ALBERTO CONTADOR’S FOCUS is to make it through the week-long Eneco Tour unscathed as he prepares for the Vuelta a Espana.
The Saxo Bank-Tinkoff rider returned from a two-year doping ban yesterday, safely negotiating the first stage from Waalwijk to Middelburg in the Netherlands. Marcel Kittel of Germany won the stage but Spain’s Contador has his eyes firmly set on the Tour of Spain, which starts on August 18.
“Yes, the goal was to avoid falls and the best way for that is to be ahead,” he told reporters. ”It is true that we spent energy, thinking that tomorrow is a time trial, but the objective here is not falling, because the main goal is later.”
In testing conditions, Contador successfully completed the 203.9km stage and he was happy with his efforts.
“I had a pretty good feeling, considering that it was not the best day to debut, with more than 200 kilometres, rain, wind and all flat,” he said. ”I don’t think we climbed more than 100 metres in the whole stage.”
The 29-year-old was also delighted to be with his teammates once again and is looking to end the season on a winning note.
“I’m very happy to be back with all my team-mates of Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank,” he said. ”I am delighted with all of them… I hope that in the rest of the season we can be protagonists.”
Ireland’s Nicolas Roche will ride with Contador next season.
