Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Valv.Piti]

The stretch of Camperona (murito, 8th stage), Naranco (9th stage), Covadonga (10th stage) and Cabarga (murito, 11th stage) will be crucial, not only for Contador, but the entire race. I doubt today's climb is hard enough to make a difference. If he loses non-semantic time today, its probably already over before it has begun. He can't make 2 minutes up on everybody - someone won't fade.

 

[Lexman]

Re:

Take a cue from Usain Bolt, 29yrs and one of the greatest athletes, he said after his 200m win "I really wanted to go faster, but my body was not responding, it must be age". And so we have the young man retiring at 29yrs but remember he has led the world scene in 100m and 200m for the last 9yrs. What he was saying was "I have peaked and I am done". Contador should take a cue. I still say he should have retired 2 yrs ago regardless of his 2015 Giro win, 2015 he was on reserve gas, shows you how great he is that he could win a GT on reserve gas. After that he is on borrowed gas. Is it the money? Or is it the pride? Bolt has made $36million this year before the Olympics but his pride is not so much that he does not know when to bow out.

with $36 million I bow out any time wether I'm 20 - 30 or 50 years old...

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

The stretch of Camperona (murito, 8th stage), Naranco (9th stage), Covadonga (10th stage) and Cabarga (murito, 11th stage) will be crucial, not only for Contador, but the entire race. I doubt today's climb is hard enough to make a difference. If he loses non-semantic time today, its probably already over before it has begun. He can't make 2 minutes up on everybody - someone won't fade.

But if he gets shape in the last week and he tries, then the action will be good though

 

[jsem94]

My view is not to end when on top. As long as there's a chance to win big races, maybe even another GT, there is still reason to continue. Losing some battles in the end of your career is in no way a stain on your legacy.

Look at Ole Einar Björndalen. Could have retired many many years ago, and was since about 2009 not as great as earlier. He would win gold medals but only through being part of a dominant Norwegian relay team. In 2014 however he won another individual gold medal in Sochi, an insane feat. In the World Championships this year in Oslo he racked up two silver medals and a bronze. Not as good as he once was, but still good enough to win races. Now he's continuing until the 2018 Olympics, and will compete at the tender age of 44.... (not really revelant that he's not the most likable guy ever, he is undoubtedly the GOAT)

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

He looked like he was lacking that snap in his climbing this year.

No. You keep repeating that over and over again but it is simply not true. In spring, that "snap" was definitely present.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

I still say he should have retired 2 yrs ago regardless of his 2015 Giro win

Did you say that back in 2014 as well? It's very easy to say in hindsight
He wants to keep racing. As long as enjoys competing, as long as he feels whatever he gets out of cycling weighs up against the hard training and the sacrifices he has to make, who are we to say he should retire? It is truly disrespectful to tell the man not just that he should retire but that he should have retired 2 years ago, only because he is not as good as he used to be. He's still one of the best in the world and he can still get results many other riders can only dream of. Maybe we should adjust our expectations.

 

[Miburo]

It's way too early to judge how Contador will be but he usually improves the next day after such a bad day.

 

[Kwibus]

I'm not a doomsayer usually, but I don't think he will improve that much this Vuelta. Contador normally starts and ends a GT in good form or if he's not sharp and in form at the start he usually doesn't improve to his best level.

I'm afraid he's not ready for this Vuelta.

 

[Gigs_98]

I'm not a doomsayer usually, but I don't think he will improve that much this Vuelta. Contador normally starts and ends a GT in good form or if he's not sharp and in form at the start he usually doesn't improve to his best level.

I'm afraid he's not ready for this Vuelta.

I'm also not overly optimistic this time but tbf one gt where he really improved was the Vuelta 2014 and his situation now is very similar to that race.

 

[Red Rick]

In 2014 the first MTF didn't come until stage 6. And he just happened to not blow up. On the other hand, he dropped out the Tour in peak condition that year, whereas this year I think that is really doubtful. I think his condition really took a turn for the worse after riding on for a week after his crashes. He may have to come from further than in 2014.

 

[boasson]

I'm not a doomsayer usually, but I don't think he will improve that much this Vuelta. Contador normally starts and ends a GT in good form or if he's not sharp and in form at the start he usually doesn't improve to his best level.

I'm afraid he's not ready for this Vuelta.

I'm also not overly optimistic this time but tbf one gt where he really improved was the Vuelta 2014 and his situation now is very similar to that race.

Well he was at the same time with Valverde, Purito and Froome at the first uphill test in 2014 in front of all the other riders in the bunch. And 15 secs in front of Froome at the last Mountain stage, hanging at froomes wheel the entire climb to outsprint him 500m to go. Only Purito and Valverde faded in the 3rd week because of the TDF in their legs.

This time he lost 30secs at the first uphill test and finished with guys like Latour, Brambilla, Molard and de Clerq - behind guys like Anton!! 2 Weeks ago he was at the same climbing level as Pardilla and Ben Hermans.

To win this Vuelta he needs to find 30 watts in the next 2-3 days. But how?

 

[bob.a.feet]

Apparently Contador was caught out by dehydration yesterday.

 

[Jspear]

Apparently Contador was caught out by dehydration yesterday.

Surely that's just an excuse. He's a professional....he knows he must drink.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Apparently Contador was caught out by dehydration yesterday.

Surely that's just an excuse. He's a professional....he knows he must drink.

But it does fit with what we know - extremely high heartrate, no legs, hours spent at doping control

Anyway, he himself also said he's not sure what happened

 

[buchanan]

Apparently Contador was caught out by dehydration yesterday.

I find that hard to believe. If that really is the reason given, then it's a terrible excuse.

 

[sir fly]

Apparently Contador was caught out by dehydration yesterday.

Surely that's just an excuse. He's a professional....he knows he must drink.

It's a good excuse, if that's the case.
It can happen even to the most experience riders for number of reasons.
Nevertheless, Contador does look below his standards.

 

[Lexman]

Apparently Contador was caught out by dehydration yesterday.

Surely that's just an excuse. He's a professional....he knows he must drink.

happens with every rider as for example Gilbert at San Sebastian...

José de Cauwer says all the time : eat, drink, eat drink....

 

[Scarponi]

Positive he didn't lose time

 

[Carols]

A good day, he stayed with them!

 

[portugal11]

He has 3 days to recover and get ready for the mountains

 

[LaFlorecita]

Yeah, he was grimacing a bit though. A few times I thought he was going to jump in the final meters, but perhaps he was just preparing to respond to an attack if necessary.

 

[portugal11]

He has 3 days to recover and get ready for the mountains

 

[hfer07]

Not bad today

 

[Miburo]

See. No problem. Plenty of time left, panic never won someone anything

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

See. No problem. Plenty of time left, panic never won someone anything

Well, panic mode is like the most productive mode I have