Alberto Contador celebrated his 30th birthday in the first stage of his U19 team
Alberto Contador would be present today in the first stage of his junior team in Segovia, with which also celebrated its 30th birthday, a symbolic date in which the Pinto’s champion gave the start to one of its most ambitious projects, the creation of a cycling school that aspires to become a model.
Specialized-Alberto Contador Foundation team met in Santana Hotel (Segovia) for the first time with his 14 riders, which will remain concentrated until Sunday performing various winter preparation activities, from hiking up the mountains to gym and pool sessions, not to mention the first bike outings because here they will have their new bikes, in whose assembly has also worked selflessly Contador’ personal mechanic, Faustino Muñoz.
Alberto Contador was this morning with members of his team to encourage them and give them a little talk at the beginning of this season, a gesture that his new young riders responded with a cake and singing the ‘happy birthday’. For Alberto, the experience of being able to support young riders who start is especially rewarding. “It was very emotional. See the kids as I began, with a huge illusion, valuing all this that we can offer, I am very excited and motivates me especially”, said Alberto.
“Starting this team is a great effort and a great responsibility, but also motivates me to continue my own career to see them struggling to come at this difficult time, not the best for cycling”. In addition, Alberto received the surprise of a birthday cake that was not expected there. “Yes, they have given a surprise and have sung ‘happy birthday’ for my 30th birthday, but no, I didn’t feel old, although I’ve gone from 2 to 3 and this is serious”, said the leader Saxo-Tinkoff. 
Sport Director
Jose Luis de Santos, a former professional cyclist and last national team coach, will be the first sport director and head of a project created with a commitment to continuity of at least three years for the junior team and wants to grow in 2014 with a Under-23 team and a junior women’s team.
“I am very happy and excited to start this project”, said De Santos. “We met for the first time all riders and technical staff with the idea of set the plan for the whole year, making the classic winter training and give riders their new bikes that can carry at home now”.
The team’s schedule is not yet defined, but already they know when will debut. “It will be on February 23 in Don Benito”, De Santos says, “but we are waiting to know the final national calendar to plan the season and also trips abroad, probably to Italy, which is the cradle of cycling in these categories”, concluded.
Roster: Óscar Linares y Pablo Noriega (Cantabria), Víctor Aguado y Diego Pablo Sevilla (Madrid), Cristian Torres (Albacete), Enric Mas (Mallorca), Álvaro Cuadros (Granada), Juanjo Pazos y Francisco Pérez y Sergio Fernández (Cantabria), Miguel Ángel Ballesteros (Murcia), Miguel Ángel Alcaide (Toledo), Fernando Barceló (Huesca) y Iosu Angoitia (País Vasco).
