www.albertocontadornotebook.info - Alberto Contador Fans Notebook
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ALBERTO CONTADOR NEWS
July 2, 2009
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NEXT RACE: TOUR DE FRANCE
Starts Saturday, July 4th, in Monaco!
BON VOYAGE, ALBERTO!
June 30 - Contador sets sail for France
Astana is planning one final training mission before the Tour de France, to look over the Stage 4 team time trial course at Montpellier. After that, the riders will transfer to Monaco, where they’ll be looking forward to the departure of the Tour next Saturday, the 4th of July.
Alberto Contador begins the adventure with hope and optimism. Having won the Spanish Time Trial Championship last Friday is a sure sign that Contador is ready and able to tackle Tour de France 2009.
Have you been able to prepare for the Tour just as you wanted?
Yes, the truth is that I did the preparation that I believed was most suitable for the Tour. I haven’t had any bad luck and I hope to stay on target.
What are you looking for in this last reconnaissance?
The team time trial will the on the fourth day of the race, and it’s a key stage for the men in contention for the overall. We’re going to see it before traveling to Monaco.
Has your Spanish Championship victory had an influence on you?
It hasn’t influenced me too much, but it’s been good for morale. It’s something to be proud of, winning the Spanish Championship, because I’ll be wearing the jersey in all the time trials I ride for the next year. Winning or losing was all the same; my idea was to do one last test in advance of the Tour and, if I won, it would be a moral victory.
What do you think about Saturday’s time trial? Do you like the route?
It’s better than the ones in other years, which were completely flat. The route’s not too bad for me, and the goal is to be able to lose the least amount of time possible to the guys going for the general and, if possible, to gain some time. In this Tour, the differences will be small, and any seconds in the bag now will come in handy at the end.
How do you feel as the beginning of the Tour approaches? Is it special to you because you’ve been gone since 2007?
Of course it’s something special, not because of 2007, but because it’s the best race in the world, the one that changed my life, and because I’ve prepared for it all year, apart from the fact that I didn’t do it last year.
What do you like and what do you miss in this route?
I miss a more decisive summit in the first or second week than what we’ve got here, something like the Aubisque or Plateau de Beille when I won in 2007. On the other hand, I like the initial time trial, it’s more kilometers, which is a relatively good distance for me. I also like it that the third week is the hardest, with the recuperation factor influencing each stage—that gives me an edge.
Has the pressure of being considered one of the main favorites affected you?
Everybody expects you to win, but I’m aware that that’s very difficult. I’m going to try everything in my power, but I’m aware that it’s difficult. There’s a group of riders with options over and above the rest and I’m there, no better or worse than the others. But the Tour is 21 days long and there are a number of factors in play: crashes, various situations…I’m one favorite, and so are other guys. (AC press room)
NOT ALL NEWS IS TOUR
June 30 - A namesake and a posh new crit
BABY ALBERTO RICCÒ
Italian cyclist Ricardo Riccò has told the French paper Le Figaro that he will name his soon-to-be-born son Alberto, in honor of his “great rival and friend, Contador.”
Riccò was Contador’s fiercest rival at last year’s Giro, where his incendiary personality failed to fuel a GC victory over Alberto. He is currently serving a 20-month suspension for doping during Tour de France 2008.
CONTADOR TO CANCÚN CRIT
Alberto Contador has agreed to participate in the Gran Premio Internacional of Cancún. He was guest of honor today at the presentation festivities at Pinto’s Hotel Las Artes. Olympic gold medalist Samuel Sánchez has been invited to the Mexican ride as well, and appeared today with Contador.
The Mexican authorities decided to hold the ceremony in Pinto, where Contador could attend without disrupting his Tour preparation.
This is the inaugural year of the GP Cancún. The criterium is scheduled for October 14, following one of the nation’s most important bike races, the Vuelta a Chihuahua (October 4 – 10).
In a manner similar to the Amstel Curaçao Race, organizers will invite an all-star list of cyclists who will race and enjoy a few days vacation in the spectacular setting. An international campaign will promote the event. (biciclismo.com)
ASTANA ROSTER POLEMICS
June 29 - Benjamin Noval's comments on not making the Tour squad
Contador and Noval greet fans in Missouri (photo by Rebble Kelsey)
Contador will go to the Tour without bodyguard
06/26/09 - Benjamin Noval became an essential rider to Alberto Contador when he made his first conquest in the Tour in 2007. Since then, the Asturian has assumed the position of right-hand man wherever the climber from Pinto has participated. Last year he helped him win the *Giro and the Vuelta a España, and since the first of this season they’ve told him that they’re counting on him for the Tour.
Powerful rolleur, bodyguard deluxe at crucial moments, Contador’s “shadow” has carried out the same plan as his team leader. That leader has always counted on Noval, until yesterday Johan Bruyneel told him that the Asturian will not be along for the trip to the most important race in the world.
“For the good of the group, I’m not taking you.” This was the only explanation that Bruyneel gave Noval for drawing up a team consisting of Contador, Armstrong, Leipheimer, Popovych, Zubeldia, Sergio Paulinho, Dmitriy Muravyev, and the Swiss rider Gregory Rast, who has displaced the Asturian.
“Now I’m having an anxiety attack, because the only explanation that I’ve received isn’t convincing, nor is it based on sporting reasons,” explained the rider who, after months of preparation has seen his work ruined.
“My morale has hit rock bottom, because I sincerely believe that Alberto needs me. My work is to protect him, to prevent crashes. Now he’s left with only Paulinho, whom he also trusts.”
Noval understands that the team is committed to Kazakhstan and needs to include a rider from that country (Muravyev) in the “eight” bound for the Tour. He’s also aware that Bruyneel had a tiff with Lance Armstrong because the latter wanted to insist on including a third American and special helper of his, Chris Horner. Bruyneel did not consent and, feeling duty-bound to the prinicple of fairness, threw out Noval. “I want a more international team,” he said.
But the Asturian, who has both roomed with Contador on the road and joined him in training camps in the Pyrenees and Alps, knows that a three week race is very long time for a rider who is battling for the overall victory.
“I’m a nervous wreck, because I see that they’re not treating Alberto like the great rider he is. They don’t value him as a Tour winner, because the least they can do is ask him what he needs. I know that he’s very hurt, but what he must do now is forget all about it and concentrate on winning the Tour. It’s the best thing he can do. (Agustí Bernaus, sport.es)
*Due to illness, Noval did not ride the 2008 Giro. -ed.
CONTADOR KING OF SPAIN!
June 26 - Alberto rules Spanish national time trial
Alberto Contador destroyed the field today in Cantabria, seizing the title in the Spanish Championship time trial.
Contador devoured the course in 1.04.40, a hefty 37 seconds ahead of last year's champ, Luis León Sánchez. Rubén Plaza arrived third at 1.05.
Alberto has claimed the right to wear his nation's championship jersey in the Tour de France, starting with the Stage 1 time trial in Monaco.
¡BRAVISSIMO, CAMPEÓN!
GO TO RACE WATCH for results, report and Alberto's comments.
(Photo Reuters)
A BOOK OF MIRACLES AND MIGHTY FEATS
Get ready for...
Whether he's in the mountains or on the crono bike, Alberto Contador is the sensational attack-cyclist who has redefined the word spectacle.
In just two days, Contador will begin a three-week journey to Paris. His mission: to take back the maillot jaune.
Read the book of his odyssey. It's gripping. It's dangerous. It's almost here.
Contador's Spectacular Tour de France Book
CONTADOR ON PODIUM IN DAUPHINÉ
June 15 - Alberto a cool third in cycling monument
Tomas Vaitkus and Haimar Zubeldia line up at the start with race leader (soon-to-be winner) Alejandro Valverde. Astana went on to win the teams competition. (photoKahane)
Alberto Contador stuck like birdlime to Alejandro Valverde and Cadel Evans in the later stages of the Dauphiné Libéré to emerge third overall in Grenoble yesterday.
GO TO RACE WATCH
CHRISTINE'S DIARY
The Notebook at the Dauphiné Libéré - June 7-14
Contador and Christine, pre-race (photo by Kahane)
June 14 - Christine and Roger arrived home safe in Paris after a wild, wonderful week at their favorite race, the Dauphiné Libéré. They witnessed first-hand the chase at Briançon, as well as the cat and mouse game in Stage 7, and were on hand to say good-bye to the team at the race's end in Grenoble.
Read Christine's entire Dauphiné Diary 09.
Christine's fabulous TWITPIC PHOTO GALLERY is still growing.
Bravo and thanks a million to Christine and Roger for this magnificent project.
And thanks, Alberto, for allowing us to get close. We know it will be different at the Tour!
NEWSLETTER
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VUELTA AL PAIS VASCO 2009
Two in a row for Alberto in Basque Country
Contant rain. Fierce opposition. Nothing could keep Contador from a historic victory at Arrate and a second consecutive title.
Victory at País Vasco marked the end of the first half of the season. Now Contador takes a break to recuperate and plan for the Tour de France.
GO TO RACE WATCH
VUELTA A CASTILLA Y LEÓN 2009
Astana gets a brilliant double victory
Alberto and team made leader Levi Leipheimer a winner after six magnificent days.
Contador, 2nd, chose a support role to benefit Leipheimer, whom he determined the better man for the parcours.
GO TO RACE WATCH
PARIS-NICE 2009
Contador returns to France
Contador's first race in France since winning the Tour was a wild ride. Competition was fierce, lack of team support, an enigma.
In a gripping story, he was the protagonist who failed to get the prize, but was a hero, nevertheless.
GO TO RACE WATCH
VOLTA AO ALGARVE 2009
Contador's first win of '09
Victory in Portugal started 2009 on a sweet note.
Two stage wins, the overall, and the affection of the Portuguese fans made Alberto Contador's first ride in the country an experience worth repeating.
GO TO RACE WATCH
IMAGES OF THE TRIPLE CHAMPION
Contador won the Tour de France on July 29, 2007 (DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images)
For photos, GO TO GALLERY
See more images of Alberto in our Vuelta, Giro, and Beijing Olympics sections.
To my dear dad, Bob Bell (April 14, 1931 - August 7, 2008)
"Finis vitae sed non amoris"
DISCLAIMER : albertocontadornotebook.info is compiled by Rebecca Bell. The aim is to celebrate the achievements of Alberto Contador. Responsibility for all content lies with Rebecca Bell. Information and photographs is gathered and reproduced in good faith from published sources (online and print). The editors’ decision is final. We always seek to credit photographs where possible. On occasion, the original source of photography may not be available. If we have used your photos, please contact and we’ll be pleased to credit your work.
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