Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Sciocco]

I understand wanting to throw another race in there before PN but there may be better options than the Abu fkking Dhabi tour. TCI la Provence is three stages 21-23/2. Volta ao Alentejo is five stages 22-26/2 and includes a nice first stage. Keeps him in the right neighborhood instead of Abu fkking Dhabi.

Regardless victories at PN, VPV, and TDF are all but confirmed.

 

[Jelantik]

Re: Re:

Raise your hand if you want to see Contador work for Mollema!
LOL. I want to see that!!!

It would be interesting to see, but I don't want to see it right now....maybe in a race after he's won the Tour. To thank Mollema for all his work. I guess he could do it in Abu Dahbi if it was a Mollema/AC 1 and 2 on GC.

well looks like contador came to AbuDhabi to ride for Mollema. There you go. your wish comes true

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-to-work-for-mollema-in-abu-dhabi-tour/

 

[dusty red roads]

Bertie to be found in the break on the flat stages for that extra training!

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

I understand wanting to throw another race in there before PN but there may be better options than the Abu fkking Dhabi tour. TCI la Provence is three stages 21-23/2. Volta ao Alentejo is five stages 22-26/2 and includes a nice first stage. Keeps him in the right neighborhood instead of Abu fkking Dhabi.

Regardless victories at PN, VPV, and TDF are all but confirmed.

But Trek didn't get invited to those races

 

[jens_attacks]

No more working for bauke now, eh?
Co-leadership. Of course he will attack hard on hafeet

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

No more working for bauke now, eh?
Co-leadership. Of course he will attack hard on hafeet

Berto was at the star riders presser today and not Mollema.. oops

 

[Valv.Piti]

Yes, that was pretty expected. Wasn't going to Abu Dhabi to support Mollema.

 

[Publicus]

Re: Re:

No more working for bauke now, eh?
Co-leadership. Of course he will attack hard on hafeet

Berto was at the star riders presser today and not Mollema.. oops

Yeah, I saw that and I feel like whatever goodwill he thought was going to come out of this will have been squandered when Mollema wasn't invited to the presser.

EDIT: Though he continues to say the right things (sort of :lol: ):

"I’m happy to be here with the team and with Bauke. Without doubt, if I have to work for him I’ll work for him," said Contador. "The important thing is to get a good result for the team – we’re in a WorldTour race and it’s important for the end-of-year rankings. I’ll be more than happy to lend him a hand."

 

[Valv.Piti]

By the way, some very nice pictures of Contador in this article:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/quintana-and-contador-set-to-clash-at-abu-dhabi-tour/

I especially like the one with Kruijswijk, you can tell he goes "Damn, that was a good ride on Mortirolo in 2015, dude. And pretty unlucky you crashed, you were levels above Nibali - I know that feeling way too well.. Anyway, glad you are finally showing the potential I knew you had when you desperately tried to hang on my wheel up the Fedaia in 2011 when I was going at 80% and look at you know. You aren't pretty, but a damn good climber."

 

[Cance > TheRest]

By the way, some very nice pictures of Contador in this article:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/quintana-and-contador-set-to-clash-at-abu-dhabi-tour/

I especially like the one with Kruijswijk, you can tell he goes "Damn, that was a good ride on Mortirolo in 2015, dude. And pretty unlucky you crashed, you were levels above Nibali - I know that feeling way too well.. Anyway, glad you are finally showing the potential I knew you had when you desperately tried to hang on my wheel up the Fedaia in 2011 when I was going at 80% and look at you know. You aren't pretty, but a damn good climber."

Haha I thought of that Aprica stage aswell. Must be some sort of mutual respect between the two. I think Alberto would have offered the stage to Kruijswijk in return for Kruijswijk putting in some work, if the duo had not been dropped by Landa. Gonna have to rewatch Giro 2015 and 2011 soon

 

[HelloDolly]

Re:

No more working for bauke now, eh?
Co-leadership. Of course he will attack hard on hafeet

So that was what I said originally but had to wade thru the bull and the accusations that we were suggesting bert must be lying and what did we know as armchair critiques

And all along it was as palin as the nose on your face ....sigh

 

[LaFlorecita]

By the way, some very nice pictures of Contador in this article:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/quintana-and-contador-set-to-clash-at-abu-dhabi-tour/

He looks mega cool. Idolo!

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

No more working for bauke now, eh?
Co-leadership. Of course he will attack hard on hafeet

Berto was at the star riders presser today and not Mollema.. oops

Yeah, I saw that and I feel like whatever goodwill he thought was going to come out of this will have been squandered when Mollema wasn't invited to the presser.

EDIT: Though he continues to say the right things (sort of :lol: ):

"I’m happy to be here with the team and with Bauke. Without doubt, if I have to work for him I’ll work for him," said Contador. "The important thing is to get a good result for the team – we’re in a WorldTour race and it’s important for the end-of-year rankings. I’ll be more than happy to lend him a hand."

To be fair I doubt it was Berto's idea, RCS probably insisted. He looked miserable at the press conference probably tired because he arrived late last night

 

[Angliru]

He's just not the "work-for-someone" type of rider unless it's in an championship or Olympic setting for his national team. He has always been one who went for the best result he can achieve at virtually any race he's entered. IMO it would be a waste having him working for Mollema. Working with Mollema as co-leaders I can see as that would play to the teams advantage and they are a good pairing as Mollema is rather a diesel and conservative. Contador's aggressive tendencies are a good counter to Mollema's style.

 

[Valv.Piti]

By the way, some very nice pictures of Contador in this article:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/quintana-and-contador-set-to-clash-at-abu-dhabi-tour/

I especially like the one with Kruijswijk, you can tell he goes "Damn, that was a good ride on Mortirolo in 2015, dude. And pretty unlucky you crashed, you were levels above Nibali - I know that feeling way too well.. Anyway, glad you are finally showing the potential I knew you had when you desperately tried to hang on my wheel up the Fedaia in 2011 when I was going at 80% and look at you know. You aren't pretty, but a damn good climber."

Haha I thought of that Aprica stage aswell. Must be some sort of mutual respect between the two. I think Alberto would have offered the stage to Kruijswijk in return for Kruijswijk putting in some work, if the duo had not been dropped by Landa. Gonna have to rewatch Giro 2015 and 2011 soon

Definitely! The same way there will be for the Gardeccia-stage, maybe even more for that stage. Probably still the 2 best stages I've seen. Real men (well, they are as lean as a man possibly can be, but still).

 

[Netserk]

Re:

He's just not the "work-for-someone" type of rider unless it's in an championship or Olympic setting for his national team. He has always been one who went for the best result he can achieve at virtually any race he's entered. IMO it would be a waste having him working for Mollema. Working with Mollema as co-leaders I can see as that would play to the teams advantage and they are a good pairing as Mollema is rather a diesel and conservative. Contador's aggressive tendencies are a good counter to Mollema's style.

The best thing, imo, would be for Contador to shadow the attacks of the strongest contenders and only counter near the finish, or if that is not possible; wheelsuck so hard the attacker will stop and Mollema can come back (and perhaps even launch an attack of his own).

Back in reality, I think the climb will be ridden with a blistering pace and that there then will be one or two attacks before it's all decided.

 

[HelloDolly]

As I said originally Contador will only be looking at Quintana

Nibali does not look in top form I think and TJ will go well but Contador will want to beat Quintana as he is a rider on his par plus beating a flying Quintana wil give him a massive boost if he can do it

 

[Jspear]

Just a thought. You think being on the same team as Mollema pushed AC to prepare well through the winter? I mean, I know Mollema isn't some huge threat, but he's still decent and improved last year. Perhaps he wanted to insure that he was definitely the top dog within the team....

 

[Captain_Obvious]

Alberto looks really relaxed and confident

 

[afpm90]

Re:

Just a thought. You think being on the same team as Mollema pushed AC to prepare well through the winter? I mean, I know Mollema isn't some huge threat, but he's still decent and improved last year. Perhaps he wanted to insure that he was definitely the top dog within the team....

The previous years he had Majka in his team... I don't think Contador needed Mollema to prepare well through the winter.

 

[portugal11]

He fall or he had a puncture?

 

[Lexman]

he fell pfff can't he stay on his bike for once...

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re:

He fall or he had a puncture?

Was on the floor when cameras picked it up so must have fell. No obvious cuts and scrapes so should be ok.

 

[portugal11]

Re:

he fell pfff can't he stay on his bike for once...

He hasn't a single bruise

 

[Scarponi]

Glad he missed they second crash though