Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[gregrowlerson]

Re: Re:

Winning Paris Nice matters for like a couple of weeks. at the end of the year, nobody's gonna care. He'd either have won or lost the Tour (only Olympic gold would be some salvation really). This is only an indication of form, so if he shows up on Saturday, it doesn't matter whether he wins PN or not.

Paris-Nice is a rather prestigious affair that people are still going to care about, even years after the fact. It's not all about the Tour, just like it's not all about the Olympics (referring to sports where the Olympics is the true pinnacle like athletics and swimming).

Had Cacho had a better career than Morceli and El Guerrouj after he'd won olympic gold (92) and before they had (96 and 04)?

Unfortunately there are some idiots out there who would answer yes.

Most of us remember Contador's 2014 season as being wonderful - despite not finishing the Tour - because he put in performances like he did at T-A (similar standard race, and almost the same prestige as P-N). Such a result matters then, and it matters now. P-N matters this week too.

So long as the riders actually get to race this weekend

Races like PN are big and they matter. However, we're way past the point where it's a significant addition to his palmares. That doesn't mean he won't want to win them, they're still important, mostly to distinguish between good and dominant seasons. TA wasn't big because he won it, it was big because of the context and the way that he did. It wasn't like 'whoooh, I won TA', it was more like 'I'm back mother********'.

Yeah I can see where you are coming from about his already loaded palmares.

And the way that he won T-A. That was awesome

 

[Carols]

Re:

Dunno if you watched the peloton on the two steep climbs at around 40 k to go, Tinkoff upped the pace, Contador was litterally out of the saddle the whole climb, not a grimace on the 20% bit and even jumped on Slagter's wheel at the summit with ease even if it wasn't necessary . He looks lethal. Can't wait for tomorrow

I just rewatched it. Yes he looked comfortable throughout and easily closed the gap at the top on the first climb. Hoping for a good performance tomorrow!

 

[Scarponi]

Going to stay up until 3am for this one!

 

[Scarponi]

In the PCM 14 edition I have Tinkoff Saxo as my team in 2020 and Contador is retiring. Needs to win the Veulta to beat Merckx GT record, using Richy Porte and Froome as the mountain domestiques haha.

Last mountain stage 1minute ahead with Zoidl of all people almost beating me every time now haha

 

[cellardoor]

Missed yesterday's stage due to watching T-A, so it's good to hear he was looking comfortable. I know what everyone means about the final climb not being that steep but I think overall there's enough in today's profile that Contador should be able to make a difference. Looking forward to it.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

In the PCM 14 edition I have Tinkoff Saxo as my team in 2020 and Contador is retiring. Needs to win the Veulta to beat Merckx GT record, using Richy Porte and Froome as the mountain domestiques haha.

Last mountain stage 1minute ahead with Zoidl of all people almost beating me every time now haha

Game is on crack man

 

[LaFlorecita]

Apparently Alberto will race the European Championships in September. The organizers say he has confirmed his presence to them
They will be held in Nice and the RR will include Col d'Eze 4 times

 

[Red Rick]

Wait what?? There's an european championchips?

 

[Brullnux]

Re:

Wait what?? There's an european championchips?

I think they started last year, but I'm not sure. That may have been the European Games actually. Anyway, he probably hasn't ever won it so may as well give it a go.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Going to stay up until 3am for this one!

Me too!!

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Wait what?? There's an european championchips?

I think they started last year, but I'm not sure. That may have been the European Games actually. Anyway, he probably hasn't ever won it so may as well give it a go.

It has existed for a long while but only from next year on there are Elite level races, in previous years it was only U23 etc I believe.

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

Wait what?? There's an european championchips?

I think they started last year, but I'm not sure. That may have been the European Games actually. Anyway, he probably hasn't ever won it so may as well give it a go.

It has existed for a long while but only from next year on there are Elite level races, in previous years it was only U23 etc I believe.

Oh right thanks I knew about the U23 races but I didn't know that they will start doing Elite ones now too. Will they be like Worlds prep or antidote? 4 Col d'Eze seems to indicate the latter.

 

[Carols]

BLECK!!!!

 

[LaFlorecita]

BLECK!!!!

Exactly this!! but we knew that this climb wouldn't suit Berto

 

[Miburo]

I'm sorry fleur, you were right. The climb was too easy

 

[indianfanboy]

But still Contador did not look super like in 2014

 

[Matteo.]

A good result.
On a shitty climb it was hard do differences. 3-4-5% , what did you expect?!
Then he wasted some energy in 3 acceleration so Berto arrives empty in the end. I'm happy for his shape

 

[indianfanboy]

That bonus seconds sprint cost him the victory i guess

 

[Miburo]

Re:

That bonus seconds sprint cost him the victory i guess

At that point it was lost already, even if he wins it, thomas still would lead. And tomorrow he won't make a difference.

 

[Jelantik]

Another.. meh performance.. He looked on the rivet (grimacing) already while G looked dandy and relax. Got beaten by sky second fiddle. Majka rode well.. too bad Contador can't get even a stage win. Another 2nd. De ja vu, feels like 2013. It's there . but not quite there.

 

[Brullnux]

Re:

But still Contador did not look super like in 2014

Remember Cittareale in Tirreno 2014? This was easier. There he took 5 seconds on Porte. Here he took 6.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

That bonus seconds sprint cost him the victory i guess

I highly doubt it, honestly.

 

[Red Rick]

Btw, no way in hell do I believe those last 500 meters were 11%

 

[indianfanboy]

Re: Re:

But still Contador did not look super like in 2014

Remember Cittareale in Tirreno 2014? This was easier. There he took 5 seconds on Porte. Here he took 6.

He won the stage then beating Quintana and arguably a better field than this.Porte is still not at his best i guess after his troubles at Oman

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

But still Contador did not look super like in 2014

Remember Cittareale in Tirreno 2014? This was easier. There he took 5 seconds on Porte. Here he took 6.

Who says this is the same Porte?