Alberto Contador

Alberto Contador

Name	Alberto Contador
Birth name
Birth date	December 6, 1982
Birth place	Pinto, Madrid, Spain
Death date
Death place
Alma mater
Occupation	Professional Cyclist
Years active	2003–2017
Organization
Known for
Notable works
Spouse(s)
Website

Alberto Contador Velasco (born December 6, 1982) is a retired Spanish professional road racing cyclist. He is widely regarded as one of the most talented and successful cyclists of his generation, having won multiple Grand Tours during his career. Contador is known for his aggressive riding style and his ability to excel in both climbing and time-trialing.

Early Life and Career

Alberto Contador was born in Pinto, Madrid, Spain. He began cycling at a young age and quickly showed promise in the sport. Contador joined the amateur team Iberdrola-Loinaz in 2000, where he began to develop his skills as a climber.

In 2003, Contador turned professional with the ONCE-Eroski team. His early career was marked by a serious health scare when he suffered a cerebral cavernoma, which required surgery. Despite this setback, Contador returned to racing and began to establish himself as a formidable competitor.

Professional Career

Contador's breakthrough came in 2007 when he won the Tour de France, riding for the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team. His victory was marked by his exceptional climbing ability, particularly in the mountain stages.

In 2008, Contador joined the Astana team and won the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España, becoming one of the few cyclists to win all three Grand Tours.

Contador continued to achieve success in subsequent years, winning the Tour de France again in 2009. However, his career was not without controversy. In 2010, he tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol during the Tour de France. Contador claimed the positive test was due to contaminated meat, but he was stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title and received a two-year ban.

After serving his suspension, Contador returned to racing and continued to perform at a high level. He won the Vuelta a España in 2012 and 2014, and the Giro d'Italia in 2015.

Retirement

Alberto Contador announced his retirement from professional cycling in 2017. His final race was the Vuelta a España, where he won the prestigious stage to the Alto de l'Angliru, one of the most challenging climbs in professional cycling.

Legacy

Contador is remembered for his attacking style and his ability to animate races. He is one of the few cyclists to have won all three Grand Tours, a testament to his versatility and skill. Despite the controversies, his achievements on the bike have left a lasting impact on the sport.

Also see

• Tour de France
• Giro d'Italia
• Vuelta a España
• Grand Tours
• Astana (cycling team)
• Clenbuterol