Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[infeXio]

Re:

Does anyone have an exact quote for this coffee thing? I seem to remember reading about it and wondering what the fuss was, maybe something was lost in the articulation

It's from his book, and something along the lines of him imagining Contador and others sipping coffee at a cafe whilst he's training 36 hours a day instead

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

@LaFlorecita can you answer, please? I'm genuinely interested.

In fact, I'm starting to suspect that most of those claims don't have any basis on reality. It helps to explain the aura of this thread. Just extreme fanboyism and blind hate against superior cyclists.

Contador just drinking coffee in Lugano with his "amigos"
How's that coffee, Alberto?
Contador uses "special chain lube"
Contador changes bike after bike checks announced "I'm sure he just had bike issues..."
Contador descended like a desperate maniac
Thought Contador "is just this era's Lance Armstrong"

That's what's in the book from the top of my head, then we have the condescending "Almost went over your head Alberto, a little more care next time?"

If it isn't simply a lack of respect, it's definitely an unhealthy obsession (I can relate )

And as for Froome driving the nail in, it's clear from the way he races against Contador he wants to humiliate him as much as possible. He won't miss any opportunity. Whereas Contador, when in the lead, has hardly ever dropped his rivals just for the sake of dropping them.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Does anyone have an exact quote for this coffee thing? I seem to remember reading about it and wondering what the fuss was, maybe something was lost in the articulation

It's from his book, and something along the lines of him imagining Contador and others sipping coffee at a cafe whilst he's training 36 hours a day instead

Yeah, Contador would be drinking coffee with his "amigos" and when Froome finishes his interval he thinks to himself "How's that coffee, Alberto?"

 

[Red Rick]

Did he just manage an effort well?

 

[Miburo]

Re:

Did he just manage an effort well?

And attacked too, saterday it'll be something else. Let's see if he can make it a better race than PR.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Re:

Did he just manage an effort well?

second time this Vuelta. If he brings his A game to the tour next year, and does this on every mountain stage, he might have a shot after all

 

[fantomas]

Looking sharp on the hometrainer post race.

Great effort today, he looked strong.

 

[MacBAir]

Re: Re:

Did he just manage an effort well?

second time this Vuelta. If he brings his A game to the tour next year, and does this on every mountain stage, he might have a shot after all

God, he is beaten by Froome in almost any race during the year. He hasn't shown anything since coming back showing that he can beat Froome on physical ability alone.

I still think Mollema showed more this year. Put the pressure out of Alberto.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Damnit he could have won the stage, bloody break anyway he looked good

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re:

Damnit he could have won the stage, bloody break anyway he looked good

First time he wasn't dropped on a serious mountain top finish
Seriously, good performance today. I think it strengthened him to see that he could follow Chaves' attack. With that in mind, he found extra power to go for it in the last 200 meters. I'm expecting good things in the ITT and on Alto Aitana!

 

[Jelantik]

well, Contador finally finished without loosing any time. I honestly don't know whether it's because his form is improving or it's because Quintana didn't go full gas.. :lol:

Tomorrow is another telling. I don't believe Froome is going to take that much time on Quintana. I think Quintana will loose a bit of time. Chaves might hold his ground. Contador is.. (?). He might surprise everyone.

 

[jilbiker]

Anyone see Quintana and Contador talking on the warm down? What were they planning or plotting? I like the nice relationship between them, almost wants me accept Quintana as an alternate winner if Bertie cannot take it...almost.

 

[Gigs_98]

I don't know if it's a good idea to make an all out suicidal attack on Saturday. He looked strong today and will gain time on Chaves in the ITT so the podium is very likely if he acts rather conservative from now on. Moreover I think it's quite likely that he will win the stage, since I don't think Chaves or Froome will be able to drop him while I don't think Quintana will even try (just look at the Zoncolan 2014) so Contador could either wheel suck Quintana and attack on the last few hundred meters or Quintana will give Contador the stage anyway, which is probably very likely since Contador gave Quintana the whole Vuelta

 

[DFA123]

I don't know if it's a good idea to make an all out suicidal attack on Saturday. He looked strong today and will gain time on Chaves in the ITT so the podium is very likely if he acts rather conservative from now on. Moreover I think it's quite likely that he will win the stage, since I don't think Chaves or Froome will be able to drop him while I don't think Quintana will even try (just look at the Zoncolan 2014) so Contador could either wheel suck Quintana and attack on the last few hundred meters or Quintana will give Contador the stage anyway, which is probably very likely since Contador gave Quintana the whole Vuelta

Yep, he should definitely play it a bit more cautiously. There's just nothing to be gained from here with a long range attack. I'm sure Quintana would work with him to drag him onto the second step of the podium - and may even gift him the stage win if he feels generous.

If he goes on a long range attack, he'll have Orica, Sky and probably Movistar chasing him down. It's just not going to work.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I don't know if it's a good idea to make an all out suicidal attack on Saturday. He looked strong today and will gain time on Chaves in the ITT so the podium is very likely if he acts rather conservative from now on. Moreover I think it's quite likely that he will win the stage, since I don't think Chaves or Froome will be able to drop him while I don't think Quintana will even try (just look at the Zoncolan 2014) so Contador could either wheel suck Quintana and attack on the last few hundred meters or Quintana will give Contador the stage anyway, which is probably very likely since Contador gave Quintana the whole Vuelta

Objectively a stage win is the best he can hope for at this point, but we know that's not how his mind works he'll for sure attack from far and blow up any chance to win the stage

 

[LaFlorecita]

https://twitter.com/AlexandreMignot/status/773552880297058304

 

[capuldemetal]

tomorrow? plenty terreain for an ambush!

 

[DFA123]

Re:

tomorrow? plenty terreain for an ambush!

Headwind is forecast for most of the route I'm afraid - including that long downhill in the last 80km or so. Not especially strong, but enough to make any kind of long range attack, especially the day before a TT, a no go-er.

 

[Jelantik]

Re:

Anyone see Quintana and Contador talking on the warm down? What were they planning or plotting? I like the nice relationship between them, almost wants me accept Quintana as an alternate winner if Bertie cannot take it...almost.

they were probably giggling about how they made Froome chased them... :lol:

 

[Amnes2015]

Re: Re:

i don't understand this 1st place or bust mentality, imo it's a lack of respect for the employer. 2nd place is better than 10

Anyone see Quintana and Contador talking on the warm down? What were they planning or plotting? I like the nice relationship between them, almost wants me accept Quintana as an alternate winner if Bertie cannot take it...almost.

they were probably giggling about how they made Froome chased them... :lol:

they can giggle as much they want, atm Froome has more Tdf"s than both Contador and Quintana combined.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Re: Re:

i don't understand this 1st place or bust mentality, imo it's a lack of respect for the employer. 2nd place is better than 10
...

At this point the employer (Tinkov) just want's to fcku Sky.
There are no "bonus points" for next year

 

[Mongolian Torque]

Re: Re:

Does anyone have an exact quote for this coffee thing? I seem to remember reading about it and wondering what the fuss was, maybe something was lost in the articulation

It's from his book, and something along the lines of him imagining Contador and others sipping coffee at a cafe whilst he's training 36 hours a day instead

Yeah, Contador would be drinking coffee with his "amigos" and when Froome finishes his interval he thinks to himself "How's that coffee, Alberto?"

Yeah and Conti crashes HARD in two miserable stages of the Tour and one in the Vuelta and thinks to himself..."How's that 35M Euro team of yours doing dragging you up the mountains all day..."

Froome is douche and there's no two ways about it. It's hard to be on the fence about him. Froome can write anything he wants about anyone as he is entitled to his opinions, but the annals of cycling will always show that SKY had extra millions to throw at the team.

Watching Conti's recent attacks is from a time machine only without the good results. The guy doesn't quit. Not to say Froome is a quitter. But you just can't put the name Summer's Eve in front of Conti like you could for Froome.

Friday's time trial should be very nasty with that brutal stage to follow Saturday..

Either way, we get to see a less than 100% Conti race his butt off, so thanks for that! He is the new Road Runner to Froomes Wil.E.Coyote...

 

[Angliru]

Re: Re:

i don't understand this 1st place or bust mentality, imo it's a lack of respect for the employer. 2nd place is better than 10

Anyone see Quintana and Contador talking on the warm down? What were they planning or plotting? I like the nice relationship between them, almost wants me accept Quintana as an alternate winner if Bertie cannot take it...almost.

they were probably giggling about how they made Froome chased them... :lol:

they can giggle as much they want, atm Froome has more Tdf"s than both Contador and Quintana combined.

It seems to be a philosophy that has gained him more than it's cost him. He won a Vuelta when it seemed lost
with that philosophy. Also no one knows what could've transpired this year. Froome and his team was caught sleeping and if Astana didn't have Scarponi in the top ten, Froome could've dropped from the podium. The attention it brought the sponsors is immense and I'm sure greatly appreciated. Much more screen time and time in the media than if they had ridden conservatively to maintain their positions.

 

[Electress]

Re: Re:

i don't understand this 1st place or bust mentality, imo it's a lack of respect for the employer. 2nd place is better than 10

Anyone see Quintana and Contador talking on the warm down? What were they planning or plotting? I like the nice relationship between them, almost wants me accept Quintana as an alternate winner if Bertie cannot take it...almost.

they were probably giggling about how they made Froome chased them... :lol:

they can giggle as much they want, atm Froome has more Tdf"s than both Contador and Quintana combined.

In which universe is the man who plays the percentages to come a dull second more revered and respected than the guy who'll lay it all on the line to win? The sponsors know EXACTLY what they're getting: association with the greatest GT racer of his generation who even when not on form will try everything and anything to win. Not to mention understands that part of his job as a sportsman is to entertain, because merely winning ISN'T enough. And said sponsors get all this without having any loose cannon antics to deal with off the bike. Lack of respect my arse.

IMO, for what that's worth, there is little more disrespectful to the sport of cycling than the belief that the only thing worth winning is the TdF. Fabian Cancellara, Peter Sagan, Tom Boonen et al all say 'Hello'.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

i don't understand this 1st place or bust mentality, imo it's a lack of respect for the employer. 2nd place is better than 10

Anyone see Quintana and Contador talking on the warm down? What were they planning or plotting? I like the nice relationship between them, almost wants me accept Quintana as an alternate winner if Bertie cannot take it...almost.

they were probably giggling about how they made Froome chased them... :lol:

they can giggle as much they want, atm Froome has more Tdf"s than both Contador and Quintana combined.

It seems to be a philosophy that has gained him more than it's cost him. He won a Vuelta when it seemed lost
with that philosophy. Also no one knows what could've transpired this year. Froome and his team was caught sleeping and if Astana didn't have Scarponi in the top ten, Froome could've dropped from the podium. The attention it brought the sponsors is immense and I'm sure greatly appreciated. Much more screen time and time in the media than if they had ridden conservatively to maintain their positions.

That's a completely different situation than Amnes2015 was referring to. He wasn't risking a podium at all with his attack on the Fuente Dé stage; he had a four minute cushion over a fourth place who had completely blown up in the race. He had absolutely nothing to lose with that attack. If it failed he would have lost very little time, possibly none on such an easy climb.