Ups and Downs – with most of the ladder

Contador, the leading cyclist in the post-Armstrong era, has not looked too good recently. In fact, ever since his return from the clenbuterol-ban the once assertive, bold and confident Spaniard has looked anything but dominant.

Since 5 August 2012, and his return to professional cycling, he has not really been the same.

Sure he managed a Vuelta in 2012 in front of Froome, Rodriguez and Valverde, but that was due to cunning, and a calculated scheme during the Fuente Dé stage; not because he was physically stronger, or the dominant rider.

2013 has been even worse.

Just one lousy Tour de San Luis victory to El Pistolero, who it seems, must have absent-mindedly loaded his gun with blanks.

Too bad for Contador, as he still has the age and (at least seemingly) will to compete.

Too bad for Bjarne Riis, who probably thought he had gotten the world’s best stage racer – and who have probably just about paid Contador the equal of running Euskatel’s former World Tour team since hiring him.

But most importantly: too bad for us.

The fans. To whom Contador’s unique easy-on-the-eye pedaling style, thirst for victory and insatiable love for daring attacks, have always provided the spectacle we love about cycling.

El Pistolero loads the gun – no blanks (hopefully)

During the last couple of weeks Contador has been extremely busy with sponsor arrangements and the wind tunnel, but now he is slowly preparing for the coming season in Grand Canaria:

“Every year you analyze what you’ve done, and go over what didn’t work out,” Contador told Sport.es from Spain’s holiday island. “You analyze yourself and look at the others. That’s how to learn, to not repeat the errors, and to keep progressing.”

“I want to go to the three-week tours with all possible guarantees, and that includes the Vuelta a España,” Contador continued.

To fix the so-called errors Contador is going to change his season quite a bit. Less commitment and far-flung appearances. More focus. As he told ESPN Deportes recently:

"There will be two major changes compared to the past two years. I'm going to start training earlier than I did in the past and I will start racing in the second or third week of February where in the last two years I have begun my season in January at the Tour de San Luis. This year we postpone it to February to have a good base and grow slowly towards the big goal in the Tour de France."

"The goal is the Tour but not just the Tour," he added. "It is the whole season. From the first race of the year, I have a full season with important races like Paris-Nice, Tirreno-Adriatico, the Volta [a Catalunya] and the [Vuelta al] Pais Vasco. I have to make a final decision [about my schedule] but I will have a few good race, rest a bit, do the Tour, rest a bit, do the Vuelta and then we can take stock at the end of the season."

If we (fans of cycling) want to see a fantastic 2014 season, with everything cycling has to show, then Contador still has a number of important parts left to play.

Not necessarily because he is the best GT rider, nor because he has won the most GTs in recent years, and neither because he possesses the best pedaling strokes around…

Simply because he is the guy who just gave this quote from Grand Canaria:

“I am going to win, I cannot permit myself to be second.” (and that statement covers any type of race, stage or criterium. Why bother if you cannot win?)

Yup. That is the Contador we know and love (and remember). Give ‘em hell baby.