Alberto Contador abandons Tour de France with illness

Tinkoff team leader climbs into team car on stage nine of the 2016 Tour de France after suffering with illness and injury

(Image credit: Yuzuru SUNADA)

Alberto Contador has abandoned the Tour de France, climbing into the Tinkoff team car with 100km to go on stage nine in the Pyrenees on Sunday.

Contador had been suffering from a fever overnight and started the tough mountain stage with uncertain form, particularly as he was also still nursing injuries from crashes earlier in the race.

>>> Tour de France 2016: Latest news, reports and info

After trying to get into the day's early escape group on first climb over the Port de la Bonaigua, Contador dropped back to the bunch and then repeatedly visited the team car before abandoning.

See more

The Spaniard won the Tour in 2007 and 2009 and had been one of the front runners for this year's race. Contador fell on his right side in day one in a crash with Luke Rowe (Sky) and Brent Bookwalter (BMC Racing).

Contador crashed again on day two, that time on his left side. At the start of stage nine, he sat in 20th place overall at 3-12 minutes behind race leader Chris Froome (Sky).

Alberto Contador suffered a high speed crash during Stage 1 of the 2016 Tour de France

Alberto Contador suffered a high speed crash during stage one of the 2016 Tour de France
(Image credit: Watson)

Yesterday, Contador lost 1-41 minutes on Froome. "My body isn't responding as I would have liked," he said. "These crashes are catching up with me.

"It's terrible to have crashed like this twice in the first week and to have lost so much time after working so hard to be here. It's cycling, danger is everywhere. Believe me, I did the best I can."

>>> Alberto Contador defiant despite first day crash at Tour de France

The team confirmed that Roman Kreuziger will lead the team in the classification battle for the rest of the race.

"Contador had a fever this morning and that was when we knew it would be over," Sports Director Sean Yates said. "We will now work for Roman Kreuziger in the overall and Sagan for the green jersey."

Contador will need to re-build now to race with Spain in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. He is also due to race the Vuelta a España.

Next year, he will ride with American WorldTour team Trek-Segafredo sources told Cycling Weekly.

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

Gregor Brown

Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.