Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Red Rick]

So. Any idea or rumors what Vuelta prep is gonna look like? I think this time he actually has time to ride a race.

 

[Carols]

Re: Re:

Please, let's be serious. His wounds were arguably worse than those in 2014 and he still kept riding and finished among the first 20 - all of those healthy. People have to realise the strength and the gift this man has.

@Piti I think you misunderstood that last phrase. It was meant in an ironic way - you could say I am pretty butthurt that he's been casted out of the Tour when arriving in top form yet again.

Got you then. Unfortunate that he crashed out in '16 and especially '14 so we couldn't determine his true level instead of '11, '13 and '15 where he might as well had crashed out early and focused on the Vuelta.

I dont like Quintana but I dont wish for him to crash out of any race. I wish for him to be a bit more brave, thats all.

In '11 and '15 he Won the Giro...boy some folks like to ignore such relevant things. Really do you think the 2011 Giro one of the hardest in history didn't take something out of him? 2015 Giro he basically beat Astana juggernaut almost single handedly. But some people can't give him any credit for valiant top 5 finishes in both those Tours after those Giros. Instead say 'he might as well had crashed out early and focused on the Vuelta.' It is astonishing, frankly.

Oh give me a break Carols. Seriously.

Read the post again. All I say its unlucky that he crashed in those two years he had prepared himself the best instead of the others year were, for various reasons, he didn't perform. I obviously know he won the Giro both years, in 2011 in very dominant fashion, but that wasn't the point at all. I don't know why you bring it up, I'm not hating. Is it possible for you guys not to jump the gun every time? I think what I said is what every Contador-fan has felt; why he crashed when he was good and didn't when he was mediocre (for his standards, please, I don't discredit a 5th place - but for a rider like Contador, it isn't much to be proud of, EVEN with a Giro in his legs).

Ignore list attained

 

[ILovecycling]

Re:

So. Any idea or rumors what Vuelta prep is gonna look like? I think this time he actually has time to ride a race.

Would be nice if he rides Burgos...I dont see any other race as a possibility.

Im more interested in his post vuelta schedule.I really want Milano-Torino and il Lombardia

 

[roundabout]

Re:

So. Any idea or rumors what Vuelta prep is gonna look like? I think this time he actually has time to ride a race.

the team calendar looks a little thin

http://www.tinkoffteam.com/calendar-2016/

 

[bob.a.feet]

Re: Re:

So. Any idea or rumors what Vuelta prep is gonna look like? I think this time he actually has time to ride a race.

Would be nice if he rides Burgos...I dont see any other race as a possibility.

Im more interested in his post vuelta schedule.I really want Milano-Torino and il Lombardia

Yeah it was really cool when he won Milano-Torino in 2012.

 

[Valv.Piti]

So you didn't feel that way? Cool. Thank god he stayed on the bike in 2013 instead of 2014.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

So. Any idea or rumors what Vuelta prep is gonna look like? I think this time he actually has time to ride a race.

the team calendar looks a little thin

http://www.tinkoffteam.com/calendar-2016/

Well that sucks. No option of making changes to that schedule I guess. Norway seems kinda late.

 

[ninjadriver]

Re: Re:

I heard repeated interviews, including with the DS of Tinkoff on The Telegraph Cycling Podcast, that Kreuziger expressly went against team orders, not that he was unaware of team orders.

And obviously I don't go back and read every single post. I was replying to the post of yours to which I applied. Obviously.

I've heard that too. But the team orders were given by radio. Of course Kreuziger did not hear them when radio was not working. I've heard expressively Kreuziger saying that radio wasn't working and you probably too. So what now?

Kokoso: Once again, "I heard repeated interviews, including with the DS of Tinkoff on The Telegraph Cycling Podcast, that Kreuziger expressly went against team orders, not that he was unaware of team orders."

The DS and another Tinkoff representative stated on the podcast that Kreuziger received the message and went AGAINST team orders. Both men then spoke after the stage that day with Kreuziger to set him straight.

I heard that directly from the DS' mouth. Feel free to download the relevant The Telegraph podcast on which the interview appears.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

So. Any idea or rumors what Vuelta prep is gonna look like? I think this time he actually has time to ride a race.

the team calendar looks a little thin

http://www.tinkoffteam.com/calendar-2016/

Well that sucks. No option of making changes to that schedule I guess. Norway seems kinda late.

If Contador said he wanted to ride Burgos, I don't think he would want to do that tho (I guess he is looking at the 14 approach), wouldn't it be quite easy to get 5 riders to go alongside him? Surely the organisers would welcome Tinkoff then, unless there are some rules preventing late entry teams.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

So. Any idea or rumors what Vuelta prep is gonna look like? I think this time he actually has time to ride a race.

the team calendar looks a little thin

http://www.tinkoffteam.com/calendar-2016/

Is there still a chance that they will ride more races than on to this calendar or not? Because if not he can't even ride Milan-Torino like in 2012

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

So, Alberto basically raced for over 1000 km or whatever with torn calf muscles/hamstring injuries? Good God, these pro-riders are made of something else. But soft tissue injuries can take longer than breaks to heal, so he's not out of the woods yet. I just hope he can heal in time for the Vuelta. The Olympics, I could honestly not give a toss about.

Yeah, now it makes sense that he could barely use his left leg. Hope he heals quickly, 2 weeks complete rest doesn't sound good.

 

[Califootman]

Team Tinkoff crashes the Tour of Utah!!!!

Contador storms into Snowbird to take the overall title in America's Toughest Stage Race!!!

You heard it here first!

P.S. Please don't wake me, this dream is too good...

 

[lenric]

Re: Re:

So, Alberto basically raced for over 1000 km or whatever with torn calf muscles/hamstring injuries? Good God, these pro-riders are made of something else. But soft tissue injuries can take longer than breaks to heal, so he's not out of the woods yet. I just hope he can heal in time for the Vuelta. The Olympics, I could honestly not give a toss about.

Yeah, now it makes sense that he could barely use his left leg. Hope he heals quickly, 2 weeks complete rest doesn't sound good.

How much rest time did he have to endure 2 years ago? Wasn't it also about 2 weeks?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

So, Alberto basically raced for over 1000 km or whatever with torn calf muscles/hamstring injuries? Good God, these pro-riders are made of something else. But soft tissue injuries can take longer than breaks to heal, so he's not out of the woods yet. I just hope he can heal in time for the Vuelta. The Olympics, I could honestly not give a toss about.

Yeah, now it makes sense that he could barely use his left leg. Hope he heals quickly, 2 weeks complete rest doesn't sound good.

How much rest time did he have to endure 2 years ago? Wasn't it also about 2 weeks?

Yes.
But he was on his bike again after 5 days

 

[Carols]

Re: Re:

So, Alberto basically raced for over 1000 km or whatever with torn calf muscles/hamstring injuries? Good God, these pro-riders are made of something else. But soft tissue injuries can take longer than breaks to heal, so he's not out of the woods yet. I just hope he can heal in time for the Vuelta. The Olympics, I could honestly not give a toss about.

Yeah, now it makes sense that he could barely use his left leg. Hope he heals quickly, 2 weeks complete rest doesn't sound good.

How much rest time did he have to endure 2 years ago? Wasn't it also about 2 weeks?

Yes.
But he was on his bike again after 5 days

Yeah but he had to stop ad have his knee reopened and cleaned out. I hope he just stays off it for the full 2 weeks or it can just get worse

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re: Re:

So. Any idea or rumors what Vuelta prep is gonna look like? I think this time he actually has time to ride a race.

the team calendar looks a little thin

http://www.tinkoffteam.com/calendar-2016/

Well that sucks. No option of making changes to that schedule I guess. Norway seems kinda late.

If Contador said he wanted to ride Burgos, I don't think he would want to do that tho (I guess he is looking at the 14 approach), wouldn't it be quite easy to get 5 riders to go alongside him? Surely the organisers would welcome Tinkoff then, unless there are some rules preventing late entry teams.

If it meant Contador leading a team there, the organisers would happily arrange to have some Conti team that's already signed up kidnapped to make room.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Yeah but he had to stop ad have his knee reopened and cleaned out. I hope he just stays off it for the full 2 weeks or it can just get worse

Yeah but I think the wound would still have gotten infected even if he had rested for 2 weeks. Anyway I would also prefer he waited out the full 2 weeks.

 

[lenric]

Hum, ok.
A couple of years ago I suffered a torn muscle in my lumbar area and it has never healed correctly, so once in a while it screws me.
My physiotherapist told me that soft tissue injuries take more time to heal than bone fractures and there's a high probability that it won't heal 100% correctly and it becomes a chronic injury. Mainly because when bones heal, they become stronger. But when soft tissue heals they become less strong and more prone to injury.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

So, Alberto basically raced for over 1000 km or whatever with torn calf muscles/hamstring injuries? Good God, these pro-riders are made of something else. But soft tissue injuries can take longer than breaks to heal, so he's not out of the woods yet. I just hope he can heal in time for the Vuelta. The Olympics, I could honestly not give a toss about.

Yeah, now it makes sense that he could barely use his left leg. Hope he heals quickly, 2 weeks complete rest doesn't sound good.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but it sounds like he has not helped things by continuing for as long as he did. Hope he is fit for the Vuelta.

 

[perico]

Re: Re:

Official. Interesting that there is another mystery rider undisclosed included.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-signs-with-trek-segafredo-on-tour-de-france-rest-day/

Could be Michael Valgren.
He told to Danish TV2 'I have almost signed a contract with a big team,
where I will be allowed my own chance'

It's my guess that Valgren will go to Sky.

Bert's mystery second rider: I believe it will be Dani Navarro.

That's my hope.

 

[ferryman]

Re:

Hum, ok.
A couple of years ago I suffered a torn muscle in my lumbar area and it has never healed correctly, so once in a while it screws me.
My physiotherapist told me that soft tissue injuries take more time to heal than bone fractures and there's a high probability that it won't heal 100% correctly and it becomes a chronic injury. Mainly because when bones heal, they become stronger. But when soft tissue heals they become less strong and more prone to injury.

No they don't. Just have to be careful with them and build them up over a relativley short period of time. Change your physio. Or stop trolling. Your choice.

 

[lenric]

Re: Re:

Hum, ok.
A couple of years ago I suffered a torn muscle in my lumbar area and it has never healed correctly, so once in a while it screws me.
My physiotherapist told me that soft tissue injuries take more time to heal than bone fractures and there's a high probability that it won't heal 100% correctly and it becomes a chronic injury. Mainly because when bones heal, they become stronger. But when soft tissue heals they become less strong and more prone to injury.

No they don't. Just have to be careful with them and build them up over a relativley short period of time. Change your physio. Or stop trolling. Your choice.

I wasn't talking only about muscle injuries. By the way, by reading this link (http://drnarson.com/blog/b_26569_why_a_soft_tissue_injury_can_be_worse_than_a_broken_bone.html), particularly the ending, you'll realize my physio wasn't wrong (particularly because in my post there wasn't "they don't completely heal. Period"). Moreover, their treatment can be way costlier and harder than the one for a bone fracture. A severe one. Other than that, take your own conclusions.

On the other hand, about the hypothetical trolling accusation, was I right to laugh? I'm asking you this, because an administrator should treat the rest of the forum cordially (=/= from friendly), yet that wasn't what transpired from your post. And since I wasn't trolling, you can turn your accusations elsewhere.

 

[Matteo.]

Re: Re:

So. Any idea or rumors what Vuelta prep is gonna look like? I think this time he actually has time to ride a race.

Would be nice if he rides Burgos...I dont see any other race as a possibility.

Im more interested in his post vuelta schedule.I really want Milano-Torino and il Lombardia

Lombardia ends in Bergamo this year, so the path is bad and he would have no chance.
It should be the same path in 2014

 

[Taxus4a]

Re:

So. Any idea or rumors what Vuelta prep is gonna look like? I think this time he actually has time to ride a race.

There is not better prep to la Vuelta than half a Tour and latter Burgos. But just Half a Tour is a really good oe. He will be fresh ad he will finish strong.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re: Re:

Hum, ok.
A couple of years ago I suffered a torn muscle in my lumbar area and it has never healed correctly, so once in a while it screws me.
My physiotherapist told me that soft tissue injuries take more time to heal than bone fractures and there's a high probability that it won't heal 100% correctly and it becomes a chronic injury. Mainly because when bones heal, they become stronger. But when soft tissue heals they become less strong and more prone to injury.

No they don't. Just have to be careful with them and build them up over a relativley short period of time. Change your physio. Or stop trolling. Your choice.

I don't think Lenric was trolling, just giving his opinion on an injury he'd done kind of similar to Alberto's and the professional advice he received.