Road: Contador Wins Tour of Algarve

Team Astana’s Alberto Contador won his first stage race of the season today, the Tour of Algarve. Contador secured his first title of 2009 after a Stage Three second-place mountaintop finish aboard his Trek Madone, and a victory in the time trial in Tavira aboard his Equinox TTX. The Algarve win is his 9th victory in a stage race as a professional rider.

While the Grand Tours winner was happy with his early season performance, he realizes that this is one step in accomplishing his bigger goal.

“This is the first step toward preparing for the Tour,” said a happy Alberto Contador in Portimão. “I had a good training camp, but I never know what to expect in my first race.  The team worked hard and when the opportunity presented itself, we capitalized.  Now I will look to Paris-Nice, a race that I won two years ago.”

After Paris-Nice Contador will head to the Vuelta a Castilla y León, the Vuelta al País Vasco and possibly some classics. “We will decide about the classics in País Vasco," continued Contador. “Johan and I are strategically planning the season as we don’t want to load the first part.”

The Tour of Algarve was Dirk Demol’s first race as Team Astana Team Director. “Not bad to start with a victory,” commented Demol. “A combination of the individual talent of Contador and the devotion of the entire Team enabled us to win. This is a promising start to the season.”

The last stage from Vila do Bispo to Portimão was won by German rider Heinrich Haussler. Team Astana controlled the race which ended with a mass sprint.


Final General Classification:

1. Alberto Contador 19:04:22
2. Sylvain Chavanel  +1:06
3. Ruben Plaza +1:07
4. Tiago Machado +1:08
5. Andreas Klöden +1:09