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Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

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Jul 29, 2012
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Jesus, give the man one more chance. He was already way way better than sunday. If he somehow can use that left leg again, you never know.

What will 3 days do for his vuelta ambitions? Nothing, he needs to try.
 
Re: Re:

Publicus said:
TuCzech said:
Kreuziger said that in the end, he was slowed down by team orders to get closer to Alberto, so apparently without it, he would have finished with the main favourites... Tinkoff should really quickly decide who will they ride for, otherwise both Kreuziger and Alberto will lose time. It is sad but in the present state, I my bet would be to go for Kreuziger.

This makes no sense since he didn't wait/pace him on the climb when Bardet hit the gas.

Haha, indeed. What a load of baloney from Kreuziger. He was told to wait for Contador 100m from the line?
 
Aug 6, 2015
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I will be very happy if he only lost 3 minutes until ventoux. But i think this tour is over since stage 1. He doens't have the legs and their won't be 100% anymore in this tour
 
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Cance > TheRest said:
I did not watch the stage today, but at a first glance 33seconds does not seem like a catastrophic loss for Alberto. If he manages to recover for Col d' Aspin, then 1 ½ minute is not impossible to take back. His tour is not over yet. Based on the climbing he started to show by the end of Dauphine, especially on Col du Noyer, his base shape is too good to quit on.
It's not catastrophic, before today I said if he is less than 1.5 minute behind, he still has a chance. He managed to get over the two hardest climbs while many others got dropped. In the end the attacks on the final hill cooked him. He definitely seemed better than on Sunday, but right now it looks like he will lose a bit more in the Pyrenees. That will complicate things.
 
Apr 22, 2012
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BigMac said:
If he stil believes himself in contention, then it's his team's obligation to help. I understand Kreuziger may have a free role, but why, then, if he's going for GC, did he stroll to the line after being dropped in the final gradients instead of giving it all to lose the least amount of time possible? I understand Majka may be going for Polka and breakaway wins, but why, then, did he not drop to the main group after it was obvious GVA had it in the bag and only a couple of points towards the mountain classification were still up for grabs? This ''team'' nevers ceases to amaze. Makes you wish Jesús and Sérgio were here, and that's saying a lot.
Kreuziger was slowed down by team orders. He wasnt dropped. I dont understand why some are mad at him. He just follows team orders. Always loyal to contador past three years and when just follows team orders contador fanboys are instantly mad at him. Ridiculous.
 
It's over for AC. He's hurt and his team are going to be more interested in securing a contract next season than helping someone who they think is incapable of winning the Tour.

Hopefully he hangs around for Ventoux and shows us how he really compares to Nairo and Chris, before withdrawing and focusing on the 4th Vuelta
 
Apr 22, 2012
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Re: Re:

BigMac said:
Publicus said:
TuCzech said:
Kreuziger said that in the end, he was slowed down by team orders to get closer to Alberto, so apparently without it, he would have finished with the main favourites... Tinkoff should really quickly decide who will they ride for, otherwise both Kreuziger and Alberto will lose time. It is sad but in the present state, I my bet would be to go for Kreuziger.

This makes no sense since he didn't wait/pace him on the climb when Bardet hit the gas.

Haha, indeed. What a load of baloney from Kreuziger. He was told to wait for Contador 100m from the line?
100 hundred metres from the finish line? What a baloney from you. Don't make a fool of yourself.
 
Re:

LaFlorecita said:
Tanja @bambula
Nicki Sørensen: Team is closing, every man for themselves and they don't believe AC can win, bad athmosphere in team #TDF2016 (via @MirneyN)

Why can't he have a proper team for once :(

That's why he MUST sign for Trek, for the christ sake.
 
Nov 26, 2015
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Re: Re:

Kreuziger was slowed down by team orders. He wasnt dropped. I dont understand why some are mad at him. He just follows team orders. Always loyal to contador past three years and when just follows team orders contador fanboys are instantly mad at him. Ridiculous.

Exactly. For the past 3-4 years, he was Alberto´s first hand on nearly every stage race and did not get a chance to ride for himself in the biggest races. Seems pretty loyal to me. And now, when for one time, he is maybe better option for GC, Alberto fanboys/fangirls are crying. Look at the past! I love to watch Alberto ride, don´t get me wrong, but you need to be realistic for god´s sake. Leave Kreuziger be, he does not deserve any hate.
 
The fairy tale of Contador is coming to an end with this TDF. He is no longer the supreme force that he used to be. Quintana and Froome are better. He is getting dropped as well as crashing in irrelevant places. With Tinkoff folding he and Sagan are the 2 people who are sure to get lucrative contracts elsewhere. But the others are making their presence felt in this TDF in other ways. Nobody is going to notice them in the service of a leader who is far behind in the standings. So they are ditching Contador so that they can secure their own future as Its their only & best chance they are going to get.
 
Jun 21, 2010
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As I recall, Der Kaiser crashed the day before the Tour in ~2005 and still managed to podium. During that tour, he also fell in the mountains. In 2005, Ullrich was well past his prime as a GT racer. Really puts Contador's performance in perspective across riders and periods of time.
 
Jul 19, 2010
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Re: Re:

LaFlorecita said:
Red Rick said:
Bring Kreuziger in as well, he seems loyal, there you have a potential top domestique already.
Loyal, except when looking for a contract.
I seriously doubt he would be willing to go with Alberto unless it is simply the best offer available.

i read somewhere that alberto isn't bringing kreuziger as it was speculated or reported. And kreuziger agents is reported to approach the Bahrain team. With the team folding, do you blame anyone to look after their own interest now? Didn't it a telling, that contador's interview that he look for a team that's solely purpose to support him for yellow jersey TDF? Maybe he didn't find it anymore w/ Tinkoff, maybe his bad showing in Dauphine? and the crazy oleg lost his faith? it's not the first time.
 
Jul 10, 2009
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With Tinkoff ending this year, folks are thinking about their paychecks. And you cannot blame them! The deal in everyone's mind was if things go south with Bertie, everyone for themselves. There is ZERO loyalty except to the greenback. I still have my doubts though that if Bertie had not crashed his team-mates will be supporting him. Anyone seen this kind of support from Tinkoff in the races this year?? Its a reflection of Tinkoff, the focus on greenback starts at the top.

Its a tough one for Bertie, I think with all he has put in this year for TDF, it will be difficult to get motivated for Vuelta. I doubt he wants to do all this TDF gyrations next year.

But folks are right the un-necessary crashing and the like might be age. I really wonder which team is ready to pay $1million to an aged legend.
 
Jul 19, 2010
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Regardless of development on road, as long as Contador can ride his bike he should stay in the race.
Giving up in order to prepare for Vuelta would be such a second-rate act, miles below his reputation. Not even genuine Vuelta hunters, Tour domestiques, were doing that.
He should soldier on, see what can he achieve and arrive to Champs-Élysées holding his head high.
That's how champions do.