wheresmybrakes said:
So Porte lost 14 mins yesterday and is still taking part in the race knowing he can't win it (looking for stage wins/team player). Would Contador do the same if he was so far behind or just say stuff it and call it a day as he would have no chance of winning it? Would Contador stay behind to help the team to win the race/stages either for a better placed rider on GC on his team or for a sprinter? I'm new with this cycling game so I don't know the history of Contador, only what I read on these forums.
This isn't a dig at the fans but he does tend to have the win at all costs attitude or if I can't win I will cause mayhem for all the other GC riders, i.e. Vuelta 16.
I think these days, he'd just come up with an excuse and pull out. It's a slightly different situation though; because Contador had five years at the start of his career where he won routinely and, at his best, was pretty much guaranteed a win because he was a fair bit stronger than his rivals. It must be more difficult to accept a decline in standards and ability relative to others, once you have already been on the top.
Porte on the other hand, has nowhere near that level of achievement to fall back on. If he started withdrawing - considering his fairly average palmares - it would look a bit like he had ideas above his station. Plus, its still good training miles and fighting through tough conditions is good for hardening the mentality.