Cycling

Tinkoff-Saxo’s Contador wins Velo d’Or award

PARIS – Tour of Spain champion Alberto Contador capped his tumultuous season by winning the Velo d’Or award as the best rider of 2014.

The Tinkoff-Saxo rider succeeded Chris Froome, who won the 2013 Tour de France but crashed out of this year’s race.

The 31-year-old Contador, who also was forced out of the Tour this summer with a leg fracture before recovering at the Vuelta last month, added successes at Tirreno-Adriatico and Tour of the Basque Country this season.

Contador won his sixth grand tour title at the Vuelta, claiming his home race for a third time, to go with two Tour de France victories and one Giro d’Italia title.

Associated Press