Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[movingtarget]

Re:

sky getting defeated. nothing can be better.

All things in perspective. How many Tours have they lost since 2012 ? Still they looked weak yesterday and were caught out badly. Orica look better than Sky.

 

[arvc40]

Re:

Contador quickly went from one of my favorites to number 1 enemy, as far as cycling goes.

He won exactly 0 with this stage. He burned himself out just for Froome to lose, for some reason. He is now a sellout that does moves like this (at least since his last GC win) out of despair and to try and stay relevant, not to win at all.

Froome is the guy that doesn't f*** around. Froome is the guy that attacked on descents and won stages like that. Froome is the guy that attacked on the flat with Sagan. Froome is the guy that actually tried and win the Vuelta after winning the Tour. Froome is the guy that also tried to win and actually won medals at the Olympics. Froome also competed during the year.

He did all of that this year. He deserves all of the respect of honest cycling fans. He is extremely polite on and off his bike, an warrior and doesn't f*** around.

I just don't know how so many members could cheer for all of those riders helping Quintana (that barely worked until the last climb. He was by far the rider that worked less.), some of those with nothing to win or could only win an anonymous GC placing, and criticize Astana, for example.

Orica also raced like useless cowards, waking when it was too late.

Froome is a champion, but exhausted. It seems to me that Contador selling out and being such an hypocrite just killed this Vuelta.

I hope Alberto keeps getting demolished on any important race, from now on. It's also funny to me that Froome will end with a much better Palmares than Alberto, after everything is said and done.

You ok buddy ?

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re: Re:

Fwiw, Contador also f***ed up big time today imo. There is no way he should have finished behind Quintana today, who was focused fully on Froome and didn't care that much about Contador.

With 50km left, when the gap had well and truly been established and was going to succeed:
"Hey Nairo, none of my doms are working until you help them push on the flat." You reckon Nairo wouldn't have agreed to that and let Froome back into the race? At that point, either Movistar burn themselves out and delay the inevitable or Quintana starts working instantly. Either way Quintana becomes tired and suddenly Contador isn't just gaining time on Froome.

And also pls stop focusing on MacBAir's posts, he doesn't speak for us Froome fans

I just want to point out that Quintana took plenty of pulls well before the last climb. I'm not sure why people here think he didn't... The cameras showed him doing so multiple times even with ~90 km to go in the stage.

Indeed, the greater ride was from Quintana, not Contador:

Rider A: Follows Brambilla into an early break, puts in a couple of digs to help it stay away and gets his team-mates to work on the front, before dropping off with 3km to go. Result: Moves up a couple of places to be in with a better chance of reaching the podium.

Rider B: Follows Brambilla and a few other riders into an early break, gets his team-mates to take big pulls whilst occasionally working himself. The remainder of his team-mates completely disrupt the chase behind. Despite being in the break all day, is at the front for the entire last 8km, riding nearly everyone off his wheel (including rider A) without even attacking . Result: Gains over two minutes on his only real GC threat and, barring crashes, in a position where he should win the race.

Contador's ride was great and has cemented his podium ambitions. But Quintana's ride was on a different level. Has Contador ever even attacked like that whilst in the race lead in a GT?

Well clearly he didn't force Quintana to work on the flat enough. Contador held all the cards there. If Brambilla was able to follow Quintana, there's no excuse for Contador to have been too tired to follow Quintana yesterday

I know he initiated the attack and would have spent a lot there but there's absolutely no way Contador shouldn't have finished first out of the GC guys yesterday

 

[arvc40]

Any word from Roman Kreuziger?

Golden..... RK was probably strumming himself watching that stage !!!! Lol

 

[IMA]

Re: Re:

Fwiw, Contador also f***ed up big time today imo. There is no way he should have finished behind Quintana today, who was focused fully on Froome and didn't care that much about Contador.

With 50km left, when the gap had well and truly been established and was going to succeed:
"Hey Nairo, none of my doms are working until you help them push on the flat." You reckon Nairo wouldn't have agreed to that and let Froome back into the race? At that point, either Movistar burn themselves out and delay the inevitable or Quintana starts working instantly. Either way Quintana becomes tired and suddenly Contador isn't just gaining time on Froome.

And also pls stop focusing on MacBAir's posts, he doesn't speak for us Froome fans

I just want to point out that Quintana took plenty of pulls well before the last climb. I'm not sure why people here think he didn't... The cameras showed him doing so multiple times even with ~90 km to go in the stage.

Indeed, the greater ride was from Quintana, not Contador:

Rider A: Follows Brambilla into an early break, puts in a couple of digs to help it stay away and gets his team-mates to work on the front, before dropping off with 3km to go. Result: Moves up a couple of places to be in with a better chance of reaching the podium.

Rider B: Follows Brambilla and a few other riders into an early break, gets his team-mates to take big pulls whilst occasionally working himself. The remainder of his team-mates completely disrupt the chase behind. Despite being in the break all day, is at the front for the entire last 8km, riding nearly everyone off his wheel (including rider A) without even attacking . Result: Gains over two minutes on his only real GC threat and, barring crashes, in a position where he should win the race.

Contador's ride was great and has cemented his podium ambitions. But Quintana's ride was on a different level. Has Contador ever even attacked like that whilst in the race lead in a GT?

I´ll be here to point your lies out everytime i can.

The breakaway was made by Contador, not by Brambilla.

Quintana didn´t attack at all. He just followed wheels like he´s been doing all along since 2013.

And don´t make me laugh saying Quintana took more pulls than Alberto in the break before the final climb.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Fwiw, Contador also f***ed up big time today imo. There is no way he should have finished behind Quintana today, who was focused fully on Froome and didn't care that much about Contador.

With 50km left, when the gap had well and truly been established and was going to succeed:
"Hey Nairo, none of my doms are working until you help them push on the flat." You reckon Nairo wouldn't have agreed to that and let Froome back into the race? At that point, either Movistar burn themselves out and delay the inevitable or Quintana starts working instantly. Either way Quintana becomes tired and suddenly Contador isn't just gaining time on Froome.

And also pls stop focusing on MacBAir's posts, he doesn't speak for us Froome fans

I just want to point out that Quintana took plenty of pulls well before the last climb. I'm not sure why people here think he didn't... The cameras showed him doing so multiple times even with ~90 km to go in the stage.

Indeed, the greater ride was from Quintana, not Contador:

Rider A: Follows Brambilla into an early break, puts in a couple of digs to help it stay away and gets his team-mates to work on the front, before dropping off with 3km to go. Result: Moves up a couple of places to be in with a better chance of reaching the podium.

Rider B: Follows Brambilla and a few other riders into an early break, gets his team-mates to take big pulls whilst occasionally working himself. The remainder of his team-mates completely disrupt the chase behind. Despite being in the break all day, is at the front for the entire last 8km, riding nearly everyone off his wheel (including rider A) without even attacking . Result: Gains over two minutes on his only real GC threat and, barring crashes, in a position where he should win the race.

Contador's ride was great and has cemented his podium ambitions. But Quintana's ride was on a different level. Has Contador ever even attacked like that whilst in the race lead in a GT?

I´ll be here to point your lies out everytime i can.

The breakaway was made by Contador, not by Brambilla.

Quintana didn´t attack at all. He just followed wheels like he´s been doing all along since 2013.

And don´t make me laugh saying Quintana took more pulls than Alberto in the break before the final climb.

Oh dear, this is what it has come to for some die-hards. Bending the truth to try to make out that Contador put in a more impressive ride than the guy who literally rode him off his wheel, whilst leading the race by well over three minutes.

Contador did well yesterday in his bid for a podium, but (barring crashes) Quintana is the one whose name will be in the history books on the back of this stage.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Well clearly he didn't force Quintana to work on the flat enough. Contador held all the cards there. If Brambilla was able to follow Quintana, there's no excuse for Contador to have been too tired to follow Quintana yesterday

I know he initiated the attack and would have spent a lot there but there's absolutely no way Contador shouldn't have finished first out of the GC guys yesterday

What? Quintana is just stronger uphill, it's been that way the entire Vuelta. Brambilla didn't do as much work as Contador and Quintana which is why he could stay with Quintana.
In what way should Contador have forced Quintana to take pulls? He was taking pulls. Should Contador have told his teammates not to work anymore? It was in his best interest to get a large gap as well. And would a couple more pulls by Quintana have made him those 30s slower? Wouldn't other riders have been present as well, if Quintana had been slow enough that Contador could stick with him? Would Quintana have been willing to give Contador the stage or would Contador have had to beat him in the sprint as well? I suppose you could argue Contador should have done way less work and let Quintana do way more work, but do you think Movistar and the other members of the break would have agreed with that?

 

[SafeBet]

Re:

Kudos to Rovny, Trofimov, Castroviejo and Fernandez for working their asses off for their leaders. Kudos to the other members of the break for not sitting on their hands and cooperating. Kudos to Brambilla for winning.
It was a great stage, made possible by all riders in the break. Can we just agree on that and not argue whether rider x was more amazing than rider y?

Moser was more amazing than all of them and you know it.

Nibali was 4th at 4:43 during the Giro after stage 16

Contador is 4th at 4:02 after stage 15

It's happening.

Told you guys.
He's clearly declining

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Well clearly he didn't force Quintana to work on the flat enough. Contador held all the cards there. If Brambilla was able to follow Quintana, there's no excuse for Contador to have been too tired to follow Quintana yesterday

I know he initiated the attack and would have spent a lot there but there's absolutely no way Contador shouldn't have finished first out of the GC guys yesterday

What? Quintana is just stronger uphill, it's been that way the entire Vuelta. Brambilla didn't do as much work as Contador and Quintana which is why he could stay with Quintana.
In what way should Contador have forced Quintana to take pulls? He was taking pulls. Should Contador have told his teammates not to work anymore? It was in his best interest to get a large gap as well. And would a couple more pulls by Quintana have made him those 30s slower? Wouldn't other riders have been present as well, if Quintana had been slow enough that Contador could stick with him? Would Quintana have been willing to give Contador the stage or would Contador have had to beat him in the sprint as well? I suppose you could argue Contador should have done way less work and let Quintana do way more work, but do you think Movistar and the other members of the break would have agreed with that?

Surely if Contador is only interested in the win, making Movistar do all the work would have been the best strategy. Or, if they didn't, then try to attack them again - at least once a reasonable gap had been established. As it is, he is further behind the lead than he was at the start of the day.

If he was riding for the podium and the highest possible position,then he did well and it was a great move and good tactics. If he was aiming to win the race, it was a poor move that has left him further behind.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Oh dear, this is what it has come to for some die-hards. Bending the truth to try to make out that Contador put in a more impressive ride than the guy who literally rode him off his wheel, whilst leading the race by well over three minutes.

Contador did well yesterday in his bid for a podium, but (barring crashes) Quintana is the one whose name will be in the history books on the back of this stage.

That's ridiculous. In your opinion only the final result counts when we try to determine who was more impressive? I suppose Brambilla was more impressive than Quintana, in that case? Stronger does not necessarily equal more impressive.
I can understand that it's hard to see fans giving Contador more credit and I don't think it's entirely fair either. But that is no excuse to talk down Contador's performance. He is clearly not in good shape yet he single-handedly exploded the race and gained loads of time on all but 1 of his rivals.
I'm wondering what there is to gain for you by coming here and posting negative things about Contador? Do you enjoy it?
I immediately went into the Quintana thread after the stage and wrote he rode like a champion. Why do you have to come here to argue with us that Quintana was so much more impressive than Contador?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Surely if Contador is only interested in the win, making Movistar do all the work would have been the best strategy. Or, if they didn't, then try to attack them again - at least once a reasonable gap had been established. As it is, he is further behind the lead than he was at the start of the day.

If he was riding for the podium and the highest possible position,then he did well and it was a great move and good tactics. If he was aiming to win the race, it was a poor move that has left him further behind.

PremierAndrew's post and my reply were about the stage win, not the overall. I'm sure many fans would agree Contador would have thoroughly deserved to win the stage, but unfortunately Quintana was too strong. That's it. We can argue all day whether Contador could have done something differently but this is the result, Quintana will walk away with the red jersey and at least one stage win while it seems a combativity prize is the best Alberto will get out of this race and his efforts.

 

[bambino]

Re: Re:

Well clearly he didn't force Quintana to work on the flat enough. Contador held all the cards there. If Brambilla was able to follow Quintana, there's no excuse for Contador to have been too tired to follow Quintana yesterday

I know he initiated the attack and would have spent a lot there but there's absolutely no way Contador shouldn't have finished first out of the GC guys yesterday

What? Quintana is just stronger uphill, it's been that way the entire Vuelta. Brambilla didn't do as much work as Contador and Quintana which is why he could stay with Quintana.
In what way should Contador have forced Quintana to take pulls? He was taking pulls. Should Contador have told his teammates not to work anymore? It was in his best interest to get a large gap as well. And would a couple more pulls by Quintana have made him those 30s slower? Wouldn't other riders have been present as well, if Quintana had been slow enough that Contador could stick with him? Would Quintana have been willing to give Contador the stage or would Contador have had to beat him in the sprint as well? I suppose you could argue Contador should have done way less work and let Quintana do way more work, but do you think Movistar and the other members of the break would have agreed with that?

Surely if Contador is only interested in the win, making Movistar do all the work would have been the best strategy. Or, if they didn't, then try to attack them again - at least once a reasonable gap had been established. As it is, he is further behind the lead than he was at the start of the day.

If he was riding for the podium and the highest possible position,then he did well and it was a great move and good tactics. If he was aiming to win the race, it was a poor move that has left him further behind.

This - AC was clearly racing for podium, not against Quintana and the win. It was actually very lucky for him Quintana made it to the break as well and was not caught by the crash like the others.

Still very disappointing about his stamina, Brambilla really shouldn't ride away from him that big time in any given situation, even when AC did bit more pulls in front of the race. Also i.e. Chaves glimbed the final descent more than 1 minute faster.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Oh dear, this is what it has come to for some die-hards. Bending the truth to try to make out that Contador put in a more impressive ride than the guy who literally rode him off his wheel, whilst leading the race by well over three minutes.

Contador did well yesterday in his bid for a podium, but (barring crashes) Quintana is the one whose name will be in the history books on the back of this stage.

That's ridiculous. In your opinion only the final result counts when we try to determine who was more impressive? I suppose Brambilla was more impressive than Quintana, in that case? Stronger does not necessarily equal more impressive.
I can understand that it's hard to see fans giving Contador more credit and I don't think it's entirely fair either. But that is no excuse to talk down Contador's performance. He is clearly not in good shape yet he single-handedly exploded the race and gained loads of time on all but 1 of his rivals.
I'm wondering what there is to gain for you by coming here and posting negative things about Contador? Do you enjoy it?
I immediately went into the Quintana thread after the stage and wrote he rode like a champion. Why do you have to come here to argue with us that Quintana was so much more impressive than Contador?

Not sure that's very fair. I've mentioned numerous times in this thread that it was an excellent ride by Contador - if his aim was to move as high up in the GC as he can (which it should be, imo). This wasn't just a showy long range attack, but one that stuck because he was prepared to work with Movistar, rather than putting it all on the line for 1st. Remarks about Contador winning this race for Quintana though are a bit over the top; Quintana's been the strongest rider from start to finish so far - and showed that again on the final climb yesterday.

It was for sure a nice alliance to see though. And if Contador can overhaul Chaves and Froome (a definite possibility for me), this stage will have been instrumental to him finishing 2nd.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Well clearly he didn't force Quintana to work on the flat enough. Contador held all the cards there. If Brambilla was able to follow Quintana, there's no excuse for Contador to have been too tired to follow Quintana yesterday

I know he initiated the attack and would have spent a lot there but there's absolutely no way Contador shouldn't have finished first out of the GC guys yesterday

What? Quintana is just stronger uphill, it's been that way the entire Vuelta. Brambilla didn't do as much work as Contador and Quintana which is why he could stay with Quintana.
In what way should Contador have forced Quintana to take pulls? He was taking pulls. Should Contador have told his teammates not to work anymore? It was in his best interest to get a large gap as well. And would a couple more pulls by Quintana have made him those 30s slower? Wouldn't other riders have been present as well, if Quintana had been slow enough that Contador could stick with him? Would Quintana have been willing to give Contador the stage or would Contador have had to beat him in the sprint as well? I suppose you could argue Contador should have done way less work and let Quintana do way more work, but do you think Movistar and the other members of the break would have agreed with that?

Surely if Contador is only interested in the win, making Movistar do all the work would have been the best strategy. Or, if they didn't, then try to attack them again - at least once a reasonable gap had been established. As it is, he is further behind the lead than he was at the start of the day.

If he was riding for the podium and the highest possible position,then he did well and it was a great move and good tactics. If he was aiming to win the race, it was a poor move that has left him further behind.

This - AC was clearly racing for podium, not against Quintana. It was actually very lucky for him Quintana made it to the break as well and was not caught by the crash like the others.

Yep, that's a very fair point. Very unlikely the break would have stayed away without Quintana in it. Movistar would have swallowed it up by the second climb.

 

[IMA]

Re: Re:

Fwiw, Contador also f***ed up big time today imo. There is no way he should have finished behind Quintana today, who was focused fully on Froome and didn't care that much about Contador.

With 50km left, when the gap had well and truly been established and was going to succeed:
"Hey Nairo, none of my doms are working until you help them push on the flat." You reckon Nairo wouldn't have agreed to that and let Froome back into the race? At that point, either Movistar burn themselves out and delay the inevitable or Quintana starts working instantly. Either way Quintana becomes tired and suddenly Contador isn't just gaining time on Froome.

And also pls stop focusing on MacBAir's posts, he doesn't speak for us Froome fans

I just want to point out that Quintana took plenty of pulls well before the last climb. I'm not sure why people here think he didn't... The cameras showed him doing so multiple times even with ~90 km to go in the stage.

Indeed, the greater ride was from Quintana, not Contador:

Rider A: Follows Brambilla into an early break, puts in a couple of digs to help it stay away and gets his team-mates to work on the front, before dropping off with 3km to go. Result: Moves up a couple of places to be in with a better chance of reaching the podium.

Rider B: Follows Brambilla and a few other riders into an early break, gets his team-mates to take big pulls whilst occasionally working himself. The remainder of his team-mates completely disrupt the chase behind. Despite being in the break all day, is at the front for the entire last 8km, riding nearly everyone off his wheel (including rider A) without even attacking . Result: Gains over two minutes on his only real GC threat and, barring crashes, in a position where he should win the race.

Contador's ride was great and has cemented his podium ambitions. But Quintana's ride was on a different level. Has Contador ever even attacked like that whilst in the race lead in a GT?

I´ll be here to point your lies out everytime i can.

The breakaway was made by Contador, not by Brambilla.

Quintana didn´t attack at all. He just followed wheels like he´s been doing all along since 2013.

And don´t make me laugh saying Quintana took more pulls than Alberto in the break before the final climb.

Oh dear, this is what it has come to for some die-hards. Bending the truth to try to make out that Contador put in a more impressive ride than the guy who literally rode him off his wheel, whilst leading the race by well over three minutes.

Contador did well yesterday in his bid for a podium, but (barring crashes) Quintana is the one whose name will be in the history books on the back of this stage.

Yea, i´m now the one is bending the truth when your posts about Contador are always full of lies. Brambilla making the breakaway? Quintana attacking?...And i´m the one is bending the truth.

Hilarious.

Quintana will only be in the history books...when he win. While Alberto will be part of many episodes of cycling winning or not. Who will the people remember from Alpe D´Huez 2011? Rolland? Evans? Or Contador?

And all this doesn´t mean Quintana didn´t ride impressively, but you shouldn´t twist the facts like that. It´s too obvious.

 

[IMA]

Re: Re:

Well clearly he didn't force Quintana to work on the flat enough. Contador held all the cards there. If Brambilla was able to follow Quintana, there's no excuse for Contador to have been too tired to follow Quintana yesterday

I know he initiated the attack and would have spent a lot there but there's absolutely no way Contador shouldn't have finished first out of the GC guys yesterday

What? Quintana is just stronger uphill, it's been that way the entire Vuelta. Brambilla didn't do as much work as Contador and Quintana which is why he could stay with Quintana.
In what way should Contador have forced Quintana to take pulls? He was taking pulls. Should Contador have told his teammates not to work anymore? It was in his best interest to get a large gap as well. And would a couple more pulls by Quintana have made him those 30s slower? Wouldn't other riders have been present as well, if Quintana had been slow enough that Contador could stick with him? Would Quintana have been willing to give Contador the stage or would Contador have had to beat him in the sprint as well? I suppose you could argue Contador should have done way less work and let Quintana do way more work, but do you think Movistar and the other members of the break would have agreed with that?

Surely if Contador is only interested in the win, making Movistar do all the work would have been the best strategy. Or, if they didn't, then try to attack them again - at least once a reasonable gap had been established. As it is, he is further behind the lead than he was at the start of the day.

If he was riding for the podium and the highest possible position,then he did well and it was a great move and good tactics. If he was aiming to win the race, it was a poor move that has left him further behind.

Considering that before the stage Alberto was way behind of many of his rivals in the GC, that was the best strategy to fight for the win, for the podium and for any other goal.

When you´re 2nd in the GC you just have to focus on the leader. When you have to take time back from other riders too, you cannot beat them all in one stage.

 

[bambino]

Re: Re:

Well clearly he didn't force Quintana to work on the flat enough. Contador held all the cards there. If Brambilla was able to follow Quintana, there's no excuse for Contador to have been too tired to follow Quintana yesterday

I know he initiated the attack and would have spent a lot there but there's absolutely no way Contador shouldn't have finished first out of the GC guys yesterday

What? Quintana is just stronger uphill, it's been that way the entire Vuelta. Brambilla didn't do as much work as Contador and Quintana which is why he could stay with Quintana.
In what way should Contador have forced Quintana to take pulls? He was taking pulls. Should Contador have told his teammates not to work anymore? It was in his best interest to get a large gap as well. And would a couple more pulls by Quintana have made him those 30s slower? Wouldn't other riders have been present as well, if Quintana had been slow enough that Contador could stick with him? Would Quintana have been willing to give Contador the stage or would Contador have had to beat him in the sprint as well? I suppose you could argue Contador should have done way less work and let Quintana do way more work, but do you think Movistar and the other members of the break would have agreed with that?

Surely if Contador is only interested in the win, making Movistar do all the work would have been the best strategy. Or, if they didn't, then try to attack them again - at least once a reasonable gap had been established. As it is, he is further behind the lead than he was at the start of the day.

If he was riding for the podium and the highest possible position,then he did well and it was a great move and good tactics. If he was aiming to win the race, it was a poor move that has left him further behind.

Considering that before the stage Alberto was way behind of many of his rivals in the GC, that was the best strategy to fight for the win, for the podium and for any other goal.

When you´re 2nd in the GC you just have to focus on the leader. When you have to take time back from other riders too, you cannot beat them all in one stage.

Nah, for the win the best strategy would've been to make Movistar to do all the work and wheelsuck until the last climb. And oh yes, they would've have done that given Froome was back.

But I guess AC has realized Quintana is not his to win in this Vuelta, thus was fighting full steam against Orica (and Froome).

 

[IMA]

Re: Re:

Well clearly he didn't force Quintana to work on the flat enough. Contador held all the cards there. If Brambilla was able to follow Quintana, there's no excuse for Contador to have been too tired to follow Quintana yesterday

I know he initiated the attack and would have spent a lot there but there's absolutely no way Contador shouldn't have finished first out of the GC guys yesterday

What? Quintana is just stronger uphill, it's been that way the entire Vuelta. Brambilla didn't do as much work as Contador and Quintana which is why he could stay with Quintana.
In what way should Contador have forced Quintana to take pulls? He was taking pulls. Should Contador have told his teammates not to work anymore? It was in his best interest to get a large gap as well. And would a couple more pulls by Quintana have made him those 30s slower? Wouldn't other riders have been present as well, if Quintana had been slow enough that Contador could stick with him? Would Quintana have been willing to give Contador the stage or would Contador have had to beat him in the sprint as well? I suppose you could argue Contador should have done way less work and let Quintana do way more work, but do you think Movistar and the other members of the break would have agreed with that?

Surely if Contador is only interested in the win, making Movistar do all the work would have been the best strategy. Or, if they didn't, then try to attack them again - at least once a reasonable gap had been established. As it is, he is further behind the lead than he was at the start of the day.

If he was riding for the podium and the highest possible position,then he did well and it was a great move and good tactics. If he was aiming to win the race, it was a poor move that has left him further behind.

Considering that before the stage Alberto was way behind of many of his rivals in the GC, that was the best strategy to fight for the win, for the podium and for any other goal.

When you´re 2nd in the GC you just have to focus on the leader. When you have to take time back from other riders too, you cannot beat them all in one stage.

Nah, for the win the best strategy would've been to make Movistar to do all the work and wheelsuck until the last climb. And oh yes, they would've have done that given Froome was back.

But I guess AC has realized Quintana is not his to win in this Vuelta, thus was fighting full steam against Orica (and Froome).

Then the break wouldn´t have made it.
If Tinkoff stop working, everybody else except Movistar would have stop pulling too.

 

[bambino]

Re: Re:

Might be, though there were guys in that break who had ambitions for stage win who would've probably made their effort regardless. In any case, those are the risks you need to take to win the race.

 

[IMA]

Re: Re:

Might be, though there were guys in that break who had ambitions for stage win who would've probably made their effort regardless. In any case, those are the risks you need to take to win the race.

Well, as i said before, when you have to take time back from 4 or 5 riders, you cannot beat them all in one stage...unless you´re Superman. Step by step.

Anyway it´s pretty obvious Alberto has not the legs to beat Quintana. Especially in the mountains. Something really extraordinary should occur to make that happen.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

Might be, though there were guys in that break who had ambitions for stage win who would've probably made their effort regardless. In any case, those are the risks you need to take to win the race.

Not working would have given Contador a too big advantage for the fight for the stage. Therefore the riders from the break who worked with tinkoff and movistar probably would have stopped.

 

[King Boonen]

It's Contador. The same rules apply to him on an MTF stage as apply to Sagan on a classics stage. If he doesn't work no-one else will drag him to the line.

 

[bambino]

Re: Re:

Might be, though there were guys in that break who had ambitions for stage win who would've probably made their effort regardless. In any case, those are the risks you need to take to win the race.

Not working would have given Contador a too big advantage for the fight for the stage. Therefore the riders from the break who worked with tinkoff and movistar probably would have stopped.

Totally disagree on this, for the rest of the gang maybe. Movistar would've tried to the last man standing as this was their best chance to win the Vuelta. Too much at stake to allow Froome getting back. Tinkoff could've waited to see Nairo's doms cooked and measure at that stage what is the best way to get rid of Nairo.

Pointless discussion to be fair I just realized as AC regardless would've not have the legs to fight against Nairo. He took the best he could and is close to podium. Astonished still about his form, i.e. Chaves was more than a aminute quicker in final climb that wasn't really that hard and the stage was fairly short anyway.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Might be, though there were guys in that break who had ambitions for stage win who would've probably made their effort regardless. In any case, those are the risks you need to take to win the race.

Well, as i said before, when you have to take time back from 4 or 5 riders, you cannot beat them all in one stage...unless you´re Superman. Step by step.

Anyway it´s pretty obvious Alberto has not the legs to beat Quintana. Especially in the mountains. Something really extraordinary should occur to make that happen.

Exactly. Maybe he will work with Froome or Chaves to gain time on Quintana at a different point

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Re: Re:

Might be, though there were guys in that break who had ambitions for stage win who would've probably made their effort regardless. In any case, those are the risks you need to take to win the race.

Well, as i said before, when you have to take time back from 4 or 5 riders, you cannot beat them all in one stage...unless you´re Superman. Step by step.

Anyway it´s pretty obvious Alberto has not the legs to beat Quintana. Especially in the mountains. Something really extraordinary should occur to make that happen.

Exactly. Maybe he will work with Froome or Chaves to gain time on Quintana at a different point

Chaves - maybe - AC appreciates those from Colombia ...