Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[rick james]

Re:

If this was 2014, Alberto would have been the winner by about 10-15 seconds today I'm guessing. He doesn't have the same reserves of strength that he could call on in 2014.

What has that got to do with the race right now?? Stop going on about past years it does his current form no favours at all.

 

[Matteo.]

Is not better to stop following him until the Tour?
You will live more serene
u_u

 

[CheckMyPecs]

Re:

It's over for Pais Vasco, he'll put on attacks on Arrate and Landa and a few others are gonna suck his wheel easily. That's exactly what's gonna happen. That's PV out the window today, his form is not good enough to make a difference in the TT either.

His main rivals ain't no TT aces.

 

[yaco]

Too much analysis in this thread - Contador's form in 2016 has been rock solid - He is still a definite contender for the TDF.

 

[BlurryVII]

Re:

Is not better to stop following him until the Tour?
You will live more serene
u_u

No, but what's annoying is that he's not following what he was doing in 14'. He could win this race if he had put in the efforts, the winter base is not gonna do the whole work for him. He has to build on it, he did that before PN, and he was in brilliant form. He stopped after that, and now it's all going down the pit.

The only hope left are the 2 remaining training camps, the one in Tenerife after PV and then hopefully another one like he did in 14' after Dauphiné in the Dolomites. But he'll start the tenerife one from further behind in form.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

It's over for Pais Vasco, he'll put on attacks on Arrate and Landa and a few others are gonna suck his wheel easily. That's exactly what's gonna happen. That's PV out the window today, his form is not good enough to make a difference in the TT either.

His main rivals ain't no TT aces.

Pinot..

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Is not better to stop following him until the Tour?
You will live more serene
u_u

No, but what's annoying is that he's not following what he was doing in 14'. He could win this race if he had put in the efforts, the winter base is not gonna do the whole work for him. He has to build on it, he did that before PN, and he was in brilliant form. He stopped after that, and now it's all going down the pit.

The only hope left are the 2 remaining training camp, the one in Tenerife after PV and then hopefully another one like he did in 14' after Dauphiné in the Dolomites. But he'll start the tenerife one from further behind in form.

Yes, he, a 9 time GT winner and seasoned pro, and his DS's, have absolutely no clue what they are doing.

 

[blackmamba]

Yeah way much over analyzing going on by sofa sitters without knowledge, some make some good points ill admit but its way to early to judge. It could also be Contador didnt wanne go full *** and screw the tank for a few seconds knowing he wasnt gonne get much time anyway IF thats the case thats the smart approach but ill admit I think thats wishfull thinking but who knows we will know alot more after the stage on friday if he gets dropped on that stage ill agree with blurry but thats a big IF

I think Contador will make alot of people's comments here today look stupid when the stage on friday is over But time will tell I suppose knowing it will be alot more second up for grabs there we will definitely get some real answers!

 

[BlurryVII]

Re: Re:

Is not better to stop following him until the Tour?
You will live more serene
u_u

No, but what's annoying is that he's not following what he was doing in 14'. He could win this race if he had put in the efforts, the winter base is not gonna do the whole work for him. He has to build on it, he did that before PN, and he was in brilliant form. He stopped after that, and now it's all going down the pit.

The only hope left are the 2 remaining training camp, the one in Tenerife after PV and then hopefully another one like he did in 14' after Dauphiné in the Dolomites. But he'll start the tenerife one from further behind in form.

Yes, he, a 9 time GT winner and seasoned pro, and his DS's, have absolutely no clue what they are doing.

6 of his 9 GT wins are from when he was younger (28 yrs old at the Giro). They did a monstrous mistake in 13', that's enough for me to not trust them at all.

 

[jyhjyh]

Re:

Too much analysis in this thread - Contador's form in 2016 has been rock solid - He is still a definite contender for the TDF.

From Contador himself:

"Alberto provided more detail from the finish. "It was a tough stage, mainly because of the weather as it rained in the first part and it was quite cold. We knew we had to be well-positioned ahead of the last climb and that's what we did. During the climb nobody was taking any responsibility. Although I was feeling in good form, I was reluctant to take all the responsibility by myself and pull to reach the two escapees. That's why I decided to wait. I think I erred in Catalunya by taking too much things in charge, so I was a bit more cautious here.”

 

[Matteo.]

Re: Re:

Is not better to stop following him until the Tour?
You will live more serene
u_u

No, but what's annoying is that he's not following what he was doing in 14'. He could win this race if he had put in the efforts, the winter base is not gonna do the whole work for him. He has to build on it, he did that before PN, and he was in brilliant form. He stopped after that, and now it's all going down the pit.

The only hope left are the 2 remaining training camps, the one in Tenerife after PV and then hopefully another one like he did in 14' after Dauphiné in the Dolomites. But he'll start the tenerife one from further behind in form.

But maybe...it's precisely the plan!
He is not longer a youngster so he doesn't want squeeze himself too much. Tour is still far and i doubt he's become idiot who does not know what to do.

ps: i think his actually shape enables him to do a good ITT , i'm confident !

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

He should start winning. Something. Anything. For the confidence and for the fans. He never seems to be going for the stage. Always assesing his form and looking at the rivals and counting seconds and collecting bonuses... The only stage this year he actually went for the stage was Malhao, when he was to far back in GC. And he won it. Easily. In 2014 he was going for the stages more, but GC wins came with it (T-A stage 4 comes to mind, where he could have taken some time, but he wanted to win the stage). This year he is just looking around nad waiting and following everyone ... You do that in the Tour, not in the one week stage races (but he still seems to like the pointless attacks that clearly cannot drop anyone important - like yesterday).

I understand the overall is more important to him and to be fair he does everything he can to win it, like in Paris Nice. But it would be nice if he could win a stage or two, even if he doesn't win the overall...

And for the team, I have no words... Kreuziger at least would be supposed to be with the top guys on that climb. Yet, he was nowhere to be seen

I agree with this. 1 or 2 wins would boost his confidence massively. I get that he's trying to win the overall in these races, but it might be better to go for the stages first.

 

[Miburo]

Contador is gonna win the tour, i promised fleur. It'll happen.

 

[BlurryVII]

Contador's been decent in the last 2 races without being the best, like sprinting at the end when he had to (like in La Molina), accelerating when he needs to, that's thanks to his great winter base. If he didn't have it, he wouldn't be able do that, he'd be KO in the last kms like in 13'. That's why he looks "solid and decent"

He's lacking the sparkle, the one that makes him fly and leave everyone behind to win races. That comes from climbing trainings in between those one week races. You know why he doesn't have it.

 

[Jelantik]

Re: Re:

Too much analysis in this thread - Contador's form in 2016 has been rock solid - He is still a definite contender for the TDF.

From Contador himself:

"Alberto provided more detail from the finish. "It was a tough stage, mainly because of the weather as it rained in the first part and it was quite cold. We knew we had to be well-positioned ahead of the last climb and that's what we did. During the climb nobody was taking any responsibility. Although I was feeling in good form, I was reluctant to take all the responsibility by myself and pull to reach the two escapees. That's why I decided to wait. I think I erred in Catalunya by taking too much things in charge, so I was a bit more cautious here.”

I guess smart riding by him, considering his form wasn't smashing that he couldn't possibly reel them in and drop them later without him getting dropped. He couldn't do it on Catalunya (well tried, but his form wasn't that top notch) ended up got beaten by Quintana. Maybe that should tell what his form currently is. But it's still 4 more stages, we'll see what happen.

 

[dacooley]

Re: Re:

Is not better to stop following him until the Tour?
You will live more serene
u_u

No, but what's annoying is that he's not following what he was doing in 14'. He could win this race if he had put in the efforts, the winter base is not gonna do the whole work for him. He has to build on it, he did that before PN, and he was in brilliant form. He stopped after that, and now it's all going down the pit.

The only hope left are the 2 remaining training camps, the one in Tenerife after PV and then hopefully another one like he did in 14' after Dauphiné in the Dolomites. But he'll start the tenerife one from further behind in form.

all the things cannot come down to willingness to train hard and follow the 2014 scheme. had it been that easy, cycling would've been elementary: just be contador, keep it on with the 2014 formula and wreck all the field in the races you really need to. probably, this year bertie has chosen a different way to tune himself for july, probably his body doesn't react as well as he'd like to thus far. we should wait and see...

 

[filipepc]

I just think he is Contador. And Contador always give it all. Só i think he will fight in the tour. I don´t know if he will win, maybe no, but, if someone understimate him, in anytime he can do it. If he have the form, he can do it. He is a top rider, the most experient of the GT riders actually, so if he is in top shape in the tour, even if that is not the good enough to be the strongest he can always win.

I´m not amazed with is shape by now, but i think he is ok. He is up there, he didn´t win it but, he is up there so i´m not worried by now. I follow all his career, and i´m pretty sure he will give everything.

 

[HelloDolly]

Re:

I just think he is Contador. And Contador always give it all. Só i think he will fight in the tour. I don´t know if he will win, maybe no, but, if someone understimate him, in anytime he can do it. If he have the form, he can do it. He is a top rider, the most experient of the GT riders actually, so if he is in top shape in the tour, even if that is not the good enough to be the strongest he can always win.

I´m not amazed with is shape by now, but i think he is ok. He is up there, he didn´t win it but, he is up there so i´m not worried by now. I follow all his career, and i´m pretty sure he will give everything.

But why give your everything all the time ...because the fans expect it...even some demand it
'You are Contador and you need to win all the time'
Maybe better not to win everything, attack all the time , keep your powder dry and just win the Tour

As for someone who wrote earlier that he is not training enough ...OMG !! ...Besides the fact that you can over train as alot of riders have done no one can really think that Contador does not train enough surely
Is Chris Froome riding against all this opposition and trying to win every race ...No
Even Quintana didn't ride what some riders describes as a fantastically hard Paris Nice..with many riders shattered afterwards

 

[LaFlorecita]

I don't think saving energy in spring races will boost his chances for the Tour title. Perhaps pushing hard is even necessary to improve his shape.

 

[Miburo]

Fleur do you dream of this?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Yes, of course

 

[gregrowlerson]

Re:

Yes, of course

But we won't need to dream come July

 

[Miburo]

Re:

Yes, of course

Back in the day when the gradient of a climb didn't matter. Putting 15 riders on 20 sec in less than 2 km on 6% with a headwind.

Godmode

Sorry if i made you cry right now

 

[blackmamba]

Ive said my thoughts about today regarding Bertie but just wanted to add, what the actual *** is up with his team? In the last 10km the positioning into the hill he had 1 guy for 1k and that was vahlgren WTF ? I saw him several times out in the wind in order to gain position, his team her is piss poor beyond belief and the few good ones is not in shape at all leaving him at his own. Wish De Jongh would come out and just say instead of the usual blabla team was good protecting Contador, that its actually not good enough and the guys need to improve!

 

[CheckMyPecs]

Re: Re:

It's over for Pais Vasco, he'll put on attacks on Arrate and Landa and a few others are gonna suck his wheel easily. That's exactly what's gonna happen. That's PV out the window today, his form is not good enough to make a difference in the TT either.

His main rivals ain't no TT aces.

Pinot..

What, because he won a devalued time trial in a devalued Critérium International? My money's on Bertie to beat Pinot in the time trial. In the mountains, I don't know.