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Contador a deserving Giro champion
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Enlarge textAlberto Contador may not have won a stage in this year's Giro, but he's proven to be the complete all-rounder, playing by the rules, and was cool throughout.
- 17 Comments | Join the discussion
Some critics say Alberto Contador has no right to be the winner of the 2008 Giro d'Italia - after all he failed to win a stage during the three week race.
So what!
While riders such as Riccardo Ricco and Emanuele Sella enjoyed their share of victories, niether was good enough to grab the leader's jersey when it mattered most - on the final stage.
Isn't that what Grand Tours are all about?
Contador may not have won a stage, but he's proven to be the complete all-rounder.
He played by the rules and unlike Ricco who speaks his mind and shoots from the hip by criticising those who fail to attack, Contador was cool throughout.
Ricco is a wonderful talent and there's no doubt he'll be around for many years to come, but he's got to improve his time trial skills.
If Ricco wasn't whinging about Contador's lack of agression on the mountains, he'd complain to those he thought were helping the Spaniard limit his losses on the steep slopes.
In the end Contador wins fair-and-square, but while some compare his riding style to that of Lance Armstrong, I'll admit this 27-year-old has a long way to go to before being compared with the great American.
He simply is not in the same league - yet.
If it wasn't for Contador's reliable teammates - particularly Andreas Contador - Astana would have had a lean time in Italy.
For mine, the revelation of the Giro was Emanuele Sella and his CSF Navigare team.
By winning three stages, he's turned out to be a real a pocket dynamo - a real mountain goat with energy to burn.
Before the Giro's latest edition, Sella had only enjoyed one previous major victory at this level.
He's now risen to national hero status, but sadly those talents won't be appreciated in the Tour de France as Navigare is a Continental-registered team and will not be invited.
Praise must also go to Adam Hansen, Matt Lloyd and Nick Gates - the three surviving Aussies who made it to the finish line without too much fuss or injury.
It has been a great Giro but bring on the Tour - it can only get better.
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Comments (17)
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03 Jun 2008 10:59 AEST
From: Newcastle
Excellent Race
Contador was the best rider over 3 weeks - not just on one day. It's no big deal that he didn't win a stage. Salvodelli didn't win a stage in the 2005 Giro. Both men limited their losses and played to their stengths. To win such a race with a weeks notice of invitation says a lot about his ability. Clearly one of the strongest tour riders in the world without setting aside an entire season to do it. I would like to see more coverage of this race, much like the Tour.
02 Jun 2008 21:59 AEST
From: box hill south
contador worthy, ricco spoilt brat.
ricco should worry about is own problems and weaknesses before complaining and whinging all the time about other cyclists in the race. work on your time trial chief and less looking like a backstreet boy at press conferences. as for alberto, no preperation still produces the goods. worthy champion.
02 Jun 2008 20:27 AEST
From: Melbourne
Thank you
Thank you SBS for your committment to cycling - bring it on.
02 Jun 2008 20:16 AEST
From: Dog House
Barking mad
The Tour de France should have the best teams with the best riders bar none because it is the Olympics of cycling. In fact it's bigger and better than the Olympics. For riders such as Di Luca, Ricco, Simoni, Sella etc why not have a one-off "super team" invited to in the Tour? I'd like to see that...
02 Jun 2008 19:43 AEST
From: Rostrevor
Well done, Contador, and SBS
Thank you SBS for bring us the Giro, something the other stations or newspapers wouldn't even bother with! Keep it up and hopefully you with bring us No.3 the Vuelta!. Congratulations to Contador, winning the big tours at his age, what great future he has! We certain need him in the Tour but I feel his team, Astana need to pay for their past. The 2008 Tour will be a great race regardless who will be there, battles of endurance like the Giro will allow new talents rise to the top, Viva Cycling!
02 Jun 2008 18:48 AEST
From: Mona Vale
Thanks for the Giro
SBS and Skoda deserve congratulations and a big thanks for bringing some of the Giro regularly into our living rooms. It was an exciting Tour, aided by the fact that big Teams like Astana, CSC, High Road, Slipstream and Liquigas took it seriously and fielded strong teams. Yet local heros on "minor" teams like, Sella, Ricco, Di Luca and Simoni managed to ignite the action. We were lucky to get any coverage, but the mountain stages clearly deserved more time to capture all the action. Thank you!
02 Jun 2008 18:11 AEST
From: The east coast
No Giro
I've been watching the sports news channels this afternoon. This what we're served up. The weekend wash-up from the AFL, the NRL, the Super 14 rugby, the Test cricket, the French Open tennis, US golf the Socceroos etc etc etc. There's nothing on the Giro. Can someone please tell me why?
02 Jun 2008 18:07 AEST
From: St Peters
Giro/Tour double
Win both the Giro and the Tour. Contador would have made it happen.
02 Jun 2008 17:57 AEST
From: Lower Templestowe
Contador for Le Tour
I would have loved to see Contador also ride the Tour. He's capable of dispelling the notion we hear so frequently from cycling commentators that it's not possible to win the Giro and the Tour in the same year.
02 Jun 2008 17:53 AEST
From: Gold Coast
Gates
What about Nick Gates - "Gatsey" and Stuart O'Grady - Stuey.
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