Astana Cycling Team

Alberto Contador in the Ardennes

“I found Huy even harder than I remembered”

Photo ContadorInfo

Alberto Contador today did the last 60 km of the Fleche Wallonne and twice climbed the Wall of Huy, the emblematic finish of a race that he says, “I found it even harder than I remembered”.
“Today we saw the last 60 km of the race and everything went pretty well. There are climbs that I knew from 2007, but there have been some changes in the final. We have had a good day, we have seen everything and now just need the legs works”, Alberto said after returning to the team hotel.

“I remember the Wall of Huy” he said, “but I find it even harder than I remembered, it has the last 700 meters incredible”.

Photo Contador

For him, favorites for this race are among “those who fought for the Amstel Gold Race, people like Philippe Gilbert, Cunego, Ivanov and others like Alejandro Valverde. They are the reference”. He, however, wait to see how he responds after the efforts of Castilla y Leon and the trip from Santiago. “It is difficult to have any conclusions after a voyage of almost 2,000 kilometers. Sensations today are not the best, but I hope that will change tomorrow”.
Finally, Contador pointed some of the differences between tomorrow and Sunday’s race. “Liège is a race far more demanding than this, people come to the finish more just because there are 60 km more and the accumulated slope is also significantly higher. I hope to do well and continue knowing these races, but there are more experienced and more motivated riders than me, because I come here a little calmer”.

(Automatic translation. Forgive inaccuracies).

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Jacinto Vidarte
Jefe de Prensa / Press Officer