WILL EL PISTELERO DANCE AGAIN - PART 1

CHAMPIONS ARE MEASURED NOT BY HOW MANY TIMES THEY ARE KNOCKED DOWN, BUT BY HOW MANY TIMES THEY GET UP...

In the late 90’s and into the new millennium these words were best embodied by the musical genius Eminem as he sang his way to mega-stardom despite all the obstacles that had been placed before him.  Despite how many times he was “chewed up, spit-on or booed off stage..”

This mantra has similarly become synonymous with sportsmen who, through their performances in their respective arenas, allow fans and spectators to visually witness just how true champs get knocked down and get straight back up. 

In a similar vein, during Quentin Tarantino’s cult classic “Desperado” starring Antonio Bandares as a former musician on a carrying a guitar suitcase, filled with seemingly and endless array of ammunition, while on a path of vengeance, there is a side-story scene where a young buck enters a fighting pit in an attempt to prove himself to the criminal boss.  In the fighting scene that ensues, the youngster is pitted against a tattooed veteran who promptly proceeds to break the ankle of his young upstart opponent, with the criminal boss casually stating, “Well he’ll never dance again..”

In the movie scene, the youngster ends up proving himself by defeating his opponent despite his broken ankle.  Getting up, despite being knocked down.

When watching this year’s Tour de France, seeing Alberto Contador (pictured left) crash out, attempt to ride back on and later withdraw, with it later being discovered that he had fractured his tibia, it immediately sprung to mind that not only was the Spaniard's chances to add to his Grand Tour collection in 2014 over, but also the injury could potentially be one that sees El Pistelero not be able to resume his indomitable and champion winning dance-on-the-bike riding style.  For moments, maybe milliseconds even the most ardent Contador supporters would be forgiven if they wondered whether the Spaniard would be able to get up from the latest knockdown in his up-and-down career, or if this was the knock-out blow that not even a champion could get up from.

But El Pistelero has not earned his champion pedigree by standing atop podiums in pink, red and yellow jerseys.  No, the championship pedigree of Alberto Contador and fanatical support that he receives has been hard earned through his consistent comebacks against an array of knockdowns that would have been fatal to many others.

Yes at the age of 31, Contador is no spring chicken with his generation of cyclists nearing the twilight of their respective careers and a new generation emerging before our eyes.  Was 2014 therefore the last opportunity for Contador to have danced his way to a Grand Tour victory?  Is the latest blow, the final one for El Pistelero?  At first glance, it would appear possible. But throughout Contador’s career, first glance impressions have often later been proven to be inaccurate.