Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

He won't be dropped tomorrow, every day is days extra racing in his legs. he'll be at the front or just dropping a few seconds. On Sunday the team will get more or less all the time back on Sky in the TTT. On Tuesday we start to see his form. The last week we are in for fireworks.

Yes! That's the spirit

 

[yaco]

Think Contador is suffering from the curse of The Giro - Have no doubt that the double is eminently possible if the TDF was before the Giro. The Giro is a tougher race than the TDF, hence its challenging to complete the double.

Reckon the TDF/Vuelta is more doable.

 

[ad9898]

Re:

Think Contador is suffering from the curse of The Giro - Have no doubt that the double is eminently possible if the TDF was before the Giro. The Giro is a tougher race than the TDF, hence its challenging to complete the double.

Reckon the TDF/Vuelta is more doable.

Fair point, the only fly in the ointment was going slightly deeper than he wanted in the Giro, however he's learned from 2011 that his 'peaking' went astray, hence a more calculated build up this time. Last time he tried to peak twice and failed, this time he's going for just the once which is the last week and a half.

The first week and a half is purely to put racing into his legs without losing too much time. It's worked out well as two of the favorites are quite a way behind him and Froome will lose the time he's gained in the TTT. Froome will not win this GT.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Steven de Jongh on Dutch TV

Says they are happy with what Sagan has done so far, especially on stage 4. He's glad they haven't had any hard crashes so far, Alberto feels good but especially stage 2 was hard for him. Alberto wants to make the difference in the 3rd week. He also says that Froome seems strong, but according to riders in the peloton Froome is extremely nervous all the time, and he says that the Tinkoff guys have a feeling he we will crash at some point because of this extreme nervousness, he will do crazy things to get into a safe position.

When asked about Oleg, he says that when Oleg gets bored he goes on twitter and facebook to stir things up, it doesn't bother him too much but he says that sometimes Oleg should talk a bit less

 

[ninjadriver]

Re:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2itSMsLvRo

Try to rewatch this edition of Fleche Wallonne, it's is quite clear that Contador was the strongest on the Mur. He was the first on top, but Evans and Rodriguez managed to outsprint him in the slighty downhill final. Something has to be wrong with him. If Contador is missing his "kick", he will have massive problems keeping up with the rest of the favorites.

I don't buy that he is saving energy, it has to be the lack of power. Under normal conditions, Contador has the third best kick after Valverde and Rodriguez.

Love your analysis, Velolover!!!! I don't love what it means (Contador is toast), but I think you're right on the money. I'm still the only person I know who wishes Contador would abandon the TDF, rest up on the Costa del Sol, re-train, and go and win the Vuelta, adding to his Grand Tour total and legacy.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Love your analysis, Velolover!!!! I don't love what it means (Contador is toast), but I think you're right on the money. I'm still the only person I know who wishes Contador would abandon the TDF, rest up on the Costa del Sol, re-train, and go and win the Vuelta, adding to his Grand Tour total and legacy.

A Vuelta win wouldn't add to his legacy.
Contador isn't going to abandon unless he crashes out. He's not a quitter.

 

[Miburo]

Steven de Jongh on Dutch TV

Says they are happy with what Sagan has done so far, especially on stage 4. He's glad they haven't had any hard crashes so far, Alberto feels good but especially stage 2 was hard for him. Alberto wants to make the difference in the 3rd week. He also says that Froome seems strong, but according to riders in the peloton Froome is extremely nervous all the time, and he says that the Tinkoff guys have a feeling he we will crash at some point because of this extreme nervousness, he will do crazy things to get into a safe position.

When asked about Oleg, he says that when Oleg gets bored he goes on twitter and facebook to stir things up, it doesn't bother him too much but he says that sometimes Oleg should talk a bit less

got a link for the tv interview for me fleur? please

 

[LaFlorecita]

got a link for the tv interview for me fleur? please

It was on Tour du Jour, I never watch it but I read on twitter that De Jongh would be called at 9PM. It should be on here soon http://www.rtlxl.nl/#!/gemist/rtl-7-tour-du-jour-257632

 

[Miburo]

got a link for the tv interview for me fleur? please

It was on Tour du Jour, I never watch it but I read on twitter that De Jongh would be called at 9PM. It should be on here soon http://www.rtlxl.nl/#!/gemist/rtl-7-tour-du-jour-257632

Why not? You miss that mart smeets? Or whatever the clown's name was.

Not a good show?

 

[HelloDolly]

So Alberto's soigneur has been fighting with Sagan's soigneur....ha ha

 

[SkyTears]

When your DS hopes for the best rider to crash you know it's over
2013 TdF will be a much better performance than 2015 TdF, for Contador

 

[Miburo]

Re:

When your DS hopes for the best rider to crash you know it's over
2013 TdF will be a much better performance than 2015 TdF, for Contador

Still not over this?

 

[Jspear]

Re:

When your DS hopes for the best rider to crash you know it's over
2013 TdF will be a much better performance than 2015 TdF, for Contador

Why don't you try and read what was said before coming up with a statement like that.

and he says that the Tinkoff guys have a feeling he we will crash at some point because of this extreme nervousness, he will do crazy things to get into a safe position.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

So Alberto's soigneur has been fighting with Sagan's soigneur....ha ha

?

 

[LaFlorecita]

got a link for the tv interview for me fleur? please

It was on Tour du Jour, I never watch it but I read on twitter that De Jongh would be called at 9PM. It should be on here soon http://www.rtlxl.nl/#!/gemist/rtl-7-tour-du-jour-257632

Why not? You miss that mart smeets? Or whatever the clown's name was.

Not a good show?

Mart was always good for a laugh
Honestly though I refuse to watch a cycling talk show presented by flipping Wilfred Genee, stick to football dude, he couldn't even pronounce Paolini correctly

 

[Ramon Koran]

He really hasnt looked good all tour, poor prologue, exploded on huy, struggled on pave, grimacing a lot... Only way i can see him winning this is getting an advantage over Froome in the ttt and then sucking his wheel all race.

 

[perico]

Re:

I'm just saying he crashed enough in the tour, isn't that a fact? And can i not hope it won't happen again?

And sella was never gonna win that giro, stop it. At the mortirolo he couldn't ride away from them, they let the guy go cause he had the 12 min. Not my fault you're still salty about the rasmussen thing

And sorry that contador held back leipheimer his amazing attacks. We really missed out on that one

LOL at Leipheimer and vicious attacks.

 

[Jelantik]

Re: Re:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2itSMsLvRo

Try to rewatch this edition of Fleche Wallonne, it's is quite clear that Contador was the strongest on the Mur. He was the first on top, but Evans and Rodriguez managed to outsprint him in the slighty downhill final. Something has to be wrong with him. If Contador is missing his "kick", he will have massive problems keeping up with the rest of the favorites.

I don't buy that he is saving energy, it has to be the lack of power. Under normal conditions, Contador has the third best kick after Valverde and Rodriguez.

Love your analysis, Velolover!!!! I don't love what it means (Contador is toast), but I think you're right on the money. I'm still the only person I know who wishes Contador would abandon the TDF, rest up on the Costa del Sol, re-train, and go and win the Vuelta, adding to his Grand Tour total and legacy.

wahh.. what's diz? wishing him abandon? .. ai ai.. why? Just because you think he lacks of power? So far he wasn't impressive indeed. but he said that this tour is about consistency. Froome is strong now, but this is TDF. Anything can happen. I don't write off contador yet. Right now all odds are stacked against him... lost silly seconds from froome, blew up himself, looks like lack of power, fall of on neutral zone. I guess that what makes me want to root him so bad. Maybe he won't win it, but I don't think he will show up with this 2013 TDF either. He should have been better than that. (He doesn't strike me as someone who likes to repeat the same mistake). He and de Jongh must have planned this carefully. Of course nothing is a sure. But watching him fare with every fresh leg GC contender makes it exciting to watch. And if he can come out on the top, that's quite a feat. For that I wish Contador stays safe and finish the tour. on the top (preferably ) or not (then next year will be tour -vuelta).

But at this moment, the frenchy fat lady hasn't singing yet. .. just the bookish.. busy stacking their bets. So sit back and let the race unfold...

 

[No_Balls]

Re:

When your DS hopes for the best rider to crash you know it's over
2013 TdF will be a much better performance than 2015 TdF, for Contador

This is hardly any wishes for him to crash but a simple continuation on the path Nibali and Valverde laid our yesterday. By the simple observation that because Froome beetles his way up and down the peloton in search of free space for elbows and knees he must be nervous and his surroundings gets nervous too. They know he is mentally fragile and are searching options to exploit it. It is not nice but it is Tour de France.

He really hasnt looked good all tour, poor prologue, exploded on huy, struggled on pave, grimacing a lot... Only way i can see him winning this is getting an advantage over Froome in the ttt and then sucking his wheel all race.

Is it the second or third time you write this, Ramon Koran?

 

[Psalmon]

After a busy Stages 2, 3 and 4, the team Tinkoff has been pretty quiet for 5, 6, 7 (other than Sagan). I think that is perfect for them and AC. No jerseys other than white, so AC has an early cool down and rest while Froome is doing interviews and visiting the Astana team bus.

We'll see how MdB goes, but I suspect the big 4/5 will all make it up front and one or two may contend for the stage. At this point it will really be down to the TTT and hopefully the horses can soft pedal up the MdB.

It may have been mentioned, but people seem to forget that AC was on the ground in Stage 6 of the Giro, hard, and again on Stage 13 where he lost the MR for a day. And he still won. Overall this has been a great week for him especially, making the split on 2, no crashes, and a more tranquillo stage 6 and 7. If he's going to pull off the double, this is how the first week would go IMO.

 

[leon993]

Tomorrow will be the test. It will tell us, if he is 100%. Looking back from start he said after 1st stage, that he had high pulse (being cooked as Tony Martin said) and could not understand it. He blew up on Mur (cooked?), and could not understand it. But i see a difference. When he came to Tour he looked snapping after breath. He doesn't anymore. This says to me, he is getting in better form. Inside himself he believes in it. Go Alberto GO

 

[ad9898]

I'd like to see Sagan pull on the yellow jersey after the TTT as reward for his hard work this week, according to Contador he'll be right up there tomorrow.

 

[Psalmon]

Re:

I'd like to see Sagan pull on the yellow jersey after the TTT as reward for his hard work this week, according to Contador he'll be right up there tomorrow.

If that happens (assuming he's in the mix tomorrow), Sagan could have Yellow, Green, AND White in Pau.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Tomorrow will be the test. It will tell us, if he is 100%. Looking back from start he said after 1st stage, that he had high pulse (being cooked as Tony Martin said) and could not understand it. He blew up on Mur (cooked?), and could not understand it. But i see a difference. When he came to Tour he looked snapping after breath. He doesn't anymore. This says to me, he is getting in better form. Inside himself he believes in it. Go Alberto GO

After a busy Stages 2, 3 and 4, the team Tinkoff has been pretty quiet for 5, 6, 7 (other than Sagan). I think that is perfect for them and AC. No jerseys other than white, so AC has an early cool down and rest while Froome is doing interviews and visiting the Astana team bus.

We'll see how MdB goes, but I suspect the big 4/5 will all make it up front and one or two may contend for the stage. At this point it will really be down to the TTT and hopefully the horses can soft pedal up the MdB.

It may have been mentioned, but people seem to forget that AC was on the ground in Stage 6 of the Giro, hard, and again on Stage 13 where he lost the MR for a day. And he still won. Overall this has been a great week for him especially, making the split on 2, no crashes, and a more tranquillo stage 6 and 7. If he's going to pull off the double, this is how the first week would go IMO.

Great posts Go Alberto!!

 

[leon993]

I hope he soon get's favourite. These odds 11.00 or 10.00 is too much a temptation. Go Alberto