Even if it never materialized, Alberto Contador's flirtation with a comeback was deadly serious, according to his Spanish brother.

The seven-time Grand Tour champion put down his wheels at the end of the 2017 season, but shockingly revealed earlier this year that he was considering a return to professional racing during the pandemic.

Contador, now 39, had hinted that he wanted to compete in the 2020 Giro d'Italia, but that would have required a mid-season move and a comeback after a 2.5-year break.

It would have been no small feat, but his brother Fran, who runs the Eolo Cometa team with him, revealed this week that it was close to happening.

"Yes, yes, he was serious, he was serious," Fran Contador said on the BiciEscapa podcast.

"When Alberto retired, he retired in very good shape. After he retired he still felt strong and was able to push up big numbers.

"But you know what? Every retired professional athlete would think that at least once. For athletes, especially those accustomed to winning like Alberto, the transition to retirement is not easy. You can spend all your time training or you can spend all your time resting. It's natural to miss it."

"I understood perfectly that Alberto was burning the fire to come back, that he wanted to "see why not" and "train and see if I could do it. But in the end, he stayed put. Alberto retired in good shape, at the top of his game, and now he's off the bike enjoying life."

Contador has not done little since he stepped off the racing wheel. He developed the Contador Foundation into a professional team, Eolo Cometa, which was promoted to a professional team in 2021 and made its Grand Tour debut at the Giro d'Italia, winning the Monte Zoncolan summit stage with Lorenzo Fortunato. Contador runs the team with his brother and former teammate Ivan Basso, and has also partnered with Basso on the development of the Aurum bicycle brand.

Stripped of his 2010 Tour de France and 2011 Giro d'Italia titles for doping violations, Contador showed his mid-pandemic form by setting the Everlasting record last July. He climbed 8,848 meters in 7 hours, 27 minutes, and 20 seconds, surpassing Lachlan Morton's previous record, which has since been further broken.