Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) returns to try to win the Vuelta a España starting this Saturday, but it will an uphill battle after breaking his tibia in the Tour de France.
"Being here now is great news. Had been told I'd be here three weeks ago, I would've not believed it," Contador told Spain's Marca newspaper in southern Spain for the start in Jerez de la Frontera. "I'm excited, but I'm not at my best."
The Spaniard appeared at his best when he was at the Tour de France in July. Though losing time in the cobbled stage to Arenberg, he appeared the best candidate to upset eventual winner Vincenzo Nibali (Astana). A fall in the 10th stage on July 14, however, ruined his chance.
Contador crashed going around 76.8kph on the wet roads leading to La Planche des Belles Filles. The 2007 and 2009 winner climbed back on his bike but the pain forced him to abandon nearly 20 kilometres later.
The good news was that his right tibia did not require surgery when he returned home to Madrid. He was able to heal faster and return in time for his first race, the Vuelta a España.
"The fracture is a good fracture," team manager, Bjarne Riis told Cycling Weekly last month. "It's in the middle the tibia top and that's not where the pressure is, if it was on the side it'd be more complicated. That's also why they don't want to operate on him."
Contador was able to train in Spain and at his home in Lugano, Switzerland, but he said that it might not be enough to repeat his Vuelta 2008 and 2012 wins. He faces Giro d'Italia winner Nairo Quintana (Movistar), Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) and Chris Froome (Sky), who is also coming back from a fractured hand and wrist.
"If my legs work, I'll keep going," Contador said. "With this great list of participants do not think I can fight for the win, but I'll give it all."
The 2014 Vuelta, running August 23 to September 14, features eight summit finishes and three time trials. It kicks off with a 12.6-kilometre team time trial in Jerez de la Frontera.
"With Alberto we have the chance to compete on a high level in the high mountain stage finishes and on the medium mountain stages," said sports director, Philippe Mauduit. "I'm not sure of it's plausible to aim for the overall win after only a few weeks of hard training in the mountains, but we'll [show off our team jersey] in the race and you will notice us."
Chris Horner out of Vuelta a Espana with low cortisol levels
Defending champion Chris Horner withdrawn by Lampre-Merida team after cortisone treatment for bronchitis
Alberto Contador will ride Vuelta a Espana
Spanish star Alberto Contador has recovered sufficiently from Tour de France knee injury to start the Vuelta a Espana
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
Back from bankruptcy, Mavic opens new facility in Vermont, teases new product
In addition to re-establishing sales in North America, the historic brand will release new wheels in the coming months
-
Neilson Powless on Saving Road Racing in America, Polka Dots and Parenthood
American Neilson Powless talks us through his 2023 Tour de France, preparing for parenthood and his goals for next season and beyond
-
No Goodbyes: David Millar's Grand Tour finalé
David Millar bid farewell to the pro peloton at the Vuelta a Espana, his final race as a Garmin-Sharp rider. Cycle Sport travelled to Spain to interview the Scot and look back on his favourite race.
-
Shimano neutral service help pull Jonathan Castroviejo from a ravine (video)
Watch as the Shimano head cam captures another incident as they help pull Movistar's Castroviejo from a steep hill side after a crash
-
Chris Froome on Vuelta a Espana: 'I did everything I could'
Chris Froome reflects on his second place at the 2014 Vuelta a Espana, and looks ahead to next year's Tour de France
-
Alberto Contador wins 2014 Vuelta a Espana
Overall favourites ride final time trial cautiously in wet conditions; Adriano Malori wins stage
-
Alberto Contador wins final Vuelta a Espana mountain test
Chris Froome attempts to put time into Alberto Contador in mountain finale, but Contador is too strong
-
Vuelta a Espana peloton pays tribute to Civil Guard who lost life during race
Peloton holds tribute to Eusebio Garcia Flores, the Civil Guard who died during Monday's stage of the Vuelta a Espana
-
Adam Hansen takes solo win on Vuelta a Espana stage 19
Adam Hansen surprises sprinters with solo win; No change to top 10 overall
-
Chris Froome on the attack in the Vuelta a Espana
Chris Froome is seeking every opportunity to gain time of Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde in the remaining stages of the 2014 Vuelta a Espana
