Take that, ASO: Contador leads Vuelta a Castilla y León
Alberto Contador, essentially banned from defending his Tour de France title by race organizer Amaury Sports Organization, took a figerative shot at ASO in winning a mountaintop finish Thursday in the Vuelta a Castilla y León.
According to Velonews’ Andrew Hood, Contador crossed the finishing line, pointed proudly to his Astana jersey and then pointed his finger like a gun for an imaginery shot.
Contador, by the way, is the race leader, and Astana, which ASO claims is not among the top teams in the world, continues its dominance this season despite ASO banning it from all of its races.
The Vuelta a Espana is the only grand tour to extend an invitation to Astana, but don’t look now, ASO is in negotiations to become a part owner of the Vuelta. If that happens, will it be bye bye Astana?
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The pistol-shooting gesture is Contador’s trademark: he always does it. It’s not a sign of defiance, but rather a special victory salute to his friends.
At the end of yesterday’s stage, it was perfectly timed. As he neared the line, he saluted with hands to the air, framed the sponor’s logo (on his jersey) with two hands, and tapped the words ASTANA. Then, just as he crossed the finish line–the gunshot.
It was a show of loyalty to his sponsor and fun for his friends. However much grounds he has for wanting to shoot the ASO, or flip them the bird, that’s not his style. He’s a classy guy.