Alberto Contador has today announced that the Vuelta a España will be his last race as a professional cyclist. The Spaniard made the announcement on Instagram this morning.
“I’m doing this video to inform you about two things,” said Contador. “One is that I will participate in the next Vuelta a España from August 19, and the second is that it will be my last race as a professional cyclist.”
“I say this happy, without sadness. It’s a decision that I have thought very well and I don’t think there is a better farewell than in the home race and in my country. I’m sure they will be three wonderful weeks, enjoying all your affection, and I’m eager that they come.”
Contador is one of only six riders to have won all three Grand Tours of cycling – 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 initially also won the 2010 Tour de France, although it later turned out that he had tested positive for Clenbuterol in a test taken during that year’s race.
He also won numerous other stage races during his career including Paris–Nice (2007, 2010), Tirreno–Adriatico (2014)Tour of the Basque Country (2008, 2009, 2014, 2016) and the Vuelta a Burgos (2016).
He started his professional career with ONCE–Eroski in 2003, and went on to race with Discovery Channel, Astana, Saxo Bank–SunGard and his last team Trek–Segafredo.
In 2006, Contador and five other members of the Astana-Würth team were barred from competing due to alleged connections with the Operación Puerto doping case but were eventually cleared of all charges by the Spanish courts. Contador denied the accusations, saying “I was in the wrong team at the wrong time and somehow my name got among the documents.”
In September 2010, Contador revealed that a urine sample he had given during a rest day in the 2010 Tour de France, had contained traces of clenbuterol. He claimed that contaminated meat was to blame.
“It has been an honour to work with such a great champion,” said Luca Guercilena, General Manager of Trek-Segafredo. “Alberto Contador has been showing his fighting spirit and his professionalism all year long. To give you one example, in this year’s Tour de France he demonstrated his personal motto in a way we only could admire: ‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way.’ Even after the crashes that took him out of the fight for the first places in GC, he kept fighting and battling for a stage win and to move up some places in GC. That showed how strong he is, both mentally and physically.”
“It was great to have him in the team, even it was only for one season, and we will keep giving it our all to help him to achieve a big result in his last Vuelta a España and it goes without saying we wish him the very best for his future afterwards!”
Contador, who will be remembered for his attacking style of racing, will undoubtedly hope to make his mark on the race, which starts in Nîmes, France on August 19th and finishes in Madrid on September 10th.
Mixed emotions. For me the cyclist you love to hate. Going to be missed in the peloton. Wish him well for the future.
Impossible if you watched the 2017 Paris Nice. Not a massive fan until that race. Full respect Alberto and you will be missed.
Luke Warren
Ah man. I figured it might be time. Peloton won’t be the same without him
Darren Lee I knew this was coming
Yep….he just hasnt got the hunger anymore.
… nor the legs.
I think he has the hunger as he showed a few times in TdF. Just hasn’t got the legs anymore.
Good
Delphi Brazil
Great
Mixed feelings about his career but I will miss him somewhat. Unlike Valverde who I will only have a sigh of relief over when he retires.
Stuart Durham noooooo!!!
Funny , he wasn’t the same rider when he stopped eating that beef
Simon Gardiner…..
Shane Mc Kenna Cyprian Poema Kurzac
Angus Hume Thomas Hume
Scott Hughes
Good riddance to the doper..hooefully cycling can move on from these parasites..imagine how many clean riders have been robbed of victories by the likes of this slug.
Not many
Not many
I heard hes opening his own pharmacy for cyclists.
Yes vamos a extrañar campeon, espero k sigas compartiendo fotos e historias en tu pagina despues del retiro, te deceo todo lo mejor!