 February 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  3. ^ (PDF). The Court of Arbitration for Sport. 6 February 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  4. ^ a b c . albertocontador.es. Archived from the original on 29 May 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  5. ^ "Talento y sacrificio para llegar a lo más alto" (in Spanish). El Diario. 10 August 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  6. ^ a b . Astana Team. Archived from the original on 31 July 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  7. ^ "Contador calm and confident ahead of CAS hearing". Cyclingnews. 5 November 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
  8. ^ . 23 October 2008. Archived from the original on 17 July 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
  9. ^ . Spanish Fiestas. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
  10. ^ Fotheringham, Alasdair (18 April 2018). "Alberto Contador: The five races that changed my life". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  11. ^ Fotheringham, Alasdair (23 September 2008). . Universal Sports via Reuters. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  12. ^ "Contador stronger for brush with death". Reuters. 26 July 2009.
  13. ^ a b McRae, Donald (16 November 2015). "Alberto Contador: 'It would be perfect to win the Tour, do the Olympics and end'". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  14. ^ a b Clemitson, Suze (5 November 2015). "P Is For Peloton: The A-Z Of Cycling". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  15. ^ . Cycling Weekly. 27 October 2008. Archived from the original on 27 March 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  16. ^ a b Tan, Anthony (17 August 2006). "Former Liberty five: 2/5 cleared". Cyclingnews. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  17. ^ Jones, Jeff (11 August 2006). "Contador crashes". Cyclingnews. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  18. ^ Stokes, Shane (15 January 2007). "Contador signs with Discovery Channel". Cyclingnews. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  19. ^ Quénet, Jean-François (18 February 2007). "Alberto Contador on Miguel Induráin's path". Cyclingnews. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  20. ^ Brown, Gregor (22 July 2007). "Rasmussen takes control of the Tour". Cyclingnews. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  21. ^ . NRC Handelsblad. 6 January 2009. Archived from the original on 10 July 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  22. ^ Brown, Gregor (26 July 2007). "'Benna' blasts to first Tour stage win in Castelsarrasin". Cyclingnews. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  23. ^ Brown, Gregor (28 July 2007). "Kid Contador conquers Tour de France". Cyclingnews. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  24. ^ . Letour.fr. 29 July 2007. Archived from the original on 8 June 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  25. ^ Hood, Andrew (23 October 2007). . VeloNews. Archived from the original on 25 October 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2007.
  26. ^ Haake, Bjorn (13 February 2008). "Alberto Contador may not be able to defend Tour de France title". Cyclingnews. Retrieved 13 February 2008.
  27. ^ Hood, Andrew (9 May 2008). . VeloNews. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  28. ^ a b . Yahoo!. 29 August 2008. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  29. ^ . The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. 9 August 2008. Archived from the original on 24 December 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  30. ^ . The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. 9 August 2008. Archived from the original on 2 May 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  31. ^ ESPN.com news services (24 September 2008). "Contador says Armstrong could pose 'difficult' situation on team". ESPN. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  32. ^ Brown, Gregor (21 September 2008). "Stage 21 – September 21: San Sebastián de los Reyes – Madrid, 102.2 km". Cyclingnews. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  33. ^ Birnie, Lionel (21 September 2008). . Cycling Weekly. Archived from the original on 24 October 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  34. ^ "Contador wins Spanish Vuelta; first Spaniard to win cycling's big three". ESPN. Reuters. 21 September 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  35. ^ Hood, Andrew (20 September 2008). . VeloNews. Archived from the original on 24 September 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  36. ^ "Contador maintains lead in Vuelta". Taipei Times. AP. 22 September 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  37. ^ Farrand, Stephen (26 November 2008). "Contador Wins Vélo d'Or Award". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 18 May 2009.[permanent dead link]
  38. ^ "Lance Armstrong to return for 2009 Tour de France". Arizona Republic. Associated Press. 8 September 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
  39. ^ "Bruyneel: Armstrong, Contador will have to work together". ESPN. 2 October 2008. from the original on 4 November 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
  40. ^ "Contador will stay at Astana". VeloNews. 18 October 2008. from the original on 7 December 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
  41. ^ "Cycling and Fame, Life and Death". El País. 10 November 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
  42. ^ "Contador opts to miss 2009 Giro". BBC News. 28 October 2008. from the original on 17 December 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
  43. ^ Brown, Gregor (22 February 2009). "Haussler wins final Algarve stage; Contador overall". Cyclingnews. from the original on 24 June 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  44. ^ Haake, Bjorn (14 March 2009). "Sánchez topples Contador". Cyclingnews. from the original on 24 June 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009. He said he had a hunger knock in the finale and could not answer the attack of Sánchez.
  45. ^ Quénet, Jean-François (11 June 2009). "Stage 4 – June 10: Bourg-Les-Valence – Valence (ITT), 42.4 km". Cyclingnews. from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  46. ^ Quénet, Jean-François (14 June 2009). "Stage 8 – June 14: Faverges – Grenoble, 146km". Cyclingnews. from the original on 17 June 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  47. ^ Les Clarke (19 July 2009). . Cyclingnews. Archived from the original on 20 July 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  48. ^ "Contador moves closer to Tour win". BBC Sport. 22 July 2009. from the original on 23 July 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  49. ^ Macur, Juliet (23 July 2009). "Contador Still in the Lead With Time Trial Victory". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  50. ^ "Contador seals 2009 Tour victory". BBC Sport. 26 July 2009. from the original on 27 July 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  51. ^ "¡¡En París suena el himno danés en honor a Contador!!". Marca. Spain. 26 July 2009. Retrieved 26 July 2009.
  52. ^ . Cycling Central. 26 July 2009. Archived from the original on 30 August 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  53. ^ a b . Associated Press. 15 September 2009. Archived from the original on 4 December 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
  54. ^ "Contador turns down Astana offer, says agent". Reuters. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  55. ^ Andrew Hood (11 August 2009). . VeloNews. Archived from the original on 15 August 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  56. ^ . VeloNews. Agence France-Presse. 15 August 2009. Archived from the original on 18 August 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  57. ^ Cyclingnews (19 February 2010). "Contador takes control in Malhão". Cyclingnews. from the original on 19 February 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  58. ^ Stephen Farrand (21 February 2010). "Contador wins the Volta ao Algarve". Cyclingnews. from the original on 22 February 2010. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  59. ^ James Huang (19 February 2010). "Specialized Shiv time trial design possibly banned by UCI". Cyclingnews. from the original on 22 February 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  60. ^ "Contador claims second Paris–Nice". BBC Sport. 14 March 2010. from the original on 15 March 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
  61. ^ Glendenning, Barry (19 July 2010). "Tour de France 2010: Stage 15 – live!". The Guardian. UK. from the original on 22 July 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  62. ^ PA Sport (19 July 2010). . Sportal Australia. PA Sport. Archived from the original on 22 July 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  63. ^ "Alberto Contador: "Today, we could not do like we did in Spa."". Velonation.com. 19 July 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  64. ^ Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen (2010). Le Tour De France 2010. World Cycling Productions (DVD).
  65. ^ "Contador seizes Tour de France lead from Schleck". BBC Sport. 19 July 2010. from the original on 22 July 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  66. ^ Mackey, Robert (19 July 2010). "Contador Apologizes on YouTube". The New York Times.
  67. ^ "Alberto Contador seals third Tour de France victory". BBC Sport. 25 July 2010. from the original on 25 July 2010. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  68. ^ "Saxo Bank–SunGard Signs Contador's Top Spaniards". Cyclingnews. 12 August 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  69. ^ "Contador wins Tour of Catalunya". Yahoo! Eurosport. TF1 Group. Reuters. 27 March 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
  70. ^ "Alberto Contador wins Giro d'Italia". The Daily Telegraph. London. 29 May 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  71. ^ "Alberto Contador wins 2011 Giro d'Italia". BBC Sport. 29 May 2011. from the original on 30 May 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  72. ^ "Alberto Contador will race in Tour". 12 June 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  73. ^ a b "Hushovd unhappy with delays in Contador doping hearing". velonation. 3 June 2011.
  74. ^ "Alberto Contador optimistic about the Alps". The Times of India. 16 July 2011. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  75. ^ . Cyclingnews. 21 June 2011. Archived from the original on 30 June 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  76. ^ . Cyclingnews. 19 October 2010. Archived from the original on 30 June 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  77. ^ "Andy Schleck takes yellow jersey". BBC Sport.
  78. ^ Dale Robertson (27 July 2011). "Hincapie, Ochowicz win in supporting roles". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  79. ^ Guinness, Rupert (16 February 2012). "Cold comfort for Schleck as he awaits Contador's crown". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 December 2021. Contador, who will be allowed to race again from August 5, had his Saxo Bank team contract cancelled last week after the court ruling.
  80. ^ "Contador returns with Saxo Bank". Cycling News. 8 June 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
  81. ^ "Contador returns to Team Saxo Bank". Team Saxo Bank. Riis Cycling. 8 June 2012. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
  82. ^ . 12 August 2012. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  83. ^ "Saxo Bank–Tinkoff Bank names Alberto Contador's team for Vuelta a España". 12 August 2012.
  84. ^ . Velonews.competitor.com. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  85. ^ Peter Cossins (3 September 2012). . Cycling News. Archived from the original on 3 November 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  86. ^ a b "Alberto Contador leads Vuelta a España after brilliant stage win". The Daily Telegraph. 5 September 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  87. ^ . Cycling News. 8 September 2012. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  88. ^ "Alberto Contador wins Vuelta a España for the second time". The Guardian UK. London: 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited. Associated Press. 9 September 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  89. ^ "Contador has lacklustre Worlds time trial". Cycling News. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  90. ^ Alasdair Fotheringham (22 September 2012). "Spain ready to play various cards at world championship". Cycling News. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  91. ^ Daniel Benson (23 September 2012). "UCI Road World Championships 2012: Elite Men road race Results". Cycling News. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  92. ^ . SportsNet. 2001–2012 Rogers Communications. Associated Press. 26 September 2012. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  93. ^ "Alberto Contador wraps up camp, sets big goals for 2014". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. 30 November 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  94. ^ "Contador rules out breaking Saxo Tinkoff contract before end of agreed term". VeloNation. VeloNation LLC. 1 December 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  95. ^ "Contador wins Algarve stage atop Alto do Malhao". Cyclingnews.com. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  96. ^ "Stage 4: Indicatore (Arezzo) to Cittareale (Selva Rotonda)" (PDF). Tirreno–Adriatico. RCS Sport. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  97. ^ "Stage 5: Amatrice to Guardiagrele" (PDF). Tirreno–Adriatico. RCS Sport. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  98. ^ "Stage 3: Banyoles to La Molina". Cyclingnews.com. 19 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  99. ^ . Tinkoff–Saxo. Tinkoff Sport. 30 March 2014. Archived from the original on 2 April 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  100. ^ . Tinkoff–Saxo. Tinkoff Sport. 12 April 2014. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  101. ^ Cary, Tom (14 July 2014). "Alberto Contador crashes out as Vincenzo Nibali takes Stage 10 and yellow jersey". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  102. ^ "Contador says adios to the Vuelta". pelotonmagazine.com.
  103. ^ "Contador to ride Vuelta, healing faster than expected". pelotonmagazine.com.
  104. ^ Andrew Hood (September 2014). . VeloNews. Archived from the original on 9 September 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  105. ^ Peter Cossins (13 September 2014). "Vuelta a España: Contador wins on Ancares". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  106. ^ "Contador seals overall 2014 Vuelta a España victory". Cyclingnews.com. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  107. ^ Andrew Hood (11 September 2014). . VeloNews. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  108. ^ . Tinkoff–Saxo. 2014 Tinkoff Sport A/S. 6 October 2014. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  109. ^ Andrew Hood (14 February 2015). . VeloNews. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  110. ^ Alasdair Fotheringham (30 April 2015). "Contador moves into Vuelta a Andalucía race lead". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  111. ^ Richard Windsor (20 February 2015). "Contador wins Ruta del Sol stage three and extends overall lead". Cycling Weekly. IPC Media Sports & Leisure network. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  112. ^ "Froome seizes overall lead at Vuelta a Andalucía". Cyclingnews.com. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  113. ^ Daniel Benson (18 March 2015). "Tirreno–Adriatico: Sagan wins stage 6". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  114. ^ Alasdair Fotheringham (28 March 2015). "Contador crashes hard at Volta a Catalunya". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  115. ^ Alasdair Fotheringham (30 April 2015). "Alberto Contador exclusive: Recovered from injury and ready for the Giro d'Italia". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  116. ^ "Contador ahead of Giro d'Italia rivals in opening TTT skirmish". Cyclingnews.com. 9 May 2015.
  117. ^ "Contador confirmed to start Giro d'Italia stage 7". Cyclingnews.com. 15 May 2015.
  118. ^ . Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  119. ^ "Alberto Contador back in Giro d'Italia lead after crucial time trial – Cycling Weekly". 23 May 2015.
  120. ^ "Alberto Contador reclaims Giro lead from Fabio Aru after time trial". USA Today.
  121. ^ Emil Axelgaard (26 May 2015). "Amazing Landa makes it two in a row in the queen stage". Cycling Quotes. CyclingQuotes.com 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  122. ^ "Results-Giro d'Italia". Eurosport. Discovery Communications. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  123. ^ Gregor Brown (31 May 2015). "This is my third Giro d'Italia win, insists Alberto Contador". Cycling Weekly. IPC Media Sports & Leisure network. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  124. ^ "Alberto Contador seals Giro d'Italia after Iljo Keisse holds on for final stage victory in Milan". The Daily Telegraph. 31 May 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  125. ^ "Route du Sud win changes nothing, says Contador". Cyclingnews.com. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  126. ^ . ASO. Archived from the original on 9 August 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  127. ^ Pretot, Julien (26 July 2015). "Contador double bid fizzles out after Giro exertions". Reuters. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  128. ^ "Kreuziger replaces sick Contador as captain in Clásica San Sebastián". cyclingnews.com. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  129. ^ Clarke, Stuart (10 March 2015). "Alberto Contador confirms retirement date". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  130. ^ "Thomas seals consecutive overall Volta a Algarve victories". cyclingnews.com. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  131. ^ Clarke, Stuart (13 March 2016). "Geraint Thomas stages remarkable comeback to hold off Alberto Contador and win Paris–Nice". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  132. ^ "Volta a Catalunya: Quintana cruises as Tsatevich claims the finale". sbs.com.au. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  133. ^ Martin, Richard (8 April 2016). Ferris, Ken (ed.). "Contador to carry on competing in wake of Basque triumph". Reuters. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  134. ^ "Alberto Contador withdraws from the Tour de France". The Guardian. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  135. ^ "Contador wins Vuelta a Burgos title by one second". cyclingnews.com. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  136. ^ a b "Alberto Contador will switch to race for Trek-Segafredo in 2017". The Guardian. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  137. ^ "Contador signs with Trek Segafredo on Tour de France rest day". Cyclingnews.com. 12 July 2016.
  138. ^ "Team Sky's Sergio Henao wins Paris–Nice by two seconds". BBC Sport. 12 March 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  139. ^ Andrew Hood (26 July 2006). "Astana 5' cleared by Spanish courts". VeloNews.
  140. ^ Gutiérrez, Juan (27 July 2007). "El Tour califica a Contador de líder "limpio" y "creíble"" (in Spanish). As.com. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  141. ^ Johnson, Greg (6 December 2006). "First witnesses testify in Operación Puerto". Cyclingnews. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  142. ^ "An Interview with Alberto Contador, July 29, 2007". Cyclingnews. 29 July 2007. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  143. ^ Mandard, Stéphane (28 July 2007). "Alberto Contador, maillot jaune miraculé de l'"opération Puerto"". Le Monde (in French). France. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  144. ^ Hood, Andrew (26 July 2007). . VeloNews. Archived from the original on 21 March 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  145. ^ "German drugs expert points finger at Contador". The Sydney Morning Herald. Agence France-Presse. 31 July 2007. from the original on 17 August 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2007.
  146. ^ (in German). ZDF. 30 July 2007. Archived from the original on 4 August 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2007.
  147. ^ a b "Expert claims Contador doped". Independent Online. South Africa. 1 August 2007. from the original on 17 August 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2007.
  148. ^ . VeloNews. 10 August 2007. Archived from the original on 28 August 2007. Retrieved 10 August 2007.
  149. ^ "Video – Breaking News Videos from". CNN. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  150. ^ Weislo, Laura (30 September 2010). "Contador's Contaminated Food: Excuse Or Possibility?". Cyclingnews. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  151. ^ "BBC Sport – Cycling – Angry cyclist Alberto Contador pleads innocence". BBC News. 30 September 2010. from the original on 1 October 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  152. ^ "Tour de France winner rejects positive doping test – This Just In – CNN.com Blogs". CNN. 30 September 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  153. ^ "Contador blames contaminated meat – Yahoo! Eurosport". Yahoo!. from the original on 2 October 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  154. ^ "Blazin' Saddles – Yahoo! Eurosport". Yahoo!. from the original on 5 October 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  155. ^ . CNN. Archived from the original on 30 September 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  156. ^ "Cyclist Alberto Contador blames food contamination for failed steroid test – amFIX – CNN.com Blogs". CNN. 30 September 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  157. ^ "Alberto Contador submits final defence to overturn proposed doping ban". The Guardian. UK. 8 February 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
  158. ^ Macur, Juliet (4 October 2010). "2nd Failed Test Puts Heat on Contador". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  159. ^ "Experts mixed on Alberto Contador's tainted beef defense for positive Clenbuterol test during Tour". Daily News. New York. 1 October 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
  160. ^ "Contador suspended after positive test – Yahoo! Eurosport". Eurosport. from the original on 2 October 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  161. ^ "Alberto Contador Tests Positive For Clenbuterol". Cyclingnews. 30 September 2010. from the original on 2 October 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  162. ^ Greg Johnson (30 September 2010). "Alberto Contador Suspended Over Traces of Clenbuterol From Tour De France Test". Cyclingnews. Archived from the original on 3 October 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  163. ^ "BBC News – Tour de France winner Alberto Contador tests positive". BBC. 30 September 2010. from the original on 30 September 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  164. ^ Weislo, Laura (30 September 2010). "Contador's scientific expert De Boer details defense". Cyclingnews.
  165. ^ "UCI appeals Contador decision to Court of Arbitration for Sport". Cyclingnews. 24 March 2011.
  166. ^ "Alberto Contador's doping case delayed until November". The Guardian. London. 26 July 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  167. ^ . December 2014. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  168. ^ "Riis continues to support Contador despite ban". Cycling News. 7 February 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  169. ^ "Alberto Contador wins Vélo d'Or rider of the year award". BBC Sport. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2019. Britain's Bradley Wiggins won the 'Golden Bicycle' in 2012 – and Contador himself took the award in three consecutive years from 2007 to 2009.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alberto Contador.
 
Wikinews has related news:
  • Contador wins 2009 Tour de France; Cavendish wins six stages
  • Official website   (in Spanish and English)
  • Alberto Contador at UCI 
  • Alberto Contador at Cycling Archives 
  • Alberto Contador at ProCyclingStats 
  • Alberto Contador at Cycling Quotient 
  • Alberto Contador at CycleBase 
  • Alberto Contador at Olympedia 
  • Alberto Contador at AS.com (in Spanish) 
  • Alberto Contador at IMDb

April 17, 2023
alberto, contador, this, spanish, name, first, paternal, surname, contador, second, maternal, family, name, velasco, velasco, spanish, pronunciation, alˈβeɾto, kontaˈðoɾ, βeˈlasko, born, december, 1982, spanish, former, professional, cyclist, most, successful,. In this Spanish name the first or paternal surname is Contador and the second or maternal family name is Velasco Alberto Contador Velasco Spanish pronunciation alˈbeɾto kontaˈdoɾ beˈlasko born 6 December 1982 is a Spanish former professional cyclist He is one of the most successful riders of his era winning the Tour de France twice 2007 2009 the Giro d Italia twice 2008 2015 and the Vuelta a Espana three times 2008 2012 2014 He is one of only seven riders to have won all three Grand Tours of cycling and one of only two riders to have won all three more than once He has also won the Velo d Or a record 4 times Alberto ContadorContador at the 2017 Tour de FrancePersonal informationFull nameAlberto Contador VelascoNicknameEl PistoleroBorn 1982 12 06 6 December 1982 age 40 Pinto Madrid SpainHeight1 76 m 5 ft 9 1 2 in 1 Weight62 kg 137 lb 9 st 11 lb 1 Team informationCurrent teamRetiredDisciplineRoadRoleRiderRider typeAll rounderProfessional teams2003 2006ONCE Eroski2007Discovery Channel2008 2010Astana2011 2016Saxo Bank SunGard2017Trek SegafredoMajor winsGrand Tours Tour de FranceGeneral classification 2007 2009 Young rider classification 2007 3 individual stages 2007 2009 dd Giro d ItaliaGeneral classification 2008 2015 dd Vuelta a EspanaGeneral classification 2008 2012 2014 Combination classification 2008 2014 7 individual stages 2008 2012 2014 2017 dd Stage races Paris Nice 2007 2010 Tirreno Adriatico 2014 Tour of the Basque Country 2008 2009 2014 2016 Vuelta a Burgos 2016 Volta ao Algarve 2009 2010 Route du Sud 2015 Single day races and Classics National Time Trial Championships 2009 Milano Torino 2012 Other Velo d Or 2007 2008 2009 2014 He was regarded as the natural successor of Lance Armstrong and won the 2007 Tour de France with the Discovery Channel team During his time at the Astana team he won the 2008 Giro d Italia the 2008 Vuelta a Espana and the 2009 Tour de France Between 2007 and 2011 he won six consecutive Grand Tours that he entered This included winning the 2010 Tour de France with Astana although it later emerged that he had tested positive for clenbuterol during the race After a long battle in court he was suspended by the Court of Arbitration for Sport and stripped of his 2010 Tour and 2011 Giro wins 2 3 Contador was known as an attacking rider who excelled as a climber and on his best days was also an excellent time trialist He was also known for being able to turn races around to his favour most notably during the Fuente De stage at the 2012 Vuelta a Espana Following his return from suspension he won the Vuelta twice and the Giro once more On the penultimate day of his career he won a stage victory at the mountaintop finish of the Alto de l Angliru Contents 1 Personal life and early career 2 Professional career 2 1 ONCE Eroski Liberty Seguros 2003 2006 2 2 Discovery Channel 2007 2 3 Astana 2008 10 2 3 1 2008 season 2 3 2 2009 season 2 3 3 2010 season 2 4 Saxo Bank SunGard 2011 16 2 4 1 2011 season 2 4 2 2012 season 2 4 3 2013 season 2 4 4 2014 season 2 4 5 2015 season 2 4 6 2016 season 2 5 Trek Segafredo 2017 3 Doping 3 1 Operation Puerto 3 2 2010 Tour de France 4 Career achievements 4 1 Major results 4 1 1 General classification results timeline 4 1 2 Monuments results timeline 4 2 Awards 5 References 6 External linksPersonal life and early career EditContador was born on 6 December 1982 in Pinto in the Community of Madrid the third of four children He has an older brother and sister and a younger brother who has cerebral palsy Having previously taken part in other sports such as football and athletics Contador discovered cycling at the age of 14 thanks to his elder brother Francisco Javier 4 When Contador was 15 he began to compete in races at the amateur level in Spain joining the Real Velo Club Portillo from Madrid Although he got no victories that year or the next he demonstrated great qualities and was soon nicknamed Pantani after Marco Pantani regarded as one of the best climbers of all time for his climbing skills 5 In 2000 he experienced his first victories winning several mountains classification prizes from prominent events on the Spanish amateur cycling calendar 4 He dropped out of school at the age of 16 without having finished his Bachillerato and signed with Iberdrola Loinaz a youth team run by Manolo Saiz manager of the professional ONCE Deutsche Bank team In 2001 he won the under 23 race at the Spanish National Time Trial Championships 6 Contador lives with his wife 7 Macarena in the city of Pinto when not competing He has a fascination for birds keeping personally bred canaries and goldfinches at home 8 9 Professional career EditONCE Eroski Liberty Seguros 2003 2006 Edit Contador with the Liberty Seguros Wurth team in 2006 Contador turned professional in 2003 for ONCE Eroski In his first year as a professional he won the eighth stage of the Tour de Pologne an individual time trial He deliberately let himself fall back on the morning s road stage and saved energy to deliver the winning effort in the time trial in the afternoon 10 During the first stage of the 2004 Vuelta a Asturias he started to feel unwell and after 40 kilometres 25 miles he fell and went into convulsions He had been suffering from headaches for several days beforehand and was diagnosed with a cerebral cavernoma a congenital vascular disorder for which he underwent risky surgery and a recovery to get back on his bike 11 As a result of the surgery he has a scar that runs from one ear to the other over the top of his head 12 Contador started to train again at the end of November 2004 13 and eight months after the surgery he won the fifth stage of the 2005 Tour Down Under racing for Liberty Seguros Wurth as the team previously known as ONCE had become 6 He subsequently described this win as the greatest of his career 13 14 He went on to win the third stage and the overall classification of the Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme thus winning his first stage race as a professional He also won an individual time trial during the Tour of the Basque Country where he finished third and the fourth stage of the Tour de Romandie where he finished fourth overall 15 In 2006 he won stages at the Tour de Romandie and Tour de Suisse in preparation for the Tour de France Prior to the start of the race he was implicated along with several teammates in the Operacion Puerto doping case by the Spanish authorities and the team was not able to start He was later cleared by the Union Cycliste Internationale cycling s governing body 16 Contador returned to racing in the Vuelta a Burgos but he crashed after finishing fifth in stage 4 when he was riding back down to the team bus and briefly lost consciousness 17 Discovery Channel 2007 Edit Contador wearing the yellow jersey during the 19th stage of the 2007 Tour de France After having been implicated in the Operacion Puerto doping case Contador was without a professional contract until mid January 2007 when he signed with Discovery Channel 18 Contador s first major professional victory came with Paris Nice which he won on the race s final stage Discovery Channel effectively wore down the remnants of the race leader Davide Rebellin s Gerolsteiner team allowing Contador to launch an attack on the final climb With Rebellin leading the chase Contador held off his competitors in the final kilometres winning him the race 19 In the Tour de France he won a stage at the mountaintop finish of Plateau de Beille and was second in the general classification to Michael Rasmussen 20 Upon Rasmussen s removal from the race before stage 17 for lying to his team about his pre race training whereabouts 21 Contador assumed the overall lead and the yellow jersey though he did not don it until after the stage 22 In the stage 19 individual time trial he managed to defy expectations and keep hold of the yellow jersey by a margin of only 23 seconds over challenger Cadel Evans and 31 seconds over teammate Levi Leipheimer As this was the Tour s penultimate stage it was the last real competition of the race since the final stage is traditionally non competitive save for a bunched sprint to the finish line and it secured Contador his first Tour de France victory 23 It is the closest the top three finishers in the Tour de France have ever finished to one another 24 Astana 2008 10 Edit After Discovery Channel announced 2007 would be its final season in professional cycling Contador announced on 23 October 2007 that he would move to the Astana team for 2008 25 2008 season Edit Contador wearing the pink jersey during the 21st stage of the 2008 Giro d Italia On 13 February 2008 the organiser of the Tour de France the Amaury Sport Organisation announced that Astana would not be invited to any of their events in 2008 due to the doping previously perpetrated by Astana despite the fact that its management and most of its ridership had changed before the 2008 season 26 Consequently Contador was unable to defend his Paris Nice and Tour de France victories He went on to win his second Vuelta a Castilla y Leon as well as the Tour of the Basque Country by winning the opening stage and the final individual time trial His next scheduled race and objective was the Criterium du Dauphine Libere but his team received an invite to the Giro d Italia one week prior to the start of the race Contador was on a beach in Spain when he was told he was going to ride the Giro 27 Despite the lack of preparation he finished second in the first individual time trial and took the pink jersey after the 15th stage up to Passo Fedaia Upon winning the final pink jersey in Milan he became the first non Italian to win the Giro d Italia since Pavel Tonkov in 1996 and also the second Spanish rider to win the Giro after Miguel Indurain won in 1992 and 1993 He later emphasized the importance of this win by saying that taking part in the Giro and winning it was a really big achievement bigger than if I d had a second victory in the Tour de France 28 At the 2008 Summer Olympics Contador competed in the road race and the individual road time trial He did not finish in the road race in which 53 of the 143 starters did not complete the course in particularly hot and humid conditions 29 He placed fourth in the individual time trial eight seconds behind his regular teammate Leipheimer 30 Contador wearing the golden jersey during the 20th stage of the 2008 Vuelta a Espana Contador entered the Vuelta a Espana as the main candidate to win His biggest challenger was likely to be compatriot Carlos Sastre who had won the Tour de France just a month before 28 Contador won stage 13 by attacking on the fabled Angliru climb and this resulted in him capturing the golden jersey as the leader of the race He extended his lead by winning stage 14 to Fuentes de Invierno and maintained his lead in subsequent flat stages and the final time trial won by Leipheimer by a wide margin Contador later took some offence to Leipheimer seemingly riding with winning the Vuelta in mind after it had been established earlier in the race that Contador was Astana s team leader 31 In the final standings Contador finished 46 seconds ahead of Leipheimer and more than four minutes ahead of Sastre 32 The win made him the fifth cyclist at that point to win all three Grand Tours after Jacques Anquetil Felice Gimondi Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault 33 In the process he also became the first Spaniard 34 youngest age 25 35 and shortest amount of time to accumulate all three wins 15 months 36 He also became only the third cyclist to win the Giro and the Vuelta in the same year joining Merckx who did it in 1973 and Giovanni Battaglin who did it in 1981 4 Later in the year Contador won the Velo d Or award for the best rider of the year for the second consecutive season The Giro and Vuelta winner beat Olympic time trial champion Fabian Cancellara and Sastre in a vote by international cycling writers 37 2009 season Edit On 9 September 2008 Lance Armstrong announced that he was returning to professional cycling with the express goal of participating in the 2009 Tour de France 38 Astana manager Johan Bruyneel Armstrong s former mentor and sporting director said that he could not allow Armstrong riding for another team and later signed him Contador hinted at the possibility of leaving the team if he was given a secondary role supporting Armstrong but Bruneel said in no uncertain terms that he would hold Contador to the terms of his contract but he also said Alberto has had a magnificent year and is currently the best professional cyclist in the world 39 Contador was later given assurances by Bruyneel that he would remain team leader and decided to remain at Astana for the 2009 season 40 Contador later claimed the situation was drastically overblown by the media 41 Contador decided to miss the Giro d Italia to focus on winning the Tour de France 42 Contador started his 2009 season at the Volta ao Algarve race in Portugal winning the overall classification placing second on stage 3 and winning the decisive 33 kilometre 21 mile individual time trial 43 He was in position to win Paris Nice again after winning the prologue and the toughest mountain stage but suffered a breakdown in stage 7 losing his yellow jersey to fellow Spaniard Luis Leon Sanchez Contador and his Astana team later blamed the breakdown on Contador eating inadequately leaving him without the energy to chase attacks 44 Contador finished fourth overall he continued his build up to the Tour de France by racing the Criterium du Dauphine Libere He put in a strong performance of the opening time trial and stayed in touch with race leader Cadel Evans on the longer time trial 45 However the strong ride of compatriot Alejandro Valverde up Mont Ventoux distanced Contador and he rode to help Valverde take the Yellow Jersey while finishing comfortably in third place overall 46 On 26 June Contador competed in the Spanish National Time Trial Championships He stated that he entered the race in order to gain more experience on his new Trek time trial bike but he came away with a convincing victory over Sanchez the defending champion winning by 37 seconds This was his first national championship as a professional Contador wearing the yellow jersey leading Andy Schleck at the 2009 Tour de France Contador won Stage 15 of the Tour de France by soloing to the finish line more than a minute ahead of most of his closest general classification competitors and in so doing took the yellow jersey 47 He then extended his lead on Stage 17 after finishing second in a breakaway of three riders with the same time as the stage winner and then the next day he won the second time trial increasing his overall advantage to more than four minutes 48 49 Contador won his second Tour de France on 26 July with a winning margin of 4 11 over Andy Schleck and finished 5 24 ahead of Armstrong who finished third in his return to the Tour after a four year absence 50 Contador had won the last four Grand Tour races that he had entered During the celebration at the podium the organisers of the Tour wrongly played the Danish national anthem instead of the Spanish Royal March 51 52 In the aftermath of the tour Contador and Armstrong engaged in a war of words with Contador quoted as saying that although Armstrong is a great rider and did a great Tour but on a personal level I have never admired him and never will and Armstrong responding that a champion is also measured on how much he respects his teammates and opponents 53 The sniping caused others such as the director of the Tour to wonder what it would have been like to have had Contador and Armstrong in different teams 53 Contador later described the experience as psychologically tough likening it to having to compete in two races one on the road the other in the team hotel Armstrong s control of the team during the race extended to its entire fleet of team cars forcing Contador to rely on his brother to take him from stage finishes to the hotel 14 On 31 July Contador s agent who is also his brother announced that Contador had turned down an offer to remain with Astana under a new four year contract because he had felt so uncomfortable being caught between the Kazakhstan owners of the team on one side and Bruyneel on the other and he was hoping to leave Astana at the end of the year although his contract did not expire until the end of 2010 54 However on 11 August Contador s teammate and close friend Sergio Paulinho accepted a two year contract with Team RadioShack indicating that Contador might not be able to leave Astana as readily as he and his agent wished 55 This was confirmed on 15 August when a spokesperson for the Kazakhstan sponsors of Astana said that they intended to sponsor the Astana team on the UCI ProTour through 2013 and that they intended to enforce the last year of Contador s contract with Astana in 2010 56 2010 season Edit Contador wearing the yellow jersey following Andy Schleck on the Col du Tourmalet during the 2010 Tour de France He was later stripped of this title On 21 February Contador won his first race of the season the Volta ao Algarve by winning its queen stage and finishing second in the final time trial 57 58 Due to new UCI regulations concerning the nose cone of time trial bikes Contador did not use his Shiv time trial bike and instead used the standard red Specialized time trial bike 59 On 14 March Contador won his second Paris Nice finishing ahead of other pre race favorites like Alejandro Valverde and Luis Leon Sanchez His main attack came in the hilltop finish to Mende where he crossed the finish line alone and successfully secured the yellow jersey 60 Contador also competed in and concluded the Criterium International with a second place in the final time trial only 2 seconds behind stage winner David Millar while Pierrick Fedrigo successfully defended the maillot jaune against rivals such as Cadel Evans and Samuel Sanchez citation needed Contador was a favourite coming into the Tour de France along with Team Saxo Bank s Andy Schleck On Stage 15 Schleck was race leader and pressing the pace over the day s final climb of Port de Bales when he threw his chain Contador and Denis Menchov immediately moved to the front and attacked pressing the advantage over the crest of the climb and all the way back down into Bagneres de Luchon They were aided by Samuel Sanchez and two others making a group of five riders Schleck chased hard but had no other riders to help bridge the gap By stage s end he had lost the yellow jersey and 39 seconds to Contador 61 Contador who now had an eight second lead in the race met with a mixed reception as he received the yellow jersey on the podium at the end of the stage It is an unusual occurrence in the Tour for the new race leader to be met with whistles and cat calls as he is given the yellow jersey 62 The yellow jersey changing shoulders made a large difference in the remainder of the race for now the onus was on Schleck to attack Contador and not the other way around citation needed Jered Gruber writing for VeloNation argued that Contador was right to attack defending him on the basis that Schleck did not wait for Contador when he was delayed behind a crash on the cobblestones in stage 3 and lost 1 13 to Schleck a crash that cost Schleck the aid of his best ally in the tour his brother Frank Schleck But of course that was early in the race and neither rider had the yellow jersey at the time 63 Race commentator Paul Sherwen thought the attack in poor form whereas his co commentor Phil Liggett thought not 64 Schleck said he considered Contador s actions to be unsporting 65 Hours after the conclusion of the stage Contador voiced an apology for his behaviour on his YouTube channel 66 Five days later in the stage 19 time trial Contador beat Schleck again taking 31 seconds from him Contador went on to win the Tour de France for the third time with an advantage of 39 seconds over Andy Schleck the exact amount of time he had taken from Schleck on Stage 15 67 Contador became the seventh rider to win a Tour de France without winning a stage citation needed but this win was later nullified due to his doping suspension Saxo Bank SunGard 2011 16 Edit Contador signed a two year contract with Saxo Bank SunGard for the 2011 season to ride under team manager Bjarne Riis who revealed that he would like Contador to try winning all three Grand Tours in one season a feat never before accomplished Contador s agent and brother Fran later countered the statement by saying it was nothing but a dream Within two weeks three of Contador s Spanish teammates signed to make the same transfer Jesus Hernandez Daniel Navarro and Benjamin Noval 68 2011 season Edit Contador wearing the maglia rosa as the winner of the 2011 Giro d Italia in Milan He was later stripped of this title Amidst the clenbuterol controversy Contador earned his first win in the Vuelta a Murcia He won the overall classification as well as two stage victories en route to his victory Later in the month of March Contador entered in the Volta a Catalunya where he claimed a win on the third stage to Vallnord maintaining his advantage until the end of the race 69 He also won the individual time trial of Vuelta a Castilla y Leon citation needed Contador competed in the Giro d Italia his first time racing in the Giro since his victory in 2008 Contador won the ninth stage on Mount Etna his first stage win at the Italian Grand Tour He attacked midway through the climb dropping his overall rivals and gaining almost a minute on them That stage gave him the overall lead in the Giro as well as the points classification lead Contador extended his overall lead to 3 minutes over second place Vincenzo Nibali where he broke away with Jose Rujano on the Grossglockner He solidified his lead through stage 14 up the Monte Zoncolan and a very difficult stage 15 through the Dolomites taking his lead up to 4 minutes ahead of second place Michele Scarponi He also won the 12 7 kilometre 7 9 mile mountain time trial to Nevegal On 29 May Contador went on to win the race for the second time finishing 6 minutes ahead of second place Scarponi 70 71 In addition to winning the general classification Contador also won the points classification and finished second in the mountains classification citation needed This made the sixth consecutive grand tour that he entered and won Despite the fact that he was scheduled to appear before the Court of Arbitration for Sport CAS in early August Contador announced in early June he would compete in the Tour de France 72 The CAS had planned to hear the case in early June but the dates were pushed back to early August 73 Contador aimed to become the first rider to win both the Giro d Italia and the Tour de France in the same year since Marco Pantani accomplished the feat in 1998 citation needed In the opening stage Contador was slowed by a crash and lost more than one minute He lost additional time in the team time trial at Les Essarts but finished second in the fourth stage up to Mur de Bretagne Contador suffered four crashes in the opening nine days of the Tour injuring his right knee before facing the Pyrenees mountain stages He was dropped in the final kilometre in the stage to Luz Ardiden and finished two seconds behind Andy Schleck at the top of the Plateau de Beille 74 On the sixteenth stage to Gap Contador attacked on the ascent of the Col de Manse with Cadel Evans and Samuel Sanchez joining him in taking a time advantage over the other favourites in the general classification including more than a minute over Schleck 75 He was also aggressive in the next stage to Pinerolo but unable to win time to the other favourites besides Thomas Voeckler and Ivan Basso In the stage to the Col du Galibier he lost time to the other favourites after Schleck launched a solo attack 60 kilometres 37 miles from the finish and Contador was later unable to follow the pace set by Evans 76 Contador launched an early attack on the last mountain stage to Alpe d Huez reaching the top of Galibier with Schleck but their effort proved unsuccessful and they were captured by the rest of the main contenders following the long descent from the mountain Contador launched another attack on the first kilometres of Alpe d Huez but he was eventually beaten to victory by Pierre Rolland with Samuel Sanchez second 77 Contador finished fifth in the overall classification 3 minutes 57 seconds behind Evans bringing an end to his streak of winning six consecutive Grand Tours that he entered 78 2012 season Edit Contador started his season with still no verdict in the clenbuterol case He finished second overall in the Tour de San Luis and he won both uphill finishes only falling short in the time trial stage of the race On 6 February he was stripped of these early results as well the 2010 Tour de France and 2011 Giro d Italia wins and many other victories He was also suspended until 5 August and his contract with Team Saxo Bank was annulled 79 On 8 June it was announced that Contador would rejoin Saxo Bank Tinkoff Bank upon the completion of his ban signing a contract that would keep him with the team until the end of the 2015 season 80 81 After the completion of his suspension Contador competed in the Eneco Tour as preparation for the Vuelta a Espana where he finished 4th in the general classification 82 Consequently Contador was named leader of Saxo Bank Tinkoff Bank for the Vuelta a Espana 83 Contador attacked numerous times throughout the mountains in the first sixteen stages of the race but with no avail since the race leader Joaquim Rodriguez always countered and finished ahead of him This proved costly since there were bonus seconds awarded to the first three riders of each stage twelve seconds for first eight seconds for second and four seconds for third 84 Even on the queen stage of the race finishing atop the Cuitu Negru and featuring slopes with a gradient of more than 20 close to the line Rodriguez annulled the numerous attacks of Contador and sailed past him to the finish 85 However his fortunes turned around during the seventeenth stage he attacked in that latter portion of the stage and made a solo effort up the final climb of the day after his breakaway companion Paolo Tiralongo of Astana was dropped 86 Contador won the stage by six seconds over the first chase group and took the lead away from Rodriguez who was relegated to more than two minutes in the general classification 86 He held on to the race lead during the last mountain stage leading atop the Bola del Mondo where he was dropped by Rodriguez and Alejandro Valverde Movistar Team who held second place overall He managed to limit his losses and retain the lead of the race 87 On the next day Contador crossed the finish line in Madrid with the race leader s red jersey earning the second Vuelta victory of his career 88 Contador participated in the UCI Road World Championships held in Valkenburg in both the road race and the individual time trial He was ninth in the time trial after being overtaken by eventual winner Tony Martin who started two minutes behind him 89 For the road race Contador rode in support of his Spanish teammates 90 and finished 53 seconds in arrears of the victor Belgian Philippe Gilbert 91 Days later Contador headed for Italy to take part in the newly resurrected Classic Milano Torino He took the win by accelerating on the final slope of the day in sight of the final kilometre banner dropping all contenders It was the first time in his career that he won a single day race and he dedicated the event to the memory of Victor Cabedo a young professional cyclist who died in a training accident a week prior 92 2013 season Edit Contador with Chris Froome at the 2013 Tour de France In 2013 Contador s only victory was a stage in the Tour de San Luis in January From then on his season did not go as expected though finishing 3rd in Tirreno Adriatico he became ill during the race This disrupted his preparations for the rest of the season Contador returned to racing in the Tour of the Basque Country in April and finished fifth in the general classification He was too late to be in optimal condition for the Tour de France where he could not match up to Chris Froome and finished in fourth place 93 After the Tour main sponsor Oleg Tinkov expressed critical comments on Contador s style of riding At the end of the season Tinkov bought the team ownership but Contador stayed loyal to the team 94 2014 season Edit Contador at the 2014 Criterium du Dauphine After a disappointing 2013 season Contador went into the season trying to find the form that allowed him to take numerous victories in the past Contador s first objective of the season was the Volta ao Algarve Although he would lose time to Michal Kwiatkowski after his two consecutive stage wins Contador showed his much improving form in the race taking third in the second stage and fourth in the third stage individual time trial before taking his first win of the season on the fourth stage In the stage featuring a summit finish at Alto do Malhao Contador attacked a kilometre from the finish as he eventually soloed to the stage win three seconds ahead of Rui Costa 95 He eventually finished second overall 19 seconds down on Kwiatkowski citation needed Contador s next race was Tirreno Adriatico where he faced stiffer competition with riders such as Nairo Quintana and Jean Christophe Peraud He continued to show his strong form by winning the third stage of the race going to Cittareale after he outsprinted Quintana his main rival for the race 96 He took the lead in the general classification on the next day winning a second successive stage as he attacked on the stage s penultimate climb before soloing to the finish 97 He kept his lead for the remainder of the race finishing more than two minutes clear ahead of runner up Quintana citation needed Contador raced the Volta a Catalunya next where he had his first duel with riders such as Chris Froome and Joaquim Rodriguez On the race s first mountain stage he followed attacks set by his fellow general classification contenders before he had to settle for second in the stage 5 seconds behind Rodriguez 98 He finished the race in second place overall just 4 seconds behind Rodriguez 99 Contador s next objective for the season was the Tour of the Basque Country He got into a duel with fellow Spaniard Alejandro Valverde and both riders did not disappoint on the first stage Contador followed Valverde s attack on the stage s last climb before putting on an attack that Valverde was not able to answer He negotiated the descent and soloed to the stage win and yellow jersey 14 seconds ahead of Valverde He kept the race lead to the end finishing second on the final stage time trial and winning the race by 49 seconds ahead of Michal Kwiatkowski 100 As his final preparation for the Tour de France Contador entered the Criterium du Dauphine where he battled with Froome and Vincenzo Nibali his main rivals for the Tour Contador started the Dauphine on good form finishing second to Froome on the race s short individual time trial before dueling with Froome on the Col du Beal Unlike in 2013 where he was unable to follow the accelerations of Froome Contador was able to stay on his rival s wheel eventually finishing second on the stage after Froome outsprinted him to the line He had his next duel with Froome on the seventh stage the queen stage of the race Contador attacked with 2 kilometres 1 2 miles left on the stage and Froome who was suffering from the effects of a crash on the previous day s stage was not able to bridge the gap to him as Contador took the yellow jersey as leader of the general classification However Contador fell victim to an ambush on the next stage as several riders in the top ten went into the breakaway including Andrew Talansky who was sitting in third place overall 39 seconds behind Contador Contador was left isolated with no teammates around him as he tried to bridge the gap to the leading group but he ran out of steam as Talansky won the race overall However Contador dealt a psychological blow to Froome ahead of the Tour as Froome struggled in the stage eventually dropping to 12th place overall Contador after his 2014 Tour de France crash going to a medical facility with crutches In the Tour de France Contador entered the race in much better form He avoided crashing during the first week but he lost a lot of time in the fifth stage of the race the stage featuring cobbles as part of the route He lost around 2 1 2 minutes to fellow overall contender Nibali as he was unable to bridge the gap to him after mud became stuck in his gears On the Tour s first summit finish going to Gerardmer he attacked as Nibali went with him Contador made a final acceleration near the finish line as he took 3 seconds back on Nibali On the descent of the Petit Ballon in the tenth stage Contador crashed heavily before he was treated on the side of the road 101 He tried to ride for nearly 20 kilometres 12 miles after the crash but he eventually abandoned the Tour He initially ruled himself out of the Vuelta a Espana as well 102 but he eventually joined the start list of the race 103 His Vuelta started well as his team Tinkoff Saxo finished seventh in the opening team time trial 19 seconds behind the Movistar Team the team which fielded fellow overall contenders Quintana and Valverde On the race s first mountain stage to La Zubia he was able to stay with the overall contenders as he eventually finished the stage in third place behind Froome and Valverde He showed his improving form on the next mountain stage to Valdelinares attacking with around 2 kilometres 1 2 miles to go while dropping Froome and Valverde among others as he sat 3 seconds behind red jersey holder Quintana before the individual time trial He took the red jersey on the individual time trial as he finished fourth He showed he could defend the red jersey by staying with his fellow overall contenders On the race s queen stage to La Farrapona he followed Froome s attack with 4 kilometres 2 5 miles to go while distancing other overall contenders He stayed in his rival s wheel before putting on a finishing kick with around 800 metres 2 600 feet to go winning the stage and strengthening his hold on the red jersey 104 The same thing happened on the penultimate stage to Puerto de Ancares where he followed Froome throughout the climb distancing the other contenders once again before kicking on to take the stage all but securing the red jersey 105 On the final stage individual time trial he rode conservatively in wet conditions to avoid any mishaps and though he lost time to the other favourites he had more than enough time in hand to win his third Vuelta 106 During the Vuelta Contador announced he would not contest the UCI Road World Championships in Ponferrada saying the course did not fit his characteristics at all 107 Contador suffered a crash in the Giro di Lombardia injuring the knee that he had hurt in the Tour de France and ending his chances of winning the 2014 UCI World Tour overall classification as he decided to forego the Tour of Beijing to better prepare for the 2015 season 108 2015 season Edit Alberto Contador at the 2015 Vuelta a Andalucia For 2015 Contador announced that he would attempt to win both the Giro d Italia and the Tour de France a feat that had not been done since Marco Pantani accomplished it in 1998 109 His debut race was the Vuelta an Andalucia in February He took the race lead after the time trial on stage 1b finishing fourth 110 Contador then won stage 3 a mountaintop finish by attacking with 7 5 kilometres 4 7 miles to go 111 He did however lose the race leader s jersey on the very next stage another mountain affair where Chris Froome snatched both the stage win and the race lead 112 Froome did not relinquish his lead and Contador finished the race second in the overall classification only 2 seconds behind In mid March Contador finished fifth overall at Tirreno Adriatico helping his teammate Peter Sagan win stage 6 by accelerating on a climb and shedding the pure sprinters off the leading group 113 At the end of March Contador took fourth place in the Volta a Catalunya where he crashed severely in the penultimate stage Contador was able to remount and participate in the last stage securing his general classification placing 114 At the end of April and days before the start of the Giro d Italia Contador revealed that he was ready for the Grand Tour race His injuries sustained in the Volta a Catalunya were healed and included a micro fissure in his sacrum He stated I m going very well the big blocks of training here in the Canaries are all but finished and I m now beginning to go through the recovery phase prior to the Giro I ve done a huge amount of climbing rides in these last three weeks and now what we ve got to do is ease back before next week 115 Contador wearing the maglia rosa at the 2015 Giro d Italia At the Giro d Italia Contador s Tinkoff Saxo team performed well in the opening team time trial finishing 2nd to Orica GreenEDGE He gained 6 seconds on Fabio Aru 12 seconds on Rigoberto Uran and 20 seconds on Richie Porte 116 Contador took the maglia rosa on the summit finish on stage 5 to Abetone However the next day Contador dislocated his shoulder after crashing on the finishing straight He was able to finish but dislocated the shoulder again before the podium presentation 117 Despite this Contador was able to continue in the race holding on to the jersey However on stage 13 on what most assumed was an easy day of racing Contador crashed in a pile up 3 2 kilometres 2 0 miles from the finish he crossed the line 42 seconds behind the peloton including Aru Thus Contador lost the pink jersey the first time he lost the leader s jersey in any Grand Tour up to that point in his career 118 However the next day on a 59 3 kilometre 36 8 mile individual time trial Contador led the field taking back the pink jersey and created a sizable time difference over the rest of the peloton 119 120 On stage 16 Contador suffered a mechanical problem on the descent of Apria and other teams including Astana tried to take advantage Still Contador made contact with Aru at the Mortirolo Pass and put another two minutes into his rival as Mikel Landa became the second placed rider on the general classification 121 On Stage 20 Contador lost some time to both Landa and Aru but retained his pink jersey Eventually he won the overall classification by 1 53 over Aru 122 Despite being stripped of his 2011 title for a doping suspension Contador insisted that this was his third Giro victory therefore including the 2011 race in his count 123 With his second official Giro title along with two official Tour de France titles and three Vuelta a Espana overall wins Contador joined Bernard Hinault as the only cyclists to have achieved multiple victories at each of the Grand Tours 124 In preparation for the Tour Contador chose to ride the four day Route du Sud where he won the queen stage and the overall classification His main rival was Nairo Quintana a competitor he had to contend with at the Tour de France 125 Contador had solid opening to the first week of the tour despite losing a little time to Chris Froome in the team time trial he gained time on his rivals including Nibali and Quintana who both lost time on stage 2 He struggled though on the opening summit finish losing 3 minutes to stage winner Froome putting a serious dent to his victory chances Despite this setback he improved on the next two Pyrenean stages staying in contact with his big rivals where he also remained 6th overall His chances faded after he crashed on the descent of the Colle d Allos on stage 17 Despite a hard effort on the finishing climb after he lost over 2 minutes to Froome and Quintana He was unable to recover from his crash on stage 17 and his efforts in the Giro which made him unable to match his rivals on the last 2 mountain stages Contador finished the Tour de France in fifth place 9 48 down on winner Froome 126 Though he failed to achieve the double in the end Contador had no regrets over his attempt It s true that there are riders that would dream of finishing fifth For me that was not my objective but I m glad that I tried If I hadn t tried then after my career I might have wondered whether I could have done the Giro Tour double and now I know I don t think it s impossible to do the double but it s really complicated because nobody has the experience on how to prepare it However I prefer having tried than being left with a desire to do it 127 After the Tour Contador planned on racing the Clasica de San Sebastian but had to cancel due to sickness ending his 2015 season 128 2016 season Edit In March 2015 Contador signed a contract extension with his team Tinkoff but at the same time announced that 2016 would be his final season in professional cycling 129 He competed in his first race of the season at the Volta ao Algarve finishing third overall and winning the final stage of the race 130 He went on to claim runner up finishes in Paris Nice where he attacked race leader Geraint Thomas from 50 kilometres 31 miles out and again on the final climb of Col d Eze before Thomas closed the gap on the final descent to the finish line 131 and the Volta a Catalunya 132 before taking the general classification and the stage six time trial at the Tour of the Basque Country subsequently stating to the press that he would postpone his retirement for at least another year 133 Contador got off to a difficult start to the Tour de France crashing in the opening stages and losing time to his rivals He was in 20th place on the general classification with a deficit of 3 minutes 12 seconds to leader Chris Froome before the ninth stage where after attempting to make the breakaway at the start of the day he withdrew from the race citing a fever which had developed overnight 134 In August Contador won the overall classification of the Vuelta a Burgos beating both Ben Hermans and Sergio Pardilla by just one second 135 He went on to finish fourth at the Vuelta a Espana 136 Trek Segafredo 2017 Edit Contador during the 2017 Paris Nice During the 2016 Tour de France it was reported that Contador would race for Trek Segafredo for the 2017 season 137 with the deal being confirmed by the team in September along with the transfer of teammate Jesus Hernandez and Tinkoff directeur sportif Steven de Jongh 136 This would be his final season as a professional cyclist In February Contador began his season by finishing Vuelta an Andalucia one second behind Movistar Team s Alejandro Valverde In March Contador missed out on victory in Paris Nice to a Team Sky rider by a narrow margin for the second year running after Sergio Henao managed to fend off a final day attack to win the race by just two seconds 138 Contador had trailed by 31 seconds overnight but had gone clear with Quick Step Floors rider David de la Cruz and Marc Soler of the Movistar Team after taking a couple of seconds at an intermediate sprint Contador was beaten to the line in Nice by de la Cruz which cost him four bonus seconds and decided the race in favour of Henao Later that month Contador finished second overall at the Volta a Catalunya 63 seconds behind Valverde In April Contador finished second overall at the Tour of the Basque Country again behind Valverde In July Contador rode the Tour de France for the final time but was unable to challenge for overall victory finishing ninth overall 8 minutes and 49 seconds down on the winner Chris Froome In August Contador rode the Vuelta a Espana which was to be his final race as a professional Contador rode an aggressive race in search of a stage victory placing fifth overall winning the combativity award in his final Grand Tour as well as winning the final mountain stage atop the iconic Alto de l Angliru after attacking on the penultimate climb of the day Doping EditOperation Puerto Edit After final rosters had been presented for the 2006 Tour de France Contador and five other members of the Astana Wurth team were barred from competing due to alleged connections with the Operacion Puerto doping case Contador and four other members of his team at the time Astana Wurth were eventually cleared of all charges on 26 July 2006 by the Spanish courts and later two out of the five including Contador were cleared by the UCI 16 Each received a written document signed by Manuel Sanchez Martin secretary for the Spanish court stating that there are not any type of charges against them nor have there been adopted any type of legal action against them 139 In May 2006 a document from the summary of the investigation Documento 31 was released In it the initials A C were associated with a hand written note saying Spanish Nada o igual a J J Nothing or the same as J J J J were the initials of Jorg Jaksche who later admitted to being guilty of blood doping prepared by the Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes in 2005 140 Contador was questioned in December 2006 by the magistrate in charge of the Puerto file The rider declared to Judge Antonio Serrano that he did not know Fuentes personally 141 According to French daily Le Monde he refused then to undergo a DNA test that would have judged whether or not he had any link to the blood bags that were found in the investigation 142 On 28 July 2007 Le Monde citing what it claimed was an investigation file to which it had access stated that Contador s name appeared in several documents found during Operacion Puerto 143 A second reference includes initials of riders names that appeared on another training document although neither of those two references could be linked to doping practices 144 On 30 July 2007 German doping expert Werner Franke accused Contador of having taken drugs in the past and being prescribed a doping regimen by Fuentes who was connected with Operacion Puerto 145 146 He passed his allegations on to the German authorities the following day 147 Contador denied the accusations saying I was in the wrong team at the wrong time and somehow my name got among the documents 147 On 10 August Contador publicly declared himself to be a clean rider in face of suspicions about his alleged links to the Operacion Puerto blood doping ring 148 2010 Tour de France Edit In September 2010 Contador revealed that a urine sample he had given on 21 July a rest day in the Tour de France had contained traces of clenbuterol He has stated due to the number of other tests he passed and that only a tiny amount of the substance was detected in the one he failed that food contamination was to blame 149 Adding credibility to the explanation anti doping doctor Don Catlin said that of the contaminants found in food supplements clenbuterol is one of the more common However when asked if it was plausible that Contador had ingested the clenbuterol through contamination Catlin said without knowing what the level in his sample is it s impossible to say 150 Contador stated that he is the victim 151 152 and he can hold his head high and that he thinks he should not be punished 153 Several people related to the sport defended Contador saying that there is little benefit from using the drug in the amounts that were discovered and that no one would intentionally take such an easily detectable substance 154 155 156 There was some scepticism of Contador s claim that contaminated meat was to blame In 2008 and 2009 only one animal sample came back positive for clenbuterol out of 83 203 animal samples tested by EU member nations Out of 19 431 animal tests in Spain over the same period there were no samples that came back positive for clenbuterol 157 Contador s urine sample taken during the day before his clenbuterol positive sample was reported to contain plastic residue plasticizers indicating possible blood doping as these materials are introduced to the bloodstream from blood bags used in blood doping 158 but the test was not recognised by the World Anti Doping Agency so no charges in relation to this finding were brought A theory circulated that blood doping could account for the minute traces if the clenbuterol was introduced through a transfusion re introducing contaminated blood that had been extracted at a time when he had been taking Clenbuterol It was supposed that this caused the presence of it in his system and the subsequent failed test rather than the direct ingestion or injection of the drug at the time This theory also recognised that Clenbuterol is not very effective at all as a performance enhancing drug but effective if used to strip fat and hence reduce a rider s weight pre season and it is theorized that this is when the blood was taken which was later re introduced by transfusion 159 The UCI issued a statement reporting that the concentration was 50 pg mL and that this was 400 times below the minimum standards of detection capability required by WADA and that further scientific investigation was required Contador was provisionally suspended from competition although this had no short term effect as he had already finished his racing programme for the 2010 season 160 161 162 Contador had been informed of the results over a month earlier on 24 August 163 Later the amount discovered was clarified as 40 times below the minimum standards rather than the 400 times originally reported by the UCI Contador s scientific adviser claimed that he would have needed 180 times the amount detected to gain any benefit in his performance 164 In late January 2011 the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation RFEC proposed a one year ban but it subsequently accepted Contador s appeal and cleared him of all charges Contador returned to racing in February in the Volta ao Algarve a race he won in 2009 and 2010 The UCI and the World Anti Doping Agency each appealed the RFEC decision independently to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in March 2011 but Contador remained free to ride until the CAS made its ruling 165 The hearing with CAS was initially scheduled for June but following an extension requested by Contador s legal team it was rearranged for August in the week following the Tour de France 73 and later postponed again until November 166 with the result to be given in 2012 The decision on 6 February 2012 found Contador guilty of accidental ingestion of the prohibited substance Clenbuterol 167 and hence he was stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title and his results since that race including victory in the 2011 Giro d Italia and fifth place in the 2011 Tour de France were voided and he was suspended until August 2012 2 The following day in a press conference his contract with Team Saxo Bank was annulled 168 Career achievements EditMajor results Edit 2001 3rd Time trial National Under 23 Road Championships 2002 1st Time trial National Under 23 Road Championships 9th Overall Ruban Granitier Breton 2003 1st Stage 8 ITT Tour de Pologne 9th Clasica a los Puertos de Guadarrama 2004 1st Mountains classification Vuelta a Aragon 5th Overall Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme 2005 1st Overall Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme1st Combination classification 1st Stage 3 dd 1st Stage 5 Tour Down Under 3rd Overall Tour of the Basque Country1st Points classification 1st Stage 5b ITT dd 4th Overall Tour de Romandie1st Stage 4 dd 7th Klasika Primavera 2006 1st Stage 8 Tour de Suisse 2nd Overall Tour de Romandie1st Stage 3 dd 4th Klasika Primavera 5th Overall Tour of the Basque Country 9th GP Miguel Indurain 2007 1st Overall Tour de France1st Young rider classification 1st Stage 14 dd 1st Overall Paris Nice1st Young rider classification 1st Stages 4 amp 7 dd 1st Overall Vuelta a Castilla y Leon1st Combination classification 1st Spanish rider classification 1st Stage 4 dd 1st Stage 4 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 3rd Trofeo Soller 6th Overall Criterium du Dauphine Libere 2008 1st Overall Giro d Italia 1st Overall Vuelta a Espana1st Combination classification 1st Stages 13 amp 14 dd 1st Overall Tour of the Basque Country1st Stages 1 amp 6 ITT dd 1st Overall Vuelta a Castilla y Leon1st Combination classification 1st Spanish rider classification 1st Stages 1 ITT amp 4 dd 2nd Clasica a los Puertos de Guadarrama 3rd Overall Vuelta a Murcia 4th Time trial Summer Olympics 6th Overall Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2009 1st UCI World Ranking 1st Time trial National Road Championships 1st Overall Tour de France1st Stages 4 TTT 15 amp 18 ITT dd 1st Overall Tour of the Basque Country1st Stages 3 amp 6 ITT dd 1st Overall Volta ao Algarve1st Stage 4 ITT dd 1st RaboRonde Heerlen 2nd Overall Vuelta a Castilla y Leon 3rd Overall Criterium du Dauphine Libere 4th Overall Paris Nice1st Stages 1 ITT amp 6 dd 2010 1st Overall Paris Nice1st Stage 4 dd 1st Overall Volta ao Algarve1st Stage 3 dd 1st Overall Vuelta a Castilla y Leon1st Combination classification 1st Spanish rider classification 1st Stage 4 ITT dd 2nd Overall Criterium du Dauphine1st Points classification 1st Prologue amp Stage 6 dd 3rd La Fleche Wallonne 9th Liege Bastogne LiegeVoided results from July 2010 to February 2012 1st Overall Tour de France 2011 1st Overall Giro d Italia1st Points classification 1st Stages 9 amp 16 ITT dd 1st Overall Volta a Catalunya1st Stage 3 dd 1st Overall Vuelta a Murcia1st Points classification 1st Stages 2 amp 3 ITT dd 1st Stage 4 ITT Vuelta a Castilla y Leon National Road Championships2nd Road race 3rd Time trial dd 4th Overall Volta ao Algarve 5th Overall Tour de France 2012 2nd Overall Tour de San Luis1st Stages 3 amp 5 dd 2012 1st Overall Vuelta a Espana1st Stage 17 Combativity award Overall dd 1st Milano Torino 4th Overall Eneco Tour 9th Time trial UCI Road World Championships 9th Giro di Lombardia 2013 2nd Overall Tour of Oman 3rd Overall Tirreno Adriatico1st Points classification dd 3rd Klasika Primavera 4th Overall Tour de France 4th Overall Tour de San Luis1st Stage 6 dd 5th Overall Tour of the Basque Country 5th Milano Torino 10th Overall Criterium du Dauphine 2014 1st Overall Vuelta a Espana1st Combination classification 1st Stages 16 amp 20 dd 1st Overall Tirreno Adriatico1st Stages 4 amp 5 dd 1st Overall Tour of the Basque Country1st Stage 1 dd 2nd UCI World Tour 2nd Overall Volta ao Algarve1st Stage 4 dd 2nd Overall Volta a Catalunya 2nd Overall Criterium du Dauphine 6th Milano Torino 2015 1st Overall Giro d Italia 1st Overall Route du Sud1st Stage 3 dd 2nd Overall Vuelta a Andalucia1st Spanish rider classification 1st Stage 3 dd 4th Overall Volta a Catalunya 5th Overall Tirreno Adriatico 5th Overall Tour de France 7th UCI World Tour 2016 1st Overall Tour of the Basque Country1st Stage 6 ITT dd 1st Overall Vuelta a Burgos 2nd Overall Paris Nice 2nd Overall Volta a Catalunya 3rd Overall Volta ao Algarve1st Stage 5 dd 4th Overall Vuelta a Espana Combativity award Stage 15 amp Overall dd 5th UCI World Tour 5th Overall Criterium du Dauphine1st Prologue dd 5th Overall Abu Dhabi Tour 2017 2nd Overall Paris Nice 2nd Overall Vuelta a Andalucia 2nd Overall Volta a Catalunya 2nd Overall Tour of the Basque Country 5th Overall Vuelta a Espana1st Stages 17 amp 20 Combativity award Overall dd 9th Overall Tour de France Combativity award Stages 13 amp 17 dd 10th UCI World Tour General classification results timeline Edit Major stage race general classification resultsGrand Tour 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Giro d Italia 1 1 1 Tour de France 31 1 1 1 5 4 DNF 5 DNF 9 Vuelta a Espana 1 1 1 4 5Major stage race general classification resultsRace 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Paris Nice 26 15 24 1 4 1 2 2 Tirreno Adriatico 3 1 5 Volta a Catalunya 1 2 4 2 2 Tour of the Basque Country 3 5 14 1 1 5 1 1 2 Tour de Romandie 4 2 Criterium du Dauphine DNF 6 3 2 10 2 5 11 Tour de Suisse 22 Monuments results timeline Edit Monument 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014Milan San Remo Did not contest during his careerTour of FlandersParis RoubaixLiege Bastogne Liege 80 27 9 57 Giro di Lombardia DNF 9 DNF 34Legend Did not competeDNF Did not finishNo Voided resultAwards Edit Velo d Or 2007 2008 2009 2014 169 References Edit a b Alberto Contador Tinkoff Saxo Tinkoff Sport A S Archived from the original on 2 March 2014 Retrieved 25 June 2015 a b CAS sanctions Contador with two year ban in clenbutorol case Cycling News 6 February 2012 Retrieved 6 February 2012 Alberto Contador found guilty of an anti doping rule violation by the Court of Arbitration for Sport CAS suspension of two years PDF The Court of Arbitration for Sport 6 February 2012 Archived from the original PDF on 26 February 2012 Retrieved 13 February 2011 a b c Alberto Contador Biography albertocontador es Archived from the original on 29 May 2009 Retrieved 18 May 2009 Talento y sacrificio para llegar a lo mas alto in Spanish El Diario 10 August 2007 Retrieved 18 May 2009 a b Past Highlights amp Podiums Astana Team Archived from the original on 31 July 2008 Retrieved 18 May 2009 Contador calm and confident ahead of CAS hearing Cyclingnews 5 November 2011 Retrieved 5 November 2011 Alberto Contador Happy Just To Be Alive 23 October 2008 Archived from the original on 17 July 2009 Retrieved 22 May 2009 Spanish Fiestas Alberto Contador Spanish Fiestas Archived from the original on 2 May 2012 Retrieved 22 May 2009 Fotheringham Alasdair 18 April 2018 Alberto Contador The five races that changed my life cyclingnews com Retrieved 18 April 2018 Fotheringham Alasdair 23 September 2008 Tour of Spain winner Contador is world s top stage racer Universal Sports via Reuters Archived from the original on 13 February 2012 Retrieved 24 December 2011 Contador stronger for brush with death Reuters 26 July 2009 a b McRae Donald 16 November 2015 Alberto Contador It would be perfect to win the Tour do the Olympics and end The Guardian Retrieved 16 November 2015 a b Clemitson Suze 5 November 2015 P Is For Peloton The A Z Of Cycling The Guardian Retrieved 5 November 2015 Alberto Contador Rider Profile Cycling Weekly 27 October 2008 Archived from the original on 27 March 2009 Retrieved 18 May 2009 a b Tan Anthony 17 August 2006 Former Liberty five 2 5 cleared Cyclingnews Retrieved 18 May 2009 Jones Jeff 11 August 2006 Contador crashes Cyclingnews Retrieved 18 May 2009 Stokes Shane 15 January 2007 Contador signs with Discovery Channel Cyclingnews Retrieved 18 May 2009 Quenet Jean Francois 18 February 2007 Alberto Contador on Miguel Indurain s path Cyclingnews Retrieved 18 May 2009 Brown Gregor 22 July 2007 Rasmussen takes control of the Tour Cyclingnews Retrieved 18 May 2009 The Rasmussen schandal NRC Handelsblad 6 January 2009 Archived from the original on 10 July 2009 Retrieved 20 May 2009 Brown Gregor 26 July 2007 Benna blasts to first Tour stage win in Castelsarrasin Cyclingnews Retrieved 18 May 2009 Brown Gregor 28 July 2007 Kid Contador conquers Tour de France Cyclingnews Retrieved 18 May 2009 Contador Another Victory For Discovery Letour fr 29 July 2007 Archived from the original on 8 June 2009 Retrieved 18 May 2009 Hood Andrew 23 October 2007 Contador confirms with Astana VeloNews Archived from the original on 25 October 2007 Retrieved 23 October 2007 Haake Bjorn 13 February 2008 Alberto Contador may not be able to defend Tour de France title Cyclingnews Retrieved 13 February 2008 Hood Andrew 9 May 2008 Contador from the beach to the Giro VeloNews Archived from the original on 24 July 2008 Retrieved 18 May 2009 a b Vuelta a Espana Contador plays down favourite tag Yahoo 29 August 2008 Archived from the original on 7 September 2008 Retrieved 21 September 2008 Cycling Men s Road Race Final Results The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games 9 August 2008 Archived from the original on 24 December 2008 Retrieved 18 May 2009 Cycling Men s Road Individual Time Trial Final Results The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games 9 August 2008 Archived from the original on 2 May 2009 Retrieved 18 May 2009 ESPN com news services 24 September 2008 Contador says Armstrong could pose difficult situation on team ESPN Retrieved 18 May 2009 Brown Gregor 21 September 2008 Stage 21 September 21 San Sebastian de los Reyes Madrid 102 2 km Cyclingnews Retrieved 21 September 2008 Birnie Lionel 21 September 2008 Contador quickest to complete Grand Tour set Cycling Weekly Archived from the original on 24 October 2008 Retrieved 20 May 2009 Contador wins Spanish Vuelta first Spaniard to win cycling s big three ESPN Reuters 21 September 2008 Retrieved 20 May 2009 Hood Andrew 20 September 2008 Leipheimer wins final TT Contador locks up Vuelta VeloNews Archived from the original on 24 September 2008 Retrieved 20 May 2009 Contador maintains lead in Vuelta Taipei Times AP 22 September 2008 Retrieved 20 May 2009 Farrand Stephen 26 November 2008 Contador Wins Velo d Or Award Cycling Weekly Retrieved 18 May 2009 permanent dead link Lance Armstrong to return for 2009 Tour de France Arizona Republic Associated Press 8 September 2008 Retrieved 22 May 2009 Bruyneel Armstrong Contador will have to work together ESPN 2 October 2008 Archived from the original on 4 November 2008 Retrieved 27 November 2008 Contador will stay at Astana VeloNews 18 October 2008 Archived from the original on 7 December 2008 Retrieved 27 November 2008 Cycling and Fame Life and Death El Pais 10 November 2008 Retrieved 22 May 2009 Contador opts to miss 2009 Giro BBC News 28 October 2008 Archived from the original on 17 December 2008 Retrieved 27 November 2008 Brown Gregor 22 February 2009 Haussler wins final Algarve stage Contador overall Cyclingnews Archived from the original on 24 June 2009 Retrieved 18 May 2009 Haake Bjorn 14 March 2009 Sanchez topples Contador Cyclingnews Archived from the original on 24 June 2009 Retrieved 18 May 2009 He said he had a hunger knock in the finale and could not answer the attack of Sanchez Quenet Jean Francois 11 June 2009 Stage 4 June 10 Bourg Les Valence Valence ITT 42 4 km Cyclingnews Archived from the original on 19 June 2009 Retrieved 20 June 2009 Quenet Jean Francois 14 June 2009 Stage 8 June 14 Faverges Grenoble 146km Cyclingnews Archived from the original on 17 June 2009 Retrieved 20 June 2009 Les Clarke 19 July 2009 Contador king of Verbier Cyclingnews Archived from the original on 20 July 2009 Retrieved 19 July 2009 Contador moves closer to Tour win BBC Sport 22 July 2009 Archived from the original on 23 July 2009 Retrieved 23 July 2009 Macur Juliet 23 July 2009 Contador Still in the Lead With Time Trial Victory The New York Times Retrieved 23 July 2009 Contador seals 2009 Tour victory BBC Sport 26 July 2009 Archived from the original on 27 July 2009 Retrieved 27 July 2009 En Paris suena el himno danes en honor a Contador Marca Spain 26 July 2009 Retrieved 26 July 2009 Cycling Contador Tour win celebrated with wrong anthem Cycling Central 26 July 2009 Archived from the original on 30 August 2009 Retrieved 27 July 2009 a b Contador Armstrong trade barbs after Tour Associated Press 15 September 2009 Archived from the original on 4 December 2010 Retrieved 29 July 2009 Contador turns down Astana offer says agent Reuters 31 July 2009 Retrieved 1 August 2009 Andrew Hood 11 August 2009 Paulinho follows Armstrong to RadioShack Azevedo new DS VeloNews Archived from the original on 15 August 2009 Retrieved 18 August 2009 Astana intends to enforce Contador s contract VeloNews Agence France Presse 15 August 2009 Archived from the original on 18 August 2009 Retrieved 18 August 2009 Cyclingnews 19 February 2010 Contador takes control in Malhao Cyclingnews Archived from the original on 19 February 2010 Retrieved 20 February 2010 Stephen Farrand 21 February 2010 Contador wins the Volta ao Algarve Cyclingnews Archived from the original on 22 February 2010 Retrieved 21 February 2010 James Huang 19 February 2010 Specialized Shiv time trial design possibly banned by UCI Cyclingnews Archived from the original on 22 February 2010 Retrieved 20 February 2010 Contador claims second Paris Nice BBC Sport 14 March 2010 Archived from the original on 15 March 2010 Retrieved 14 March 2010 Glendenning Barry 19 July 2010 Tour de France 2010 Stage 15 live The Guardian UK Archived from the original on 22 July 2010 Retrieved 19 July 2010 PA Sport 19 July 2010 Contador steals lead Sportal Australia PA Sport Archived from the original on 22 July 2010 Retrieved 19 July 2010 Alberto Contador Today we could not do like we did in Spa Velonation com 19 July 2010 Retrieved 30 September 2010 Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen 2010 Le Tour De France 2010 World Cycling Productions DVD Contador seizes Tour de France lead from Schleck BBC Sport 19 July 2010 Archived from the original on 22 July 2010 Retrieved 23 July 2010 Mackey Robert 19 July 2010 Contador Apologizes on YouTube The New York Times Alberto Contador seals third Tour de France victory BBC Sport 25 July 2010 Archived from the original on 25 July 2010 Retrieved 25 July 2010 Saxo Bank SunGard Signs Contador s Top Spaniards Cyclingnews 12 August 2010 Retrieved 30 September 2010 Contador wins Tour of Catalunya Yahoo Eurosport TF1 Group Reuters 27 March 2011 Retrieved 27 March 2011 Alberto Contador wins Giro d Italia The Daily Telegraph London 29 May 2011 Retrieved 30 May 2011 Alberto Contador wins 2011 Giro d Italia BBC Sport 29 May 2011 Archived from the original on 30 May 2011 Retrieved 30 May 2011 Alberto Contador will race in Tour 12 June 2011 Retrieved 22 July 2011 a b Hushovd unhappy with delays in Contador doping hearing velonation 3 June 2011 Alberto Contador optimistic about the Alps The Times of India 16 July 2011 Archived from the original on 19 July 2012 Retrieved 24 December 2011 Calm before the storm Cyclingnews 21 June 2011 Archived from the original on 30 June 2011 Retrieved 2 July 2011 The Tour s highest ever finish Cyclingnews 19 October 2010 Archived from the original on 30 June 2011 Retrieved 22 July 2011 Andy Schleck takes yellow jersey BBC Sport Dale Robertson 27 July 2011 Hincapie Ochowicz win in supporting roles Houston Chronicle Retrieved 28 July 2011 Guinness Rupert 16 February 2012 Cold comfort for Schleck as he awaits Contador s crown The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 19 December 2021 Contador who will be allowed to race again from August 5 had his Saxo Bank team contract cancelled last week after the court ruling Contador returns with Saxo Bank Cycling News 8 June 2012 Retrieved 8 June 2012 Contador returns to Team Saxo Bank Team Saxo Bank Riis Cycling 8 June 2012 Archived from the original on 4 February 2013 Retrieved 8 June 2012 2012 Eneco Tour results stage 7 12 August 2012 Archived from the original on 15 September 2016 Retrieved 21 August 2012 Saxo Bank Tinkoff Bank names Alberto Contador s team for Vuelta a Espana 12 August 2012 Contador Opportunities exist every day to catch Purito Velonews competitor com Archived from the original on 15 September 2016 Retrieved 5 September 2012 Peter Cossins 3 September 2012 Epic win for Cataldo on Cuitu Negru Cycling News Archived from the original on 3 November 2011 Retrieved 6 September 2012 a b Alberto Contador leads Vuelta a Espana after brilliant stage win The Daily Telegraph 5 September 2012 Retrieved 19 December 2021 Menchov prevails on the Bola del Mundo Cycling News 8 September 2012 Archived from the original on 10 September 2012 Retrieved 11 September 2012 Alberto Contador wins Vuelta a Espana for the second time The Guardian UK London 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited Associated Press 9 September 2012 Retrieved 11 September 2012 Contador has lacklustre Worlds time trial Cycling News 20 September 2012 Retrieved 27 September 2012 Alasdair Fotheringham 22 September 2012 Spain ready to play various cards at world championship Cycling News Retrieved 27 September 2012 Daniel Benson 23 September 2012 UCI Road World Championships 2012 Elite Men road race Results Cycling News Retrieved 16 April 2016 Contador wins revived Milano Torino road race SportsNet 2001 2012 Rogers Communications Associated Press 26 September 2012 Archived from the original on 5 March 2016 Retrieved 27 September 2012 Alberto Contador wraps up camp sets big goals for 2014 VeloNews Competitor Group Inc 30 November 2013 Retrieved 12 April 2014 Contador rules out breaking Saxo Tinkoff contract before end of agreed term VeloNation VeloNation LLC 1 December 2013 Retrieved 12 April 2014 Contador wins Algarve stage atop Alto do Malhao Cyclingnews com 22 February 2014 Retrieved 23 February 2014 Stage 4 Indicatore Arezzo to Cittareale Selva Rotonda PDF Tirreno Adriatico RCS Sport Retrieved 12 March 2014 Stage 5 Amatrice to Guardiagrele PDF Tirreno Adriatico RCS Sport Retrieved 12 March 2014 Stage 3 Banyoles to La Molina Cyclingnews com 19 March 2014 Retrieved 24 March 2014 Alberto finished second overall in Catalunya Tinkoff Saxo Tinkoff Sport 30 March 2014 Archived from the original on 2 April 2014 Retrieved 30 March 2014 Contador wins Vuelta Pais Vasco Tinkoff Saxo Tinkoff Sport 12 April 2014 Archived from the original on 13 April 2014 Retrieved 12 April 2014 Cary Tom 14 July 2014 Alberto Contador crashes out as Vincenzo Nibali takes Stage 10 and yellow jersey The Daily Telegraph Retrieved 15 July 2014 Contador says adios to the Vuelta pelotonmagazine com Contador to ride Vuelta healing faster than expected pelotonmagazine com Andrew Hood September 2014 Alberto Contador drives stake into Vuelta a Espana VeloNews Archived from the original on 9 September 2014 Retrieved 8 September 2014 Peter Cossins 13 September 2014 Vuelta a Espana Contador wins on Ancares Cyclingnews com Retrieved 13 September 2014 Contador seals overall 2014 Vuelta a Espana victory Cyclingnews com 14 September 2014 Retrieved 14 September 2014 Andrew Hood 11 September 2014 Contador defends decision to skip Spanish worlds VeloNews Archived from the original on 3 March 2016 Retrieved 11 September 2014 Alberto Contador I withdraw from Beijing to focus on 2015 Tinkoff Saxo 2014 Tinkoff Sport A S 6 October 2014 Archived from the original on 8 October 2014 Retrieved 6 October 2014 Andrew Hood 14 February 2015 Alberto Contador confirms Giro Tour double again VeloNews Archived from the original on 18 October 2016 Retrieved 30 April 2015 Alasdair Fotheringham 30 April 2015 Contador moves into Vuelta a Andalucia race lead Cyclingnews com Retrieved 30 April 2015 Richard Windsor 20 February 2015 Contador wins Ruta del Sol stage three and extends overall lead Cycling Weekly IPC Media Sports amp Leisure network Retrieved 20 February 2015 Froome seizes overall lead at Vuelta a Andalucia Cyclingnews com 21 February 2015 Retrieved 30 April 2015 Daniel Benson 18 March 2015 Tirreno Adriatico Sagan wins stage 6 Cyclingnews com Retrieved 30 April 2015 Alasdair Fotheringham 28 March 2015 Contador crashes hard at Volta a Catalunya Cyclingnews com Retrieved 30 April 2015 Alasdair Fotheringham 30 April 2015 Alberto Contador exclusive Recovered from injury and ready for the Giro d Italia Cyclingnews com Retrieved 30 April 2015 Contador ahead of Giro d Italia rivals in opening TTT skirmish Cyclingnews com 9 May 2015 Contador confirmed to start Giro d Italia stage 7 Cyclingnews com 15 May 2015 Fabio Aru takes pink jersey as Alberto Contador is caught up in Giro d Italia crash Cycling Sport360 com Archived from the original on 1 July 2015 Retrieved 23 May 2015 Alberto Contador back in Giro d Italia lead after crucial time trial Cycling Weekly 23 May 2015 Alberto Contador reclaims Giro lead from Fabio Aru after time trial USA Today Emil Axelgaard 26 May 2015 Amazing Landa makes it two in a row in the queen stage Cycling Quotes CyclingQuotes com 2013 Retrieved 27 May 2015 Results Giro d Italia Eurosport Discovery Communications Retrieved 30 June 2015 Gregor Brown 31 May 2015 This is my third Giro d Italia win insists Alberto Contador Cycling Weekly IPC Media Sports amp Leisure network Retrieved 1 June 2015 Alberto Contador seals Giro d Italia after Iljo Keisse holds on for final stage victory in Milan The Daily Telegraph 31 May 2015 Retrieved 4 June 2015 Route du Sud win changes nothing says Contador Cyclingnews com 22 June 2015 Retrieved 22 June 2015 Classifications ASO Archived from the original on 9 August 2015 Retrieved 9 August 2015 Pretot Julien 26 July 2015 Contador double bid fizzles out after Giro exertions Reuters Retrieved 7 March 2016 Kreuziger replaces sick Contador as captain in Clasica San Sebastian cyclingnews com 30 July 2015 Retrieved 7 March 2016 Clarke Stuart 10 March 2015 Alberto Contador confirms retirement date Cycling Weekly Retrieved 7 March 2016 Thomas seals consecutive overall Volta a Algarve victories cyclingnews com 22 February 2016 Retrieved 7 March 2016 Clarke Stuart 13 March 2016 Geraint Thomas stages remarkable comeback to hold off Alberto Contador and win Paris Nice Cycling Weekly Retrieved 14 April 2016 Volta a Catalunya Quintana cruises as Tsatevich claims the finale sbs com au 28 March 2016 Retrieved 14 April 2016 Martin Richard 8 April 2016 Ferris Ken ed Contador to carry on competing in wake of Basque triumph Reuters Retrieved 14 April 2016 Alberto Contador withdraws from the Tour de France The Guardian 11 July 2016 Retrieved 15 September 2016 Contador wins Vuelta a Burgos title by one second cyclingnews com 6 August 2016 Retrieved 6 August 2016 a b Alberto Contador will switch to race for Trek Segafredo in 2017 The Guardian 15 September 2016 Retrieved 15 September 2016 Contador signs with Trek Segafredo on Tour de France rest day Cyclingnews com 12 July 2016 Team Sky s Sergio Henao wins Paris Nice by two seconds BBC Sport 12 March 2017 Retrieved 12 March 2017 Andrew Hood 26 July 2006 Astana 5 cleared by Spanish courts VeloNews Gutierrez Juan 27 July 2007 El Tour califica a Contador de lider limpio y creible in Spanish As com Retrieved 30 May 2008 Johnson Greg 6 December 2006 First witnesses testify in Operacion Puerto Cyclingnews Retrieved 30 May 2008 An Interview with Alberto Contador July 29 2007 Cyclingnews 29 July 2007 Retrieved 30 May 2008 Mandard Stephane 28 July 2007 Alberto Contador maillot jaune miracule de l operation Puerto Le Monde in French France Retrieved 30 May 2008 Hood Andrew 26 July 2007 On the list off the list Alberto Contador and Operacion Puerto VeloNews Archived from the original on 21 March 2008 Retrieved 30 May 2008 German drugs expert points finger at Contador The Sydney Morning Herald Agence France Presse 31 July 2007 Archived from the original on 17 August 2007 Retrieved 31 July 2007 Das grosste Ding aller Zeiten The greatest thing of all times in German ZDF 30 July 2007 Archived from the original on 4 August 2007 Retrieved 30 July 2007 a b Expert claims Contador doped Independent Online South Africa 1 August 2007 Archived from the original on 17 August 2007 Retrieved 1 August 2007 Contador I have never doped VeloNews 10 August 2007 Archived from the original on 28 August 2007 Retrieved 10 August 2007 Video Breaking News Videos from CNN Retrieved 30 September 2010 Weislo Laura 30 September 2010 Contador s Contaminated Food Excuse Or Possibility Cyclingnews Retrieved 30 September 2010 BBC Sport Cycling Angry cyclist Alberto Contador pleads innocence BBC News 30 September 2010 Archived from the original on 1 October 2010 Retrieved 30 September 2010 Tour de France winner rejects positive doping test This Just In CNN com Blogs CNN 30 September 2010 Retrieved 30 September 2010 Contador blames contaminated meat Yahoo Eurosport Yahoo Archived from the original on 2 October 2010 Retrieved 30 September 2010 Blazin Saddles Yahoo Eurosport Yahoo Archived from the original on 5 October 2010 Retrieved 30 September 2010 Video Breaking News Videos from CNN Archived from the original on 30 September 2010 Retrieved 30 September 2010 Cyclist Alberto Contador blames food contamination for failed steroid test amFIX CNN com Blogs CNN 30 September 2010 Retrieved 30 September 2010 Alberto Contador submits final defence to overturn proposed doping ban The Guardian UK 8 February 2011 Retrieved 24 July 2011 Macur Juliet 4 October 2010 2nd Failed Test Puts Heat on Contador The New York Times Retrieved 19 February 2011 Experts mixed on Alberto Contador s tainted beef defense for positive Clenbuterol test during Tour Daily News New York 1 October 2010 Retrieved 24 July 2011 Contador suspended after positive test Yahoo Eurosport Eurosport Archived from the original on 2 October 2010 Retrieved 30 September 2010 Alberto Contador Tests Positive For Clenbuterol Cyclingnews 30 September 2010 Archived from the original on 2 October 2010 Retrieved 30 September 2010 Greg Johnson 30 September 2010 Alberto Contador Suspended Over Traces of Clenbuterol From Tour De France Test Cyclingnews Archived from the original on 3 October 2010 Retrieved 30 September 2010 BBC News Tour de France winner Alberto Contador tests positive BBC 30 September 2010 Archived from the original on 30 September 2010 Retrieved 30 September 2010 Weislo Laura 30 September 2010 Contador s scientific expert De Boer details defense Cyclingnews UCI appeals Contador decision to Court of Arbitration for Sport Cyclingnews 24 March 2011 Alberto Contador s doping case delayed until November The Guardian London 26 July 2011 Retrieved 27 July 2011 Prohibited List December 2014 Archived from the original on 6 May 2016 Retrieved 20 January 2016 Riis continues to support Contador despite ban Cycling News 7 February 2012 Retrieved 7 February 2012 Alberto Contador wins Velo d Or rider of the year award BBC Sport 30 October 2014 Retrieved 30 December 2019 Britain s Bradley Wiggins won the Golden Bicycle in 2012 and Contador himself took the award in three consecutive years from 2007 to 2009 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alberto Contador Wikinews has related news Contador wins 2009 Tour de France Cavendish wins six stages Official website in Spanish and English Alberto Contador at UCI Alberto Contador at Cycling Archives Alberto Contador at ProCyclingStats Alberto Contador at Cycling Quotient Alberto Contador at CycleBase Alberto Contador at Olympedia Alberto Contador at AS com in Spanish Alberto Contador at IMDbSporting positionsPreceded byLuis Leon Sanchez Spanish National Time Trial ChampionshipsWinner2009 Succeeded byLuis Leon Sanchez Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alberto Contador amp oldid 1150307960, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.