Contador dedicates win to fallen compatriot

Contador dedicates the victory to Tondo ©Daniele Badolato - LaPresse

May 25th, 11. After convincingly winning today's 12.7km uphill time trial at the Giro d'Italia, Alberto Contador dedicated the victory to his Spanish compatriot Xavier Tondo who tragically died yesterday.

The second and final rest day of the Giro d'Italia was far from restful for the Movistar team and for many other riders after news came of fellow pro cyclist, 32 year old Tondo's death in a domestic accident.

Contador counted Tondo as a good friend and was deeply affected by the news.  

He cancelled his rest day press conference, feeling it was appropriate to be celebrating being in the leader's jersey on a day he was mourning a friend.

"How unfair life is and how difficult to understand at times. I cannot explain my feelings on the death of Xavier Tondo. My sincere condolences to his family. He was an amazing person who loved this sport as anyone. I'll miss you very much. Rest in peace," he wrote yesterday.

Today's Stage 16 began with a minute's silence and ended with Contador honouring Tondo with his victory dedication.

"I took it steady in the opening kilometers and then found my rhythm. Then I went as fast as I could. I knew I was three seconds faster than Nibali and so I was in control but it was a hard climb. This is my first win in pink and like winning in yellow at the Tour de France or at the Vuelta, it's something I'll never forget," he said on his team website.

Contador now leads the General Classification with a 4m58s lead ahead of Scarponi and 5m45s on Nibali.

A minute's silence of Xavier Tondo ©Gian Mattia D'Alberto - LaPresse

"We're devastated, but all together we decided that the best thing is to honor Xavi on the bike," explained Movistar Team general manager Eusebio Unzué.

"He had spent little time with us, but it seemed like it was a decade. He had really got into us all. We made our riders free to choose what they preferred, but all agreed that the best homage is to keep riding in the Giro.

"We're into permanent contact since this morning with all their relatives and accompanying them as well in Granada as in Tarragona, and the rest of the team will be with them in the funeral, but we're convinced Xavi would have liked us to keep on racing."

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