Contador a deserving Giro champion

Alberto 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.

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.