Alberto Contador
Nationality: Spanish
Date of birth: December 6, 1982
Height: 176cm
Weight: 62kg
Team: Retired
Previous teams: Trek-Segafredo (2017), Tinkoff (2011-16), Astana (2009-10), Discovery Channel (2007), Liberty Seguros/Astana (2006), Liberty Seguros (2004-5), ONCE-Eroski (2003)
Twitter: @albertocontador
Alberto Contador is a retired pro cyclist and one of an elite group that have won all three Grand Tours: the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España, and consequently is ranked as among the current world's best three-week stage racers alongside Chris Froome, Vincenzo Nibali and Nairo Quintana.
His strengths lay in his climbing ability, strong performances in time trials and tactical nous - the perfect combination for a stage racer.
The Spaniard has won two editions of the Tour de France (2007, 2009), two Giro d'Italia victories (2008, 2015) and three wins in his home tour, the Vuelta a España (2008, 2012 and 2014). He can also count victories in some of the biggest week-long stage races among his impressive palmares: including Paris-Nice, Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour of the Basque Country.
Contador continued to ride into 2017, despite earlier stating that he would retire at the end of the 2016 season, with the Trek-Segafredo team. He did, however, retire at the end of 2017 - having taken ninth in the General Classification of his last Tour de France.
A shadow was cast over Contador's career during the 2010 Tour de France when he tested positive for clenbuterol. He maintained his innocence, but a protracted anti-doping case ultimately saw the Spaniard stripped of the 2010 Tour and 2011 Giro titles, and all other race wins from July 2010 to February 2012.
Alberto Contador career profile
Alberto Contador has been touted as the most talented stage racer and all-round talent of his generation. In four years, the Spaniard won five Grand Tours – including three Tours de France – a remarkable achievement for such a young rider.
Contador is only the fifth rider in history – and the first Spaniard – to have won all three major Tours. Contador is best known as a climber, with victories on the Angliru in Spain and Plateau de Beille in France in his palmarès. Contador’s win in the 2007 Tour came after Dane Michael Rasmussen was kicked out of the event.
The Spaniard handled the pressure of leading a major Tour for the first time in his career and fended off Australian Cadel Evans in the final time trial for the overall win.
Barred from racing the Tour in 2008 because of the 2007 scandals in Astana – before he joined the squad – Contador’s victory in the Giro came despite virtually no pre-race training and a last-minute warning he would be racing.
His win in the Vuelta a España that year was more widely expected, but confirmed him as the strongest three-week stage racer in the world.
Contador remained with Astana in 2009, where he had Lance Armstrong as a teammate. The relationship between the two riders came to a head during the 2009 Tour de France, where Contador felt he was isolated by a team rallying behind the Texan. Yet he still managed to win the Tour for a second time in the face of overwhelming pressure and internal fraction.
In 2010, Contador was undisputed leader of his Astana team at the Tour after Armstrong’s departure to RadioShack. Contador clinched his third overall Tour victory despite not winning a stage and being challenged closely by Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank).
A week after Contador won the 2010 Tour with Astana, he announced that he would be leaving the team. Bjarne Riis then confirmed in early August that he had signed Contador to the Saxo Bank team for the 2011 season.
In September 2010 news broke that Contador had been provisionally suspended from competition for failing a test for clenbuterol during the Tour de France. He was cleared by the Spanish cycling federation in February 2011 and promptly won the Tour of Murcia after taking two stages.
On Monday, February 6 2012, the Court of Arbitration for Sport handed Contador a back-dated two-year ban for testing positive for clenbuterol which expired on August 5, 2012.
Contador came back from his ban to win the 2012 Vuelta a España overall, followed by a win in Milan-Turin.
A relatively quiet year in 2013 was followed by a season in which Contador returned to peak form. Despite being forced to withdraw from the 2014 Tour de France due to crash injuries, Contador made a remarkable recovery to take control in the Vuelta a España, beating Chris Froome to victory.
He followed that up with overall victory in the 2015 Giro d’Italia, officially his second title after having his 2011 victory annulled due to his doping ban. That victory was a part of an ambitious double by Contador, who aimed to be the first rider since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win the Giro and Tour in the same year.
Things didn't quite pan out though, with Contador looking well off the pace as Froome soared to his second victory at the Tour.
Before the start of the 2016, Contador had already stated his intention to retire at the end of the season, with one last crack at the Tour de France on the cards.
Some excellent form seemed to counter his mindset though, with second placed finishes at the Volta a Ciclista a Catalunya and Paris-Nice before an overall victory at the Tour of the Basque Country. Contador then implied that he would consider going on racing for another year.
2017 saw El Pistolero riding for Trek-Segafredo after Tinkoff called it a day. The Spaniard took a super conservative approach to his Tour de France preparation producing no wins but several second place finishes at Paris-Nice, Volta a Catalunya and Tour of the Basque Country.
Finishing outside the top 10 at this year's Critérium du Dauphiné (11th) led to people questioning his physical form for a three week tour like the Tour de France. However, you can never write off the future hall of fame cyclist.
Alberto Contador results
2017
Paris-Nice; second overall
Volta a Ciclista a Catalunya; second overall
Tour of the Basque Country; second overall
Vuelta a Andalucia; second overall
2016
Volta ao Algarve; stage five
Paris-Nice; second overall
Volta a Ciclista a Catalunya; second overall
Tour of the Basque Country; stage six
Tour of the Basque Country; overall
2015
Ruta del Sol; stage three
Giro d’Italia; overall
Route du Sud; stage three
2014
Tour of the Algarve; stage four
Tirreno-Adriatico; stage four
Tirreno-Adriatico; stage five
Tirreno-Adriatico; overall
Tour of the Basque Country; stage one
Tour of the Basque Country; overall
Vuelta a España; stage 16
Vuelta a España; stage 20
Vuelta a España; overall
2013
Tour of San Luis; stage six
2012
Tour of San Luis; stage three (annulled)
Tour of San Luis; stage five (annulled)
Tour of San Luis; mountains classification (annulled)
Vuelta a España; stage 17
Vuelta a España; overall
Milan-Turin
2011
Tour of Murcia; stage two (annulled)
Tour of Murcia; stage three (annulled)
Tour of Murcia; overall (annulled)
Giro d’Italia; stage nine (annulled)
Giro d’Italia; stage 16 ITT (annulled)
Giro d’Italia; overall (annulled)
2010
Paris-Nice; stage four
Paris-Nice; overall
Volta ao Algarve; stage three
Volta ao Algarve; overall
Vuelta a Castilla y Leon; stage four ITT
Vuelta a Castilla y Leon; overall
Tour de France; overall (annulled)
2009
Tour de France; stage four TTT
Tour de France; stage 15
Tour de France; stage 18
Tour de France; overall
Paris-Nice; stage six
Paris-Nice; stage one
Tour of the Basque Country; overall
Tour of the Basque Country; stage three
Tour of the Basque Country; stage six
Volta ao Algarve; overall
Volta ao Algarve; stage four
National time trial championships
2008
Giro d’Italia; overall
Vuelta a España; overall
Vuelta a España; stage
Vuelta a España; stage
Tour of the Basque Country; overall
Tour of the Basque Country; stage
Tour of the Basque Country; stage
Tour of Castille y Leon; overall
Tour of Castille y Leon; stage
Tour of Castille y Leon; stage
2007
Tour de France; overall
Tour de France; young riders’ white jersey
Tour de France; stage
Paris-Nice; overall
Paris-Nice; young riders’ classification
Paris-Nice; stage
Paris-Nice; stage
Tour of Castille y Leon; overall
Tour of Castille y Leon; stage
Tour of Valencia, stage
2006
Tour of Switzerland; stage
Tour de Romandie; stage
2005
Tour de Romandie; stage
Tour of Basque Country; stage
Catalan Week; stage
Catalan Week; overall
Tour Down Under; stage
2003
Tour of Poland; stage
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Primož Roglič halves Ben O’Connor’s Vuelta a España lead as Michael Woods wins stage 13
Wout van Aert takes a clear lead in the king of the mountains competition
By Vern Pitt Published
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Coppi, Pantani, Van Vleuten, Pogačar: A look at the Giro-Tour double winners club
Tadej Pogačar has now officially joined the club, becoming the eighth man to achieve one of professional cycling’s most sought after accolades
By Tom Thewlis Published
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Remco Evenepoel: No one should doubt me anymore
The Tour de France's third-placed finisher suggests that he will have to reduce his time trial work if he is to beat Tadej Pogačar
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
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Tadej Pogačar to ride Giro d'Italia in 2024
Slovenian set to challenge for maglia rosa in May, the race's organisers RCS confirm
By Adam Becket Published
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Alberto Contador left needing stitches after crash at Vuelta a España event in China
Spanish Tour de France winner says injuries weren't as bad as they looked after incident
By Adam Becket Published
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The dog days aren't over at the Tour de France 2022: Canine chaos AND cuteness
‘Suddenly that beast crossed the street and I couldn’t go anywhere’ - stray dog causes Yves Lampaert to crash on stage 12
By Tom Thewlis Published
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Alberto Contador hugely impressed with current level of talent: 'Cycling is living one of its best moments'
The Spaniard has singled out Tadej Pogačar for praise in what he claims is a 'golden generation'
By Ryan Dabbs Published
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Alberto Contador: 'I thought about coming back - I wanted to ride Giro 2020'
Contador reveals how highly his physical condition was during the lockdown last year
By Ryan Dabbs Published
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Alberto Contador sets off on 1,600km ride after his team won a stage of the Giro d’Italia
The retired Grand Tour star promised to take on the huge ride to celebrate the major win for his ProTeam
By Alex Ballinger Published
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Alberto Contador fails to finish brutal 240km ‘Everest’ Gran Fondo
The Grand Tour-winner turned recreational cyclist admitted he was not prepared for the huge day in the saddle
By Alex Ballinger Published
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Trek-Segafredo looking 'to see what's possible' with Alberto Contador
The American team is eyeing a Grand Tour star for 2017, and Alberto Contador could be the big name that fits the bill
By Gregor Brown Published
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Alberto Contador won't rule out ending career at Vuelta a España
While the Tour de France and Olympic Games are Alberto Contador's main priorities in 2016, the Spaniard may still end his career at the Vuelta a España
By Gregor Brown Published
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Alberto Contador wins Tirreno-Adriatico 2014
Bradley Wiggins and Alex Dowsett place third and sixth behind stage winner Adriano Malori in final time trial
By Nigel Wynn Published
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Contador ready for Giro d'Italia bid as Tinkoff-Saxo confirm team line-up
Alberto Contador will be supported by a team that includes Australian Michael Rogers and two-time Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso as he heads into the season's first grand tour
By Richard Windsor Published
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Alberto Contador back on top with help of Steven De Jongh
Former pro rider Steven De Jongh credited with assisting Alberto Contador regain race-winning form
By Gregor Brown Published
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This is my third Giro d'Italia win, insists Alberto Contador
Despite having his 2011 title stripped for doping, Alberto Contador is insistent that his 2015 Giro title is the third on his palmares
By Gregor Brown Published
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Alberto Contador uncertain about Tour de France return in 2018
Two-time winner of the Tour de France Alberto Contador has suffered through the 2017 edition with a stage win his best hope of success in the final week
By Gregor Brown Published
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Sacha Modolo wins Giro d'Italia stage 13, as Fabio Aru takes pink
Alberto Contador was caught behind a crash on the flat stage into Jesolo as Modolo took Lampre-Merida's third win of the race
By Richard Windsor Published
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Alberto Contador expecting toughest Tour of his career
2015 Giro d'Italia champion Alberto Contador says this will be the toughest Tour de France of his career as he searches for an historic double
By Gregor Brown Published
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Alberto Contador’s last-minute attack key as Tour de France heads into mountains
Spaniard Alberto Contador gained time on the yellow jersey and other Tour de France GC contenders with his attack at the end of stage eight
By Sophie Hurcom Published
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Alberto Contador vs Astana: Round two at the Tour de France
Alberto Contador's Tinkoff-Saxo team at the Giro d'Italia looked underpowered in comparison to Astana, yet Contador still won. The case may be very different at the Tour de France in July
By Stephen Puddicombe Published
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Jan Polanc wins Giro d'Italia stage five, as Contador takes pink
23-year-old Slovenian took the biggest win of his career as Alberto Contador moved into race lead on the stage five summit finish
By Richard Windsor Published
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Alberto Contador: Volta a Catalunya line-up 'as good as Tour de France'
Tinkoff leader Alberto Contador says that he's been suffering from a cold after Paris-Nice and may not be at his best in Volta a Catalunya (March 21-27)
By Nigel Wynn Published
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Alberto Contador climbs to victory on stage four of Tirreno-Adriatico
Michal Kwiatkowski hangs on to overall Tirreno-Adriatico lead as Alberto Contador moves up to second
By Stephen Puddicombe Published
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'I don't remember all their names': Peter Sagan introduces his teammates on stage (video)
Peter Sagan gets hold of a microphone to introduce his eight teammates for the Tour de France
By Stuart Clarke Published
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Alberto Contador and Peter Sagan join Tinkoff-Saxo team-mates to climb Kilimanjaro
British sports director Sean Yates will also join the Tinkoff-Saxo team-building trek in Africa
By Gregor Brown Published
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Andy Schleck's bike shop finally opens and he'll be working there full time
Andy Schleck - the 2010 Tour de France winner who retired in 2014 - finally opened his own bike shop in Itzig on Friday
By Cycling Weekly Published
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Alberto Contador to end season at Clasica de San Sebastian
Alberto Contador will finish his season on August 1 after 66 days of racing in 2015 - his last race being the Clasica de San Sebastian
By Stuart Clarke Published
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Alberto Contador to ride Tour de France and Vuelta a España in 2016, Tinkov reveals
In his last season as a professional cyclist, Alberto Contador will reportedly target the Tour de France and Vuelta a España in 2016
By Stuart Clarke Published