Two-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador has won the Velo d'Or for the third consecutive year. French publication Velo Magazine has been handing out the award since 1992. The prize for the year's best French rider went to track rider Grégory Bauge, who beat out Bbox Bouygues Telecom rider Pierrick Fédrigo by a single vote.
"I was glad to take the trip to Paris," said Contador at the live broadcast of the awards ceremony on French television. "It is a great honor to receive the Velo d'Or. It is something very special to win it three times."
The winner of the award is decided by a jury made up of journalists from 15 different countries. Contador had 11 victories this season, among them his second Tour crown. Second place when to Britain's Mark Cavendish from Team Columbia-HTC, and in third place was Team Saxo Bank's World Time Trial Champion Fabian Cancellara from Switzerland.
During the ceremony Contador was congratulated by five-time Tour de France winner and fellow Spaniard Miguel Indurain, who himself has won the Velo d'Or twice. Contador attributes his popularity to the highly publicized rivalry between him and American Lance Armstrong. "Our rivalry and conflict have given my victory in the Tour de France international attention," explained Contador.
The reigning Tour champ ended speculation as to whether he would ride the Giro d'Italia as preparation for the Tour, saying he will skip the Italian race in order to focus 100% on the Tour de France.