Contador back in the habit

Columnist and Senior Features Writer

Thursday 6 September 2012

NOT since Luke Skywalker took on Darth Vader has there been such a battle between the forces of good and evil.

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Susan Swarbrick

In recent weeks Chris Froome has been cast as the hero – representing "clean" cycling – and Alberto Contador in the role of dastardly villain, taking part in his first grand Tour following a two-year suspension for doping.

As Froome and Contador began sparring in the mountains of the Vuelta a Espana a fortnight ago, feverish murmurings among the cycling community soon led to two starkly polarised camps forming. Contador, who claimed to have ingested the banned performance-enhancing drug clenbuterol via contaminated steak (but now appears to have plumped for blaming a rogue food supplement), was stripped of his 2010 Tour de France and 2011 Giro d'Italia titles in February. Throughout the six months he was prohibited from competitive racing – 18 months of his ban was backdated – the Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank rider remained defiant and returned within days of his exclusion ending on August 5.While reviled by many in the cycling world, others have been more forgiving. Since rolling over the Vuelta start line in Pamplona, Contador has been embraced by the Spanish crowds as a returning hero. As the clock ticks down towards the final stage, many are banking on recompense for the rider they call "El Pistolero" and "Bertie".With Froome's chances of victory – or even a podium spot for that matter – now extinguished, Contador looks almost certain to finish on top. Yesterday's stage win sees the rider lead fellow countrymen, Alejandro Valverde by 1min 52sec and Joaquin Rodriguez by 2min 28sec. Froome, who finished second in last year's Vuelta, tails by 9min 40sec.Less than 700km now lie between Contador and a triumphant finale in Madrid on Sunday – effectively two fingers up to the UCI, WADA and his many detractors.Perhaps most galling to his critics, more so than the actual doping offence itself, is Contador's apparent unwillingness to concede guilt. It stands at odds with the likes of David Millar who, suspended between 2004 and 2006 after admitting to taking blood boosting Erythropoietin (EPO), has been positively evangelical in his penance and is now a fervent anti-doping campaigner. Others, while less vocal, have at least gone through pained window dressing PR exercises of choreographed remorse. Contador, however, has been unrepentant.In an interview last week Froome and Contador were each asked to name their idol. While Froome plumped for Jens Voigt, Contador unabashedly replied "Armstrong" – never mind that only days earlier the USADA had signalled its intention to strip the seven times Tour de France winner of his titles for alleged doping. Which, some might surmise, says it all, really.The eternal argument is whether or not gains garnered through doping can continue to provide unfair advantage long after a ban has ended. In Contador's case there are those who will contend that the amount of clenbuterol in his system was negligible. Yet for many, if he does win the Vuelta on Sunday, his victory will be as unpalatable as when another convicted – and unyielding – drugs cheat, Alexander Vinokourov, claimed gold in the Olympic road race in London. The sight of the Kazakhstani rider, arms aloft in celebration as he crossed the line, was one that cycling and Olympic organisers alike prayed wouldn't happen. A resounding slap in the face for those who have worked so tirelessly to clean up the image of the sport. As for Contador? Cycling would be duller without him. Few could refute he is one of the most exciting grand tour rider of his generation: that distinctive way of dancing on the pedals and soaring attacking style on climbs is sublime to watch.If Contador emerges victorious on Sunday will it be a case of evil triumphing over good? Not really. But it may still be hard for many to stomach.

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Contador back in the habit

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