SHANGHAI: Alberto Contador’s final race on Sunday marks the “end of an era” for cycling, Tour de France champion Chris Froome said, while adding that he won’t necessarily miss the competitive Spanish legend.
Both riders were part of a breakaway group that sprinted to the finish on Sunday in the Tour de France’s first China Criterium in Shanghai, which Contador said would be his last race.
“It definitely brings an end to an era with Alberto’s retirement,” said Froome, who won the race in another display of dominance after winning a fourth Tour title this year.
“(Contador) has been a big rival to me for so many years and in some ways I’m definitely going to miss him, and in some ways I’m not,” the Briton said, cracking a smile.
“He has animated so many races the last few years and the public are going to miss seeing him race.”
The 34-year-old Contador announced in August that he would hang up his spurs this year, ending a career in which he became just the sixth rider to win all three grand tours.
But his reign as perhaps the top rider of his generation has also been dogged by doping suspicions.
He enjoyed a hero’s welcome whenever he passed the crowds lining the Shanghai city circuit for the China Criterium, however, and he went out fighting.
“It was my last race and I really enjoyed it. I tried to attack, attack, attack,” Tour de France quoting him saying.
But he was unable to keep the pace down the final stretch with Froome, Colombia’s Rigoberto Uran and Warren Barguil of France, and ended up fourth.
The race was held for the first time as part of a push by the Tour de France to expand its brand in China’s potentially huge cycling market as the sport gains traction in the country.
Contador retirement ‘end of era’ for cycling, says Tour de France champion Froome
Contador retirement ‘end of era’ for cycling, says Tour de France champion Froome
Barcelona pounces on Real Madrid stumble and regains lead of La Liga with a 3-0 win over Levante
- Barcelona moved one point ahead of Madrid, which had won eight in a row in the league before losing to Osasuna
MADRID: Barcelona took advantage of Real Madrid’s stumble and regained the Spanish league lead with a comfortable 3-0 win over relegation-threatened Levante on Sunday.
Marc Bernal, Frenkie de Jong and Fermín López scored a goal each as Barcelona ended a two-game losing streak to get back in front of rival Madrid, which lost 2-1 at Osasuna on Saturday.
Barcelona moved one point ahead of Madrid, which had won eight in a row in the league before losing to Osasuna.
Barcelona was coming off a 2-1 loss to Girona in the league and a 4-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals.
“It was important to win and earn three points again,” Barcelona defender João Cancelo said. “Soccer gives you these opportunities to rebound and that’s what we did today, playing well again after two bad games.”
Barcelona had earned a clean sheet only once in its previous six games in all competitions.
Good start for Barcelona
Bernal scored from close range four minutes into the match at the Camp Nou Stadium. The 18-year-old Bernal had scored his first goal with the first team two rounds ago in a win over Mallorca.
“They had an early chance but my goal helped us settle and gain some confidence,” Bernal said.
De Jong added to the lead from inside the area in the 32nd and López sealed the victory with a beautiful long-range shot in the 81st, with the ball ricocheting off the post before going into the net.
Levante’s Australian goalkeeper Mathew Ryan kept Barcelona from adding the fourth with a pair of outstanding saves in a row in the final minutes, first off a header by Raphinha and then off a point-blank strike from López on the rebound.
It was the fourth straight defeat for Levante, which sits in 19th place. It is one point ahead of last-place Oviedo, which has a game in hand.
Levante has only one victory in its last eight matches.
Pedri entered the match in the 66th to make his return to action after an injury layoff.
Other results
Sevilla won 1-0 at 10-man Getafe for its second win in its last 10 matches in all competitions.
Djibril Sow scored a 64th-minute winner for the visitors. Getafe played a man down from the 26th after a straight red card for Djene Dakonam.
The result left Sevilla in 11th place, immediately above Getafe.
Third-place Villarreal, Barcelona’s next league opponent, can restore a three-point gap to fourth-place Atletico Madrid if it beats Valencia at home later Sunday. Atletico beat Espanyol 4-2 at home on Saturday.
