Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

He wasn't that bad?! He cracked in the last 3kms , dropped by everybody( including poor riders).
ok ,it's not the end of the world and there's a lot of climb ahead but it need realism , analyzing his today's race

Considering his crash, it wasn't bad. But he could have lost less time if he had raced more smartly. So to say he "excelled" is pushing it. And for Alberto, an 8th place is obviously not a "strong placing". They're taking the piss.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Damn you two are pathetic at times.

Flo, it isn't fair to accuse the website of being sarcastic or whatever. I know you are upset with how things are going, but do you honestly think it was intended to ridicule Contador? Seriously?

Yes, I do honestly think so. Once, it could be an unfortunate phrasing. But this is the 4th or 5th time.
If it wasn't intended to mock or ridicule him, this person should never get a job as a PR person again.

Edit: for a more realistic and neutral description of events, still with a positive vibe though, how about this -
Alberto opened proceedings early with an attack only Nairo Quintana could follow. The two pushed on trying to gain time on other challengers. With [I forgot the distance]km to go, Quintana attacked and Alberto, still recovering from his crash 3 days ago, didn't manage to respond. He kept on battling towards the line, finishing 8th on the stage. He now sits in 5th on GC, gaining two places.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

Which teammates? The ones that are getting chosen for GT on WT team because they are buddies with Alberto? Dont you think that might be one of the reasons for lack of cohesion in the team?

What about Andreas Klöden, Christian Vande Velde, Michele Scarponi, Paolo Tiralongo, Luis Leon Sanchez, Koen de Kort?
The lack of cohesion is because a couple riders on the team only think about themselves. Alberto has shown he thinks about others as well by allowing teammates to ride for themselves and gifting stages to other riders.

Tiralongo dislikes him so much that he doesn't want to look at Alberto and therefore always rides in front of him, like in Fuente De

 

[Taxus4a]

Re:

He wasn't that bad?! He cracked in the last 3kms , dropped by everybody( including poor riders).
ok ,it's not the end of the world and there's a lot of climb ahead but it need realism , analyzing his today's race

Similar level than in 2014, but the he had just to follow Froome, now he has to attack ad that get tired, it is not the same thann to be at wheels.

Contador is a clever rider,but he knows he cant do long attacks, than he goes from more to less in his attacks, it is true than froome was droped, but it is crazy to attack from him in la Huesera, that is quite a desperate attack, he is not so strong to do that now.

He will play his cards in stages as Bilbao or Sa sebastian, with the help of his team, wich is not bad, Brambrilla or whoever.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Taxus, I think your keyboard is broken

 

[Angliru]

Re: Re:

From Tinkoff website

The drizzle in the air didn’t dampen his spirits as he crossed the line in 8th position – his strong placing pushing him up to 5th overall after excelling on the hardest day of the race so far.

:Question: :Question:

give it a break, they guy is covered in wounds, in his condition it was a tremendous performance, deserve praise.

Agreed, it wasn't even that bad. This is the problem with all the ridiculous pre-race hype; it leads to completely unrealistic expectations. He was never going to put minutes into the likes of Quintana and Froome; those days are long gone. Contador didn't pace himself brilliantly, but he's still in contention for the top 5, it's not like he's absolutely cracked and fell off a cliff. The two tough hilly stages after his crash he's done pretty well in; not amazingly, but not terribly either.

Who needs enemies when you have fans like these.

Exactly. Build the man up to tear him down. It seems like a vicious cycle on this forum.

 

[Matteo.]

Come on taxus. Similar level of 2014...you don't believe even you.
And even his worse haters

 

[Valv.Piti]

Angliru, considering Miburo in all seriousness thought he easily would win 6 stages and the overall, thats what we are left with. But in all objectivity, Contador WAS the favourite going into this Vuelta so he has definitely performed worse than what we would expect out of him so far. By quite a bit, as a matter of fact.

 

[Angliru]

Re: Re:

From Tinkoff website

The drizzle in the air didn’t dampen his spirits as he crossed the line in 8th position – his strong placing pushing him up to 5th overall after excelling on the hardest day of the race so far.

:Question: :Question:

give it a break, they guy is covered in wounds, in his condition it was a tremendous performance, deserve praise.

Agreed, it wasn't even that bad. This is the problem with all the ridiculous pre-race hype; it leads to completely unrealistic expectations. He was never going to put minutes into the likes of Quintana and Froome; those days are long gone. Contador didn't pace himself brilliantly, but he's still in contention for the top 5, it's not like he's absolutely cracked and fell off a cliff. The two tough hilly stages after his crash he's done pretty well in; not amazingly, but not terribly either.

Who needs enemies when you have fans like these.

Stop hating, I was just pointing out another sarcastic comment from the team's PR guy. Not sure who it is, but I saw many comments like this during the Tour. Also on the official twitter feed. It makes me sick, Alberto deserves more respect.

I think the Tinkoff PR person was just trying to put a positive spin on the day's events. Contador did move up in the gc despite his disappointing performance. I don't think they meant any disrespect only to give the team supporters something positive to take from the stage.

 

[barmaher]

I was surprised AC was the favoured choice in the pre-race poll. For me, Froome and Quintana (in that order) were clear favourites. That said I thought Arndt would own the sprints, so what do I know?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Angliru, considering Miburo in all seriousness thought he easily would win 6 stages and the overall, thats what we are left with. But in all objectivity, Contador WAS the favourite going into this Vuelta so he has definitely performed worse than what we would expect out of him so far. By quite a bit, as a matter of fact.

But that's just Miburo, who else was that bad?

 

[rhubroma]

And why should Contador have been the favorite for this race? Based on his Daughine, he would have needed a significant increase in performance at the Tour to have been in contention for yellow. True, we don't know the actual status of his form at the Tour, because of the crashes, however, something tells me he wasn't up to it. Now the Vuelta, after crashes and abandoning the Tour, against riders who finished the Tour and so have benefited from the fitness that the Tour brings, what next? On the other hand they could be tired, could fade in the third week. But can we really expect that in today's cycling?

I don't see why a Contador who crashed out of the Tour in dubious condition, should have at all been considered the favorite in this race against the likes of riders who finished the Tour as its protagonists. Especially at this stage in his career.

 

[Angliru]

Re: Re:

Which teammates? The ones that are getting chosen for GT on WT team because they are buddies with Alberto? Dont you think that might be one of the reasons for lack of cohesion in the team?

What about Andreas Klöden, Christian Vande Velde, Michele Scarponi, Paolo Tiralongo, Luis Leon Sanchez, Koen de Kort?
The lack of cohesion is because a couple riders on the team only think about themselves.

There is not a single human that has only enemies. The fact is that he cant get the team working together, has domestiques speaking out against him, throws temper tantrums like in this Tour. He doesnt deserve respect from his teammates just because some other cyclists respect him. You have to EARN respect. He clearly hasnt. Just deal with it

Posts like these and previous ones under this avatar shows a pattern of hate that earns absolutely no respect from me. Welcome to my permanent ignore list.

 

[Rollthedice]

Just checked Jens attacks blog for ascent times today, in fact Contador climbed today 30 sec. faster than in 2014 and in the same time as 2012. Quintana was stratospheric and Froome climbed 1 minute and 16 seconds faster than in 2012 and 2014. Food for thought.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re: Re:

Damn you two are pathetic at times.

Flo, it isn't fair to accuse the website of being sarcastic or whatever. I know you are upset with how things are going, but do you honestly think it was intended to ridicule Contador? Seriously?

Yes, I do honestly think so. Once, it could be an unfortunate phrasing. But this is the 4th or 5th time.
If it wasn't intended to mock or ridicule him, this person should never get a job as a PR person again.

Edit: for a more realistic and neutral description of events, still with a positive vibe though, how about this -
Alberto opened proceedings early with an attack only Nairo Quintana could follow. The two pushed on trying to gain time on other challengers. With [I forgot the distance]km to go, Quintana attacked and Alberto, still recovering from his crash 3 days ago, didn't manage to respond. He kept on battling towards the line, finishing 8th on the stage. He now sits in 5th on GC, gaining two places.

Team statements on websites are often positive, even at the worst of times. For example, I remember seeing 'excellent day for Froome as he retained his 3rd place in GC' or something along those lines on Saturday when he got dropped by everyone and went above atapuma but behind nairo

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Angliru, considering Miburo in all seriousness thought he easily would win 6 stages and the overall, thats what we are left with. But in all objectivity, Contador WAS the favourite going into this Vuelta so he has definitely performed worse than what we would expect out of him so far. By quite a bit, as a matter of fact.

But that's just Miburo, who else was that bad?

No one, obviously. All I was trying to say was Contador was the favoured rider going in, polls, bookies etc.

 

[Angliru]

Re:

Angliru, considering Miburo in all seriousness thought he easily would win 6 stages and the overall, thats what we are left with. But in all objectivity, Contador WAS the favourite going into this Vuelta so he has definitely performed worse than what we would expect out of him so far. By quite a bit, as a matter of fact.

Miburo is the king of hype and has admitted that his posts are a bit over-the-top. Those that chose to believe that Contador was the big favorite are entitled to their opinion and beliefs. That doesn't make it fact or the law of the land. A rider returning from injuries should never be given the heavy favorite role. As cyclists are known for not being completely forthcoming about the extent of their injuries to the media, one should take their chances in what is fore told by the press/journalists. I had hopes but simply based on the past several year they were tempered to be prepared for an alternate outcome.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Just checked Jens attacks blog for ascent times today, in fact Contador climbed today 30 sec. faster than in 2014 and in the same time as 2012. Quintana was stratospheric and Froome climbed 1 minute and 16 seconds faster than in 2012 and 2014. Food for thought.

I saw that as well. Makes you wonder...

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re:

Just checked Jens attacks blog for ascent times today, in fact Contador climbed today 30 sec. faster than in 2014 and in the same time as 2012. Quintana was stratospheric and Froome climbed 1 minute and 16 seconds faster than in 2012 and 2014. Food for thought.

In 2014, Cavadonga was at the end of the 2nd week, as opposed to the end of the first, and similarly in 2012, it was 2 days before the 2nd rest day, stage 15 on both occasions. Also a consideration you need to make before drawing any conclusions

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

And why should Contador have been the favorite for this race? Based on his Daughine, he would have needed a significant increase in performance at the Tour to have been in contention for yellow. True, we don't know the actual status of his form at the Tour, because of the crashes, however, something tells me he wasn't up to it. Now the Vuelta, after crashes and abandoning the Tour, against riders who finished the Tour and so have benefited from the fitness that the Tour brings, what next. On the other hand they could be tired, could fade in the third week. But can we really expect that in today's cycling?

I don't see why a Contador who crashed out of the Tour in dubious condition, should have at all been considered the favorite in this race against the likes of riders who finished the Tour as its protagonists. Especially at this stage in his career.

He didn't ride for 3 weeks in France and his injuries weren't that bad. He already rode again in San Sebastian so it was reasonable to think he will be near his best in the Vuelta. Meanwhile Froome rode Rio and considering his Vuelta performance 2012 it makes sense to think he will fade, while the gc riders who didn't ride the tour usually just aren't on Contadors level and I still don't believe Chaves can finish in front of Contador. The two riders who have already performed very well in back to back gt's are Valverde and Quintana, but Valverde already rode the Giro and Quintana was really bad in the tour so it made sense to think he won't be at his best in the Vuelta too.

 

[Valv.Piti]

From what I remember, those 2 climbs (2012 and 2014) were heavy stop-and-go climbs compared to this year's.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Yep, Movistar and Sky were both riding at a pretty much constant pace from 10km today. Would have been incredible if they hadn't done the climb in quicker times

 

[Angliru]

Re: Re:

There is not a single human that has only enemies. The fact is that he cant get the team working together, has domestiques speaking out against him, throws temper tantrums like in this Tour. He doesnt deserve respect from his teammates just because some other cyclists respect him. You have to EARN respect. He clearly hasnt. Just deal with it

Why are you so sure Kreuziger wasn't the problem?
And when did he throw tantrums? Do you have a source for that or are you just making **** up? I think your immense dislike for him is showing.
PS: voicing his discontent in one interview after a teammate was told to wait for him, looked him in the eye and left him to die, does not count as a tantrum in my opinion.

damien13ster is just fueled by the frustration of the extreme disappointing career of Kreuziger. A rider that felt it necessary to say that Nibali would never amount to much because he had such a "small engine". Years later we have Nibali with 4 grand tour wins and Kreuziger with a big goose egg. Contador is to blame for the lack of opportunities and results in those years with Tinkoff. Shoot if Contador wasn't there Kreuziger would have had all those grand tour wins that Contador got.

 

[Taxus4a]

Re:

Come on taxus. Similar level of 2014...you don't believe even you.
And even his worse haters

He droped Froome in la Camperona,in 2014 wasFroomewho droped Contador, so...

But I am saying along this 2 years than to climb Farrapona at Froome wheel, or even Ancares, becouse it has a lonng false flat, i tis a good advantage... I am sure than today if Contador just try to follow Froome, he would have done it, the same tha in 2014. The difference this year is that Contador lost time in the TTT and that Quitana is there.I can admit than without the crash he could be a little bit better this days, but just a little.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I don't think its a ridiculous thought process that Contador could do to Froome today what he did in Farrapona and Ancares, be conservative, hold his wheel and gain 10 seconds, especially if he didn't crash. He could've at least hold his wheel, Im pretty sure of that.