Alberto Contador is offering you the chance to own a piece of cycling history as he puts his 2011 Giro d’Italia and Tour de France bike up for auction to raise money for the Red Cross.
From his home ‘museum’, El Pistelero announced he would be putting his Specialized S-Works Tarmac raced in both the Giro and Tour for Saxo Bank up on eBay with all profits going to the Spanish Red Cross.
The bike is limited edition in more ways than one. The frame has been specially painted with flecks of red, yellow and pink to remember his victories at the three Grand Tours, the Giro, Tour and Vuelta a Espana.
The bike is also fitted with a special-edition 10-speed Sram groupset, with yellow accents on the levers. The bike is then completed with Specialized 53-39 cranks, Zipp wheels and a set of Contador’s Speedplay pedals.
The 2011 season was also quite the year for the Spaniard. Initially, he won the Maglia Rosa at the Giro before fading at the Tour to finish fifth overall.
That was until he was retrospectively stripped of both results for a failed doping test for banned substance clenbuterol, a charge Contador still contests.
In a video, Contador said, ‘I want to show you something very special. It’s the bike I used in 2011, from Mount Etna [Contador’s only Giro stage win that has since been expunged] and the attack on the Télégraphe on the stage to Alpe d’Huez at the Tour.
‘I’ve decided to donate this bike – an authentic – for the Red Cross’s work during Covid-19, which is doing so much damage.’
Spain has been one of the worst-hit countries by the Covid-19 pandemic with a record total of 14,555 deaths, as of 7th April, second to only Italy and more than China, where the pandemic started.
Having been placed on lockdown on 14th March, the Spanish government confirmed that the quarantine would last until at least 25th April despite a reduction in the number of coronavirus-related deaths.
The proceeds of Contador’s auction will go to ‘Red Cross Responds’ a worldwide group of medical volunteers who have been helping with the ongoing pandemic.
Contador originally listed the bike at €2,500 yet latest biding, which can be found here, has seen the price rise to €12,400 at the time of writing.