AC 5 minutes slower than Fabian?? Last year faster??

[Comeback 2011]

If it makes you feel better to believe some other explanation, go ahead be my guest.

The anti doping community always gets this thrown in their face. It's not about 'feeling better' - it's about doping.

We only have your word for the split times, and in any event it was still into a head wind, whereas FC had a back wind.

 

[Hugh Januss]

The anti doping community always gets this thrown in their face. It's not about 'feeling better' - it's about doping.

We only have your word for the split times, and in any event it was still into a head wind, whereas FC had a back wind.

The biggest difference was probably Cancellara's motor though, huh BPC.

 

[Comeback 2011]

I don't understand the attitude to Greg Lemond and his highlighting of doping on the Verbier.

Lemond thinks very carefully before making any public statements. I trust him to make the right call.

 

[simoni]

Please remember that Verbier was only c20mins long.

As far as the TT goes the fact that AC and the other GC contenders all took such a thrashing suggests that the weather conditions were a major issue. What is more interesting is the performance of Menchov who seems the strongest TTer of the GC contenders but slightly limited on the climbs. Is the era of a rider dominating in both the climbs and ITTs coming to an end? Schleck and Contador have profited from a climber friendly route - a long TT in the first week and the final result (or the way the race played out) would have been radically different.

 

[mastersracer]

"Ceteris Paribus" What a bunch of crap in the real world; power estimates are tools NOT absolutes. There are an infinite amount of reasons why or why not 'A' did better on a climb than 'B'. At best you'll get a range of how someone might perform.

huh? the issues with power estimates are well-discussed in other threads but whatever distinction you're attempting to make better a 'tool' and an 'absolute' is incoherent.

 

[Siriuscat]

Wind was a massive factor today, early runners were dealing with a slight crosswind of around 5kts or less whereas the latter riders from about Wiggo onwards were facing 10 to 12 knots of a headwind.

That's hugely significant for the stage and I'd love some of the power gurus to come up with how much time it added to the later riders. It was pretty similar for the main protagonists though.

 

[Publicus]

In fact the splits from last years TT clearly showed that Contador was faster than Cancellara on the climb but gradually lost time to him both before and after the climb. Cancellara rode faster except on the climb, where Contador was able to gain enough time to beat him. This years course had no terrain that was favorable to Contador, that fact coupled with the difference in wind is certainly enough explanation for the different results.
If it makes you feel better to believe some other explanation, go ahead be my guest.

46" faster at the top of the climb (Cat 3). Lost all but 3" by the finish. And this year, much more Spartacus friendly TT and then he had the wind advantage. The result was not surprising.

 

[roundabout]

Check 1, km. 18
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 0:20:02
5 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank 0:00:37

Check 2, km. 25

2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 0:00:03
5 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:00:18
5 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank


Contador was 15 seconds faster before the climb.

http://cdn.media.cyclingnews.com//2009/07/21/1/stage18profile_600.jpg

 

[Polish]

Last year Alberto was DOMINATING in the ITT's. National Champ, TdF spanking of everyone, and all points in between.

When this "issue" was raised back then, some forum members correctly pointed out that Alberto has ALWAYS been a superior TTer. From his early neo-pro days with Manolo through his victory over Spartucus last year.

But this year has been different. And not just todays performance.
Alberto has been off his TT game all season. Not bad, but not as great as usual.

So what is different this year?

Alberto has been juiced from his days with Manolo through last years TdF with Bruyneel, but is now clean?

That is downright silly. C'mon, clean now? lol.

So what is it then?
I am guessing the new TT bikes have not agreed with Alberto this year.
Seems he has been doing a lot of tweaking and adjusting all season - but has yet to dial it in.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[roundabout]

Yes, the reason why riders on Bruyneel and Saiz teams were able to TT so well must have been the bikes, lol.

Good one, Polish.

 

[Big Doopie]

Wind was a massive factor today, early runners were dealing with a slight crosswind of around 5kts or less whereas the latter riders from about Wiggo onwards were facing 10 to 12 knots of a headwind.

so how did wiggo beat him by so much?

and don't give me the "wiggo" is a TT specialist. Contidor beat him in every TT last year.

no. contidor did a TT like a normal climber would.

he misses the hog's prep -- or more importantly the hog protection, i.e. no more 50 minute coffees.

 

[The Hitch]

Last year Alberto was DOMINATING in the ITT's. National Champ, TdF spanking of everyone, and all points in between.

When this "issue" was raised back then, some forum members correctly pointed out that Alberto has ALWAYS been a superior TTer. From his early neo-pro days with Manolo through his victory over Spartucus last year.

But this year has been different. And not just todays performance.
Alberto has been off his TT game all season. Not bad, but not as great as usual.

So what is different this year?

Alberto has been juiced from his days with Manolo through last years TdF with Bruyneel, but is now clean?

That is downright silly. C'mon, clean now? lol.

So what is it then?
I am guessing the new TT bikes have not agreed with Alberto this year.
Seems he has been doing a lot of tweaking and adjusting all season - but has yet to dial it in.

Just my 2 cents.

He hasnt been bad in tts.

He won paris nice and beat all his competitors in the tt coming 3rd.

He won vuetlta a algarve and came 2nd in the tt.

He won the vuelta a castille y leon and won the tt there.

Its not all about the tdf. He had a bad tt in the dauphine and a bad tt in the tdf. Yes both were 50km so maybe he has gotten worse at long tts but he has been good att tts most of the year

 

[vrusimov]

...even souped up, there was no way Contador had a chance in hell of beating Cancellara today...Fabian is listed at ~80kg...Contador 60-62kg...what happened today is exactly what is supposed to happen against a World time trial champion on a flat road over 50+ kms...

 

[El Pistolero]

Contador had stomach aches the night before the time trial and had difficulty sleeping well. He was also taking antibiotics a few days before the Tour began which sounds believable as he skipped the national time trial championship because he had a fever.

His health didn't really cooperate this year's season. He lost the Criterium International because of an allergy attack. He lost the Dauphine in a crappy TT(I have no idea how the likes of Brajkovic could beat Conti like that in a time trial), etc

 

[Von Mises]

It is not so much AC vs FC as been pointed, but AC vs other GC contenders and in this regard Contador seems to be weaker than previously.

 

[ellenbrook2001]

well easy explanation the riders in the morning did have a little win on the back then afternoon a strong win from the sea and the river la Garonne was blowing against the rider so he did make the race so hard and did disavantage half the riders i tell you what he was blowing so badly??????