Alberto Contador returned home Monday after winning his third Tour de France title, a triumph that capped another summer of Spanish dominance in world sport. Contador was received by hundreds of fans – mostly from his native Pinto – at Madrid's Barajas international airport before meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. “It's wonderful to contribute to this moment in Spanish sport, which is in such healthy shape and is the envy of so many other countries,” Contador said after presenting Zapatero with a replica yellow Tour jersey. It's been a busy time for Zapatero, who seems to be greeting triumphant homegrown athletes quite often recently. A World Cup victory earlier this month confirmed Spain's position as the best footballing country in the world two years after it began its resurgence with a European Championship win. The victory in South Africa came one week after tennis star Rafael Nadal clinched his second Wimbledon trophy and eighth Grand Slam title by the age of 24. Nadal also won his fifth French Open title in May. “A Spanish July,” wrote El Mundo newspaper as Contador and Formula One driver Fernando Alonso's victory at the German Grand Prix Sunday “closed the greatest month ever in Spanish sport.” While Alonso is in the hunt for his third F1 title in six seasons, Jorge Lorenzo won the United States GP in Laguna Seca to lead the Moto GP standings. Meanwhile, Spain's national basketball team – already European champion and Olympic silver medalist – was preparing to defend its world championship title in Turkey in September. Nadal also helped Spain to its third Davis Cup victory in five years in 2009. “Spanish sport is on a spectacular streak,” Zapatero said. Contador's win – his third in four years – heralded the arrival of a new cycling superstar. At 27, Contador is well positioned to challenge Lance Armstrong's record of seven Tour titles – not to mention Spanish great Miguel Indurain's mark of five. Contador joined Greg LeMond, Louison Bobet and Philippe Thys as a three-time Tour champion. “I know I've taken a very important step in the history books, that my name is now alongside legendary cyclists,” the Astana rider said. After his reception with Zapatero at the Moncloa government palace, Contador head home to Pinto, the suburb some 20 kilometers south of the Spanish capital, for another reception. Armstrong in hot water Lance Armstrong and his team RadioShack will face disciplinary proceedings for breaching riders' clothing regulations during the Tour de France, the International Cycling Union (UCI) said in a statement Monday. The American, who was diagnosed with cancer before going on to win seven successive Tours from 1999-2005 and returning to the sport in 2009, was riding the famous race for the last time and attempted to wear a black Livestrong shirt instead of his team's red and grey strip during the final day Sunday. The 38-year-old was halted from publicizing his Livestrong foundation by wearing the new jerseys with the number 28 – a reference to the estimated 28 million people living with cancer – which delayed the start of the race, though he did wear it on the podium at the end. “RadioShack's incorrect behavior led to a 20-minute delay to the start of the final stage, which could have disrupted the televised coverage of the race, placing the Commissaires under the obligation to impose a fine on each rider and the team managers,” the statement read. “The UCI regrets that an initiative for a cause as worthy as the fight against cancer was not coordinated beforehand with the Commissaires and organisers of the event. This could have been done whilst remaining within the rules.” RadioShack's Belgian boss Johan Bruyneel, a former rider, was unhappy about the decision and is also in trouble with the UCI for the following comments posted on his Twitter site: “To be a race commissaire you don't need brains, but only know the rules.” “The UCI also deplores the declarations made by Mr Johan Bruyneel who gravely offended all the Commissaires working in cycling. His remarks are utterly unacceptable, and Mr Bruyneel will be called upon to answer for his comments before the UCI Disciplinary Commission,” the statement added. The UCI added that any fines levied as a result of this matter would be donated to the LSC (Ligue suisse contre le cancer – Swiss Cancer League).
