SPAIN: CYCLING - Crowd pack Madrid centre square to get a glimpse of Tour de France champion Alberto Contador

Twenty four hours after Alberto Contador put on the yellow jersey on the Champs Elysees, hundreds of fans in downtown Madrid got their chance to get a glimpse of their champion. Celebrations continued on Monday (July 30) with a reception by the head of the Madrid's provincial government Esperanza Aguirre in the city centre where Contador, surrounded by family, friends and neighbours, received a commemorative plaque. "Truthfully, making you feel proud of me makes me really happy. I'm also glad that the tour brings you joy, and you are right because I think that a bit of the win belongs to every one of you. That's it, let's hope for the same result next year, but for the moment let's enjoy," Contador told reporters and fans. The 24-year-old Spaniard won the Tour de France by 23 seconds from Australian Cadel Evans with Discovery Channel team mate Levi Leipheimer of the United States in third. He also became the first pure climber to prevail on the roads of France since Italian Marco Pantani in 1998. "I'm very happy as you can imagine, with such a warm welcoming," the cyclist said during the reception. Contador took the yellow jersey after previous race leader Michael Rasmussen was dismissed by his team for lying about his whereabouts during training. Spanish media reported on Monday that Alberto Contador's victory in a Tour de France marred by more doping scandals was hailed as the start of a new, cleaner era for cycling. However, German expert in the fight against doping Werner Franke claimed, in comments to the German television station ZDF, that Contador's victory was "the greatest swindle in sporting history." The Spanish rider refuse to comment. "(Journalist asking: What's your response to German expert Werner's claim?) What? Let's go," Contador said. The fifth Spaniard to win the Tour greeted fans who awaited his appearance on the Madrid Goverment Office balcony under the bright Spanish summer sun and thanked them for their support and for cheering him on to the top of the podium. "This victory is to all of you, and now let's celebrate. See you later!," he said. Later in the day, in the centre of Contador's hometown Pinto, neighbours and friends will welcome him with a parade.

ITN Source | July 31, 2007

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