Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[perico]

Can't wait to hear Stephen Roche backtrack on his comments earlier this year.

 

[Publicus]

Re: Re:

Hoping he just sits on Froomes wheel the rest of the Dauphine, if Porte gets away, so be it.

This. He doesn't need to go deep. He has a marker of where he is strength-wise. Follow Froome and let Porte or whoever take overall.

On contrary. He should beat Sky wherever a chance presents itself. He should discourage them and pull back long time ago lost psychological advantage. There's no worry about spending himself. He's experience enough and there's a month to recover.

Mystery solved: you're Sir David Brailsford

 

[Publicus]

Re:

Of course he shouldn't just sit on Froome's wheel and let Porte take the overall. That's nonsense.

Not nonsense at all and I suspect your response has more to do with your hatred of all things Sky (or Sky-related).

No need to go deep chasing down attacks from Porte, Poels, or whoever. It's a waste of "matches" IMO.

 

[Publicus]

Re: Re:

If you're experienced enough, you shouldn't care about a psychological advantage or disadvantage.

It's not something objective that exists on the road, it's an inner feeling related to your and your opponent's self-confidence.
And if you think he's immune to the effects of psychological warfare, you should look back at 2013., this year's Algarve, PN.... Contador's not so good back runner. It means a lot to him to know at every moment he's better than his rivals.

He's not on the backfoot here tho. He'll ride defensively unless something changes.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re: Re:

Of course he shouldn't just sit on Froome's wheel and let Porte take the overall. That's nonsense.

Not nonsense at all and I suspect your response has more to do with your hatred of all things Sky (or Sky-related).

No need to go deep chasing down attacks from Porte, Poels, or whoever. It's a waste of "matches" IMO.

Don't go too far into the red, but the Tour is a full month away, so there is plenty of time to recover.

The fact that AC has never won the Dauphine makes it nonsensical to not target overall victory

 

[SevenTimeTdfChamp]

He should use the race to study his opponenets and test his form. Studieing froomes signs of weaknees will be more valuable than the victory

 

[rhubroma]

Re:

Contador should be most worried about Quintana think he is the guy most likely to finally overtake Contador but if it will happen this year already im not sure but Quintana seems better this year atleast so I expect its gonne be a nice fight!

This. Quintana is a beast.

 

[Matteo.]

Re: Re:

Contador should be most worried about Quintana think he is the guy most likely to finally overtake Contador but if it will happen this year already im not sure but Quintana seems better this year atleast so I expect its gonne be a nice fight!

This. Quintana is a beast.

Beast which was defeated at PV. And more than once. for sure Quintana is strong and probably more favored overhim but he's not unbeatable, as we have already seen

 

[Miburo]

Which is why, if contador has the legs he has to try something asap in the tour. This seems ideal.

 

[portugal11]

Re:

Which is why, if contador has the legs he has to try something asap in the tour. This seems ideal.

You are a crazy. It's impossible attack sky so early in le tour. And the last mountain isn't hard so i expect nothing from the top dogs

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

Which is why, if contador has the legs he has to try something asap in the tour. This seems ideal.

You are a crazy. It's impossible attack sky so early in le tour. And the last mountain isn't hard so i expect nothing from the top dogs

Just let us hope. It would be so epic if something would already happen on this stage.

 

[Miburo]

When Contador is good, he doesn't wait. Seems like you don't know the man.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

When Contador is good, he doesn't wait. Seems like you don't know the man.

Hard, grinding tempo on Peyrol and surprise attack in the bottom of Perthus - vamos!

 

[portugal11]

Re:

When Contador is good, he doesn't wait. Seems like you don't know the man.

Contador will ride defensively until aspin and in this stage he will decide attack or sitting in froome's wheel, this will depend on froome's shape and i think froome will be very strong so contador won't attack, just will try not loosing ground for froome. He will be cautious, you'll see

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

When Contador is good, he doesn't wait. Seems like you don't know the man.

But doing an attack on the Peyrol or the Perthus just would be stupid. Imagine the Sky train catches him at the bottom of the last climb, he would already lose a lot of time only because he attacked early when he didnt even need to.

 

[Jelantik]

Contador did a great ride today. Looked like he is on track with his form. He came at Dauphine with two goals - win a stage and do well in GC. Checked on the first goal already (must be a nice feeling and less pressured). Next - do well in GC. Whether he is sitting on Froome's wheel all week long or Porte will take overall, I don't care. As long as, he matches them stride for stride (hopefully he has more than just matches them. So he can watch where everyone is and maybe play more to push it), and if the win comes a long the way? bonus. But no need to overexert himself to win it. Now that Tinkoff holding the jersey, it would be a good test for the team to see how well their form is and whether or not they are up to the task to support Contador in the mountain. On paper, sky is the team to beat w/ Poehls, Landa and Kwiat within 30 ish second off their leader.

 

[Jelantik]

Re: Re:

Which is why, if contador has the legs he has to try something asap in the tour. This seems ideal.

You are a crazy. It's impossible attack sky so early in le tour. And the last mountain isn't hard so i expect nothing from the top dogs

Contador already achieved one of his goal (win a stage). He might as well push it to see how well his form is and how well his opponent form will be (if he is crazy enough). But it's less likely that Froome will be left isolated, so the scenario of mano a mano will never materialize. Although I'm hoping, Giro scenario, no team .. just all the contenders.. would be my dream scenario. Beating Froome is like beating the entire team Sky first. And the fact that he is no slouch, makes it even harder. Even though, Contador did it last year with Contador vs Aru/Landa/Astana team. But sky tour team this year is sick.

 

[rm7]

Contador says that he didn't feel good today, but he thought he would beat Froome today, but didn't expect to win the stage.

Not sure what kind of logic that is

 

[rune1107]

Re: Re:

Which is why, if contador has the legs he has to try something asap in the tour. This seems ideal.

You are a crazy. It's impossible attack sky so early in le tour. And the last mountain isn't hard so i expect nothing from the top dogs

Just let us hope. It would be so epic if something would already happen on this stage.

Alberto will pick his moments. There is no need to go all out attacking on this medium mountain stage, to gain maybe 5-20 secs on the other GC guys. He will need to ride 15+ km in the wind, and most likely for no reason. He will probably wait for Col d' Aspin, and the rest of the first weekend.

 

[rhubroma]

What I don't get is why is Contador so good now, as in 2014, but bad in 2013 and 2015?

And I mean this in pure preparation terms. Whereas Froome has been good since 2012...

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

What I don't get is why is Contador so good now, as in 2014, but bad in 2013 and 2015?

And I mean this in pure preparation terms. Whereas Froome has been good since 2012...

In 2015, the different build-up probably played a big role.

 

[maltiv]

Re:

What I don't get is why is Contador so good now, as in 2014, but bad in 2013 and 2015?

And I mean this in pure preparation terms. Whereas Froome has been good since 2012...

Poor Contador, he can win the Giro d'Italia and still be called "bad". Also, if you call Contador's 2015-season bad, then certainly Froome's 2014-season was bad too.

 

[Red Rick]

2014 and 2016 are just well prepared all year.
2015 is a different build up
2013 we know bits and pieces, insufficient winter base, sickness in spring, overraced in spring, and played catchup ever since. Was also fat throughout the year.

 

[Jspear]

Was just watching the highlights...Kirby said in cycling terms AC is worthy of worship.

 

[Carols]

Re:

Contador says that he didn't feel good today, but he thought he would beat Froome today, but didn't expect to win the stage.

Not sure what kind of logic that is

Where did you see he didn't feel good? The quotes I've seen he said it 'was a perfect day' for him.