Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador to miss Rio Olympics

Posted July 12, 2016 7:00 am

The Associated Press

MADRID (AP) - Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador will miss the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro because of injuries that forced him to abandon the Tour de France.

"Making it to Rio is practically ruled out," Contador said Tuesday. "The question isn't whether I am recovered or not, but rather if I could arrive in prime condition."

Contador, a two-time Tour winner, says he hopes to recover in time to compete in the Spanish Vuelta on Aug. 20.

With seven Grand Tour titles, Contador is one of the top riders of his generation.

"Not going to the Summer Games is a hard blow, it was my second objective after the Tour," Contador said.

The 33-year-old Contador withdrew from the ongoing Tour on Sunday during its ninth stage because of a fever. He had already lost valuable time after falling during the opening two stages of the three-week race.

The Olympic road race is scheduled for Aug. 6.

Spain's Alberto Contador, who abandoned halfway in the ninth stage, greets spectators prior to the start of the ninth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 184.5 kilometers (114.3 miles) with start in Vielha Val d'Aran, Spain, and finish in Andorra Arcalis, Andorra, Sunday, July 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) The Associated Press