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A22 HEALTH
Monday 11 SepteMber 2017

Froome wins Tour-Vuelta double as Contador ends final race

By TALES AZZONI
AP Sports Writer
MADRID (AP) — Chris
Froome paraded into Ma-
drid to clinch his first Span-
ish Vuelta title and secure
the elusive Tour de France-
Vuelta double on Sunday,
while Spanish great Alber-
to Contador celebrated
the end of his remarkable
career in front of his home
crowd.
Froome had virtually se-
cured victory with a solid
performance in the dif-
ficult climb up the Alto
de l’Angliru on Saturday,
which marked the last
competitive stage of the
three-week race.
“It’s just incredible,”
Froome said. “I’m still com-
ing to terms with every-
thing. It’s been such an
incredible journey.”
Riders cruised to the fin-
ish in Sunday’s 21st stage,
with the leaders not chal-
lenging each other, as per
cycling tradition.
Italian Matteo Trentin won
the final sprint to clinch his
fourth stage victory in this Britain’s Chris Froome celebrates on podium after winning the Spanish Vuelta cycling race, in Madrid, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2017. The
year’s Vuelta. special trophy he holds was given to him as he won both the Tour de France and La Vuelta.
Froome, who earlier this Associated Press
year clinched his fourth
Tour de France title, had an amazing few months secured the final podium the fans applauded. After fifth, more than three min-
finished runner-up in La and I want to thank every- spot, almost three minutes the race, Contador took a utes off the lead.
Vuelta three times, includ- one who has contributed behind Froome. Spanish flag and went for Considered one of Spain’s
ing last year. to that. I’ve been fighting Froome also won the one final parade lap. greatest riders, Conta-
The Team Sky rider be- for this victory for six years points competition, while “It was very special to get dor also won the Tour de
came the third man to and three years I’ve been Astana Pro Team won the to lead all the riders into France twice and the
complete the Tour-Vuelta standing on the second overall team event. Madrid,” Contador said. Giro d’Italia twice. He was
double in the same sea- step so it’s amazing to Contador, the three-time “It was an incredible finish. stripped of a third Tour vic-
son, after Jacques An- stand on the first step this Vuelta winner, ended his I dreamed about ending tory for doping.
quetil in 1963 and Bernard time.” career on a high note by my career this way.” “It’s a dream. I can’t imag-
Hinault in 1978, when the Froome won two Vuelta winning Saturday’s difficult The 34-year-old Contador ine a better goodbye than
Vuelta was still held in the stages this year, finishing 20th stage. had been out of conten- this,” he said. “Now is the
spring before the Tour. 2 minutes, 15 seconds in He was loudly cheered by tion for the Vuelta title af- moment to stop. When I
“Just the fact that no- front of Italian Vincenzo Ni- Spanish fans as he arrived ter losing several minutes started as a professional,
body’s ever won the Tour bali of Team Bahrain-Meri- to cross the finish line one in a poor performance in I said I wanted to finish at
and then La Vuelta after- da, who won the Vuelta in last time. the second stage. the top level.
wards, it’s incredible to be 2010 and was runner-up in The rest of the riders al- He made up time later in And I think that now is the
able to do it,” said Froome, 2013. lowed him to break from the race, but not enough perfect moment for this. In
the first British rider to win Russian Ilnur Zakarin of the peloton and ride a to make it to the podium the last 15 years, I did ev-
the Vuelta. “It’s just been Team Katusha Alpecin, few moments by himself as and eventually finished erything with my heart.”q