Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

fleur how does it look? In shape?

https://instagram.com/p/4e_G-ln-FX/

He looks "normal", only slightly skinnier than at the Giro

Looks like the watermelon diet is working ok to me.

Quite curious as to how long this heatwave might last…no rain on the cobbles will make things less interesting.

It will, but I don't care. I want to see all the gc dudes make it through unscathed to the mountains. Rain would just be one more thing that could take one or several of them out of competition.

That's a nice dawg he's got.

Come up with a better joke...that one is getting over used.
Still I admit it's a little funny when attached to that pic.

 

[The_Cheech]

Re: Re:

Ok, so Nibali just won the Italian National Championships after a similar type of performance as last year in DL (when he went on to win his national title as well). We all know how he went on perform at the Tour then. And being lean in and of itself isn't the issue, but being lean and winning as he did is very indicative of his form as the Tour arrives. In short, the squalo is ready. So what is your point then?

You're talking as though the Italian National Championships is the pinnacle of cycling... It isn't.

He won the 2014 TdF because neither Quintana nor Froome or Contador were there (for whatever reason).

You are so off the point. I was talking about his performance and physique in this year's national championships (which, by the way, isn't a walk in the park), in light of his performance in last year's race and what his form was before the Tour.

I didn't say it was a walk in the park. Far from it in fact. But to use the INC as some sort logical progression from the DL is really laughable.

You are a moron not to take these factors into consideration. Nibali has "hit his numbers" just in time, don't doubt it at your own risk. This, of course, has nothing to do with winning the Tour, but if he arrives in a good position like last year after the first week, then he has a chance.

Ok, come down little tiger. You're really taking this personally.

You shouldn't.

 

[Publicus]

Re:

fleur how does it look? In shape?

https://instagram.com/p/4e_G-ln-FX/

Judging by his face, he's dropped at least a 2 kilos since the Giro.

 

[cellardoor]

Re: Re:

fleur how does it look? In shape?

https://instagram.com/p/4e_G-ln-FX/

Judging by his face, he's dropped at least a 2 kilos since the Giro.

Yep, it's obviously being fed on pedigree chum lite...but what about Alberto though?

 

[cellardoor]

Re: Re:

fleur how does it look? In shape?

https://instagram.com/p/4e_G-ln-FX/

He looks "normal", only slightly skinnier than at the Giro

Looks like the watermelon diet is working ok to me.

Quite curious as to how long this heatwave might last…no rain on the cobbles will make things less interesting.

It will, but I don't care. I want to see all the gc dudes make it through unscathed to the mountains. Rain would just be one more thing that could take one or several of them out of competition.

Yeah, I have to say that I'm not exactly doing the raindance either. If the cobbled stage is wet then I can see Contador losing time, plus I'd like to see all the main contenders get through the first week.

 

[jens_attacks]

alberto in still healthy weight mode. not looking good for le tour!!

 

[No_Balls]

Re: Re:

I strongly disagree with this defaitistic attitude from various posters around here.

People repeating this cobble-stage mantra to death while at the same time pretending cobble-gods Froomey and Nairo would ride into sunset with Nibali in tow. Dont you get tired of yourselves? Comparing with last years hiccup wont do given the raining circumstances and that Alberto obviously had difficulties with his sprockets.

The uncomfortable facts for these are this year that if every thing goes according to plan and riders starts to hit form Tinkoff-Saxo have one of the strongest if not the strongest teams to face such a task. Perhaps the whole deal of the season was to have this slightly more based-on-power realising the normal prep wouldnt be enough to drop Froome after doing the Giro. Come the cobbles this is were Froomey and Nairo should be worried because we are in for a surprise here: Sagan in beast form will keeping the Astanas under control while at the same time driving off Froomey and Nairos skinny asses. In doing this they will isolate Contadors contenders to Nibali before the mountains. At this moment in time Contador have to isolate Nibali and he does that with fueling attacks from Froomey and Nairo, working together or just by provoking them if not do it himself. He has clearly worked on his descents which is done with the purpose of countering the sicilian in this regard. The attitude will probably be controlling his way to a lucrative double.

People says the cobbles will be a problem. I´d say this is were his Tour starts. The fact that it has gone pretty much unnoticed by him reveals the story.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

alberto in still healthy weight mode. not looking good for le tour!!

 

[Baldinger]

https://instagram.com/p/31i2ybH-NT/?taken-by=acontadoroficial

Contador looks more fit now than he did two weeks ago.

 

[The_Cheech]

Re:

alberto in still healthy weight mode. not looking good for le tour!!

Oh, I beg to differ, he looks thin and ready. I can even see a vein popping up in his right arm.

 

[buchanan]

I wonder if Tinkoff Saxo are going to announce their team anytime soon...Seems almost all the other teams have been confirmed. Please they must not take Basso and Hernandez to the Tour. TS can't afford to carry any passengers this Tour - with the cobbles, TTT and mountain stages.

 

[Miburo]

I see all these articles saying contador already failed the double in 2011 without giving any context to that at all.

Lost 2 minutes after 2 days, crashed multiple times and had a terrible day on the galibier. If he didn't have that bad day on the galibier he still could have won that tour (he said so himself and it was still possible for sure). All that after a very hard giro where he peaked for.

Now he hasn't peaked for the giro, i hope at least. And his team will be 10 times better than it was in 2011.

 

[Swifty's Cakes]

https://instagram.com/p/31i2ybH-NT/?taken-by=acontadoroficial

Contador looks more fit now than he did two weeks ago.

Why can't TS always ride in that kit?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Re:

I see all these articles saying contador already failed the double in 2011 without giving any context to that at all.

Lost 2 minutes after 2 days, crashed multiple times and had a terrible day on the galibier. If he didn't have that bad day on the galibier he still could have won that tour (he said so himself and it was still possible for sure). All that after a very hard giro where he peaked for.

Now he hasn't peaked for the giro, i hope at least. And his team will be 10 times better than it was in 2011.

You can't say "If he didn't have that bad day on the galibier" because it could've been associated with that hard Giro before. And in 2011 Alberto was in absolutely superb form - I don't think he's as good this year. This years' Giro was also very demanding for Alberto and his competition at the Tour will be very tough. Doing the double will be very difficult and I don't think it will happen (although I'm his supporter).

 

[Carols]

I'm back from my vacation touring southern England and getting caught up. Seems Alberto gave Nairo a downhill lesson in the Sud and went on to win the stage and race. Today I will watch the final hour vid.

Meanwhile the pics posted show him lean and mean . Hopefully he gets an awesome team to help him in his double attempt. That means No Basso or Jesus!

Vamos Alberto!!!

 

[The_Cheech]

Re:

I wonder if Tinkoff Saxo are going to announce their team anytime soon...Seems almost all the other teams have been confirmed. Please they must not take Basso and Hernandez to the Tour. TS can't afford to carry any passengers this Tour - with the cobbles, TTT and mountain stages.

I think they want to avoid having to provide the other teams with more information than they need.

I guess taking rider x instead of rider y is a signal that Tinkoff intend on making the first week (or the third) super difficult.

 

[bajbar]

Tinkoff-Saxo’s selection for Tour de France 2015 consists of Alberto Contador, Peter Sagan, Rafal Majka, Roman Kreuziger, Michael Rogers, Ivan Basso, Daniele Bennati, Michael Valgren and Matteo Tosatto.

 

[LaFlorecita]

https://instagram.com/p/31i2ybH-NT/?taken-by=acontadoroficial

Contador looks more fit now than he did two weeks ago.

Why can't TS always ride in that kit?

Because it's Alberto's custom training kit in the colors of his foundation/youth squads. Just like Sagan has one that is black with green accents and the logo of his cycling school

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Tinkoff-Saxo’s selection for Tour de France 2015 consists of Alberto Contador, Peter Sagan, Rafal Majka, Roman Kreuziger, Michael Rogers, Ivan Basso, Daniele Bennati, Michael Valgren and Matteo Tosatto.

No Kiserlovski and both Valgren and Toso instead take out Basso and add Kiserlovski and you'd have the strongest possible team imo

 

[Scarponi]

Re:

I see all these articles saying contador already failed the double in 2011 without giving any context to that at all.

Lost 2 minutes after 2 days, crashed multiple times and had a terrible day on the galibier. If he didn't have that bad day on the galibier he still could have won that tour (he said so himself and it was still possible for sure). All that after a very hard giro where he peaked for.

Now he hasn't peaked for the giro, i hope at least. And his team will be 10 times better than it was in 2011.

Please I know the hate on this forum for Cadel Evans makes the Froome hate seem tame but cadel was never going to lose that tour. Other than the Andy Shleck attack he wins that tour by 6 minutes, Contador even wouyld have lost to cadel

 

[bajbar]

Re: Re:

Tinkoff-Saxo’s selection for Tour de France 2015 consists of Alberto Contador, Peter Sagan, Rafal Majka, Roman Kreuziger, Michael Rogers, Ivan Basso, Daniele Bennati, Michael Valgren and Matteo Tosatto.

No Kiserlovski and both Valgren and Toso instead take out Basso and add Kiserlovski and you'd have the strongest possible team imo

Well, I guess Alberto needs a roommate. And I guess Basso might be a slightly better choice than Hernandez. But mind you, being slightly better than Hernandez is nothing to brag about. Also, Basso is a big name and his selection will make the sponsors happy.

But it is strange since Kiserlovski showed good form in the Dauphine and was always meant to do the Tour. Well, at least they might win the TTT now - if they drop Basso soon enough that is.

 

[Scarponi]

Re: Re:

Tinkoff-Saxo’s selection for Tour de France 2015 consists of Alberto Contador, Peter Sagan, Rafal Majka, Roman Kreuziger, Michael Rogers, Ivan Basso, Daniele Bennati, Michael Valgren and Matteo Tosatto.

No Kiserlovski and both Valgren and Toso instead take out Basso and add Kiserlovski and you'd have the strongest possible team imo

What did Kiserlovski do to not get selected, smash Tinkoffs 14th mistress?

 

[Jagartrott]

Re: Re:

But it is strange since Kiserlovski showed good form in the Dauphine and was always meant to do the Tour. Well, at least they might win the TTT now - if they drop Basso soon enough that is.

Win the TTT no less?
I don't think they have the best team for the TTT. Basso is dead weight, Majka no help on the flat sections and Tossato no help on the hills. If they lose someone strong in the stages before that, they're in trouble.

 

[blackmamba]

Re: Re:

But it is strange since Kiserlovski showed good form in the Dauphine and was always meant to do the Tour. Well, at least they might win the TTT now - if they drop Basso soon enough that is.

Win the TTT no less?
I don't think they have the best team for the TTT. Basso is dead weight, Majka no help on the flat sections and Tossato no help on the hills. If they lose someone strong in the stages before that, they're in trouble.

Ehm have you seen Majka TT lately? Im not saying his a expert or something but to say he will provide 0 help is rubbish hes actually become a more than decent TT (check TT in romandie he beat froome, check TT in suisse both decent TT from him )the basso part tho is right hes dead weight in that regard!

 

[buchanan]

Is that team official? It's not on the site. Why on Earth would you take Basso to the Tour ahead of Kieserlovski? And please don't say it's because Alberto wants the right partner to sleep with.