La Vuelta Espana, the final grand tour of the calendar. One more chance of glory for some, a last shot at redemption for others, and a matter of honour for the Spanish. 

On the morning of stage 17, in 2012, the morning papers declared Alberto Contador's Vuelta challenge over. His late season legs lacked pep, his rivals too strong. He had run out of road.

But Contador failed to read the script, and broke away from the field with over 50km to go of the scorching, rolling stage to Fuente De. A suicidal move. As his gap stretched, panic spread, and one by one his rivals crumbled in the face of his attack. El Pistolero took aim and achieved the impossible, soloing to his greatest victory.