Alberto Contador
A cyclist of ferocious will and sublime climbing talent, he conquered every major tour and weathered a career-defining doping scandal with unshakeable resolve.
Born 1982 (age 44)·Spanish professional cyclist·Birthday: December 6·Millennials
Biography
Alberto Contador attacked the mountains with a violence that belied his slender frame, a style so distinctive it earned its own verb: 'contadorar,' meaning to launch a devastating, race-winning acceleration. The Madrileño turned professional in 2003, and his rise was meteoric, marked by a first Tour de France victory in 2007. His career, however, became a defining narrative of cycling's turbulent era. In 2010, he tested positive for clenbuterol, leading to a stripped Tour title and a ban that polarized the sport. Contador never admitted intentional doping, blaming contaminated meat, and fought the verdict with characteristic defiance. His return was a testament to his sheer talent; he won the 2012 Vuelta and later added a second Giro d'Italia title with a spectacular comeback on the Gran Sasso stage. He retired in 2017, leaving behind a legacy of breathtaking audacity on the bike and a complex, unresolved chapter in the sport's history.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Alberto was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alberto Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Alberto's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- One of only two riders to have won all three Grand Tours (Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, Vuelta a España) more than once.
- Won the Vuelta a España three times (2008, 2012, 2014), a record he shares with a select few.
- Captured the Giro d'Italia twice, in 2008 and 2015, the latter with a dramatic come-from-behind victory.
- Awarded the Vélo d'Or, given to the best cyclist of the year, a record four times (2007, 2008, 2009, 2014).
- Secured overall victory in the 2010 Tour de France, though the title was later stripped due to a doping violation.
Did You Know?
His signature climbing attack, often launched from the saddle with his hands on the brake hoods, was nicknamed the 'pistolero' for its shooting-hand gesture.
He is an avid fan of Real Madrid and has been seen celebrating major cycling victories with the club's players.
His older brother, Fran Contador, was also a professional cyclist and served as a key domestique for Alberto early in his career.
He won the prestigious week-long Paris-Nice race a record-equaling three times (2007, 2010, 2016).
After retirement, he became a prominent television commentator for Spanish cycling broadcasts.
“Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.”
