Alberto Contador (Astana) on his way to a win at the 2008 Vuelta (Image credit: Bjorn Haake)
Alberto Contador attended the presentation of the 2009 Vuelta a España, which will start in Holland. Contador was among a group of accomplished Spaniards, including Alejandro Valverde, Carlos Sastre and Samuel Sánchez, who commented on the details of the race and their expectations, although only the leader of the Euskaltel squad Sánchez confirmed his presence at the start next year.
Contador left the door opened for the possibility of defending his 2008 Vuelta title. "It is an option because this year the Vuelta left me feeling very good. My aim in 2009 is the Tour of France, which I could not race this year, but the door is opened to take part in the next Vuelta."
He said the mountain stages are what pleased him most about the Vuelta, and he pointed to the stages finishing at Aitana, El Catí, Velefique, Sierra Nevada and La Pandera.
The 2009 Vuelta designed by Unipublic stands out – especially for the absence of the Pyrenees and mountain stages in the Asturias like the Angliru and Covadonga's Lagos. Nonetheless, the edition can be considered a good one for climbers.
Although there will be no Olympic Games in 2009, Contador thought the Spanish cyclists, who had an impressive 2008 season, would still make their marks on the "three big tours".
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