According to Bjarne Riis, Alberto Contador has never been as good before as he is just now in 2014.

“I like the Contador we have right now, for sure, definitely,” Tinkoff team manager, Bjarne Riis said. “It’s a beautiful bike rider we have here in the Dauphiné. I’ve never seen him that good.”

Contador has won the Tout twice before, in 2007 and 2009, as well as the 2012 Vuelta a Espana, his most recent Grand Tour victory. But in 2013, he looked lackluster and out of form, seemingly lacking his explosive punch and “dancing on the pedals style”. But in 2014, normal service has resumed.

“Alberto is going for it,” Riis added. “That’s racing and nice to see. He’s alert and sharp, even on the descents. That means he’s good.”

“Is this how you win the Dauphiné? The Tour de France? Everything counts,” Riis said standing in the hot sun waiting for his star to arrive from the finish. Contador circled up and down the road behind the finishing straight, likely thinking back to his attack and how to overthrow Froome in July.

“Sky’s worked a lot, and that’s what I want to see,” Riis continued. “They have some guys in trouble but they also have some strong guys able to control ether race, the ones that you saw at the finish with Froome. We let them control, but if you want to push them more then you need to a very strong team to do that, and will have that team at the Tour de France.”