Saturday, June 11, 2011

Contador to Attempt Pantani's Giro-Tour Double

Alberto Contador, at his hometown ride of "I Marcha Alberto Contador", announced that he will attempt the Giro-d'Italia-Tour de France victory double.

"Yes, I will go to the Tour de France, I know it's a difficult challenge," he said. "For 15 years nobody has been able to win the Giro and the Tour. The Tour is the best race and has the best riders. That motivates me."

Marco Pantani was the last rider to win the Giro and the Tour in the same year, and that was in 1998. Marco Pantani, Tour de France 1998 - Galibier/Les deux Alpes:



Contador tested positive for Clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour de France but has blamed the positive on contaminated meat. The case is now going before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) August 1-3. More background here; now the Tour finds itself in the same position as the Giro: Contador could win only to have his victory stripped.

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