Contador bags rider award

Tour de France win the highlight for Spaniard

Last updated: 14th December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Contador bags rider award

Contador: Award winner

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Alberto Contador said 2009 was his most important year so far as he collected the International Cycling Union's top rider award on Monday.

The Spaniard won his second Tour de France title despite suffering a clash of personalities with Astana team-mate Lance Armstrong, who finished third in Paris.

It was this to which the 27-year-old may have been referring when he commented on the past season.

"I think this has been my best year ever, in terms of results rather than other circumstances, given the constant tension and pressure to which I was submitted," he said.

"It has been the most important year of my life on a sporting level."

Contador, who recently confirmed he will remain with Armstrong-less Astana in 2010, said he is looking forward to defending his Tour de France next summer.

The third stage of the Tour, between the Belgian town of Wanze and Arenberg in France on July 6, includes 13 kilometres of cobbled roads, something the Spaniard is wary of.

"The fact that there is no team time-trial should clearly help us," he said. "What concerns me more is the cobbled roads, I hope we can get through that. It will be important to avoid falls that can ruin the race."