Agree, he is "one" of the best, but not "the" best as he clearly believes.

Alonso can make life difficult for himself, he doesn't need any help, he clearly can't get on with any of his team mates. Don't think he'll be sharing a beer with Massa afterwards. He's forever moaning about the car, the mechanics, the team, it's never him if things don't go well. Es un quejica, un soplón. En contrast, De La Rosa and Alguersuari come across as very pleasant people.

Any acknowledgement of the great Spanish sporting achievements in football, tennis and the Tour de france, within a few weeks? We know the UK aren't going to achieve all 3 of these even in a 4 year time span; to be fair I can't see many countries getting a chance to do this, it's such an amazing combination at the same time.

I think it's been well acknowledged,especially the football.
Great team,skilfull players,deserved to win the World cup.
Just a shame they insisted on behaving like spoilt babies,constantly bleating to the referee when they didn't get all their own way.
No doubt Alonso is a great driver,but he also behaves like a big baby when things don't go his way.
You only need look at the previous F1 race to see that,or go back to when Hamilton as a rookie in his first season had the beating of him, and he just couldn't deal with it.
Much like some of the footballers, he chucks his toys out the pram at the first sign of trouble.
I really hope further action is taken regarding yesterday's incident if F1 hopes to retain,(or regain), any credibility at all

Well it's not a sport I follow, but hasn't it been in disrepute for many years? In order to change it you have to change the guys in charge at the top. Was it Ecclestone in the past, Mosely now? Edit: Just googled it, it's now a guy called Todt in charge. Is he any better? I see he's a former Ferrari Director...

Indeed, España está en racha, they are on a roll. I watched quite a bit if the Tour de France, and whilst Contador won without winning a single stage (that´s the way the TDF works) it was nice to see Mark Cavendish win 5 stages. He has to be the best sprinter around by miles, but it´s usually the mountain men that win.

I'm in two minds about cycling anyway. On the one hand, it's one of the most gruelling sports around, on the other hand, how can I say this, you have to take artifical substances (sometimes legal, sometimes not) to have a chance of keeping up...

No-one can doubt they work hard at their sport though

Quite true,the F1 organisation has been run by people with a strong Ferrari connection for many years,including spank my bot Mosely,who is no fan of Hamilton.
Had they not imposed such unfair penalties on Mclaren and Hamilton then he would easily have won the World title in his very first season.
Vested interests have always come before fairness and justice in the World of F1.
Regarding the Tour de France, Contador's victory was also tainted by what was regarded as an incident of very bad sportsmanship, and he was booed off the leader's rostrum at one stage.

Where Alonso says: " Oh, I am the best in the world "...eh? If you know some publication, do put the link, ok?

I don't know any similar declaration, but if you know something, tell it to me, ok?
No, the difference between him and idiots like Hamilton, is that Alonso proves cars, he speaks with the mechanics, etc. So much him as De La Rosa. Enough made Alonso in McLaren. With his own team against him, and almost he wins. Enough merit. Therefore, you can observe the category of this man

Man's body,..Babies mentality.

Absolutely!

In my opinion thre is only one sin worse in sport than taking drugs - that is unsportsmanlike behaviour.

Alonso is a world champion at that! No one else gets close!

Ah but I read his side of the story, he never saw Schleck´s chain come off!

Schleck was in the process of launching an attack on Contador. He didn't manage his gears properly and the chain came off.

It seems there are those who think Contador should have waited for him and allowed him another chance to attack. I suppose we're all entitled to our opinions.

I don't get it! I've read a bit about it here

Is it the done thing that if a rival's chain come off in a bike race, everybody stops and waits for him to put it back on or something?

Seriously - I don't understand - can someone explain?

It`s a procession, just like the caterpillars.

Apparently so.
It's quite normal to be drugged up to the eyeballs, but if your main oponent suffers some unforeseen misfortune,you should not take advantage,rather stop and help, then restart under equal terms.
It's called sportsmanship I believe.
In the clip I saw,Contador seemed to come from behind,then ride straight past Schleck totally ignoring him.