Vuelta, Contador, Levi, Lance
It’s extremely rare in cycling to see the type of class of this year’s Vuelta. To be honest, I don’t know if I have ever seen anything quite like it. Contador is as likeable as any true champion you will ever meet and Levi’s “he deserved it” comment - while coming in an extremely close second (and without time bonuses the same real time) goes beyond nice guy. It’s true class as we have not seen in a long time. True class in an elite athlete is extremely rare. The very nature of their work - to beat the other guy - normally rules it out.
Lance is back almost for certain with Astana which, no matter what anyone may say, is fantastic for the sport. Whether he can be on a team that is not focused on only him winning is something we will find out. If he can do that and remain true to his claimed goal of cancer awareness will, in my mind, put him in the class with guys like Levi. Or not. If he comes back to his former conditioning it will put the burden on Contador to show how classy he really is.
I am not one of the guys who thinks Lance had to cheat to get the record he has. It’s very easy to look at his accomplishments and look at his competition (many of whom were on drugs) and say it’s impossible for him to have done it. I would answer in just one work. Tiger. Until Tiger came along no one believed anyone could dominate professional golf the way he has. On an average day he’s as good as anyone else on their best day. Golf has one other challenge in that most of the tournaments Tiger plays in have all of the best in golf against him. It’s not one event a year.