Formula One star Alonso to set up pro cycling team
Fernando Alonso hopes to set up a pro cycling team (Cristina Quicler/AFP/Getty Images)
Two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso hopes to set up a cycling team capable of winning the Tour de France, he revealed today.
The 28-year-old said he would call on an influential friend for help: reigning Tour champion Alberto Contador.
"It's a project for me – a kind of dream I have because I love cycling," the Ferrari driver told the UK's Guardian newspaper.
"But I know it is not easy to create a top team from zero," he continued. "You need good riders, good staff, a lot of preparation and, most important, a lot of sponsors. So I don't think we are in the right moment to start a project like this, because of the world economy."
Alonso, who revealed he had gone on training rides with Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez and some of Contador's team-mates, said he would not necessarily wait until he had retired from Formula One before starting the team.
Contador's contract with Astana expires this year. "For sure, if there is an opportunity I will be very interested," said Alonso. "I think he will be interested as well."
You can read the full interview on the Guardian website.
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User Comments
There are 2 comments on this post
Showing 1 - 2 of 2 comments
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mrushton
Posted Thu 25 Feb, 10:59 am GMT Flag as inappropriate
Old news but he won't have a shortage of riders altho' riders with a 'clean sheet' may be harder to find
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richardspooner
Posted Thu 25 Feb, 1:06 pm GMT Flag as inappropriate
It won't matter if the riders aren't clean or not, Alonso will just teach them his particular way to get out of been in trouble with the governing body. Lie and then act like a village idiot.
It's worked two or three times for him so far.
