Contador hoping to continue after crash

SAINTE-MARIE-DUMONT, France — With his biological clock ticking, Alberto Contador had made the Tour de France his main goal this year.

But the 33-year-old Spaniard’s quest for a third Tour title immediately suffered a serious blow Saturday when he crashed during the opening stage of the three-week race.

“This was not the best way to start. In theory it was a quiet day,” Contador said. “… There are some positions where my shoulder gives me some doubts, but I want to be optimistic and recover.”

Contador, who won cycling’s showpiece race in 2007 and 2009, skipped the Giro d’Italia this year to focus on the Tour.

He won the Italian race last year, but his efforts took a toll on the seven-time Grand Tour winner and he struggled in the heat of the French summer.

After Saturday’s crash, Contador got back on his bike with a ripped jersey and scrapes on his right shoulder. He later changed his bike and quickly made it to the back of the peloton with the help of his teammates.

“I came into the corner, there was a traffic island, and my front wheel hit it,” he said, “and then I fell back on the curb.”

Contador had to replace one of his shoes and dropped back to the race doctor’s car to have his shoulder bandaged. He was awarded the same time as his main rivals after an ugly crash in the final stretch split the peloton.

“He has some abrasion on his right shoulder, elbow and groin,” race doctor Paul-Henri Jost said, adding that Contador took a small dose of painkillers. “At first glance, this is no big deal.”

Contador, who was stripped of the 2010 Tour title and was suspended for two years after testing positive for the banned steroid clenbuterol in the final week of the race that year, was among the three main favorites alongside defending champion Chris Froome and Colombian climber Nairo Quintana.

Tinkoff sports director Steven de Jongh gave reassuring news regarding his team leader’s condition, but it remains to be seen how he will recover in the coming days.

“The first signs are good. He said he was fine,” De Jongh said. “When you crash, you get back on the bike and don’t feel pain, but then after the stage you might be in trouble. But hopefully he’ll be fine.”