“This year there will be few surprises: Pogacar and Vingegaard are going to be the great references,” predicted the seven-time winner of a 'major'
“Cycling is going through one of the best moments in history”
MADRID, 25 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Former cyclist Alberto Contador, seven-time winner of a 'big' event – two Giros, two Tours and three Vueltas a España – highlighted that Spain has “more than enough capacity” to have another UCI WorldTour team alongside the Movistar Team, and qualified as “great news” the invitation to his foundation's team, Polti-Kometa, for the next Giro d'Italia.
“I think that Spain has more than enough capacity, it has very large companies to be able to enter into a cycling project and I am sure that whoever enters will stay for a long time. We already know about the profitability, euro invested and return, of cycling and I think it is an unbeatable showcase,” he said in statements to Europa Press.
During his visit to the Malta stand at the International Tourism Fair (Fitur) in Madrid, Alberto Contador justified that cycling “makes a huge mark.” “The name of the team is the 'sponsor' itself and the color of the jersey is not that of a football team like Real Madrid or Barcelona but rather the corporate one. And that is a very important attraction,” he added.
In this sense, the former Madrid cyclist expressed that a second Spanish team in the 'first division' of world cycling “would be good for everyone.” “Sport is very important, because children are increasingly hooked on consoles, tablets and mobile phones more than practicing sports. And to practice sports you have to have idols and to do so, equipment and structures where runners can land. Without a doubt, it would be great news,” he summarized.
For this reason, Alberto himself, along with his brother Fran Contador, general director of Polti Kometa, and also the Italian former cyclist Iván Basso, are in search of “sponsorship to be able to take the leap.” “We know that it is not a simple thing, but I think we have a very very attractive project that comes from the youth team, then there is the under-23 and the professional team and we hope to continue taking firm steps like the ones we have taken so far and that this 'sponsor 'A little sooner or later it arrives,' he wished.
Meanwhile, Contador fills his agenda with visits and signatures at the Malta stand, sponsor of Polti-Kometa, at Fitur, where he also presented the cycle tour that bears his name in Oliva (Valencia), an “already well-established test in the calendar”, and is an ambassador of the Canary Islands and the Vuelta MTB a Ibiza.
“RODRÍGUEZ AND AYUSO HAVE TO 'PULL THE CAR'”
Regarding current national cycling, he stressed that Juan Ayuso and Carlos Rodríguez “are growing”, and he is more looking forward to the “season” of the older ones like Mikel Landa or Enric Mas. “Carlos and Ayuso are the ones who have to 'push the wagon a little more' in terms of the hopes of Spanish cycling. Last year they had a great season, and we are going to see if this year they can improve it,” he indicated.
He reiterated that it is “great news” to have received the invitation to compete in the Giro. “We have three participations and two victories, in high mountain stages. I think it is a dream for a team that does not have the budget of other WorldTours but works with dedication, sacrifice and professionalism. Apart from the victories, I think we must highlight always the attitude of the team. The fighting DNA, being the protagonist and showing the respect that a race like the Giro deserves,” he commented.
At a global level, the one in Pinto (Madrid) predicted “few surprises.” “I think Pogacar and Vingegaard are going to be the great references in grand tours. Of course, with the permission of Remco (Evenepoel), Roglic and those young people who are growing like Uijtdebroeks, Carlos Rodríguez, Juan Ayuso or 'guests' like Adam Yates and Enric Mas, who still have things to say,” he analyzed.
In his opinion, there have been moments in which the fan could “complain”, but currently, according to him, he is experiencing a “cycling spectacle.” “From cyclocross with mega-idols like Van Aert, Van der Poel and Pidcock to when the first race of the year starts we are seeing exhibitions. There are daring and young riders attacking from afar. I think that, honestly, cycling is going through one right now. of the best moments in history”, he declared shortly before meeting another cycling legend, Pedro Delgado, at VisitMalta in Fitur.