Contador wins second straight race at Basque Country Vuelta 14/04/2008 00:00

The Spanish cyclist pedalled to another road-race victory, taking the Vuelta al País Vasco with a win in its sixth and final stage.

14 April 2008

MADRID - In spite of not being allowed to defend his 2007 crown in the upcoming Tour de France, Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador on Saturday pedalled to another road-race victory, taking the Vuelta al País Vasco with a win in its sixth and final stage - the 20km time trial.

Dominating the race from the first day, the win follows another victory by the Astana rider at the Vuelta a Castilla y León in late March.

A great morale boost for the rider, Contador considers the race through Spain's hilly northern region "second" in importance only to the Vuelta de España, the country's largest event.

Contador's team Astana has been barred by Tour de France organisers from this year's event due to its murky history of involvement in doping scandals.

While he has kept mostly quiet on the topic, Contador voiced his disappointment to sports daily Marca after the Basque Country race:
"The more events I win, the more my absence in the Tour will be noted," he said.

[El Pais / K.R. / Expatica]