Contador unfazed by anthem mishap at Tour ceremony

PARIS (AP) Alberto Contador took it in stride when, unexpectedly, the Danish national anthem echoed on the Champs-Elysees in celebration of the Spaniard's Tour de France victory.

Tour organizers were tipped off by his older brother, Fran, that the wrong anthem was played at the Tour awards ceremony after Sunday's race finish, Contador's spokesman said.

"For us, it is just an anecdote. It's no big deal," spokesman Jacinto Vidarte said by telephone.

Organizers sought to rectify the problem by playing Spain's anthem when Contador's Astana team was recognized on the podium.

Updated July 26, 2009

© 2009 by STATS LLC and Associated Press.
Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.