Legendary Spanish cyclist encourages enthusiasts to keep cycling

Renowned for his climbing ability and strength in stage racing, Contador amassed two titles from the Giro d'Italia (2008 and 2015), two Tour de France tiles (2007 and 2009) and three wins (2008, 2012 and 2014) at his home tour - the Vuelta a Espana to become one of the most celebrated figure in the sport's history.

He became one of just five riders in history to have won all the three grand tours in 2008 and the fastest among them to achieve the feat using just 14 months.

Since retirement, Contador has been promoting cycling around the world and his own brand AURUM. China, with a growing number of recreational cycling enthusiasts, has emerged a market that he cannot miss.

The Desafío China by La Vuelta, a road cycling race sanctioned by the Spanish tour, provided a perfect platform for Contador to witness the sport's rising popularity in person, when the first edition kicked off on Saturday in north Beijing suburb's Changping district.