Spanish sports daily Marca and Dutch Sporten have a plethora of entertaining quotes and news tidbits from the world of professional road cycling. For example:
JOHAN BRUYNEEL: (regarding Alberto Contador and this year’s Tour de France, and other stuff)
- “If Alberto’s got the same condition in 2010 as he had in 2009, I don’t know how to beat him. He’s got very few weak points and has shown that he’s the best in the world. He’s won the last four Grand Tours he’s raced and very few people can achieve that.”
- He said that “although it would be very difficult” that Contador could potentially beat Armstrong’s record seven Tour de France victories. “To win seven lots of different factors have to come into play, but there’s no doubt that Contador is on the way.”
- He said this year’s Tour won’t necessarily be a straight duel between Contador and Armstrong, citing Andy Schleck, Cadel Evans, Ivan Basso and Alejandro Valverde as serious contendors (Cycling Weekly notes, and we agree, that quite interestingly he left out Bradley Wiggins)
- It’s “very probable that I’ll leave the sport when Lance does.” (Currently set for 2011)
ALBERTO CONTADOR: (regarding his 2010 team and Spanish cycling in general, somewhat loosely translated)
- With the new team, “Everything revolves around me.”
- With a Spaniard at the top of the cycling world, “Now there are many sponsors (entering) Spanish cycling because it is at the top and yes I can help a bit.”
- Contesting the Vuelta a España seems “very attractive” and “can’t be ruled out.” He also told Marca that he’d like to race the Giro and Tour of California in the future.
BJARNE RIIS: (regarding Lance Armstrong’s chances in the Tour de France)
- “I do not think Lance can win the Tour. I am deeply impressed by what he delivered last year. It…deserves great respect.”
- “There are many more hills this year, the route is harder… It will be difficult for him to get on the podium”
- Riis puts his own riders, Frank and Andy Schleck, and Astana’s Contador as the favorites. “This year the route suits us much better.”
