Alberto Contador defied his own expectations when he stepped onto the podium as the overall winner of the Vuelta a Espana. The Spaniard now reveals that he still dreams about winning all three grand tours in a single season.

Alberto Contador took no risks in the final time trial of the Vuelta a Espana and even though he saw Chris Froome take back around 30 seconds, he won the race for the third time in his career. The win was a big surprise for the Tinkoff-Saxo rider who bounced back from a broken tibia in the Tour de France to do what most had thought to be impossible.

“I still have in mind a sentence that medical experts told me after my crash at the Tour de France: I wouldn’t have time to recover for the Vuelta but I’ve done all I could to prove them wrong," he said. "The day after my accident, I was already trying to do some exercises with my muscles. I didn’t think I was coming to the Vuelta and being able to fight for GC but in three weeks, I’ve had time to come back to the required level.

"The first time I’ve told myself that the overall win was reachable, it was at Valdelinares (stage 9). Until then, I was struggling but I’ve been lucky to always be supported by my team in the key moments, for example on the day when echelons were formed (stage 4). The time trial at Borja completely changed my views on the race.

"All my three overall victories at the Vuelta are special. The first one in 2008 allowed me to get the triple crown (Giro, Tour, Vuelta). In the second one in 2012, I wasn’t at the top level and I made it thanks to a crazy tactic on stage 17 to Fuente Dé. For this one now, after my crash at the Tour de France, I couldn’t prepare as I wanted to. Firstly I survived, then I attacked.

"Winning against the best riders, that’s what I love. The greatness of a race comes from its participation. We all fought for winning."

When he signed his first contract with his current team, Contador revealed that his dream was to win all three grand tours in one season but after a few difficult years, he seemed to have shelved that plan. Yesterday he revealed that it may still be on his agenda.

"It’s a bit early to talk about 2015 but I have a dream: to take part in the three Grand Tours. I don’t know if I can do it one day. I don’t want to make any plan tonight but I’d love to know that it’s possible.”

"It's simply an astonishing achievement by Alberto," sports director Steven De Jongh said. "Coming back from an injury like that after declaring himself out a couple of weeks before the Vuelta and not only rides well but takes the win, is just amazing.

"We entered the race hoping that we could get a stage win in the last week of the race but as the race progressed and Alberto felt stronger by the day, we had to change strategy and go for the overall classification. So, with two stage wins in the pocket, the combined jersey as well as the overall win, we couldn't be happier."