“That’s being a sore loser” - Alberto Contador hits back at Giro d'Italia riders complaining about race motos

The 17th stage of the Giro d’Italia reignited the debate over motorbikes influencing the race. After the finish, several riders voiced their anger about the alleged aerodynamic aid the breakaway received, a topic later dissected on Eurosport by Alberto Contador and Juan Antonio Flecha.

Flecha noted that these situations have been happening in pro cycling for decades and shared an anecdote from his Quick-Step days with Paolo Bettini.

“I remember Pedro Horrillo telling me when he was a teammate of Paolo Bettini at Quick-Step. They said at Milano–Sanremo, Paolo knew exactly where to attack to hit that corner where the motorbikes would be waiting for the photo.”

The former Catalan pro also touched on possible tech fixes to avoid this kind of controversy: “The technology exists—implement it and that’s one less problem.”

However, Flecha also criticised the immediate post-stage protests: “If the riders who spoke out this time had been the ones benefiting, they wouldn’t say a word.”

Contador, for his part, argued that the aero gain doesn’t come only from a motorbike ahead of the break: “The aerodynamic advantage isn’t just about having a motorbike in front, it’s also about the vehicles behind.”

The Spanish legend even cited figures from studies in the field: “There are studies saying that at 47 per hour, if a car is one metre away, you gain three and a half minutes per kilometre.”

Even so, Contador sought to lower the temperature, stressing that these situations have long been part of the sport: “This stuff with motorbikes and cars has always happened. Sometimes it helps you, sometimes it hurts you.”

He also took aim at riders’ hot-headed quotes at the line: “Crossing the finish and, even in the heat of the moment, showing poor sportsmanship—there’s no need.”

To close the debate, the winner of all three Grand Tours insisted there were multiple tactical and course factors behind the break’s success: “We were on a circuit, and chasing there isn’t the same as on an open highway—it’s a different game with all the bends.”