Astana Cycling Team

Dani Navarro: “I'm the happiest man in the world”

Photo by Jacinto Vidarte

Alberto Contador: “I’m almost happier with this win than if it were mine”

Dani Navarro now achieved the first victory of his career, after six seasons as a professional and so said he was “the happiest man in the world” at the finish line in Grenoble.

Navarro based his victory in an attack in the final climb of the day, on orders from Alberto Contador. "Yes, we were very well the whole team, but many riders began to attack and Alberto told me and Fofonov that we could go ahead and try it. I was great and I did not think twice. I started to catch riders that gave me more moral. I though I had to pick up the maximum difference because I’m not a great descender and did not want to risk too much”.

Photo by Jacinto Vidarte

Alberto, meanwhile, said Dani's victory “shows that the whole team is very strong. Here we come without pressure, working for the Tour and things are going fantastic. “I’m almost happier with this win than if it were mine, Dani deserved it”.

Dani Navarro said he now expects this victory “will not the last, but for me I have done it already, because this victory has a special value, because winning is always difficult and more being on good teams”.
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June 11, Stage 5: Serre-Chevalier - Grenoble 143.5km

Photo by Astana Cycling Team Communication Department

Daniel Navarro won today the fifth stage of the Criterium du Dauphine in Grenoble.

The Spanish climber of the Astana team has attacked on the climb to Chamrousse. "It is important for the spirit of the team, Alberto Contador told him to attack in the climb, and encouraged him, there is a real collaboration" declared the sports director Giuseppe Martinelli.

Being nearly 27 years old (he will celebrate his birthday on July 8 this year), he won the first victory of his career and offers to the Astana team its thirteenth success since the start of the season. "This is not just a team victory, the first victory in a professional career is a unique moment, there is no word to describe it. It is above all a huge personal victory and the team is happy for him! " said Giuseppe Martinelli.

Brajkovic, Contador, Tiralongo and Jesús Hernández / Photo by Jacinto Vidarte

Alberto Contador crossed the finish line today in fourth place, behind the leader, Brajkovic, and after having been a major player in the ascent to Risoul, where also Astana team proved to be in good form, with Tiralongo, Jesus Hernandez and Navarro working on the last kilometers. Contador, however, says nothing has changed in his plans. "I continue with the same approach. I attacked a bit to prove, but it was not planed and I was not sure of my form".

"It has been hard, very hot and very long stage, with more than six hours on the bike", said Alberto. "In the last climb I've been watching, but I have seen the kilometers passed and no one decided to attack". For its part, the Astana team was also tested in the last part of the climb. "The team also has to take the philosophy of the Tour. They are in good shape and they also have to be in place. What better test than this, but that does not mean we will take the responsibility". Read the rest of this entry →

Here are the riders to be present for the race Tour de Suisse:

• Oscar Pereiro (SPA)
• Assan Bazayev (KAZ)
• Allan Davis (AUS)
• Valeriy Dmitriyev (KAZ)
• Maxim Gourov (KAZ)
• Maxim Iglinsky (KAZ)
• Yevgeniy Nepomnyachsiy (KAZ)
• Sergey Renev (KAZ)

Sport manager: Dmitry Sedoun

Photo by Jacinto Vidarte

Alberto Contador continued for a second day as leader of the Critérium du Dauphiné and therefore will start tomorrow the time trial in the last position, allowing him to have the references of all rivals. However, Alberto continues to maintain the same goals as the first day: use this race to make his last test in competition, without disputing the overall. “That I have the yellow jersey now means nothing, because this race has only just begun”, he said.

Alberto crossed the finish line, where was imposed Juan Jose Ahedo in the sprint, with a good feeling, after a day a little easier than yesterday. “It's been another day and I am the leader”, he said, “but we do not work for it. It has been a very fast stage, with some rain at first but everything has gone well. There was some tension because we don’t know from where come the wind and finally, in the sprint, the wind was facing, which has caused many riders have been on the fight with some danger of falling”, he said explaining that preferred to be placed further back in the bunch during the last kilometers. Read the rest of this entry →

"My fitness level is not the most right to dispute the Dauphiné "

Alberto Contador will start the Dauphiné Libéré tomorrow, the race that he used over the past two years as a set-up for the Tour de France. This season he announces that he comes with the same intention, as he is “still building the bases for the Tour. Every day I have better feelings, but the physical level is not the best to compete in the Dauphiné”.

Contador said in a Press Conference today that he is “more relaxed than usual, because my plan is to take the race as in the previous two years”, but also recognizes that he will do some tests, especially in the time trial.

Photo by Jacinto Vidarte

The course of this year offers a long time trial and two hilly finishes, do you plan any test during the race?

Yes I want to try, especially on time trial. I have a new bike, Fortunately Specialized considered all my requests, but we have little time and I could just train it. So I want to do it in the Dauphiné, but considering my physical condition and that the bike is new, I do not think is the most appropriate to await results. In the mountains, of course, I will go more relaxed. Read the rest of this entry →

Alberto Contador will hold a press conference this Saturday, June 5th, in advance of the Dauphiné Libéré, his last preparatory race before the Tour de France.

The press conference will be held at 3:30 in the afternoon at the Astana team hotel, located in the town of Ampion Les Bains.

Astana Communication Department

• Alberto CONTADOR (SPA)
• David DE LA FUENTE (SPA)
• Dimitriy FOFONOV (KAZ)
• Jesus HERNANDEZ (SPA)
• Daniel NAVARRO (SPA)
• Benjamin NOVAL (SPA)
• Paolo TIRALONGO (ITA)
• Andrey ZEITS (KAZ)