Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Miburo]

Objectively you've to put Contador on the same level as Froome/Quintana. People act like Contador wasn't that good this year but he was amazing.
He only had 2 weak moments. 2? That's it. (3 if you count algarve but he was just *** around, attacking at 30 km for no reason)

Just look at what he has done this season. I think that if you look closely at it, you'll realise it aswell.

He would have easily won PN if that one stage wasn't cancelled. No one will dispute that. But the guy rode everyone on a minute in the last stage of PN on a climb of what? 7km at 7% orso? Ok sky let him ride, but what does he do then on the col d'eze? A climb that's weak as hell btw! He rides them all of his wheel except for Porte who is a beast in one week races. Porte won pretty much ever one week race in 2015. Only he can follow Contador who used a lot of energy beforehand already on a climb that's laughable. Btw Contador destroyed Thomas so hard that day that the poor lad is still feeling it.

Then Catalunya, being second to Martin on a stage that doesn't suit him at all where he followed attacks of Poels and Quintana while Martin was gearing up. Quintana dropped him on the big MTF's. True, i think quintana outsmarted Contador, if contador played that more conservative, who knows? But he got beat there.

Then comes PV, Henao outsprinted him on the mur. Henao who was riding an amazing season and is imo the best murito climber out there atm. But Contador was the one who closed the gap on stage 4 to Henao and he did it fast, really fast. He even had energy for an attack afterwards. Only Henao could follow. On Arrate he drops them all except for Henao. Quintana is nowhere to be found. On the ITT he puts Quintana on 25 sec in the first part in like 5km. And Henao on even more time! That's insane, absolutely insane.

In the dauphine, a race where Contador always sucks (except one time), he wins the prologue putting Froome on 14 sec. Froome took revenge on stage 5 but the way Contador responded on stage 6/7 wasn't just good but really good for his standards in the dauphine. The man kept attacking like a madman, making sure Bardet and Aru know they've to continue his legacy when he retires.

I honestly don't understand. All the signs are there.

 

[matusow]

Agree I cant see anyone beating Contador if hes in good form, he wont have the Giro fatigue to worry about this year so Froome will not be able to contain him, it will be like the vuelta 14 where they last fought mano a mano on even terms.

 

[Gigs_98]

I think the reason why people underestimate Contador is because right now he is in the opposite situation of the tdf 2011. Back then the last time he was beaten in a gt was in 2005 and one couldnt really imagine that Contador can be beaten in a gt. However looking at it from a more logical standpoint it really wasn't surprising that in the modern era you can't just win the tdf after you rode the hardest giro of the decade.

This year he had a perfect preparation was basically good in every single race he has ridden this season, he won PV, won stages in three different stage races and in the ones in which he didn't win a stage he got 2nd place in gc and he even would have won one of those races if hadn't had bad luck and anyway it's obvious that he was the strongest rider in PN. If he would have entered the tdf with this season so far in 2011 nobody would have doubted that he is the big pre race favorite. But it isn't 2011 anymore and although we have seen how strong he still can be in 2014 and partly 2015 people now can't imagine that the rider who (officially) hasn't won the tdf since 2009 can win it again. They can't believe that a rider who hasn't even been on the tour podium since 2010 (officially even 2009) and therefore was never even close to win the tdf again can now suddenly win it again. However they also seem to forget that besides 2013, a year in which he was horrible not only in the tdf so you can't compare it to this year, he always had a good excuse because he either rode the giro, wasn't even allowed to start or crashed out during the race. But since most people unfortunately don't know there are other cycling races besides the tdf this doesn't really count for them. They say he hasn't shown anything in the last few years so they also don't think he can show something this year.

But we know thats nonsense and that top shape AC has never ridden against top shape froome, so we just can't say yet if he is really declining or not. But what we do know is that this year Contador doesn't have any excuses (except maybe his age) so this year he has the chance to show that he isn't done yet.

 

[Netserk]

I think we can be pretty certain that he'll have his highest level in a (completed) GT since his comeback.

It just wouldn't make any sense for him not to be better than he was in the Giro last year or the Vuelta two years ago.

 

[perico]

Re:

I think we can be pretty certain that he'll have his highest level in a (completed) GT since his comeback.

It just wouldn't make any sense for him not to be better than he was in the Giro last year or the Vuelta two years ago.

His age, but besides that, he should be good to go.

 

[rhubroma]

The pundits have written AC off because he hasn't won the Tour since 2010 (dq nothwithstanding). They see Froome and Sky as indominable and Quintana as the next best rider in the world, if not the best pure climber. Then AC has been inconsistant since his DQ. He rode poorly in 2013, was super in 2014, was good but not superlative in 2015 and, what's more, took a real beating at the Tour.

He has been very good this year, as has been pointed out. But the impact of Froome winning the Dauphine and dropping AC on the queen stage, has fueled doubts over his potential to win...and rightly so.

However, looking at the photos of him at the Tour presentation, he looks lean and ready. He might just proove them wrong yet. Ever confident, Contador needs to respond well to Froomes attacks in the first week. If he does that then we might get a French version of the 2014 Vuelta. Of course, Quintana will add another dimension to the race, as well as Aru-Nibali, Porte, Bardet etc. So it's not just Froome, Contador needs to be vigilant about.

 

[Jspear]

AC needs to take Laflo and Miburo on as part of his coaching staff.

 

[lenric]

No matter how good he may display himself in the next 3 weeks, until now, one can't help but to think that 2 years ago he was simply stronger than now. Not because of Dauphine (though that helped to form this thought), but because of his performances in the week races.
In 2014's Tirreno Adriatico (I'm not 100% sure it was here), on the stage where there was a 349304293094% climb, he simply flied away from everyone. It was a display of strength that made me remember his 2009-11 level.

Until today this season we have already had loads of mountain stages by him, some good performances, but none of them matched what he did in 2014, hence why people are a little skeptical over Contador's chances.

But it's an opinion, much like everything that's being said over here, so subjectivity is the key concept.

 

[TheYouyou7]

No matter how good he may display himself in the next 3 weeks, until now, one can't help but to think that 2 years ago he was simply stronger than now. Not because of Dauphine (though that helped to form this thought), but because of his performances in the week races.
In 2014's Tirreno Adriatico (I'm not 100% sure it was here), on the stage where there was a 349304293094% climb, he simply flied away from everyone. It was a display of strength that made me remember his 2009-11 level.

Until today this season we have already had loads of mountain stages by him, some good performances, but none of them matched what he did in 2014, hence why people are a little skeptical over Contador's chances.

But it's an opinion, much like everything that's being said over here, so subjectivity is the key concept.

PN last stage...

 

[lenric]

No matter how good he may display himself in the next 3 weeks, until now, one can't help but to think that 2 years ago he was simply stronger than now. Not because of Dauphine (though that helped to form this thought), but because of his performances in the week races.
In 2014's Tirreno Adriatico (I'm not 100% sure it was here), on the stage where there was a 349304293094% climb, he simply flied away from everyone. It was a display of strength that made me remember his 2009-11 level.

Until today this season we have already had loads of mountain stages by him, some good performances, but none of them matched what he did in 2014, hence why people are a little skeptical over Contador's chances.

But it's an opinion, much like everything that's being said over here, so subjectivity is the key concept.

PN last stage...

If that's what I'm thinking of, very good, but not great.

 

[perico]

Re:

The pundits have written AC off because he hasn't won the Tour since 2010 (dq nothwithstanding). They see Froome and Sky as indominable and Quintana as the next best rider in the world, if not the best pure climber. Then AC has been inconsistant since his DQ. He rode poorly in 2013, was super in 2014, was good but not superlative in 2015 and, what's more, took a real beating at the Tour.

He has been very good this year, as has been pointed out. But the impact of Froome winning the Dauphine and dropping AC on the queen stage, has fueled doubts over his potential to win...and rightly so.

However, looking at the photos of him at the Tour presentation, he looks lean and ready. He might just proove them wrong yet. Ever confident, Contador needs to respond well to Froomes attacks in the first week. If he does that then we might get a French verison of the 2014 Vuelta. Of course, Quintana will add another dimension to the race, as well as Aru-Nibali, Porte, Bardet etc. So it's not just Froome, Contador needs to be vigilant about.

I agree, but there has always been a slightly subliminal anti-Spanish bent in the Anglo press since the days of LeMond. You could even point to the 85 Vuelta as the marker. they are always quick to downplay Spanish hopefuls, except when the obvious favorite is Indurain.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I don't know, I thought he was pretty darn good this year. I've followed jens_attacks climbing times blog and at times his performances were as impressive as in his best days. For example Malhao, PN final stage, Pais Vasco ITT.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Did he ever show a similar level to 2014 this year tho? I dont remember him dropping Valverde like a stone in his favoured terrain, going solo on Lancino and dropping Quintana like a stone with 40 km or whatever, his insane performance on the last day of Dauphine... I can't quite see it. He has disappointed a fair amount on the most important MTF's this year (La Madone, Port Aine, Vaujany). Im still sceptic.

 

[dacooley]

just 3-4 years before prior any gt bertie was in that was reasonable to predict something like 'ac will kick everyone's ass in the climbs as usual and maintain his superiority in time trials'. Today people should hope for a proper echelone stage happening, for bertie holding one's wheel on first mtf, for rain, for crazy early attacks, for attacks on flat stages... that is big difference is all about.

 

[TheYouyou7]

Re:

Did he ever show a similar level to 2014 this year tho? I dont remember him dropping Valverde like a stone in his favoured terrain, going solo on Lancino and dropping Quintana like a stone with 40 km or whatever, his insane performance on the last day of Dauphine... I can't quite see it. He has disappointed a fair amount on the most important MTF's this year (La Madone, Port Aine, Vaujany). Im still sceptic.

In TA 2014, Quintana was going for the Giro he was not good.

La Madone was not a climb barely a false flat...
Port Aine was not that terible+ he was dumb
Vaujany: Dont know what happened.

 

[Netserk]

Re:

No matter how good he may display himself in the next 3 weeks, until now, one can't help but to think that 2 years ago he was simply stronger than now. Not because of Dauphine (though that helped to form this thought), but because of his performances in the week races.
In 2014's Tirreno Adriatico (I'm not 100% sure it was here), on the stage where there was a 349304293094% climb, he simply flied away from everyone. It was a display of strength that made me remember his 2009-11 level.

Until today this season we have already had loads of mountain stages by him, some good performances, but none of them matched what he did in 2014, hence why people are a little skeptical over Contador's chances.

But it's an opinion, much like everything that's being said over here, so subjectivity is the key concept.

I agree, he was better in 2014 than now, and if he had completed the Tour that year, I'm sure it would have been his best GT since his comeback (if not ever). While I don't think he'll be as good as back then, I still think he'll be better than he was at any other GT since his comeback, so he should most definitely have the level to contend for 1st place, based on pure strength alone.

 

[rhubroma]

Re:

Did he ever show a similar level to 2014 this year tho? I dont remember him dropping Valverde like a stone in his favoured terrain, going solo on Lancino and dropping Quintana like a stone with 40 km or whatever, his insane performance on the last day of Dauphine... I can't quite see it. He has disappointed a fair amount on the most important MTF's this year (La Madone, Port Aine, Vaujany). Im still sceptic.

Ah but Quintana has improved since 2014. One can't really compare years, beyond getting a rough indication. Clearly Contador was in stellar form in 2014, but the competition in 2016 is different. Porte is much better, Froome is riding after another Tour triumph, etc.

But perhaps AC has timed it even better than in 2014. He still had a margin to improve after the Dauphine and, after being dropped on the queen stage, seemed to be firing well in the last stages of the race. Perhaps, given he wasn't going into the Dauphine to win it and after crushing the mountain TT, he simply had a bad day when he was dropped by Froome and Porte.

Maybe that was previously accounted for (having a bad day in the Dauphine) and, therefore, it could be that he is only now hitting his best form as planned. We don't know, but after the first week, bar incident, we should know if AC is like version 2014. He seems to be stronger than 2015 at the Tour, which is promising.

 

[matusow]

Contadors talent is unchallenged in todays cycling theres no doubt regarding that everyone knows that, ask every pro and theill speak of it and the results shows it. Indeed he may not be sa strong as he was a few years ago beacuse of the age and thats only natural hes still good enough to beat the best contenders. Contador is the only GT rider ive ever witnessed which has zero weaknesses, someone has always had something tho be it only not having good acceleration or whatever. Even today you see it Froome is good in the mountains and a beast in the TT but he fades during 3 weeks, Quintana beast in the mountains (not contador lvl but can become that good in the moutains hes atleast very talented, but he has TT as his weakness) Contador has none he only get stronger during 3 weeks, in form TT with the very best, climbs like noone else and can easily handle every type of climb at ease since his nature and style fits all kind of climbs. Granted this is Contador at his peak, I also agree he may not be at that lvl anymore cause of father time but still I doubt anyone is good enough to beat a inform Contador who is fresh so be it that hes over the top thats should only testify to the greatness of him and his unique talent.

I expect something ala 2014 vuelta betwen him and Froome with the same result cause thats the closest results from the past we can compare with. As for Quintana im more torn, Quintana seems to have taken a new step this year, as of how much he has improved remains to be seen but thats gonne be interesting to see.


Im hoping for a crash free race betwen Quintana, Froome and Contador as should every cycle fan so we all can witness 3 great riders go at it

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

I agree, he was better in 2014 than now, and if he had completed the Tour that year, I'm sure it would have been his best GT since his comeback (if not ever). While I don't think he'll be as good as back then, I still think he'll be better than he was at any other GT since his comeback, so he should most definitely have the level to contend for 1st place, based on pure strength alone.

Spot on, I think. We will see at the end of July

 

[Miburo]

No Fleur, we'll see sunday

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

Did he ever show a similar level to 2014 this year tho? I dont remember him dropping Valverde like a stone in his favoured terrain, going solo on Lancino and dropping Quintana like a stone with 40 km or whatever, his insane performance on the last day of Dauphine... I can't quite see it. He has disappointed a fair amount on the most important MTF's this year (La Madone, Port Aine, Vaujany). Im still sceptic.

In TA 2014, Quintana was going for the Giro he was not good.

La Madone was not a climb barely a false flat...
Port Aine was not that terible+ he was dumb
Vaujany: Dont know what happened.

Nonsence! In 2013 Nibali was going for the Giro and he was good.

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

Did he ever show a similar level to 2014 this year tho? I dont remember him dropping Valverde like a stone in his favoured terrain, going solo on Lancino and dropping Quintana like a stone with 40 km or whatever, his insane performance on the last day of Dauphine... I can't quite see it. He has disappointed a fair amount on the most important MTF's this year (La Madone, Port Aine, Vaujany). Im still sceptic.

In TA 2014, Quintana was going for the Giro he was not good.

La Madone was not a climb barely a false flat...
Port Aine was not that terible+ he was dumb
Vaujany: Dont know what happened.

Nonsence! In 2013 Nibali was going for the Giro and he was good.

Different people, different build ups and approaches to reaching the Giro in top form.

 

[Merphos]

New shoes for AC

 

[LaFlorecita]

They look cool, but I wonder why he changed, I mean he wore the black ones for a reason, they were designed by Specialized at his request.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

New shoes for AC

Just noticed, look at his leg