Albert Contador gave up the struggle for the Tour win when he departed the Tour de France on stage 9
![]() |
News: Albert Contador Abandons Tour
Team Press Release
After a hard first week of the race battling against injuries sustained in the first two days and suffering from fever in the morning, Alberto Contador was forced to withdraw from the Tour de France after one of the toughest challenges of his career so far.
After a week spent fighting his GC rivals – who had suffered none of the misfortunes he had – and holding his own against them, the strain became too much and the Spanish rider climbed off the bike on the second climb of the day.
With the stage starting on a first category climb with no lead-in, this was going to be a tough day in the saddle. Spending much of the day in the Spanish Pyrenees before crossing into Andorra for the final 55km, the 184.5km stage saw the race ascend five categorised climbs – with the final climb into Andorre Arcalis a 10.1km, 7.2% Hors Catégorie leg killer. Combined with the heat of the mountains, nobody was going to escape the suffering.
There were attacks from the start, first with King of the Mountains, Rafal Majka – for the second successive day – going up ahead with teammate Peter Sagan as part of a large group, before team leader, Alberto Contador also went on the attack. In spite of his best efforts, and after staying with the escape as they built up a 1’30†advantage on the peloton, the Spanish rider dropped back to the bunch.
Alberto had started the day suffering from a fever after working hard on the previous stages to recover following crashes in the first two days of the race. Dropping back to the team car after the descent of the Port de la Bonaigua, it was clear that the Tinkoff leader wasn’t feeling comfortable, having tested his legs attacking on the first climb of the day. Climbing off his bike, Alberto and the team made the difficult decision to abandon before the ascent of the Port del Cantò made his sickness worse.
He spoke about his decision after the race. “I did my best today. I tried to attack earlier on in the race but it was impossible – my legs simply couldn’t go after the two earlier crashes. Earlier this morning I had a little fever as well as throat pain, but nonetheless I decided to give it a shot”.
“After I tried to attack my legs were really empty, so I dropped back to team car and talk to the Sport Directors. We agreed that the best decision was to abandon the race in order to rest and carry out further medical examinations, and we’ll assess my racing calendar now until the end of the season.â€
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Result: Spring In The Park Youth Races 3
- Result: Totnes Vire Support Races
- Result: Henstridge Circuit Race Series 1
- Result: West Thames League Rd 8
- Feature: The Pedal Club Lunch May
- Result: London Youth Games 2022
- Result: SACA Salt Ayre Tuesday League 6
- Result: Tameside Circuit Race League 4
- Result: Lotus Cars Race Series 3
- Barnsley Road Club Races This Sunday
- Result: Ravensthorpe CC 8m TT
- Result: Manchester & District TTA 25m TT
- Result: A3crg Glorious Goodwood TTs
- Result: Oulton Park (Youth)
- Result: Oulton Park (Seniors)
- Result: Castle Combe Summer Series 2
- Result: CDPP Sport Crit Series 4
- Result: Full Gas Spring Cup Series 3
- Result: Lea Valley Woman’s RR
- Result: Border City Whs 18m TT
- Result: Writtle University College Men’s RR
- Result: Santini Bovingdon Bomber Summer Series
- Result: VC Norwich 25m TT
- Result: Southern Counties CU 10m TT
- Result: Cliff Pratt Deca Community Crits
- Result: Mid Shropshire Wheelers 50m TT
- Result: Reading CC 50m TT
- Result: Bath CC 25m TT
- Result: Kent League Cyclopark Circuit Races
- Result: trainSharp Road Race
- Results: Halesowen A&CC Road Races
- Result: Aughton Road Races
- Result: Blackburn & District CTC 2up TTT
- Result: Zeus CRT 10m TT
- Result: Torvelo Racing Braes GP
- Result: Virtual CC 25m TT
- Result: Tri-Logic 10m TT
- Result: Lincolnshire Criterium Racing League
- Result: Goodwood Summer Series 3
- Result: Birdwell Wheelers 10m TT
Other News on VeloUK
- Feature: The Pedal Club Lunch May
- Barnsley Road Club Races This Sunday
- Sunday: Proper Northern Road Race Series 2
- This weekend: 48th Totnes Vire Two Day
- 2022 British Road Championships Venues
- TOUR SERIES: Round 3 (Sunderland) (Men)
- Startlist: Tour Series Round 1 Guisborough
- 2022 Tour Series Rider Squads Revealed
- News: Simon Yates to Vuelta a Asturias
- Events: Shrewsbury Sports Village
- News: 2022 Women’s CiCLE Classic Saved!
- Startlists: 2022 Rapha Lincoln GP
- Startlist: Oakenclough RR
- News: ŠKODA DSI Cycling Academy
- News: UCI Track Nations Cup Day 1
- News: The Pedal Club April Lunch
- Startlists: BUCS 10m TT Championship
- News: Entries open for Handicap League
- News: Tour Series 2022
- CiCLE Classic StartList 2022
- News:2022 CiCLE Classic Returns this weekend
- News: Crowd Funding for Women’s CiCLE Classic
- News: Special Santini Collection for Roubaix
- News: Teams for the Women’s Tour Revealed
- News: Sponsors Needed for Womens/Junior CiCLE Classic
- 2022 Tour of Britain Route Revealed
- Entries needed: Hell of the North Runway
- News: GB for Nations Cup
- News: Road Champs head to Scotland
- News: Tour Series to Race Stranraer
- News: Tour Series heading for Clacton on Sea
- News: Tour Series/Tour of Britain
- News: 16th CiCLE Classic
- Feature: Moda Bikes Vivo Review
- News: Women’s Tour Finishes in Oxfordshire
- Startlist: RCR FatCreations Road Race
- Mini Preview: Ontur round of the Copa Espana
- Startlists: The Peaks 2 Day
- News: Edinburgh Road Club Youth Team
- News: Sigma Sports-Cannondale Race Team