Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

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Oct 6, 2009
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Angliru said:
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.

Wait 'til Mollema finds out that this what "having Berto work for you" means:

AC: OK, Bauke, we're going to attack on that little bump at 10km in. You be on my wheel and ready to go.
BM: You mean the hill at 10k to go?
AC: No. The one at 10k from the drop of the flag. We're going on an all-day break. Win or die trying. It'll be fun!
 
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DFA123 said:
portugal11 said:
Lexman said:
he fell pfff can't he stay on his bike for once...
He hasn't a single bruise
Won't stop him using it as an excuse though if he struggles on stage 3.

Wasn't able to watch the stage, so don't know how hard the crash was but....I'm guess they weren't going slow. Crashes hurt believe it or not. Call it an excuse if it makes you feel better, but it could still actually effect his performances.
 
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Jspear said:
DFA123 said:
portugal11 said:
Lexman said:
he fell pfff can't he stay on his bike for once...
He hasn't a single bruise
Won't stop him using it as an excuse though if he struggles on stage 3.

Wasn't able to watch the stage, so don't know how hard the crash was but....I'm guess they weren't going slow. Crashes hurt believe it or not. Call it an excuse if it makes you feel better, but it could still actually effect his performances.
I don't disagree. Indeed, they seems to affect him almost every time he doesn't win. And he makes sure the whole world knows about it.
 
Aug 6, 2015
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He is perfect after the crash. No excuses for stage 3, I'm expecting a big duel against nairo and i want to see fireworks from the bottom of the climb.
 
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Red Rick said:
Somebody tell Contador that 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger' doesn't mean that crashing works better than training for getting in top shape

The world is too strange. Cavendish, Farrar and Gesink now crash less than Contador. At least Cavendish does something spectacular when he crashes like a somersault but Menchov wins the prize for having had the innate talent to crash going up a mountain without touching anyone or anything else.
 
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/abu...h-call-sprint-teams-out-for-dangerous-riding/

Contador and Mollema not happy with the way the last 10km were raced. I wonder if there is some sense in Contador just dropping off the back at the end of the flat stages like this. With the stage so easy, and the circuits as they are, it's always going to turn into a frenetic crit at the end - especially with so many top sprinters all wanting to prove a point. Not sure it's worth the risk of mixing it and fighting for GC when crashes are such a high probability. Especially if Mollema is going to be leader - Contador surely should sit out the closing stages and just roll in safely.

Also from the article, I see Contador says he has picked up a throat injury from the hotel air conditioning. :Neutral:
 
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DFA123 said:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/abu...h-call-sprint-teams-out-for-dangerous-riding/

Contador and Mollema not happy with the way the last 10km were raced. I wonder if there is some sense in Contador just dropping off the back at the end of the flat stages like this. With the stage so easy, and the circuits as they are, it's always going to turn into a frenetic crit at the end - especially with so many top sprinters all wanting to prove a point. Not sure it's worth the risk of mixing it and fighting for GC when crashes are such a high probability. Especially if Mollema is going to be leader - Contador surely should sit out the closing stages and just roll in safely.

Also from the article, I see Contador says he has picked up a throat injury from the hotel air conditioning. :Neutral:

Some gc riders began taking advantage of this type of attitude/strategy of their rivals by placing in the top 10 in sprint stages in the hopes that he would catch gc rivals sleeping, and thus gain seconds by the splits that are created on sprint stages. If the placing well in the gc or challenging for the overall a rider can't afford to relax even on sprint specific stages.
 
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Angliru said:
DFA123 said:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/abu...h-call-sprint-teams-out-for-dangerous-riding/

Contador and Mollema not happy with the way the last 10km were raced. I wonder if there is some sense in Contador just dropping off the back at the end of the flat stages like this. With the stage so easy, and the circuits as they are, it's always going to turn into a frenetic crit at the end - especially with so many top sprinters all wanting to prove a point. Not sure it's worth the risk of mixing it and fighting for GC when crashes are such a high probability. Especially if Mollema is going to be leader - Contador surely should sit out the closing stages and just roll in safely.

Also from the article, I see Contador says he has picked up a throat injury from the hotel air conditioning. :Neutral:

Some gc riders began taking advantage of this type of attitude/strategy of their rivals by placing in the top 10 in sprint stages in the hopes that he would catch gc rivals sleeping, and thus gain seconds by the splits that are created on sprint stages. If the placing well in the gc or challenging for the overall a rider can't afford to relax even on sprint specific stages.
That's true. And in Grand Tours it's certainly a risk that GC riders have to take. But in Abu Dhabi, whent he sprint trains are still really fresh and up the for fight in the final 10km... what's the point for a rider like Contador? Why not just drop right off the back and come in a minute down? Especially so if he's only here to get some spark in the legs (still not sure how this race will help him do that) and work for Mollema.
 
Aug 6, 2015
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Angliru said:
DFA123 said:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/abu...h-call-sprint-teams-out-for-dangerous-riding/

Contador and Mollema not happy with the way the last 10km were raced. I wonder if there is some sense in Contador just dropping off the back at the end of the flat stages like this. With the stage so easy, and the circuits as they are, it's always going to turn into a frenetic crit at the end - especially with so many top sprinters all wanting to prove a point. Not sure it's worth the risk of mixing it and fighting for GC when crashes are such a high probability. Especially if Mollema is going to be leader - Contador surely should sit out the closing stages and just roll in safely.

Also from the article, I see Contador says he has picked up a throat injury from the hotel air conditioning. :Neutral:

Some gc riders began taking advantage of this type of attitude/strategy of their rivals by placing in the top 10 in sprint stages in the hopes that he would catch gc rivals sleeping, and thus gain seconds by the splits that are created on sprint stages. If the placing well in the gc or challenging for the overall a rider can't afford to relax even on sprint specific stages.
Spot on... contador should not worry himself with 10/15 seconds in sprint stages in every races. Contador is always stressed with losing 5/10 seconds and he loses some of his mental health and he can't relax and enjoy a race!!! Tell me how much sprint stages had splits in le tour?
 
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Jspear said:
Well we know he's here to win, so that's why he ain't gonna drop back in the sprints.
Do we know that? The last I heard from him, he was just hear to get some spark in the legs and to possibly help Mollema. Surely you're not saying that he wasn't being entirely truthful about his reasons for going? :surprised: