Re: Re:
I have to disagree respectfully with you, Mamba. Contador could not go with Landa at any point on stages 18 and 20, if I have my stages correct. Astana called Landa back a couple of times to shepherd Aru up; why, I have no idea, other than Aru being Italian.
Contador was not trying to pace himself when Landa launched his attacks, or even when Aru launched his against Contador. Alberto did to a great job, once he was dropped, of pacing himself - he is the best Grand Tour rider I've ever seen, dating back to 1999.
Regarding the TDF, I give Contador zero shot - he should skip the TDF, the faster speeds, the superior field (Froome, Quintana, Nibali) and win the Vuelta, adding to his Grand Tour total (that would be 10, or 8, depending).
blackmamba said:damian13ster said:Well, it was clear since Aprica that Landa is better climber, not just in stage 20 that's first.
I agree with your 2nd point. Contador did cover most of the moves, not the ones that counted though. He didn't crack completely but loosing 2:30 on a single stage does not look good and just shows what kind of damage Landa could do if he was let off the leash (and it is not just based of off one stage, this is alo based off of Aprica in which he put over 30 seconds on 3km of false flat, and every other stage in which Landa looked like on a sunday ride with other riders clearly in pain). And yeah, most of the cyclists (including Contador) and full of **** when they make excuses for their performance.
He did get dropped like a stone though. Went pedaling backwards after Landa attack and lost more time with every km that Landa pulled even if it was on a flat. Again, no need to try putting a lipstick on a pig.
Please quote me saying that 'it is going to be a sad sight'. I said 'it would be'. Major difference there.
What performance would you consider embarassing? Outside of top 3, top 5, top 10?
Its pretty clear by now from your comments your either pretty salty or just not very smart Dropped blablabla, Contador have had a plan for 1 year now, herepeatedly said he needed to use as little as energi as possible does it then in your mind make sense to win the giro with 5min? or 8min for that matter? NO it doesnt, he and steven de jongh said it perfectly after the stage your talking about which doesnt matter cause anyone who have a little clue perfectly well knewed what was going on. HE PACED himself cause 100% controlled perfectly without spending more energi than he woulda liked trying to follow which made 0 sense for him too do. If however you still like to think elsewice on that particular stage thats fine too cause he won the giro BOM case closed. Add the fact he didnt have a team (in the mountains) and that he lost 40sec on the crash+his shoulder noone in their mind would question he was nr uno but if your that naive and think contador dont have a plan going into the giro-double you are a fool.
Its just so funny to see naive people like you who fail to see the obvious, if you was contador would it make sense to go all in when the giro was in the bag to win by 10min when thats just half of your goal knowing the tour is comming up? Based on your comments you do !! Its easy Contador came here to win the giro spending as little energi as possible so dont come yelling when he gets dropped when the victory is in the bag when it makes no sense what so ever to follow, i know logic is hard
On another note if you look close on his program this year and de jongh even admited it the entire plan is for him to be at his strongest at the tour not the other way around like the last time he tried the double(which wasnt planned btw)
I have to disagree respectfully with you, Mamba. Contador could not go with Landa at any point on stages 18 and 20, if I have my stages correct. Astana called Landa back a couple of times to shepherd Aru up; why, I have no idea, other than Aru being Italian.
Contador was not trying to pace himself when Landa launched his attacks, or even when Aru launched his against Contador. Alberto did to a great job, once he was dropped, of pacing himself - he is the best Grand Tour rider I've ever seen, dating back to 1999.
Regarding the TDF, I give Contador zero shot - he should skip the TDF, the faster speeds, the superior field (Froome, Quintana, Nibali) and win the Vuelta, adding to his Grand Tour total (that would be 10, or 8, depending).