Hundreds of fans greeted Tour de France winner Alberto Contador as he arrived at Madrid airport this afternoon. The 27-year-old then travelled into the capital to meet with Esperanza Aguirre, the President of Madrid before travelling to his hometown of Pinto, just outside the city.
According to Marca, Aguirre presented Contador with a commemorative plaque and he presented her with a signed yellow jersey and one of the stuffed toy lions that he received as part of the podium ceremony.
“Thank you,” Contador said to those present at the reception. “The 2010 Tour was very difficult as many have seen on television. I suffered until the last minute and didn’t go as well as on other occasions. It has all been thanks to your support, everything you do makes it easier.
“Now, after suffering for the last month, I hope everyone can enjoy this victory.”
He then travelled to Pinto, where he was greeted by an estimated 3000-strong crowd of Pinteños, as well as Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. Fans displayed banners reading messages such as: “proud to be your countryman” and “Alberto, Champion”.
“Champion, I want to express our pride, satisfaction and congratulations on this new triumph in the Tour,” said Zapatero, “in which we have been moved and suffered in this great month for sports.
"Congratulations Alberto," he added, "now for the fourth Tour, because I'm sure you're going to win."
Contador was visibly moved by the reception, saying to the crowd: “`you are the reason that every day I get up and go out to train.”
The last few weeks have been an extremely successful period for Spanish sport; as well as Contador’s Tour victory, Rafael Nadal won Wimbledon in June and the Spanish team won the FIFA World Cup at the beginning of July. In motorsport this last weekend Contador’s friend Fernando Alonso won the Formula 1 German Grand Prix, and Jorge Lorenzo won the Moto GP in the United States.