Alberto Contador was interviewed by The Guardian about the next season. The Tinkoff-Saxo leader will do his last year in the peloton and aims for another Tour de France victory. The Spaniard, who has won seven Grand Tours admits that he had a long and difficult 2015 season.

"It’s been a very tough season physically and psychologically," Contador said, "and the toughest year of my career because my objective was to win the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France. I won the Giro, but not the Tour. Sport is now much more scientific but you still don’t know how tough each Giro or Tour will be until you race them. But now I can recover and be a normal person again – not eating only salad and vegetables.

"The Giro was special but very difficult. I dislocated my shoulder 200 metres before the finish and after that I went to the podium. I was the leader and when I tried to take off the jersey the shoulder dislocated again. In that moment I was really worried. I thought maybe I cannot continue as the next stage was the longest in the race, 270km. It was very tough and the headwind was very strong."

After the Italian three-week race, Contador was present at the start of the Tour de France as he went for a historic double but he finished 5th overall. During the race, Chris Froome was under pressure from the French public that doubted his performances. "During the Tour you put in an incredible effort. And to lead the race takes even more. I still think cycling is a beautiful sport but some people just want to disturb the race. It’s sad."

But now, he is thinking only about 2016. "I want to finish my career at the top level – if possible winning the Tour. I think 2016 will be my last year – but if I have an accident or something stops me being at my best level at the Tour then maybe I’ll continue another year. It would be perfect to win the Tour, do the Olympics and end happily.

"If you look at the 2016 Tour route the flat time-trial will be better for Froome. But the other time-trial will be a climbing one and that’s better for me. This year Froome was at a higher level than anyone – but maybe [Nairo] Quintana will come to this level. His evolution is good and so, as my main rivals, I’d put Quintana and Froome at the same level for next year."