Thought experiment.
Contador's greatest fangirl wins a meet & greet with her hero, the most awesomess of cycling stars. It's not like a handshake and VIP buffet, but actual one-on-one training ride together. No other people, no press.
Contador shows sincere interest in his top fan's life. He only knows the other side of cycling. Wonders what goes through the minds of avid fangirls like her. A normal human interest.
The conversation comes on bad press the rider has received over the past years, and how moch energy the fangirl invests in fighting for her hero (and in her heart best friend and big brother). She asks him what she can say to take on the army of "haters" all by herself. And how to deal with all the facts and theories she's being subjected to, all trying to eat away her blind faith. How healthy is it to have absolute blind faith in someone your admire and care for so dearly? I cannot ignore the badmouthing, now can I? I defend my everyday life and family with the same passion, I see no other way. But it's hard. What should I do?
The great champion looks her in the eye, they need to watch the road though. He's obviously searching for the right words. He's not a bad person, no-one truly thinks that, but he cares for the respect he received from the naive fangirl, and doesn't want to have her go through sorrow because of her blind dedication, and his own actions. The words come out with a broken voice, although they've all but come to a halt now. "Dear Flor, I've just met you, but I cannot but reciprocate your respect, trust and devotion. It's strange, but you already feel like a sister to me. You probably know how I am with my family. I cannot lie to someone like you. Perhaps you better focus your interest my the racing itself, also that of other, I am not the only rider, not even the only Spanish pro. There are some dark truths about cycling, and even in The Clinic, which I do read almost daily, they don't know the half of it. I chose to be a pro rider, it was that or being a butcher help for the rest of my life. With the decision, the money and fame, came some small print which weighs very heavily on my heart. Sometimes I can't sleep from it. Floyd couldn't handle it anymore, and he's not the only one. For now, I continue to hold my promises I made to the professional side of the sport. But, it's hard, so hard. I don't want to lose your respect, but I would understand it, and still I would respect you allthesame. Sorry *snif*, that's all I am ready to say right now, hope you understand...". That's when they roll into the street of a sponsor affililiate bike shops, where they had started their ride several hours earlier. The great rider dives into his car, starts to freshen up and get changed, anyone can see he wants to be alone right now. The fangirl can barely get the words out to thank the shop manager for the nice bike she was allowed to demo. Kindly declines the press photographer asking her to have her picture taken once more.