Sunday’s race ending time trial set to be a thrilling one
Alberto Contador had to wait almost nine months for his next victory following his Stage 6 triumph atop the Alpe d’Huez at the Criterium Dauphine in June of 2010.
Contador’s world has changed enormously in that period of time – going from the unquestioned most dominant Grand Tour rider in the world to the very questioned, still top Grand Tour rider in the world, but even without his doping investigation, the gap between he and the rest of the world’s best has narrowed.
On Saturday in Murcia, the Saxo Bank rider put the controversy aside and showed everyone that he can still win a bike race.
When he crossed the line, the Spaniard was quick to congratulate his hard working Saxo Bank squad.
“This victory is for the team. We’ve premiered this year, and I’m very, very happy, especially for the great confidence in me that all the sponsors have had.
With each passing day and each success, the Contador saga seems to get a little further away from the doping process that surrounds his post-race world and a little bit closer to just racing, despite the fact that the five-time Grand Tour champion is nowhere close to free from the danger of an appeal from the UCI. Contador, however, is still well aware of the trials and tribulations of the last months and those that are likely still before him. He gives a nod to those that have stayed close and lent him a helping hand.
“I’m also happy for everyone who has supported me in all these hard months. They have given me encouragement to keep training hard and today, we have reached the reward of winning here.”
Looking back on the stage and how it was won, Contador concedes that he wasn’t able to get away until late on the final climb. In fact, it was with less than 500 meters to go that Contador finally jumped clear of his rivals.
“I attacked the first time over a kilometer from the top, but there were many curves. I had to stop, and I could not go on alone. Then, at 500 meters to the top, I attacked again, and crossed the top with a little advantage.”
Contador crossed the top of the final seven kilometer, 7.5% average climb of the Alto del Collado Bermejo with a scant four seconds in hand and a technical eight kilometer descent still to come before the finish. With Menchov and Coppel right on his heels, the mountain goat turned descending demon to hold off the pursuit from behind.
The descent wasn’t without incident though. Contador admits that he nearly overcooked a turn on the way to his first win of 2011.
“Yes, especially in a left curve, where I very nearly lost the road. We had to take risks, but we’ve done it.”
With a victory in the bag, the Vuelta a Murcia is already a success for Contador and his Saxo Bank team. However, he has a bit of pressure heading into tomorrow – if he loses a second consecutive early season time trial, the questions around his contre la montre skills will continue to grow. It wasn’t all that long ago that Contador was a fair bet against even a rider like Fabian Cancellara. Even if Contador returns to his best time trialing form tomorrow, he’ll still have his hands full with two-time Grand Tour winner, Denis Menchov only five seconds behind.
“It will be a very difficult day, because Coppel and Menchov are very strong in the time trial. I think we are on equal terms.”
Contador is quick to point to Menchov and Geox as impressing at the moment. Yesterday, he singled out the 2009 Giro winner’s presence at the front of the race, and today, he gives credit to the whole Geox-TMC squad.
“I have done the plan as expected, because I felt good on the last climb, but the whole Geox team was impressive.”
Pinto’s favorite son’s confidence is certainly growing and so is his fitness. Bjarne Riis’s newest star is content with where he is at the moment, but knows there’s a long way to go.
“My fitness is perfect for this month. I’m overweight, but I’m getting better little by little, but I still have a lot to do.”