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Alberto Contador wins Vuelta for third time, Chris Froome runner-up

Tinkoff-Saxo rider completes home Grand Tour hat-trick, Adriano Malori of Movistar wins closing time trial

Alberto Contador of Tinkoff-Saxo has won the Vuelta a Espana for the third time, finishing the three-week race 1 minute 10 seconds ahead of Team Sky’s Chris Froome, with Alejandro Valverde of Movistar a further 40 seconds back in third place.

Adriano Malori of Movistar won this evening’s concluding 9.9km individual time trial in Santiago de Compostela in a time of 11 minutes 12 seconds from Trek Factory Racing’s Jesse Sargent, with BMC Racing’sRohan Dennis third.

Froome finished 63rd today, 1 minute 13 seconds back on the stage winner and took 27 seconds back on Contador, winner of the race in 2008 and 2012, but on such a short course there was little prospect of overturning the Spaniard’s lead.

It’s the second time that the Team Sky rider has finished second in the Vuelta, following his runner’s-up spot to Juan Jose Cobo in 2011.

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Alberto Contador, winner of the 69th edition of the Vuelta

“I still have in mind a sentence that medical experts told me after my crash at the Tour de France: I wouldn’t have time to recover for the Vuelta but I’ve done all I could to prove them wrong. The day after my accident, I was already trying to do some exercises with my muscles.

"I didn’t think I was coming to the Vuelta and being able to fight for GC but in three weeks, I’ve had time to come back to the required level. The first time I’ve told myself that the overall win was reachable, it was at Valdelinares (Stage 9). Until then, I was struggling but I’ve been lucky to always be supported by my team in the key moments, for example on the day when echelons were formed (Stage 4).

"The time trial at Borja completely changed my views on the race. All my three overall victories at the Vuelta are special. The first one in 2008 allowed me to get the triple crown (Giro, Tour, Vuelta). In the second one in 2012, I wasn’t at the top level and I made it thanks to a crazy tactic on stage 17 to Fuente Dé. For this one now, after my crash at the Tour de France, I couldn’t prepare as I wanted to. Firstly I survived, then I attacked.

"Winning against the best riders, that’s what I love. The greatness of a race comes from its participation. We all fought for winning. It’s a bit early to talk about 2015 but I have a dream: to take part in the three Grand Tours. I don’t know if I can do it one day. I don’t want to make any plan tonight but I’d love to know that it’s possible.”

Runner-up,Chris Froome

"I lost time to Contador in time trialling but it’s not a source of concern. I know how I came into this race. I definitely rode myself in. The Vuelta had a really high standard this year, I’m happy to have been part of it.

"I definitely owe this result to my team-mates. They’ve been behind me, they’ve supported me throughout the race, even when I had a few bad days earlier on in the race and I think that paid off. I was able to come away with the second place which, given how I came in, I can be happy with that.

"I have no regret at all on how the race unfolded. I did everything I could. I raced to the best of ability. As a team, we really pushed together. I don’t think any of us has any regret. Alberto was really impressive in this Vuelta. If I’ve learnt anything about racing against him, it’s to not let him get any time because I might never get that time back. I definitely look forward to see what’s the Tour de France route will look like but for now, I’m very happy to finish it off and looking forward to a good winter break.”

Stage winner, Adriano Malori

“I’m very happy with this victory. I wanted to try and go for it today because of the withdrawals of Cancellara and Martin, there was space for someone like me. What I did today is good signal for the world championship. I can’t beat Tony Martin, unless he punctures or something but I can target a top 5 if everything goes well.

"Today I had one of my best days of the year against the clock. I felt it and the watts I pushed also showed that I was going well. I’ve also been lucky to avoid the rain. I was scared that Froome could beat my time but on a wet surface, I believe he didn’t take any risk. After what happened with Nairo, we are delighted to come out of the Vuelta with three stage wins and Alejandro Valverde’s third place overall.”

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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8 comments

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DrJDog | 9 years ago
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In 3 weeks I didn't hear the word 'doping' used once on ITV4. Considering the field that was quite an achievement. Do they have an agreement with the rights holders to keep their mouths shut?

Avatar
daddyELVIS replied to DrJDog | 9 years ago
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DrJDog wrote:

In 3 weeks I didn't hear the word 'doping' used once on ITV4. Considering the field that was quite an achievement. Do they have an agreement with the rights holders to keep their mouths shut?

Nobody dopes anymore, silly

Avatar
Blue_Brevatto replied to DrJDog | 9 years ago
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It was mentioned ... in the episode BEFORE the one where they got Bobby Jullich in the hot seat, but only to explain why they weren't going to mention it when he WAS!

But to be fair I actually enjoyed it and the studio discussions were quite intelligent. And they weren't made to try and look like a pair of trendy news-readers standing around a laptop placed on a coffee-counter.

Avatar
Yorkiechan | 9 years ago
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Is it just me? but what is the the point of a 6 mile TT for super trained athletes?  7

Avatar
Welsh boy replied to Yorkiechan | 9 years ago
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I think the point is about sponsorship, look at the TV coverage the sponsors got out of it. The Vuelta is also looking for an identity so that it isn't the poor relation of the Grand Tours which it has been for so many years. I think a 30k TT would have been superb for the final stage but, as you say, 6 miles is not likely to do much for the overall standings.

Avatar
cub replied to Yorkiechan | 9 years ago
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Yorkiechan wrote:

Is it just me? but what is the the point of a 6 mile TT for super trained athletes?  7

Finally someone else who thinks this.

For years I watched the Olympics in amazement as the riders competed in TT's over 4km and even worse only a kilometer! This was supposed to be the pinnacle of sport and they were only doing a distance any kid can do the first day they learn to ride a bike. So it came as no surprise to me when they announced those two events were be dropped from the games. I duly expected them to announce a 100 mile TT, a compromise distance short enough to make compelling TV viewing but long enough to attract the world's best cyclist who all focus on 12hr TTs.

Then I got the shock of my life they announced the team 4km as a replacement. It took me 10 days to wake from that coma, my psychiatrist explains to me that the idea riding 4km alone was considered so hard that even the worlds best now required a team of 4 to make it round was so shocking to me that I had to re-evaluate everything I'd ever thought in life.

For my own sanity I can now only express my views on cycling by sitting out front in my rocking chair shouting at kids that "they don't make them how they used to", "250m race!?!" and "in my day we used to race non stop for a week, 6 day races we called em". Finally realizing that kids today are weak willed and lazy compared to the golden era when I were a lad is the crucial piece of logic keeping my world together.

Avatar
arrieredupeleton replied to cub | 9 years ago
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Our new letter of the week is:

cub wrote:
Yorkiechan wrote:

Is it just me? but what is the the point of a 6 mile TT for super trained athletes?  7

Finally someone else who thinks this.

For years I watched the Olympics in amazement as the riders competed in TT's over 4km and even worse only a kilometer! This was supposed to be the pinnacle of sport and they were only doing a distance any kid can do the first day they learn to ride a bike. So it came as no surprise to me when they announced those two events were be dropped from the games. I duly expected them to announce a 100 mile TT, a compromise distance short enough to make compelling TV viewing but long enough to attract the world's best cyclist who all focus on 12hr TTs.

Then I got the shock of my life they announced the team 4km as a replacement. It took me 10 days to wake from that coma, my psychiatrist explains to me that the idea riding 4km alone was considered so hard that even the worlds best now required a team of 4 to make it round was so shocking to me that I had to re-evaluate everything I'd ever thought in life.

For my own sanity I can now only express my views on cycling by sitting out front in my rocking chair shouting at kids that "they don't make them how they used to", "250m race!?!" and "in my day we used to race non stop for a week, 6 day races we called em". Finally realizing that kids today are weak willed and lazy compared to the golden era when I were a lad is the crucial piece of logic keeping my world together.

Avatar
mrmo replied to cub | 9 years ago
0 likes
cub wrote:

For my own sanity I can now only express my views on cycling by sitting out front in my rocking chair shouting at kids that "they don't make them how they used to", "250m race!?!" and "in my day we used to race non stop for a week, 6 day races we called em". Finally realizing that kids today are weak willed and lazy compared to the golden era when I were a lad is the crucial piece of logic keeping my world together.

But the UCI in their madness banned amphetamines and pot belge. Making such events inhumane. Admittedly they are allowed free reign with tramadol, but probably not the best choice if you need to stay awake for days.

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