On the final mountain stage of the 2017 Vuelta a Espana, Alberto Contador went on the attack. After following teammate Jarlinson Pantano’s acceleration on the slick and dangerous descent ahead of the 12-kilometre climb of the Angliru at the end of stage 20, Contador set off at the bottom and by the top of the iconic ascent had added one more big win to his palmarès.
Contador’s win will be the last of his pro career which comes to an end in Madrid tomorrow and despite not challenging for the GC, he will be remembered for this stage win rather than where he finished overall.
Contador said: “The truth is it has been a very, very special day. I think it’s very difficult to say good bye in a better way than this, in this place, in this event. In the end, it’s a full stop at the end of a career in which I have done everything I wanted. I think it’s been a beautiful Vuelta even though I am not on the podium. But perhaps if I had been in contention for the overall podium I would have ridden in a different way, more conservative, and instead I have ridden the race I have ridden – I look at the photos, and almost every day there are pictures of me alone because I have been on the attack.”
Contador fell short of the final podium by 20 seconds, but it mattered little – he finished his career on top, and will be remembered by his fans for how he fought his way up the Angliru.
“I knew it was going to be a very special day, the road full of people and everyone watching the stage, and I set the goal for myself of winning on the Angliru,” continued Contador. “This morning I wanted to win, and when I crossed the line, I thought to myself: goal completed.”
“In the end, we couldn’t take the podium, but this is not what’s important,” added Contador. “What’s important is to take the victory of the stage and finish with this result for the rest of my life.”
His teammates pulled in the first half of the short 117.5-kilometre stage to keep an 18-man breakaway in check, keeping them at roughly one minute.
When the climbing started his trusted lieutenant, Pantano, went to work. Pantano not only paced Contador up the ascents but also led him safely down the other side, crucial on the final slick descent where numerous crashes occurred. It was here that the pair created a gap on the rivals, which opened the door for his last attack.
“I spoke with teammates ahead yesterday and said that tomorrow could be one day for the history. They gave 100% to control the first part of the race. All the riders helped me, and especially Pantano for the descent of the Cordal. We started the Angliru with some seconds to the rivals, and then I knew it was my time and I needed to give the maximum until the top and try to win,” explained Contador.
“Today’s attack was different because it was an attack on the descent. It’s unusual in the history of cycling for this on a dangerous descent, but Jarlinson attacked, and I went with him,” he added.
The gap was all they needed. Pantano threw everything he had left into the first part of the Angliru, emptying himself to a standstill, and Contador finished his work, paying back his team with a victory, and giving the fans a farewell to remember.
“I have been able to enjoy the affection of all the people who say thank you to me. It’s been a remarkable month, unforgettable,” ended Contador. “I think in the future it’ll be remembered that in my last day of competition, I finished it with a win.”
Would love to believe he’s riding ‘pan y agua’ but I doubt it!