Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[bajbar]

I believe the squad should be:

Contador
Majka
Kiserlovski
Rogers
Sagan
Bennati
Bodnar
Valgren
Kreuziger (if he is banned, then Paulinho/Basso/Hernandez)

 

[mufana]

Re:

A few interesting statements which we already knew: "I was not at the same level at this Giro as I was at last year’s Tour, so in that regard, it gives me a bit of tranquility"

"I see them as one, the Giro and Tour. Psychologically, you have to prepare yourself for it, because it’s complicated in your head to end one grand tour like the Giro, and start to think about the next one.”"

That is interesting. Sounds valid. I think Alberto held back in the last stages of the giro. Saving himself for the Tour. And that his 'bad day' was a bit faked.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

My guess would be:
AC
Sagan
MAjka
Kiser
Bodnar
Bennati
Rogers
Kreuziger
Valgren

Lots of firepower for flat/flattish terrain to create some havoc on a windy day, which I think AC will need, since I doubt he can be at his very best in the tour after the giro. Hopefully he will be able to improve from the giro though, or else I am afraid we will see a rerun of 13 (form wise) for AC

 

[Red Rick]

Just rewatched the Finestre stage again


Most benign breakdown ever of a GT leader

 

[Randy rex]

I have seen lot of people who think that Contador could loose a lot of time on Nibali on the cobbles.
But if it doesn't rain, I think he could do very well, like he showed in 2010 and in the Eneco tour 2012 where he was with the best in the Mur de Grammont.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I have seen lot of people who think that Contador could loose a lot of time on Nibali on the cobbles.
But if it doesn't rain, I think he could do very well, like he showed in 2010 and in the Eneco tour 2012 where he was with the best in the Mur de Grammont.

I agree with you. He might still lose time, of course, but if it doesn't rain it shouldn't be minutes again.

 

[Carols]

I have seen lot of people who think that Contador could loose a lot of time on Nibali on the cobbles.
But if it doesn't rain, I think he could do very well, like he showed in 2010 and in the Eneco tour 2012 where he was with the best in the Mur de Grammont.

I agree with you. He might still lose time, of course, but if it doesn't rain it shouldn't be minutes again.

This. He can ride cobbles well enough if the weather cooperates and there are no crashes in front of him, etc.

 

[Carols]

Just rewatched the Finestre stage again


Most benign breakdown ever of a GT leader

Almost a week later it doesn't look nearly as bad. But he did get dropped hard, it was his limiting loses that went well. Now I think he dug only as deep as he needed to once he was over the top.

However the Giro wasn't an easy race and his body will pay for it. He looked quite tired and dare I say it, old, post race. Hopefully he recuperates well. The Tour starts in 29 days! I hope it is enough time......

 

[ray j willings]

I have seen lot of people who think that Contador could loose a lot of time on Nibali on the cobbles.
But if it doesn't rain, I think he could do very well, like he showed in 2010 and in the Eneco tour 2012 where he was with the best in the Mur de Grammont.

Put this to rest shall we. After last years cobble stage

"Because of the mud I didn’t drop into the small sprockets and I couldn’t keep up with the front," Contador said after he rolled across the line

 

[ninjadriver]

TDF or Vuelta???

riodouro wrote:

"As an Alberto Fan, i dont see any way he can disappoint me, he is always entertaining, he publicly respects his adversaries qualities, they respect him. Even if Alberto Cracks on Tour, even if he doesn't make podium, i dont see how can he disappoint, already won a tour this year, very entertaining too. Hopefully from 2015 forward there will be more GT specialists trying Doubles/Triples GT per Year, more interesting to me. The day he actually ends his career will be a sad day, nothing lasts for ever. But then again i hope he will be a DS some day, so is not that bad, and haters will hate that."

* * * * *

NINJADRIVER:

Given the 21st century failed history of riders attempting to double 2 consecutive same calendar year Grand Tours, and what looked to me like Contador almost cracking on stages 18 and 20 of the Giro, and the fierce field scheduled to ride the TDF with Froome, Quintana and Nibali, wouldn't you rather Contador skip the TDF and win the Vuelta instead???

I give Contador zero shot to win the TDF, given the Giro exhaustion and what looks like a weak TinkoffSaxo climbing squad. Basso and Kreuziger were horrible at the Giro. The fact that Contador took on Astana by himself is a testament to his championship verve and generational greatness.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Zero shot? We will see about that

 

[ninjadriver]

Re:

Zero shot? We will see about that

Zero shot. And I think he's the greatest Grand Tour racer I've ever seen.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Zero shot? We will see about that

Zero shot. And I think he's the greatest Grand Tour racer I've ever seen.

We shall see

 

[ninjadriver]

Re: Re:

Zero shot? We will see about that

Zero shot. And I think he's the greatest Grand Tour racer I've ever seen.

We shall see

Seriously, Little Flower, I have heard a myriad of commentators and cyclists, plus Elvis Presley, explain that the time gap between the Giro and TDF, or TDF and Vuelta, is (i) too long to stay on form and (ii) too short to come off of form, rest, and build back up.

Contador came off the 2011 Giro, which was the most dominant Grand Tour victory I've ever seen, even surpassing Armstrong in 2005 and possibly Usain Bolt in the 200m at the Olympics, and then Alberto looked exhausted 5 weeks later at the TDF. That he finished even 5th was incredible.

Pantani won the 1998 TDF after half of the field left the race. We have to go back to Indurain when Jimmy Johnson was still coaching the Dallas Cowboys for an authentic Giro-TDF calendar year winner.

 

[ILovecycling]

Re: Re:

Zero shot? We will see about that

Zero shot. And I think he's the greatest Grand Tour racer I've ever seen.

We shall see

Seriously, Little Flower, I have heard a myriad of commentators and cyclists, plus Elvis Presley, explain that the time gap between the Giro and TDF, or TDF and Vuelta, is (i) too long to stay on form and (ii) too short to come off of form, rest, and build back up.

Contador came off the 2011 Giro, which was the most dominant Grand Tour victory I've ever seen, even surpassing Armstrong in 2005 and possibly Usain Bolt in the 200m at the Olympics, and then Alberto looked exhausted 5 weeks later at the TDF. That he finished even 5th was incredible.

Pantani won the 1998 TDF after half of the field left the race. We have to go back to Indurain when Jimmy Johnson was still coaching the Dallas Cowboys for an authentic Giro-TDF calendar year winner.

Lemond doesnt agree with you


@Flo
Nice avatar

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Zero shot? We will see about that

Zero shot. And I think he's the greatest Grand Tour racer I've ever seen.

We shall see

Seriously, Little Flower, I have heard a myriad of commentators and cyclists, plus Elvis Presley, explain that the time gap between the Giro and TDF, or TDF and Vuelta, is (i) too long to stay on form and (ii) too short to come off of form, rest, and build back up.

Contador came off the 2011 Giro, which was the most dominant Grand Tour victory I've ever seen, even surpassing Armstrong in 2005 and possibly Usain Bolt in the 200m at the Olympics, and then Alberto looked exhausted 5 weeks later at the TDF. That he finished even 5th was incredible.

Pantani won the 1998 TDF after half of the field left the race. We have to go back to Indurain when Jimmy Johnson was still coaching the Dallas Cowboys for an authentic Giro-TDF calendar year winner.

Oh no doubt there are many doubters. But there are also people who believe in it and most important Alberto and the team believe in it!!!

Thanks ILoveCycling, I like it too though I liked the previous 3 I tried to upload better

 

[ILovecycling]

Re: Re:

Zero shot? We will see about that

Zero shot. And I think he's the greatest Grand Tour racer I've ever seen.

We shall see

Seriously, Little Flower, I have heard a myriad of commentators and cyclists, plus Elvis Presley, explain that the time gap between the Giro and TDF, or TDF and Vuelta, is (i) too long to stay on form and (ii) too short to come off of form, rest, and build back up.

Contador came off the 2011 Giro, which was the most dominant Grand Tour victory I've ever seen, even surpassing Armstrong in 2005 and possibly Usain Bolt in the 200m at the Olympics, and then Alberto looked exhausted 5 weeks later at the TDF. That he finished even 5th was incredible.

Pantani won the 1998 TDF after half of the field left the race. We have to go back to Indurain when Jimmy Johnson was still coaching the Dallas Cowboys for an authentic Giro-TDF calendar year winner.

Oh no doubt there are many doubters. But there are also people who believe in it and most important Alberto and the team believe in it!!!

Thanks ILoveCycling, I like it too though I liked the previous 3 I tried to upload better :mad

Nahh problems with tech is my daily routine , I know what you are talking about



The thing about Contador's peak's and form sux in one thing, we cant rationally discuss about it as nobody know how his training schedule is, his real numbers nor plans of peak,anything...people can guess, but thats all...
I hate it because its such a legendary moment in cycling but we cant even have brutal discussion about it

 

[Arredondo]

Zero shot?

- Froome is vulnerable the past year. Could be great, could be a distaster. And he has to survive that first week, which will be a problem.
- Nibali will be good but not that good that Contador doesn't have a chance.
- Quintana has to confirm his status against Contador and Froome.
- Purito, Valverde and Pinot don't have a chance anyway

 

[Dedelou]

Re: Re:

Zero shot? We will see about that

Zero shot. And I think he's the greatest Grand Tour racer I've ever seen.

don't you want to give him at least 1/200?

 

[casati]

Re: Re:

Zero shot? We will see about that

Zero shot. And I think he's the greatest Grand Tour racer I've ever seen.

We shall see

Seriously, Little Flower, I have heard a myriad of commentators and cyclists, plus Elvis Presley, explain that the time gap between the Giro and TDF, or TDF and Vuelta, is (i) too long to stay on form and (ii) too short to come off of form, rest, and build back up.

Contador came off the 2011 Giro, which was the most dominant Grand Tour victory I've ever seen, even surpassing Armstrong in 2005 and possibly Usain Bolt in the 200m at the Olympics, and then Alberto looked exhausted 5 weeks later at the TDF. That he finished even 5th was incredible.

Pantani won the 1998 TDF after half of the field left the race. We have to go back to Indurain when Jimmy Johnson was still coaching the Dallas Cowboys for an authentic Giro-TDF calendar year winner.

Lemond doesnt agree with you


@Flo
Nice avatar

And Hinault and Merckx...but they don't anything

 

[Red Rick]

Menchov in 2008 is what tells me more than Contador in 2011. He had a similar build up to Contador this year. Good/decent in the Giro and very good in the Tour.

To be fair, almost nobody has tried it in the last few years, but you should realise you can't come in all guns blazing in the Giro. Those who tried it, were mostly not real contenders who were relatively great in the Giro and then completely broke down in the Tour

 

[ILovecycling]

Re: Re:

@casati
It was a bit sarcastic, I posted couple of thoughts about what I think about Lemond's (pays for Hinault also in this case) opinion.

To repeat it, I think these legends opinion's are not much more right than those of us, they just dont know how is it to recover from Giro to Tour win these days.They cant know that (as nobody knows)

 

[thesrick]

Re: Re:

Zero shot? We will see about that

Zero shot. And I think he's the greatest Grand Tour racer I've ever seen.

We shall see

Seriously, Little Flower, I have heard a myriad of commentators and cyclists, plus Elvis Presley, explain that the time gap between the Giro and TDF, or TDF and Vuelta, is (i) too long to stay on form and (ii) too short to come off of form, rest, and build back up.

Contador came off the 2011 Giro, which was the most dominant Grand Tour victory I've ever seen, even surpassing Armstrong in 2005 and possibly Usain Bolt in the 200m at the Olympics, and then Alberto looked exhausted 5 weeks later at the TDF. That he finished even 5th was incredible.

Pantani won the 1998 TDF after half of the field left the race. We have to go back to Indurain when Jimmy Johnson was still coaching the Dallas Cowboys for an authentic Giro-TDF calendar year winner.

Oh no doubt there are many doubters. But there are also people who believe in it and most important Alberto and the team believe in it!!!

Thanks ILoveCycling, I like it too though I liked the previous 3 I tried to upload better

Odds are still against him, but as long he believes in it it sure isn't impossible. Not the greatest Contador fan here, but I must say, if there's one rider capable of doing it, than it's him. One thing is certain, he'll put on a show no matter what

 

[rhubroma]

Menchov in 2008 is what tells me more than Contador in 2011. He had a similar build up to Contador this year. Good/decent in the Giro and very good in the Tour.

To be fair, almost nobody has tried it in the last few years, but you should realise you can't come in all guns blazing in the Giro. Those who tried it, were mostly not real contenders who were relatively great in the Giro and then completely broke down in the Tour

At a certain point the real Tour contenders (or at any rate the bigs) used the Giro, when they rode it, as training. During the Armstrong autocracy, no more was this evident. The sport, though, lost its romance proportionally to these developments.

If Contador wins it will be one small step for romance, though if he looses it will be one giant step for dullness.

 

[Dedelou]

Re: Re:

their opinion may not be any more "right" than people in this forum but at the end of the day they are more respectable opinions than people who have never tried to win a double GT in their whole life