29.09.2014 @ 18:52 Posted by Emil Axelgaard, Ponferrada

After winning the Vuelta a Espana overall, Alberto Contador has made the individual WorldTour ranking his next big goal. The Spaniard will do both Il Lombardia and the Tour of Beijing in an attempt to defend his lead and succeed his compatriot Joaquim Rodriguez as the winner of the season-long competition.

Earlier this year Alberto Contador suggested that the overall win in the WorldTour could become an objective towards the end of the season. The Spaniard has now decided that he will go all in in an attempt to win the prestigious honour of being the most consistent rider during the season.

After his successful performance in the Vuelta a Espana, Contador said that he didn’t know whether he would do any more races this season. Later he announced his intention to do Milan-Turin and Il Lombardia, trying to capitalize from his good post-Vuelta condition.

The Tour of Beijing can now be added to the list of end-of-season races on Contador’s schedule. He hasn’t publicly announced his intentions yet but his teammate Michael Valgren reveals to CyclingQuotes that the Spaniard will do his utmost to win the competition.

“My final two races are the Tour of Beijing and the Japan Cup,” the Dane said. “I am looking forward to the race in China. I’ve never been there before and it is always exciting to be racing with Alberto. When he really wants to win it, it is even more fun.”



Valgren was originally schedule to do the Tour de l’Eurometropole but Contador specifically asked him to go to Beijing instead, hoping that he can help him win the WorldTour.

Contador currently has a 14-point lead over Alejandro Valverde with just Il Lombardia and the Tour of Beijing remaining. Both will be at the start line in Lombardy and as the race is better suited to Valverde’s characteristics, there is a big chance that the Movistar leader will take over the lead.

If that happens, Contador will have to earn points in the Tour of Beijing which suits him pretty well. The 5-day race offers 4 sprint stages and is likely to be decided in the big mountaintop finish on the penultimate day, making Contador a clear favourite.

Valverde hasn’t only signaled his intention to ride in Lombardy and it is still unclear whether he will try to challenge Contador for the WorldTour win in Beijing.