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MADRID, Sept 9, 2012 (AFP) - Spain's Alberto Contador, racing his first Grand Tour since returning from a two-year doping ban last month, won his second Tour of Spain crown on Sunday. The Saxo-Bank rider, also a two-time Tour de France winner who lost his 2010 Tour and 2011 Giro titles after testing positive for clenbuterol in 2010, safely negotiated the 21st and final 115km largely flat … [Read more...]
LA bola del mundo, Spain, Sept 8, 2012 (AFP) - Spain's Alberto Contador, racing his first Grand Tour since returning from a two-year doping ban last month, has closed in on his second Tour of Spain crown with only a disaster preventing him from winning. Russia's Denis Menchov of the Katusha team won the 20th and penultimate stage here on Saturday, with Saxo-Bank rider Contador retaining … [Read more...]
LA LASTRILLA, Spain, Sept 7, 2012 (AFP) - Belgian rider Philippe Gilbert clinched his second stage win of the Tour of Spain Friday with a final surge while Spain's Alberto Contador held on to the overall leader's red jersey. Gilbert launched an attack less than a kilometre from the line of the 19th stage and broke ahead of a pack of around 40 cyclists to finish ahead of Spaniards … [Read more...]
VALLADOLID, Spain, Sept 6, 2012 (AFP) - Italian rider Daniele Bennati from team RadioShack won the 18th stage of the Tour of Spain on Thursday, a 204km race from Aguilard de Campoo to Valladolid. Spain's Alberto Contador, back in the saddle after a two-year doping ban, held on to the overall leader's red jersey. Bennati, who had been unable to get to the front of the pack in … [Read more...]
Fuente De, Spain, Sept 5, 2012 (AFP) - Alberto Contador took a huge step to making a fairytale return to cycling after a two year doping ban when he took the overall lead of the Tour of Spain on Wednesday after winning the 17th stage here. The 29-year-old Spaniard crossed the finish line of the 187-kilometre (116-mile) race from Santander to Fuente De, six seconds ahead of fellow … [Read more...]
Comillas, Spain, Sept 4, 2012 - Spain's two-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador stands tantalisingly close to a stunning win in the Tour of Spain, his first major Tour since returning from a two year doping ban. However, while the 29-year-old - who still protests his innocence over the minute trace of clenbuterol found in his urine on the 2010 Tour de France - is just 28 … [Read more...]
CUITU NEGRU, Spain, Sept 3, 2012 (AFP) - Italian cyclist Dario Cataldo won the 16th stage of the Tour of Spain on Monday, a punishing 183.5km mountain ride from Gijon to Cuitu Negru in northern Spain. Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez of the Katusha team retained the overall leader's red jersey and stretched his lead over compatriot Alberto Contador, competing after a two-year doping ban. … [Read more...]
Lagos de Covadonga, Spain, Sept 1, 2012 (AFP) - Spain's Antonio Piedra won the Sunday's 15th stage of the Tour of Spain after he launched an attack during the final climb of the race while Joaquim Rodriguez kept the overall race lead. It was the biggest win of 26-year-old Caja Rural rider's career and it is the first time that the team has won a stage at the Tour of Spain. Piedra, … [Read more...]
PUERTO DE ANCARES, Spain, Sept 1, 2012 - Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez, riding for Katusha, won Saturday's 14th stage of the Tour of Spain to strengthen his overall lead after the 149.2km mountain stage ride from Palas de Rei to Puerto de Ancares. Having already bagged the 6th and 12th stages, Rodriguez pocketed another as he negotiated the tough final Ancares climb, holding off compatriot … [Read more...]
Ferrol, Spain, Aug 31, 2012 (AFP) - Britain's Stephen Cummings won the 13th stage of the Tour of Spain Friday with a well-timed attack at the end of the course, while Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez held on to the overall lead. The 31-year-old BMC rider completed the relatively flat 172.8-kilometre (108-mile) ride from Santiago de Compostela to Ferrol in four hours, five minutes and two … [Read more...]