Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) had already said his goodbyes more than a month ago, but another full stop was added to the Spaniard’s illustrious and complicated career at the Shanghai Criterium on Sunday as he pinned on a race number for the final time.
In a sporting sense at least, it all came to an end at the Vuelta a España with victory on atop the Alto de l'Angliru and a hero's welcome into Madrid the following day. However, he has since made appearances at the Japan Cup Criterium two weekends ago, and now at the Shanghai Criterium laid on by the organisers of the Tour de France.
For all the specious proclamations from the organisers that Contador was somehow 'coming out of retirement', they were, of course, largely ceremonial appearances, though going through all the race rituals one final time nevertheless had its significance.
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"For me it's a special day. I consider it as something symbolic. My last day with a professional licence," Contador told reporters in Shanghai. "I have to say that the Vuelta was my final bow, but it's true that it's nice to have the chance to say goodbye here, alongside some of the biggest names in the peloton, and in a different cultural environment."
Despite only finishing ninth at the Tour de France in July, Contador was paraded in Shanghai alongside winner Chris Froome, king of the mountains Warren Barguil, and five-time stage winner Marcel Kittel as one of the star attractions at the event, which seeks to export a flavour of the Tour to an Asian audience.
He posed for countless selfies with fans before taking to the race and breaking free from the peloton for a final display of his attacking style that was as well-scripted as Froome's victory on a short flat course in a field that contained Marcel Kittel.
Froome rivalry
Retirement
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