In the world of cycling, there are names that leave an impression. If we talk about Alberto Contador, surely lovers of this discipline, and those who are not so crazy about it, know that he has been one of the most recognized Spanish athletes in recent times due to his dexterity, bravery and indomitable spirit on two wheels. With more than 60 victories as a professional on his record, the cyclist has prepared some of his most notable triumphs in the Canary Islands, such as the Tour de France.
Born on 6 December 1982 in Madrid, Alberto Contador was a late bloomer on the bike, starting at the age of 12, but soon began to demonstrate his innate talent by standing out in his first forays into local and regional competitions, which demonstrated his potential as an elite athlete. He made the leap to professional cycling in 2002 on the ONCE team and a year later attained his first triumph in the time trial of the Tour of Poland, at only 20 years old.
That year, during a Vuelta a Asturias cycling with the Liberty Seguros team, he suffered convulsions during the first stage, later known to be the result of a congenital vascular malformation. This pathology, operated on in his homeland, kept him away from cycling until 2005, when he participated in the Tour Down Under in Australia and achieved a stage triumph that he will always remember as the most special of his career.
In 2007, at the age of 24, he signed with the Discovery Channel, with whom he debuted in the Tour de France. In this competition, he won the Plateau de Beille stage, the Best Youth classification and the final overall, victories that would mark the beginning of a career overbrimming with successes. This event has marked his entire sports life, and in Tenerife he spent a lot of time preparing for it as well as for "some of the most important goals I have had throughout my career."
The Madrid native says that the island meets a series of conditions fundamental in the preparation of an athlete, such as "not having to be checking out the weather report to organize and adapt workouts, but doing it based solely and exclusively on your needs because you know that climatologically you will not suffer any setback." In addition, he adds that it has "very well paved roads and routes with numerous changing slopes" that facilitate the preparation of professional cyclists.
Alberto Contador has readied himself for some of his most important professional goals in the Canary Islands, such as the Tour de France
If there is one characteristic that defines Alberto Contador it is his versatility, something he has shown by winning the three Grand Tours: the Tour de France, the Giro d 'Italia and the Vuelta a España. Achieving this feat, known as the "Giro-Tour-Vuelta", is only within the reach of the most extraordinary cyclists, and he managed to complete it for the first time in 2008.
His training calendar for these competitions has always included the Canary Islands, a destination that he defines as "a sports paradise,” and although the concentration stages here "were very difficult," it is "the best environment in the world in which to prepare yourself for great goals, with all kinds of possibilities at your fingertips." After all, at the Parador del Teide "those considered great favorites to win the Tour de France joined together for the first time: Chris Froome, Vincenzo Nibali and me,” he explains.
Tenerife is the best environment in the world in which to prepare yourself for great goals, with all kinds of possibilities at your fingertips
His aggressive style and ability to attack at the key moments of the stages have earned him the nickname of "The Gunman." Contador has not only always been an excellent mountain scaler, but has also excelled in time trials, which has given him a unique competitive advantage throughout his career.
In order to train these skills on the island, Contador explains his favorite routes: "It’s difficult to choose a single one... if I wanted to focus on preparation I would choose El Frontón; in San Miguel to perform a 20-minute test (something essential to know if you are in a position to dispute a great lap); for resistance, the route to Teide from Los Cristianos, which is 40 kilometers uphill from sea level to 2,300 meters in an environment very difficult to find elsewhere; if I want areas with more slopes I have Masca, if I want vegetation I have the entire northern area..."
Here you don't have to check out the weather report to organize and adapt your workouts
Contador has accumulated several victories throughout his career, including multiple stages in the Grand Tours, as well as victories in classics and one-week races. His aggressiveness and determination have made him one of the most exciting cyclists to see in competition. In 2017, he announced his retirement after 15 seasons as a professional athlete, ending an extraordinary career that has left an indelible mark on the sport.
