When Spanish daily Marca contacted Alberto Contador for a telephone interview, they expected to discuss his schedule, objectives and the Giro-Tour challengw with the talented Spaniard. However, the conversation turned out to deal with an unexpected topic as Contador gave hits first hints about what he is going to do when his time as a professional rider is over. In fact, the 32-year-old Spaniard expects to end his career before he turns 35.

Alberto Contador goes into a big season. The Spaniard will try to become the first rider since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in the same year.

Contador has just finished his first training camp with the Tinkoff-Saxo team and today he was part of the team presentation in Russia. He has already started his preparation for the coming season after 2014 came to a premature end due to a crash in Il Lombardia.

"I am allright even though the winter was more active than I wanted," he told Marca. "I finished the season pretty late and I had to travel throughout Europe with major sponsors, and Tinkoff-Saxo. On December 19 we have the team presentation in Moscow. All that breaks the pace of training abit , you lose the rhythm and routine. But I'm on schedule. The training camp in Gran Canaria went well."

In 2014, Contador was one of several big riders to crash out of the big races when he had to leave the Tour de France on stage 10. However, the Spaniard is not dwelling with the circumstances. 

"I don't give importance to my crash," he said. "It happened because I hit a bump. If it had happened in another race than the Tour, it would have attracted less attention. There is a reason for the incident.

"I am grateful for how I have been treated. I feel super respected in the peloton by both rivals and the public. Of course there are something for everyone and many situations divide opinions. But I am happy with all aspects of my life."

In recent days, there has been lots of discussion about the Astana team and the Padova investigation. Contador refuses to be drawn into the matter, even if he is a former Astana rider.

"I think cycling is going in the right direction," he said. "Regarding what has been said, it does not distract me. I don't want to talk about it. Certainly, there are things from the past coming up. Now it is a clean sport but it does not prevent stupid riders from harming the rest."

2015 is the final year of Contador's contract.

“I have various options, either to renew my contract and some other offers," he said But I feel very calm about that. I need more time to decide, not because the offers are bad - in fact, they couldn’t be better. But I don’t know when I’ll decide.”

However, he refuses that he will wait until September.

"Of course I have to do it before that time," he said. "But I have to see how the season goes. I feel very good. At a physical level, this year has been the best of my career. But the years pass. And although I may not be exhausted mentally or physically, my aim to is to retire at the highest level and winning my last ever race. I don’t refer to a small stage race, either, but winning a big one. To be specific, the Tour de France.”

Asked whether he intends to retire at the end of the season, Contador makes it clear that his retirement is approaching.

"In principle I won't refuse that but as I have to see whether I can stay at the highest level," he said. "I do not see myself riding for many more years. I believe that I won’t reach 35 in this sport. At most I have one contract left [as a pro rider] to sign. Time will tell."

"Cycling takes so much time and I give much importance to my friends and family. Of course many people that treat me well, show a lot of commitment. I am grateful and enjoy their work. That's very rewarding, but I do not see myself on the bike for many years on the bike."

In recent years Contador has been involved in the Alberto Contador Foundation which aims at developing young Spanish riders.

"The Foundation is a great satisfaction, not only because of its riders but also its people," he said. "And one thing is sure: the future of Spanish cycling goes through the Foundation. It is an economic burden because I am the sponsor. I assure you that 50% of the riders on the teams, will become professional in the future. That motivates me more than having a professional team."

However, Contador does not rule out that he may add a professional team to the project which currently consists of a U23 and a junior team.

"I won't rule anything out," he said. "We have been contacted by very excited people. But if we did something bigger, we want to achieve a maximum level while retaining the same values ​​that are now the pillars of the junior and U23 teams."

The Foundation is currently led by Alberto's brother Fran.

"He is doing an amazing jon," he said. "If I compare the Foundation to my super professional team Tinkoff-Saxo, the only difference is the contract. They are well-organized. The riders know that one day they are leaders and the next they are a teammate. They are not professionals but I know that if I recommend a rider, there will be a response. In January, one of the riders from the Foundation, Enric Mas, will accompany us at the Tinkoff training camp in Sicily."

"The Under 23 team may not stand out for their results, but I am impressed with how it works. And it is based solely on junior riders from the Foundation. We are creating very good riders."

In recent years, Spain has dominated the WorldTour but it has mainly been based on riders that are well into their thirties. Contador hopes that his Foundation will help change the future.

“Everybody is asking what will happen when I, Purito [Joaquim Rodriguez - Katusha] and Alejandro [Valverde - Movistar] retire. We have to recognise that it will be difficult to remain where we [the Spanish] are in world cycling, winning all sorts of [UCI WorldTour] classifications,” Contador said.

“But I am certain that the Foundation will produce some great riders. There’s no [financial] profit [for me] at all, and we have to spend a lot of time and money in it. But it’s worth it to see how young riders are being created for the future, both as cyclists and as people.”