News: Contador Rest Day Chat

Trek Segafredo rider Alberto Contador spoke to the press on the rest day of the Vuelta yesterday

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News: Contador Rest Day Chat

“In the end, my goals for the following days will be dictated by the race. There are four very demanding stages ahead: tomorrow’s time trial, then the 3 uphill finishes, ending with the Angliru stage. The time trial is going to be very hard, and after it we’ll know if my goal will be stage wins or the GC.”

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“I’m pretty happy with my Vuelta so far. On the Andorra stage, I was sick and struggling all day. Without that stage, it would all look very different now. But on the other side, there have been some great stages, and I’ve done pretty well. Yesterday, with hindsight, it would have been better to have been in the group, but you ride for your own reasons. Now, I’ll take it day by day, but I have to say that I’m immensely enjoying this race, with all the public affection being showered on me. I’m savoring every minute.”
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“I don’t attack because I lose my head because of the public affection. I do it because it’s my way of racing and, given the condition I have, and the moment of form, because I can. Obviously, you can be more conservative and try to finish 4th or 5th or 3rd or 8th, and lose the minimum possible, but that way of racing is not for me.”

“It is going to be difficult to finish on the podium, but there are still major stages to come and it is still possible to see what I can do. It’s obviously a long way off. After Andorra, everyone thought my podium chances had gone.

But I told my team-mates I’d had a bad day with stomach problems and, if all went well, the podium was still probable. After yesterday, it’s more difficult. I have rivals who are going very strong, especially Miguel Ángel López. But, nothing is impossible.”

“The uphill finishes to come are completely different from the Sierra Nevada. They are Watts/Kilo stage finishes. Teamwork doesn’t have the same influence as yesterday. Yesterday’s stage was not flat but it gave the same sensations. On Los Machucos and Angliru, it’s all about the form of each individual.

“I hadn’t realized tomorrow would be the final TT of my career: it’s a big one! I’ve always worked on the discipline and fought for victories in Grand Tour TT’s, Before, when I was a neo pro, you used to think how you could be more competitive in certain types of TT. You looked at the equipment, the route, every tiny detail.

Now, with team budgets much bigger, more wind tunnel testing than ever, better bikes, it’s difficult to compete with the pure specialists. If they don’t put a mountain in the middle of the route, it’s hard for me. Tomorrow we’ll see how it goes for me. There are going to be big gaps, and it should favor me.” … continued after advert

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“I’m very proud to hear a lot of “Gracias, Alberto”. I hear it over and over again, and it can only mean that people have enjoyed watching your performances, and they recognize your work. I couldn’t have chosen a better time or place to retire. For me it is a hard Vuelta but I’m really enjoying it. On a climb, when your legs are really hurting, you see a sign and hear shouts of encouragement, and it is like a present for me.”

“For me it is satisfying to enjoy the Vuelta a España the way I am doing, independent of the final result. I think people will remember my final result of this Vuelta less than other results in my career. Personally, I’m going to remember the sensation more than the result.”

“The first days after retiring, there won’t be much peace. I certainly won’t get on the bike. I’ll go and have breakfast where I usually go. At the weekend I’ll be at the Giro presentation in Israel, but it will be more relaxed.

Every morning without looking at the scales, neither at night nor in the morning. I’ll be able to eat “jamón con tocino” in the morning. My life will be normal, without crossing the demands and slavery of top level cycling.”

“I like slim fit clothes, so I may have to change my wardrobe! The people around me are already working on it. I’ll be doing a lot of sport, not just cycling. I’ll gain weight, you’ll make jokes about it when you see me, but I’ll try to keep it under control.”

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