Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[LaFlorecita]

Ooooooooof Mrs Contador doesn't look too amused... understandably

 

[lenric]

Good win by Contador, but still weaker than Landa. Landa's the best climber. Contador's the best all-rounder. Period.

 

[Jelantik]

Well, today is close call. All this talk about how big deal of winning a stage almost back fired today. His team controlled earlier in the stage just to leave him isolated in the middle of the climb. Just when he was in crisis no teammate was around and not even his team car. Today is at least or maybe a consolation prize for not getting any stage win. He rode very smart to limit his loss. He has to fend off 3 freakin' astana. Thanks to Astana.. whatever they were thinking (I guess they're happy w/ 2/3 and many stages win) and let Contador to catch up. Well, objective one is DONE and DUSTED. *barring any mishap tomorrow*. Next objective.

Lesson to learn from the Giro? with this kind of team for TDF? he isn't going to have 4+ ahead of Froome, Quintana and Nibal. And if his team keep getting drop everytime when the road tilt, it will be long road to Paris.

 

[Electress]

Well, that was stressful. But, hey, he won. I'll take it.

Be interested to hear why though…he does need a better team though.

 

[WheelofGear]

He is not gonna win the Tour with a team like that.

We didn't even see the Tinkoff-Saxo cars.

 

[Jelantik]

Re:

Good win by Contador, but still weaker than Landa. Landa's the best climber. Contador's the best all-rounder. Period.

Yup. Agreed. Landa is the strongest climber in the race. No doubt. But contador's form is enough to win the Giro, not stellar, but enough.

 

[lenric]

Agreed, seeing that Astana kept their decision of Aru still being the leader, in spite of his weaker form in comparison to Landa.

 

[BigMac]

Anyone still want to make a case saying how useful Paulinho is?

I guess he's only following the general Tinkoff trend, though.

 

[SeriousSam]

Contador won, but, similar to 2012, it's not clear he would have won had the strongest climber been allowed to race from the beginnig.

I wonder why he cracked today, and hope it's nothing that jeopardises his Tour form.

 

[Jelantik]

Re: Re:

Something must be wrong... a hunger bonk, or he is ill

It's clearly not a full bonk, considering he's not lost any time since the descent started (he's actually gained some), he might have had a small energy issue, which he was able to resolve by eating a bit (see Froome 2013).

Edit: The only problem is that Contador is far to clever and experienced to forget to eat, still it's the most likely explanation.

after 2 mountains he did a long range attack or catch up must take the toll on him. And he has been fending the rest of Astana team by himself every mountain stage. He is bound to be tired don't you think?

 

[BostonRob]

Re:

9 GT's. Job done.

7 brother, check your sources.

 

[Ramira]

Re: Re:

Something must be wrong... a hunger bonk, or he is ill

It's clearly not a full bonk, considering he's not lost any time since the descent started (he's actually gained some), he might have had a small energy issue, which he was able to resolve by eating a bit (see Froome 2013).

Edit: The only problem is that Contador is far to clever and experienced to forget to eat, still it's the most likely explanation.

after 2 mountains he did a long range attack or catch up must take the toll on him. And he has been fending the rest of Astana team by himself every mountain stage. He is bound to be tired don't you think?

That could be the case, but in that case he's overexerted him in the past, without need really.

Not to mention it would be a horrendous sign for the Tour, since it would mean he's exhausted right now, no way he'll be on peak form in the Tour if that's the case.

 

[IndianCyclist]

Re:

He is not gonna win the Tour with a team like that.

We didn't even see the Tinkoff-Saxo cars.

Agree and nor with form like that. It will be 2013 all over again

 

[indianfanboy]

wow Contador really struggled in last 2 km of the Cima Coppi...anyways its 9 GT

Waiting for what he has to say about today's performance

 

[Alcanelo]

Re: Re:

9 GT's. Job done.

7 brother, check your sources.

I checked them and they say 9. He has won 3 Tours, 3 Giro's, 3 Vuelta's. There is only one Great One

 

[LaFlorecita]

9 GTs..... 3x each GT... first rider EVER


pheeeeeeeeeeww so relieved

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Re:

He is not gonna win the Tour with a team like that.

We didn't even see the Tinkoff-Saxo cars.

At this point, Tinkoff's car sponsor should be Lada.

 

[Electress]

Re:

9 GTs..... 3x each GT... first rider EVER


pheeeeeeeeeeww so relieved

Me too! I feel about 100 years old!

Confess am worried at his form, though. But he's virtually won this race on his own vs a very 'strong' Astana. Aru…

 

[Miburo]

Won the giro, job done.

He has not much pressure for the tour now, i hope it's true that he didn't peak for this race 100% though lol

Contador btw had bad days before. Tour 2010/2011, he had one. Also in the vuelta 2012 he had a bad day.

Happens, he got over it, that's what counts.

 

[casati]

Re: Re:

Good win by Contador, but still weaker than Landa. Landa's the best climber. Contador's the best all-rounder. Period.

Yup. Agreed. Landa is the strongest climber in the race. No doubt. But contador's form is enough to win the Giro, not stellar, but enough.

No need to respond to this, but I am sorry, grand tours are supposed to be hard, do think when Anquetil won his tours( I know I am going back) everyone was saying " but he wasn't the best climber". Jeez, Merckx, Hainault also lost in the Mountains at some point, but still won the grand tours they were participating during that time. You do forget, Contadors team was not the best in the mountains, he crashed, separated shoulders, got attacked while wearing Maglia Rosa. Lemond did say it best, a lesser mortal would have gone home.
Wow, he has a bad day, but he still won by over 2 minutes, 2 minutes.! In the past, for the most part, he did not win his tours by being solely the best climber. I have riding and watching for over 35 years, and this guy is the real deal, but I am just one person. Be happy, celebrate this guy while he is still riding.
Sorry for the rant.

 

[Lexman]

Re:

Good win by Contador, but still weaker than Landa. Landa's the best climber. Contador's the best all-rounder. Period.

that's about it

and that's enough

!!!

Viva Alberto

 

[BostonRob]

Re: Re:

9 GT's. Job done.

7 brother, check your sources.

I checked them and they say 9. He has won 3 Tours, 3 Giro's, 3 Vuelta's. There is only one Great One

The UCI doesn't approve and that's what matters. Man up.

 

[Merckx index]

Contador joins the Badger as the only riders to win at least 2 of each GT. He's said this is his last Giro, so he will not achieve the 3 x 3, at least not officially.

Final podium excluding TTs:

Landa
Aru 0:01
Contador 0:52

 

[Lexman]

I hope Tinkof finally listens to Alberto and gets some decent helpers....

 

[WheelofGear]

Re:

Anyone still want to make a case saying how useful Paulinho is?

I guess he's only following the general Tinkoff trend, though.

Or Basso. And worst of all, both of them have contracts in 2016. I'd change half of the team.

At least Kreuziger might be banned. They need to buy a better super-domestique.