When he did the Giro at 120%, then quietly went into the Tour, with abuse, organizers out to get him, fatigue and no preparation, a very bad way to go into a gt.
Remember how the UCI said they didnt want him in the race?
Remember how the fans booed him at the start?
Remember how they screwed him in Mont des Allesouts, and how Karpets threw him onto the floor and how he had nothing left from the Giro?
And yet
He kept his head, while all around him,
lost theirs and blamed it on him.
And didnt give way to hating though he was hated
though they lied about him, he didnt deal in lies.
He knew the form might come later, and so he waited
And rode through all their booes and cries.
He stood tall, as they all said that he was bluffing
Living off the hope that the form would come
And held on when there was absolutely nothing
Except the Will which said to him: 'Hold on!'
And then came Gap, 5 glorious minutes
A risk, one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And though he dropped them, the chance had gone to win it
But he never breathes a word about his loss.
He dreamt and made those dreams his master;
To win it the hard way, that was now his aim;
And though he knows truimph, now it was disaster
But he treats those two impostors just the same
He dealt all the lies they had spoken
But could only watch as his body was ripped apart
And under all their efforts his dream was broken,
But they could never take from him his heart.
He talked with crowds and kept his virtue,
He walked with Kings and never lost the common touch,
neither foes nor loving friends can hurt him,
but those two long grand tours proved just too much;
But yet, they could never take his spirit
As he walked into the final mountain stage
And though he knew he could no longer win it.
He could bring the sport back to a distant age
He forced his heart and nerve and sinew
With 100k left of distance to run.
And the wolves, they asked, why did do it
"I attacked" he answered
"just for for fun".
TDF 2011.
In defeat, Contador made himself greater than he ever could in victory