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CONTADORRR!!



ALBERTO CONTADOR NEWS
January 27, 2012










NOTEBOOK EN FRANÇAIS

contadorfans@hotmail.com

RFEC RESOLUTION ON CONTADOR CASE

Spanish Cycling Federation Disciplinary Committee for Sports: Decision regarding the case of Alberto Contador (February 14, 2011)

CONTADOR: "I LACK HOURS ON THE TT BIKE"

January 26, 2012 - Stage 4 against the clock was a stinker but "tomorrow is another day"

Alberto tweeted this photo after the race, with the caption "These time trials in January can't be good! ufff ;-)" (@albertocontador)

Stage 4, January 26: San Luis – San Luis, 19.5 km (ITT)

Alberto Contador accepted his loss of the leadership of the Tour de San Luis with good grace today, after arriving sixth in the Stage 4 time trial. The crono, won by Levi Leipheimer, sent the leader jersey back to the Omega Pharma-Quick Step team, who have claimed it on three out of four days so far in Argentina.

"It was a hard time trial, for specialists. Cadence I've got, but I lack training and hours on the time trial bike," Alberto said. "Anyway, I'm happy. Yesterday's result was unexpected, today's was more normal," he added.

Today's 19.5-km course started on the streets of San Luis, ran out along the highway, reversed and retraced its path past the start house, and finished on a slight upward tilt to the Plaza Pringles. The January summer heat and a headwind on the ride back into town made the final three kilometers tougher.

Contador, as race leader, was the last to finish. With limited live coverage, world viewers waited on pins and needles to see him emerge into view in the final kilometer. When he appeared at last, he was, astonishingly, flanked by a presidential-looking escort of a dozen or more motorcycles. It was an impressive gesture of pride and affection by the hosts for the man from Pinto, but in a sporting sense would have been less than a boon to the racer's concentration.

At any rate, Alberto finished the test in 23:24, 1:01 behind Leipheimer. "I'm very happy with the result and tomorrow is another day," he said sportingly.

He will sharpen his physical performance during the next few weeks. "The goal is not to be in form now, but rather in two months, especially in the Tour, and I also want to be at a good level in the races in March and April," he stressed.

After the stage, Saxo Bank DS Philippe Maduit explained: ”Leipheimer was the natural favorite to take the win today and he did a very good job on the time trial. As I mentioned before, Alberto is not in peak shape and that influences his performance today. And he doesn't have to peak at this moment. With yesterday's big win, he showed his great class by winning a mountain stage after six months' break from racing and that's more than we could have hoped for. Now, we'll focus on the next few stages taking one at a time."

The Tour de San Luis goes back into the mountains tomorrow with a summit finish on the Mirador del Sol.

RESULTS: Contador in Stage 4, 6th (1:01 Leipheimer). Contador in GC, 4th (0:57) Leipheimer)

TOP FOUR: 1 Leipheimer, 2 Schumacher (0:53), 3 Nibali (0:55), 4 Contador (0:57)

COMPLETE CLASSIFICATIONS - PALMARES

OFFICIAL TOUR DE SAN LUIS WEBSITE

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TOUR DE SAN LUIS: RACE ATLAS

VI Tour de San Luis, January 23-29, 2012

Maps, profiles and information about the stages of the Tour de San Luis

GO TO RACE ATLAS

CONTADOR SUPERB IN SAN LUIS STAGE 3

January 25, 2012 - Report: Alberto's unexpected victory the cherry on top of a perfect day for Saxo Bank

The new Saxo Bank kit modeled in victory (AC press room)

Stage 3, January 25: Estancia Grande – Mirador del Potrero, 168.2 km

Alberto Contador attacked on the slopes of the Mirador de Potrero de los Funes today and climbed to victory in Stage 3 of the Tour de San Luis, notching his first triumph of 2012. With the win, the captain of the Saxo Bank team moves into the race leadership.

"The stage was hard, with a hard climb," said Alberto at the finish line, "but we controlled the escape and everything went to perfection. But the one thing I didn't expect was to get the win."

"To tell the truth, I was better than I expected. I worked really hard; I accelerated until the finish. I was able to win by suffering and I'm very happy. It's a prize that I didn't expect."

Contador's first career conquest in the Americas was achieved on a sunny summer day in San Luis province, Argentina. The unfolding of the dramatic events of the day crackled through broken lines of communication. News of an interminable climb to the top of Nogoli, a perilous descent, and a split in the peloton filtered through from South America as the world clung to Twitter and a local radio broadcast via the internet, waiting for the climb of the Mirador de Potrero and the shortest verse.

Finally the words came: Contador attacks! Other aces countered in those final meters, but none could match his pace. Levi Leipheimer (OPQ) finished on Alberto's wheel, but lost four seconds in bonifications.

"At the end I had my doubts, and also before the race, because I've been without the bike for many months, since the Tour de France," he continued. "The first time that I trained was after the team training camp in Israel, in the second half of December."

"This was an unexpected victory because there were so few kilometers," said Contador, modest as usual. "All victories are important because behind each victory is a lot of work. The team has also been phenomenal because they didn't know that this is how things would play out."

Remembering the citizens who have rolled out the red carpet to welcome him far from his regular circuit, Alberto honored the locals with a dedication: "All victories are important, and I'd like to dedicate this one to all the people here, in Argentina, who have behaved incredibly to me these past few days. They are supporting me to the maximum."

Saxo Bank's directeur sportif, Philippe Maduit, described the action: ”It was a perfect day for us, with total control. Going towards the first climb, we were in the first line and we put Jesús in the breakaway on the climb and gained control of the pack on the descent, and reeled in the escapees before launching Alberto on the final ascent. He was superb."

"Naturally," Maduit added, "he's not going to be in shape for the Tour just now, but still he's the best. It was simply a great feeling watching him take off and take that first season win, and we'll try to defend the leader's jersey."

With Leipheimer and defending champion Vincenzo Nibali in close proximity, the stage is set for a nailbiter in tomorrow's 19.5-km individual time trial.

See the official press release (below) for more comments

RESULTS: Contador in Stage 3, 1st (4:29:27). Contador in GC, 1st (12:45:14).

TOP FIVE: 1 Alberto Contador Velasco (12:45:15), 2 Levi Leipheimer (0:04), 3 Stefan Schumacher (0:19), 4 Daniel Diaz (0:22), 5 Vincenzo Nibali (0:36)

COMPLETE CLASSIFICATIONS - PHOTOS (BETTINI) - PHOTOS (BARBOSA)

OFFICIAL TOUR DE SAN LUIS WEBSITE - PALMARES



Complete reports, results, photos, videos and audio from the Tour de San Luis at RACE WATCH

SAN LUIS: VICTORY ON MIRADOR DE POTRERO!

January 25 - Official press release: Alberto thanks his team for helping him to a tough win in Argentina

Alberto Contador's first winner's podium of 2012 (AC press room)

Stage 3, January 25: Estancia Grande – Mirador del Potrero, 168.2 km

Alberto Contador managed a win today on the Mirador del Potrero, the first summit finish of the Tour de San Luis, where he sprinted with his ex-teammate Levi Leipheimer to take the stage and the race leadership.

Alberto said, after mounting the podium, that he was "better than I expected, because I had my doubts, since I've gone so many months without riding the bike, after the Tour de France. I started training after the training camp in Israel, in the second fortnight of December, but in spite of everything, we did a good job and got a victory that was rather unexpected for me."

Contador said that all victories "are important and I'd especially like to thank the work of my team for this one, because it was complicated for me. But I had to respond after the work that my teammates did, it was my responsibility. This victory comes at a special moment, but all victories are special."

Alberto also thanked his hosts for the reception that he's had in Argentina in general, and specifically in San Luis province. "I'd heard very good things about this race, and I recommend it to everyone. The people are incredible and even though I can't satisfy everyone with photos and autographs, I thank you all for how you've received me."

The leader of Saxo Bank knew this climb because he had done reconnaissance the day before the race began. "I viewed it from the car because it rained heavily that day, but I still didn't know just how it would be. We've made a little selection, but I had doubts. I certainly didn't really know what it would be like, nor how the rivals would be doing. But everything turned out well. I couldn't leave without trying."

Finally, Alberto Contador pointed to Leipheimer as "the strongest for the general. He looks very fit and well-trained. For me, this victory was important, but there are other riders who are more likely favorites than I am, for the time trial tomorrow and for the general."

AUDIO COMMENTS (SPANISH)

(Official press release, Alberto Contador press room)

TOUR DE SAN LUIS KICKOFF

January 22 - Group ride and presentation prelude to tomorrow's racing

Alberto Contador with the governor of San Luis province, Claudio Poggio (Tour de San Luis website)

The sixth edition of the Tour de San Luis (January 23-29) kicks off today with a slate of activities heading into the start of racing on Monday. The official launch of the most important bike race in South America takes place at 7:00 this evening, when the cyclists and their teams take part in the traditional presentation parade in the Plaza Pringles in the center of San Luis, Argentina.

In addition, at 9:30 this morning the cyclists will take part in a cycloturista ride from Juana Koslay to Estancia Grande.

An impressive roster will line up tomorrow for the start of the Tour de San Luis, a 2.1 event on the UCI calendar. The seven-stage route covers a total of 1,051 kilometers, and includes two summit finishes and an individual time trial. 25 teams will participate, among them five World Tour teams, as well as European Professional Continental teams and national squads from many South American countries.

The race will be televised on the Fox Sports cable network.

The Tour de San Luis is organized by the Ministry of Sport of the province of San Luis and is supervised by the Cycling Union of the Republic of Argentina and the Argentinian Federation of Track and Road Cycling.

A welcome gift from the governor

Alberto Contador was received by the governor of San Luis province, Argentina, yesterday, in advance of the start of the Tour de San Luis on Monday. Contador described himself as “very happy to be in San Luis and full of anticipation.”

Claudio Poggio was joined by the province´s Minister of Sport, Celia Sánchez, in welcoming the Triple Crown winner. The governor described the event as “a very important event in world cycling,” adding that Contador´s presence is a considerable boost to the race´s image.

The governor, who presented Contador with a trophy in recognition of the Spaniard´s status as captain of the race, was eager to point out that the Tour de San Luis is not only the most important cycling race in South America, but that it also benefits the province´s tourism industry.

Joking about his politically advantageous need to talk up the local continental team, San Luis Somos Todos, Poggio said that he will be keeping track daily of each stage of the race. “I hope you have a very good and successful stay,” he said to Contador.

Poggio has made the Tour de San Luis an action item for the duration of his four-year term, saying that he plans to commit to strengthening the race that he knows is “good for international cyclists because it´s at the beginning of the year.”

VIDEO: CONTADOR ALIGHTS IN ARGENTINA

January 22

VI TOUR DE SAN LUIS: QUOTES

January 21

Alberto Contador, at a meeting with the president of the Argentinian Olympic Committee, after arriving in Argentina yesterday:

"For me, it's a pleasure to be here; it's a country that I've really wanted to get to know. I hadn't thought about riding at this time of year, but when they asked me, I was delighted by the idea."

"The Tour de San Luis is going to be a very nice race for my preparation and for enjoying the countryside and the people of Argentina." (EFE)

CYCLING'S MESSI

January 21 - Argentina, land of football superstar Lionel Messi, gets a case of Contadormania as the three-time Tour winner arrives for the Tour de San Luis (January 23-29)

Alberto Contador steps off the plane in San Luis (Tour de San Luis)

MARCA | by Josu Garai, San Luis | After a trip of almost 18 hours, between flights and stopovers – to get to San Luis requires a change of airports in Buenos Aires – Alberto Contador has arrived in San Luis, where he will roll out on Monday in the sixth edition of what is currently regarded as the most important bicycling race in South America.

With participation by five World Tour teams – Ag2r, Liquigas, Movistar, Omega and Saxo Bank, as well as other European teams like Andalucía, Caja Rural, Colnago, Farnese, Netapp and Tavira – for the Tour de San Luis this year, only the best will do. Besides Alberto, the peloton will count on the presence of Leipheimer, Nibali, Boonen, Chavanel, Pozzato, Arroyo, Castroviejo, Ventoso, Visconti and a long list of other stars of the international peloton.

Above all others, however, Contador is the star. In fact, a helicopter was waiting for the Madrileño's arrival at the airport in Buenos Aires so that he would be able, before taking the other flight for San Luis, to be received by Gerardo Werthein, the president of Argentina's Olympic Committee. The heavy air traffic of the capital, which is normal in this time of summery vacations, in the end interfered with the takeoff of the aircraft, which is why the move to the offices of the businessman Werthein had to be done by car. Contador's close friend Jesús Hernández, as well as Juan Curuchet – track riding champion (paired with Walter Pérez) in the 2008 Beijing Olympics – accompanied him on the visit.

After arriving in San Luis, the Minister of Sport, María Celia Sánchez, went out to welcome him on the tarmac. Several dozen journalists, photographers and television cameras awaited his arrival. "I'm very glad to be here," said the Madrileño succinctly, not wanting to say much more because he hadn't planned to speak about his career or his current state until CAS gives a verdict about the positive for clenbuterol in the 2012 Tour. "My form is building little by little and I want to enjoy the race and the country."

The Tour de San Luis is the first race of the season for Contador. If CAS doesn't stand in his way, after this he will be at the Mallorca Challenge, where he will perhaps ride only two days, then at the Volta ao Algarve, Tirreno Adriatico, the Volta a Catalunya and the Vuelta al País Vasco before taking a break to begin thinking about the Tour de France, which will be his main goal for the year.

TOUR DE SAN LUIS official website

Riding for Saxo Bank in Argentina: 1 Alberto Contador, 2 Jesús Hernández, 3 Juan José Haedo, 4 Lucas Sebastian Haedo, 5 Matteo Tosatto, 6 Troels Vinther, 7 Christopher Juul Jensen

CAS: RULING DELAYED DUE TO MEDIA INTERFERENCE

January 16 - Jury scolds press for spreading rumors, sets announcement date for week of January 31

CAS issued this statement today:

"The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has noted with great disappointment that some media have reported certain rumours in relation to the arbitration procedure involving the International Cycling Union (UCI), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Alberto Contador and the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC).

"The CAS will not comment on these allegations. However, the CAS has requested the parties to clarify whether, at this stage, any of them wanted to challenge the composition of the arbitral panel. As all answers were negative, the Panel will now be able to resume its mission.

"Unfortunately, this regrettable incident has slightly delayed the work of the Panel and the publication of the final decision should now take place during the week of 31 January 2012."

FOLLOW TEAM SAXO BANK @ TWITTER

January 12 - We're putting together a guide at the BLOG

Lots of Saxo riders and staff are using Twitter these days. Twitter's a great way to participate with your favorite riders in their victories, and a place to encourage them when they're no so lucky.

Riders reward us at Twitter with expressions of thanks, injury updates when we're worried, and with photos that make us laugh and cry, cheer and sigh.

True, 140 spaces isn't much. But big presents can come in small packages, and a few words to or from your rider can make a difference in good times and bad.

See our BLOG for a guide to Team Saxo Bank personnel at Twitter.

MORE HONEY

January 9 - Video and photo gallery from Peñalver

Also see the HIS WEIGHT IN HONEY GALLERY at guadaque.com

135 KILOS IN LIQUID GOLD FROM PEÑALVER

January 7 - Alberto Contador is worth his weight, and that of his bikes...in honey

Alberto Contador, wearing the ceremonial beekeeper's cape, is congratulated (AC press room)

The cyclist from Pinto was weighed with the bicycles he rode to victory in the Tour, the Giro and the Vuelta

EFE | PEÑALVER (GUADALAJARA) | Alberto Contador has been awarded 135 kilos of honey today in Peñalver (Guadalajara), after having been weighed on a scale along with three of his bicycles (actually one bike multiplied by six - ed.). The His Weight In Honey prize, a promotion for Alcarria honey, was given in the main town square.

PHOTOS

Alberto Contador's name was added to a long list of illustrious personalities who have been recognized with the award, but this was the first occasion when the awardee was considered too slim to balance the quantity of honey appropriate to a winner. Extra stones, in the form of his bicycles, were therefore added to the scales.

Contador commented upon his arrival in Peñalver that his current out-of-competition weight is 64 kilos, so he brought with him three of the bicycles (sic) that he has ridden to victory in cycling's three grand tours: the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España. Added to the balance with the rider and his bikes was the weighty "Capa de Melero" (a ceremonial beekeeper's cape of about 10 kilos), awarded by the Beekeepers Association of Guadalajara.

In the end, the scales determined that 135 kilos of honey was due to the winner, who said that he is going to share the prize with his teammates at Saxo Bank.

Today's festive atmosphere in Peñalver was blessed by clear winter skies and pleasant temperatures. After meeting a delegation of club cyclists, Contador was escorted to the city hall, where he signed the city council's Book of Honor and was given various awards, like the traditional "Silver Beekeeper," given by the Casa de Guadalajara in Madrid.

Contador said that he received the prize "with pride, satisfaction and special hopes," and admitted that the region's honey was going to sweeten the difficult time of waiting for the final ruling of the Court of Arbitration for Sport on his clenbuterol case. The decision is expected later this month.

"The only thing left is waiting for the final ruling, about which I'm optimistic," said the cyclist, who enjoyed the tribute and the awards ceremony in Peñalver, where he was greeted enthusiastically and asked to signed a multitude of autographs.

It was one of the best attended editions of the His Weight In Honey prize in memory, bringing the regional honey into the spotlight on both a national and international scale.

Prior to Contador, Peñalver has given quantities of honey equivalent to the weight of celebrated individuals like Camilo José Cela, José Luis Sampedro, Mario Vargas Llosa, Manuel Criado, Vicente del Bosque, Augustín Ibarrola and Manu Leguineche.

A press conference was a part of the day's events in Peñalver, during which Contador described his team, Saxo Bank, as "very motivated" with the clear objective of "arriving at the Tour de France at 100% in order to fight for the victory."

"With good preparation this year, we can have a very powerful team," he stressed, although he has indicated that the race profile is better-suited to other riders, like Cadel Evans.

"But the route is what it is, and I won't disparage it too much," added Contador, who is also open to the possibility of riding the Vuelta, although he reminds, "First are the Olympics, which I would like to be included in, especially the time trial." (MARCA)



Alberto Contador, wearing the Capa de Melero, looks on while his bikes are weighed by men in traditional beekeeper's garb (EFE)

THEY SAY HONEY BRINGS GOOD LUCK

January 7 - The Three Kings bring Alberto Contador His Weight in Honey

Alberto Contador will be awarded the His Weight In Honey prize this afternoon in Peñalver. The small country town devoted to beekeeping and honey production grants the award to a person of character at the top of his profession, often to writers.

The mayor of Peñalver, José Ángel Parra, confirmed in a mid-December press conference that Alberto Contador would be able to visit the small town located about 100 kilometers northeast of Madrid in order to collect the prize, in spite of a conflict with Team Saxo Bank's training camp, which is currently in progress on Gran Canaria island.

Photo: Peñalver's statue of a melero - a beekeeper with traditional smock, beret and honeypot (miarticulodehoy)

"We didn't know the date until the last minute, because his agent called to change it to December 31, but in the end, it will be Saturday, January 7," said the mayor. Therefore the Three Kings will bring Alberto Contador several gallons of liquid gold which, according to the pattern set by past winners, is a good luck charm.

"His team boss finally accepted a change as long as he shares some of the honey with his teammates," said Parra. "If he gives them honey, they'll win the fourth Tour, because winners of the His Weight In Honey prize always achieve great things afterwards. The latest example is José Luis Sampedro, who received the 2011 National Prize for Letters," he added. (Sampedro won His Weight In Honey at the age of 91.)

Contador weighs around 60 kilos, less than the average winner, but he will take away a good deal more than his actual weight. Parra said that Peñalver doesn't want to be seen as "cheapskates", and so they have come up with a creative solution. Contador will be weighed, and added to that amount will be the weight of six bicycles, one for each of his grand tour victories. Board official Félix Esteban commented that they want "for him to carry away a good quantity of honey."

"If he doesn't bring a bike, we'll find one and multiply it times six."

Contador will be met at noon today by the Cabanillas Cycling Club, who will give him a champion's escort en caravan into the town. The next item on the agenda will be a tour of Peñalver, something that the mayor knows is sure to please, since Contador has assured him in telephone conversations that he likes small towns, being from one himself.

"When we informed him that he had won the prize, he admitted that he didn't know Peñalver existed, but the last time we talked to him, he knew everything about the town, where it was, how many people lived there..." Parra said.

Next will come the signing of the town's book of honor, in which the signatures of all past winners are recorded. Following will be a press conference with Contador, the mayor and other authorities, as well as the president and vice president of the Beekeepers Association.

After the press conference, the assembly will move to the town square, where there will be speeches and the award of several prizes and tokens to Contador by the Beekeepers Association and others. He will then be seated in a set of antique scales for the official weighing.

Finally, everyone will proceed to the Peñalver Honey Museum where, as is traditional, they will conclude the festivities by feasting on the local paella. It's not certain that Contador will partake of the feast, since, as Parra said, "ultimately, he's touchy about food."

BLOG

January 6 - Track to Cuitu Negru to be resurfaced for Vuelta queen stage

With ramps of up to 25% and a final 500 meters at 17%, the revamped path to Cuitu Negru in Asturias promises a pivotal queen stage in this year's Vuelta.

Get acquainted with Cuitu Negru at the BLOG

RIIS PREPARES FOR CAMP ON GRAN CANARIA

January 5 - Bjarne Riis and sons scout training routes on the island

January 4 - Bjarne Riis, winner of the 1996 Tour de France and current director of Saxo Bank, Alberto Contador's team, did reconnaissance of the roads of Gran Canaria island yesterday.

LA PROVINCIA | by Alberto Castellano, San Bartolomé de Tirajana | Little remains of the Bjarne Riis who attacked on the climb of Hautacam and so denied Miguel Indurain his sixth Tour de France in 1996. There has been a lot of water under the bridge since then, and the Danish cyclist who dethroned one of the best riders in history still rides a bicycle. He did it yesterday on Gran Canaria as if he were just another cyclotourist. On a winter day, the Dane hopped onto his Specialized and confronted the climb between Fataga and San Bartolomé de Tirajana. The goal was to recon the roads of the island in order to tackle the training rides that the Saxo Bank team, with Alberto Contador as the central figure and Riis as the director, is going to carry out in the upcoming days.

Riis arrived at the lookout point on Las Tirajanas, a little before the built-up area of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, tired and drenched in sweat. The effort showed on his face as he arrived some ten minutes after his two sons, Thomas and Jesper – also cyclists – with whom he scouted the island. There, while he took a break, he said that he was preparing the training rides that his team will do next week on Gran Canaria, and that the training camp will last until January 15.

Among the riders who will come to the island is the three-time winner of the Tour de France, Alberto Contador, who expects that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will rule this month on his alleged doping with clenbuterol in the 2012 Tour. Friendly, although with an economy of words, Riis scarcely said "we'll see" about the CAS decision.

About his presence on the island, he indicated that "maybe" he would climb to Pico de Las Nieves, considered one of the toughest mountains in the country, in order to give his riders a tune-up.

With the new Saxo Bank jersey, which bears the logo of the Canary Islands business Anfi, the Dane continued his training and headed for Tunte, where his sons were waiting. Along the way, the cyclotourists, surprised, recognized him and greeted him.

Contador will arrive on the island Saturday

The director of Saxo Bank, Bjarne Riis, indicated that the arrival of Madrilenian cyclist Alberto Contador – winner of three Tours de France (2007, 2009 and 2010), two Giros d"Italia (2008 and 2011) and a Vuelta a España (2008) – is expected on Saturday

The arrival of the rest of the riders on the Danish team is also planned this weekend, among them Danish champion Nicki Sørensen and Spaniards Daniel Navarro and Benjamín Noval, as well as Juan José Haedo.



Team Saxo Bank will train on Gran Canaria from January 5th until the 15th (tdwsport.com)

BLOG

January 4

Alberto Contador's teammate from Astana 2010, David de la Fuente, found himself jobless when his current team, Geox-TMC, was deserted by its title sponor several weeks ago.

Yesterday, the Caja Rural team announced that it had reached an agreement to sign the Cantabrian who helped Contador win his third Tour.

Read about it in English at our BLOG

NEW KIT, SMASH HIT

January 3 - Saxo Bank a blue man group in 2012

Alberto Contador dressed out for 2012 (twdsport.com)

Alberto Contador's team, Saxo Bank, has released photos of its new uniform for the 2012 season. The bold design of the jersey once again features the Eagle of Herning image, but this time on a deep Chartres-blue background. The dark blue/navy shorts are sensible and set off the jersey perfectly, and they will coordinate like no other with winner's maillots from any race.

The Saxo Bank 2012 look is compact and masculine, symmetrical without being predictable or boring. The team has produced apparel saturated with a shade of blue that is intense but easy on the eye, and - best of all - will be easy to spot in the peloton.

This jersey is handsome enough to make us feel a fleeting twinge of regret when the inevitable moment comes for Alberto to swap it for the leader's jersey.

See photos of Navarro, Noval, Paulinho and other teammates in the new outfit at BICICICLISMO. More photos with rider profiles at TEAM SAXO BANK.

Photos by Tim de Waele

CONTADOR EVEN MORE AMBITIOUS IN 2012

December 31 - "I hope to be at the best level ever"

BICICICLISMO | Alberto Contador is set to tackle a challenge-filled 2012 that will focus on the fight for a fourth Tour de France victory and preparations for the Olympic Games in London. Contador said in a recent television interview that, in order to meet those challenges, he hopes to improve overall and offer "his best level ever."

The Tour de France will be Contador's top goal next year, and he looks forward to being "eager to be on the bicycle and in great form" come next July, so he accepts that he should make a "calmer" start to the season.

"I only have one thing in mind, fighting for the victory," he said in a joint appearance with Samuel Sánchez on Teledeporte. In the Olympics time trial, the leader of Saxo Bank-SunGard is confident that he's capable of improving on his fourth place in Beijing, since riding the Tour de France could give him the pedal stroke he lacked in China four years ago.

Looking forward to 2012, his expectations are very high, with the principal objective being winning his fourth Tour de France and adding the new twist of following it up with the Olympics. "This year I'm focused, I have everything very well organized in my mind, and I hope to be at the best level ever," he said. TOUR 2012 ROUTE

Tour, Olympics, Vuelta, Worlds...

Contador thinks that, at least in theory, there's time for it all. "The Olympic Games are gratis because they're immediately after the Tour; the only thing you have to do is to rest. And then, as for tackling the Vuelta, that's where you do have to make more effort, not only physically but also mentally, because it's a lot of months of pressure. And with the Worlds after the Vuelta, it's exactly the same as the Olympics after the Tour: it comes ten days after and ends up being a little easier."

Therefore, he has already outlined the mindset he'll need in order to face each moment of the season. "I'm going to try to take the beginning of the season easier because once I get into competition, it takes a bit of a toll. I want to get a few good results, although I want to reach the Tour de France eager to be on the bicycle and in great form," he summarized.

His biggest goal will be to win the Tour de France. "In the month of July, when I'm at the start line of the Tour, the objective will be to fight for victory, knowing that it's very difficult to win because there are many, many riders who prepared to the max to win it. And in a three-week race, many factors come into play. Luck, for example. I always ask not to have bad luck, and at the tactical level, crashes, punctures... But, yes, I only have one thing in mind, fighting for the victory," he says.

Excited about the Games

Other than the Tour, Contador has a score to settle with his fourth place in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 (a loss of the bronze medal to Levi Leipheimer by eight seconds), and he wants to fight for a medal in London. The Madrileño thinks that his chances will improve because he will have just ridden the Tour de France, as opposed to having just completed the Giro/Vuelta double in 2008. "I feel like trying it, because it's very different from 2008 when I was at the Olympics without having done the Tour de France, and there were riders who had a different pedal stroke. I am aware that it's not a very hard route and that it's better for specialists like Cancellara, Martin and Wiggins."

As for the 2008 Olympics, he revealed that on the way to the time trial course, the Spanish team bus got lost and that he prayed that wind conditions would be an aid. However, it wasn't like that. "It was in our faces, and that, to riders like Cancellara, was a big help, and the time differences on the climb were not that great. On the other hand, on the descent we trimmed back a lot," he recalled.

José Luis de Santo will have to select five riders, including two for the time trial. "Of course, he has to take to the Olympics a group of the ones who are in the best form. It's true that Samuel, Alejandro and I, together with some other rider who can be in good form – we'll ride the Tour and that's a huge advantage and we will definitely make the most of it," he said.

And he makes his own pool of possible winners. ¨For the road race, Samuel as winner – I wouldn't dream of him not being in London – and Alejandro is a great backup. He's super classy and will also give us many options for victory. For the time trial, there's a group of riders, and I'm one of them. It'll be important to see how the year goes and how each person does in the Tour de France, which I think is crucial for finding the pedal stroke, for example, that I didn't have in 2008," he said.

"Personally, the road race is not the best-suited for me, but there'll be other riders, like Samuel and Valverde, who are two great candidates for the victory," he added.

In his opinion, the London Games come at the ideal time after the Tour. "I think, personally, that it's perfect six days after, because it allows you to recover, to rest. That is, you have to be focused in order to pass the finish line in Paris just right, knowing that the goal is to recover as well as possible, thinking that six days later come the Olympic Games. It's going to depend on how each person finishes the Tour. What's clear is that the majority of the candidates for victory in London will have been in the Tour before."

Contador has confidence in the power of the Spanish team. "Without doubt, Gilbert is a clear favorite for the victory, but there are many more. Our team is one of the two or three strongest and I find that encouraging in tackling this challenge."

Furthermore, he emphasizes that the Olympics "without doubt has nothing to do with the Worlds". "Being able to maintain control with five riders is much, much more complicated. And I think that both the Olympics and Worlds are a totally different kind of race, very marked by the long mileage, and that wears people out," he explained.



Flying dragon, 2008 (EFE)

VIDEO: Contador and Sánchez on TeleDeporte, December 18

ETNA FOREVER

Hightlights of Contador's Giro Stage 9 smash: Watch it again.

MESSAGES OF SUPPORT

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OH, THAT THRILLING DESCENT!

August 12 - Relive that nailbiter of a downhill on the Pramartino as Alberto and Samu press towards the Tour's Stage 17 goal in Pinerolo

Remembering theswordsman, d. August 1. RIP

PHOTO DAYBOOK

Fabulous photos from the 2011 season

Alberto fine-tunes his TT position in Spanish Nationals (Josu Mondelo)

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IN THE PRESS

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CRITS, SPANISH CHAMPIONSHIPS, FLÊCHE, CASTILLA Y LEÓN, CATALUNYA, MURCIA, ALGARVE

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ALBERTO CONTADOR WINS THE GIRO D'ITALIA

May 29 - Contador takes overall title, red jersey, blue jersey, Most Combattive, to add to Stage 9 and Stage 16 wins!

A magical moment in Milan's Piazza del Duomo (EFE)

Alberto Contador won the 94th Giro d’Italia today in Milan after finishing the Stage 21 ITT in third place, 36” behind stage winner David Millar. He was awarded the Giro’s iconic golden spiral trophy in Milan’s Piazza del Duomo in a ceremony that was, in a word, magical.



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