Team Astana’s Alberto Contador is the new national time trial champion of Spain. Contador was the fastest rider on the 47.80 kilometer course between Torrelavega and Cuevas de Altamira. Contador (26) was challenged by Luis León Sánchez (Team Caisse d’Epargne) who had the best intermediate time – one second faster than Contador - after 27 kilometer. In the second part of the race, Contador managed to reverse the situation. At the finish, he was 36 seconds faster than Sánchez. Ruben Plaza (Team Liberty Seguros) finished third, 1 minute and 4 seconds behind.
For the Spanish champion, it is his first gold in the event as a professional rider. As U23 rider he won the national time trial championship back in 2002. Earlier this season, Alberto Contador won three other time trials, more specifically in the Tour of Algarve, the Paris-Nice and the Tour of the Basque Country.
“I needed an extra training on my new Trek time trial bike”, commented Contador and added that "The best way to do that is in a race. Thanks to its distance this was a good simulation of the Tour de France time trial. My preparation for the Tour de France is done. I cannot complain. I am ready. This was of course not only training, I really wanted this Spanish title. I had to struggle till the end to beat Luis León. I am proud to be champion of Spain. I will show the Spanish colors for the first time in Monaco in the first stage of the 2009 Tour de France.”
