Alberto Contador (capture-the-peloton.com)

PARIS, Jul 29 (CP) - After reaching Paris without problems, Alberto Contador Velasco is the fifth Spaniard to win the overall classification in the Tour de France.

The first Spanish rider to win the French race was the now legendary Federico Bahamontes, who beat home riders Henri Anglade and Jacques Anquetil to take the victory in 1959.

Luis Ocaña repeated this victory in 1973. Bernard Thévenet and another Spaniard, Jose-Manuel Fuente completed the podium that year.

In 1988 it was Pedro Delgado to take the Yellow Jersey to Paris. Dutchman Steven Rooks finished second, and Colombian Fabio Parra took the third place.

Three years later began the Miguel Indurain era. Five consecutive Tour wins would be achieved by the strong and quiet Indurain, beating Gianni Bugno, Claudio Chiapucci, Tony Rominger, Pietr Ugrumov and Alex Zülle respectively.

The 2006 edition is still controversial. Oscar Pereiro Sio is by many considered as the winner of that race, but following the Floyd Landis case, the Tour organisation announced that there will probably not be a winner.

This means that twelve years after Indurain, Contador is the fifth Spaniard to win the race and it is the ninth time that a rider from that country occupies the top spot in the final classification.

© Jonathan Roorda