Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[lenric]

Though Contador's fanboys world begins and ends with him, Tinkoff's world doesn't. Majka's goal is the mountains jersey and he won points. Sagan's goal is the green jersey. Contador's goal is the yellow jersey.

It's clear ever since from the beginning that Contador's goal was the hardest to achieve. Coupled with 2/3 crashes, it was almost impossible and seeing that Tinkoff is trying not to screw with all the other goals, mainly the mountains jersey because yeah, that team will cease to exit and their riders must perform at their best level so that they can get the best contract possible next year.

Those 2/3 reasons are why also Kreuziger doesn't want to loose loads of time.

If Contador bleeds time in the weekend he should give up and go to the Vuelta (if he can be competitive there).

 

[King Boonen]

Re:

He has until sunday to recover, i don't think any big GC action wll happen untill then

If he can fully recover, then maybe but i don't know. If he can't and loses minutes then abandon and vuelta

Errr...Stage 8 is on Saturday...

 

[Miburo]

I don't think much will happen. The race will really explode on arcalis.

 

[King Boonen]

Even if no-one attacks, which would really surprise me, the tempo will be high and it's going to really, really hurt. If he's not recovered he'll be spat out the back.

 

[buchanan]

I reckon he should ride until and including the Aspin stage on Friday. If he loses a couple of minutes there, then definitely retire from the Tour and go have a few days rest and relaxation by the sea. Then start building toward racing the Vuelta with the best form possible. Maybe do 2-3 weeks at altitude in Tenerife and show up at the Vuelta with a burning ambition to win.

People thinking he can stay in the Tour and still go for stage wins are being unrealistic in my opinion. He's injured and hasn't won a stage in the Tour since 2009.

 

[Miburo]

His progression is really good though. If you see how bad he was sunday, if he can keep this going....

 

[King Boonen]

This is a very different test though. If Sky, Astana, Movistar and anyone else decide to push it, and I don't really see why they wouldn't, then he's going to have to have recovered a lot more to hang on.

 

[Carols]

I saw pics of him after the stage, he was obviously bleeding through the bandages on his shoulder and his face was the picture of dejection as he got into the team car .

The first crash was his own fault (right side), but the second seems to be the killer blow as he says his 'left leg doesn't work'.

 

[Jelantik]

Re:

So much for Taxus' lack of fitness argument. His body can't recover from injury AND riding 200+KM per day. I wouldn't be surprised if he bowed out of the TdF after this weekend so that he can recover for the Olympics and the Vuelta.

Taxus never has anything positive about Contador. He hates him. (sorry Taxus). No one can perform well if they are injured. Everyone should have buried him when the first tough climb started. Yet, he was there and lost 30 sec? still not bad, for someone who's riding injured. I don't believe he should bow out the Tour. It doesn't guarantee that he won't fall again and injured in Rio or Vuelta. Live the moment. If he does have the form, won't it be fun to see him creating havoc for any other contenders, by attacking left to right? Or do you prefer the "no balls" quintana waiting until the last two days before too late? or watching the parade of sky train demolished everyone? I personally prefers contador stays and for good or bad, makes this TDF more interesting instead of hoping for Rio or Vuelta, where there's no guarantee that he won't fall and injured again. Live for today people. Let the guy fight.

 

[LaFlorecita]

If Alberto finishes this race while injured, he has close to zero chance for either Rio or the Vuelta.

 

[Jelantik]

Re:

I reckon he should ride until and including the Aspin stage on Friday. If he loses a couple of minutes there, then definitely retire from the Tour and go have a few days rest and relaxation by the sea. Then start building toward racing the Vuelta with the best form possible. Maybe do 2-3 weeks at altitude in Tenerife and show up at the Vuelta with a burning ambition to win.

People thinking he can stay in the Tour and still go for stage wins are being unrealistic in my opinion. He's injured and hasn't won a stage in the Tour since 2009.

yup. and then crash again and injured.Then we should say, bow out, and rest, for next year TDF .. you see? .. He is in good form in this tour too. It's just a bad luck.

 

[boasson]

Re: Re:

With Kreuziger and Majka as real helpers, he wouldn't have lost any time today. Bjarne Riis would cry.....

 

[Carols]

Re:

If Alberto finishes this race while injured, he has close to zero chance for either Rio or the Vuelta.

So true, but he is to stubborn to quit......

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

yup. and then crash again and injured.Then we should say, bow out, and rest, for next year TDF .. you see? .. He is in good form in this tour too. It's just a bad luck.

If he abandons now he has a good chance to win the Vuelta. Yes, he may crash again but that is something you can't control. He might crash again at this year's Tour if he continues racing. He might finish the Tour, start the Vuelta and crash there too. All he can do is maximize his chances for a GT win and he can do that by abandoning the race.

 

[Jelantik]

Re: Re:

With Kreuziger and Majka as real helpers, he wouldn't have lost any time today. Bjarne Riis would cry.....

in what why? he could only pedal as hard as he can. Keeping Kreuziger upfront might be beneficial in the long run. If Contador bounces back, he is a good card to have. Majka? he's already close to the finish line, judging by his pedal stroke, he doesn't seem he can offer any help. Get over with this Majka/Kreuziger stuff. The fact that Tinkoff let the break to go over 13 minutes, forcing Sky and Movistar to work. Contador didn't get drop on the difficult climb, but on the last drag to the finish line. So far it's a glass half full as far as his concern.

and tomorrow or aspin, he lives another day to fight.

 

[LaFlorecita]

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

 

[TuCzech]

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.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

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.

 

[Jelantik]

Re: Re:

yup. and then crash again and injured.Then we should say, bow out, and rest, for next year TDF .. you see? .. He is in good form in this tour too. It's just a bad luck.

If he abandons now he has a good chance to win the Vuelta. Yes, he may crash again but that is something you can't control. He might crash again at this year's Tour if he continues racing. He might finish the Tour, start the Vuelta and crash there too. All he can do is maximize his chances for a GT win and he can do that by abandoning the race.

that's true. But he is a champion. Not until he breaks something, he won't leave the race. It's a coward thing to do to leave the race because you are behind. (even if it's due to crash). I personally likes to see him, at least making the podium. I know, i know, he doesn't care. But the fact is, he hasn't been on TDF podium since 2009? Maybe having to step on the podium again even if one/two steps lower will do wonder to his luck next year... who knows..

 

[HelloDolly]

If Contador can get to the rest day within 3 minutes then he should go on
I believe he should go on...we don't know what is around the corner for any of the riders
He is still Tinkoff best chance at any prize

 

[Publicus]

Re:

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.

 

[Jelantik]

well at least, he expected to loose more time and didn't.

"It was better than I expected, I lost less time than I thought I would - I knew it was going to be a difficult stage, and I knew the other teams would make it tricky for me. The last part of the stage was really tough. I found it hard to breathe. I've lost some time, there's no doubt about it. But every day I can recover some of that. I have to wait and see what I can do and I'll give it my best.

"I'm feeling better than I was a few days ago. I felt pretty good towards the end of the stage. I've worked very hard over the last months to be here in the best condition I could. Obviously crashes in the opening stages is not ideal, but I feel like I'm bouncing back. I also feel I've done my best and that's all I can do."

 

[Miburo]

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.

 

[BigMac]

Re: Re:

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?

 

[portugal11]

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