Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Angliru]

Re:

I didn't see it. I don't know if Contador has said anything afterwards, and frankly a way better indication of current shape is too close to go in all out panic mode right now. He looked fine in Andalucia, he looked fine in Catalunya. Tomorrow we'll know more, and even if he totally blows tomorrow it's not out of question there's something wrong.

I'm not in denial. I recognize that Contador is ageing, and that the true glory days are behind us. But I refuse to lose my **** every time he gets dropped uphill.

He's 34. It's been 10 years since he first won the TdF. He's not gonna last forever and time is gonna hit even harder sooner rather than later. But I'm gonna cheer for whatever fireworks he has left in him. Cause any man can have talent, but I ain't a fan of talent alone. Alberto Contador is more than ability alone, and I'll cheer him on for whatever fights he puts up. And I guess the time that that should be enough, is also coming sooner, rather than later.

Your post left me a bit misty eyed and touched. I feel the exact same way.

 

[GraftPunk]

I just content myself with his aggressive, attacking style these days. I usually don't expect him to win, but goodness does he usually keep it interesting! The panache and good racing attitude are worth the while, and wins are icing on top. Cheers!

 

[Lexman]

there's an article in the flemish newspaper Het Nieuwsblad on Contador only availabl for subscriptions but you can read the beginning title which says "my goals come later"

http://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20170309_02771835

anyone has access to the full article?

 

[portugal11]

Re: Re:

I didn't see it. I don't know if Contador has said anything afterwards, and frankly a way better indication of current shape is too close to go in all out panic mode right now. He looked fine in Andalucia, he looked fine in Catalunya. Tomorrow we'll know more, and even if he totally blows tomorrow it's not out of question there's something wrong.

I'm not in denial. I recognize that Contador is ageing, and that the true glory days are behind us. But I refuse to lose my **** every time he gets dropped uphill.

He's 34. It's been 10 years since he first won the TdF. He's not gonna last forever and time is gonna hit even harder sooner rather than later. But I'm gonna cheer for whatever fireworks he has left in him. Cause any man can have talent, but I ain't a fan of talent alone. Alberto Contador is more than ability alone, and I'll cheer him on for whatever fights he puts up. And I guess the time that that should be enough, is also coming sooner, rather than later.

Your post left me a bit misty eyed and touched. I feel the exact same way.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

there's an article in the flemish newspaper Het Nieuwsblad on Contador only availabl for subscriptions but you can read the beginning title which says "my goals come later"

http://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20170309_02771835

anyone has access to the full article?

I wanted to create an account, apparently you can read premium articles for free during 7 days, but I had to enter all my personal details.
I'm pretty sure there's nothing earth-shattering in that article, knowing Alberto

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re: Re:

l
Erm... You think Henao would have been dropped by thirty riders, including a mini-peloton including David Millar, Sorensen and Seeldraeyers?

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8o0zn_paris-nice-2009-etape-7_sport

And this was in the season of probably the strongest and most dominant Contador we've ever seen.

Not a fair example. He lost almost 3 minutes that day. Most likely he suffered a hunger knock. Or are we supposed to believe he's stronger right now than he was in 2009?

Not at all, just suggesting that losing a handful of seconds to a load of specialist puncheurs, is hardly a sign of impending disaster. Considering in the year of probably the best Contador we've ever seen he completely blew up and lost minutes finishing in the same town!

Henao, Martin & Alaphilippe are a specialists on this kind of climb. I doubt Froome could stay with them, nor Quintana after a relatively easy stage, so I'm not sure why it matters too much that Contador can't either. If Contador is to win the race he was always going to have to do it in the TT and on the mountain - limiting his losses on these uphill sprint finishes. The disaster this week was losing so much time on a flat stage - which also suggests very little about how he'll go in the Tour.

Absolutely agree. I also think people overlook the fact that Alberto the fastest among the still viable GC contenders up Mont Broully yesterday. Although only a 3.5km climb, it is still a better indicator for climbing form than Mur de Fayence. Tomorrow I do not expect miracles, but I'll be very surprised if he (and perhaps Zakarin, the second best climber of the remaining GC-aspirants) does not drop some of the more punchy riders like Henao and Alaphilippe, not to mention Gallopin. It will likely not be enough to win the race, but luckily there's still the Nice-stage to come after tomorrow

 

[Red Rick]

Just watched the last 1km. It's not as bad as I thought it was when I read the forum. Seems like he lacks the very high end reserves and he blocks when he digs too deeply.

Results are completely different from the TT, where Henao loses a *** load of time on a 3km climb, whereas today is the complete opposite.

 

[Carols]

"I don't know why but the feelings weren't good. When we went up the Col de Bourigaille for the first time I said to myself, 'ok we just need to get through today as best as we can and tomorrow will be another day.' You never know why you have this feeling, but it's important to get back, eat well and then recover for tomorrow."

No excuses, just didn't have it today. Hopefully better legs tomorrow!

 

[Carols]

Re:

I'm not in denial. I recognize that Contador is ageing, and that the true glory days are behind us. But I refuse to lose my **** every time he gets dropped uphill.

He's 34. It's been 10 years since he first won the TdF. He's not gonna last forever and time is gonna hit even harder sooner rather than later. But I'm gonna cheer for whatever fireworks he has left in him. Cause any man can have talent, but I ain't a fan of talent alone. Alberto Contador is more than ability alone, and I'll cheer him on for whatever fights he puts up. And I guess the time that that should be enough, is also coming sooner, rather than later.

Well said my friend. Let's just enjoy whatever he has left to give us. It will be a spectacle when his legs are good .

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

"I don't know why but the feelings weren't good. When we went up the Col de Bourigaille for the first time I said to myself, 'ok we just need to get through today as best as we can and tomorrow will be another day.' You never know why you have this feeling, but it's important to get back, eat well and then recover for tomorrow."

No excuses, just didn't have it today. Hopefully better legs tomorrow!

It was quite obvious that he suffered the second time up that first category. Also funny that he feels unwell and then decides to attack to make the stage harder. No complaints from me

 

[movingtarget]

Those climbs were never his favorite ones. I thought his ride was pretty good, Porte is no GC threat. Henao did well. The next stage will be a better indication of where Contador is at form wise. I am not convinced that the yellow jersey will hang on to the lead even though he has done well so far.

 

[spiritualride]

Re: Re:

l
Erm... You think Henao would have been dropped by thirty riders, including a mini-peloton including David Millar, Sorensen and Seeldraeyers?

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8o0zn_paris-nice-2009-etape-7_sport

And this was in the season of probably the strongest and most dominant Contador we've ever seen.

Not a fair example. He lost almost 3 minutes that day. Most likely he suffered a hunger knock. Or are we supposed to believe he's stronger right now than he was in 2009?

Not at all, just suggesting that losing a handful of seconds to a load of specialist puncheurs, is hardly a sign of impending disaster. Considering in the year of probably the best Contador we've ever seen he completely blew up and lost minutes finishing in the same town!

Henao, Martin & Alaphilippe are a specialists on this kind of climb. I doubt Froome could stay with them, nor Quintana after a relatively easy stage, so I'm not sure why it matters too much that Contador can't either. If Contador is to win the race he was always going to have to do it in the TT and on the mountain - limiting his losses on these uphill sprint finishes. The disaster this week was losing so much time on a flat stage - which also suggests very little about how he'll go in the Tour.

Absolutely agree. I also think people overlook the fact that Alberto the fastest among the still viable GC contenders up Mont Broully yesterday. Although only a 3.5km climb, it is still a better indicator for climbing form than Mur de Fayence. Tomorrow I do not expect miracles, but I'll be very surprised if he (and perhaps Zakarin, the second best climber of the remaining GC-aspirants) does not drop some of the more punchy riders like Henao and Alaphilippe, not to mention Gallopin. It will likely not be enough to win the race, but luckily there's still the Nice-stage to come after tomorrow

Where can one find the time splits? I checked the official website and cyclingnews... couldn't find the time split records for the time trial anywhere.

 

[snccdcno]

Re: Re:

Where can one find the time splits? I checked the official website and cyclingnews... couldn't find the time split records for the time trial anywhere.

Here http://matsport.fr/resultat/2017/PNC/pdf/Etape_04/_PNC_20170308_0400_Press_Release.pdf

Page 15 for the first split, page 17 for the second split/climb.

 

[Valv.Piti]

The biggest take from me is there are 3 better climbers in the world than Contador in peak shape and he has become much more of a diesel climber with age.

 

[Scarponi]

I wouldn't rate Porte ahead just yet, probably equal. The two others yes

 

[Matteo.]

His only fault is he's old...chapeau Alberto

 

[portugal11]

Re:

The biggest take from me is there are 3 better climbers in the world than Contador in peak shape and he has become much more of a diesel climber with age.

But froome is the only one who can drop him fair and square

 

[Netserk]

Not good enough, but not bad either.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

The biggest take from me is there are 3 better climbers in the world than Contador in peak shape and he has become much more of a diesel climber with age.

But froome is the only one who can drop him fair and square

Ehm no.

 

[Scarponi]

Meh it all means zero until the Dauphine, every single year

 

[Forever The Best]

Better than I expected, but he waited way too long
Another podium without wins...

 

[Electress]

Re: Re:

I didn't see it. I don't know if Contador has said anything afterwards, and frankly a way better indication of current shape is too close to go in all out panic mode right now. He looked fine in Andalucia, he looked fine in Catalunya. Tomorrow we'll know more, and even if he totally blows tomorrow it's not out of question there's something wrong.

I'm not in denial. I recognize that Contador is ageing, and that the true glory days are behind us. But I refuse to lose my **** every time he gets dropped uphill.

He's 34. It's been 10 years since he first won the TdF. He's not gonna last forever and time is gonna hit even harder sooner rather than later. But I'm gonna cheer for whatever fireworks he has left in him. Cause any man can have talent, but I ain't a fan of talent alone. Alberto Contador is more than ability alone, and I'll cheer him on for whatever fights he puts up. And I guess the time that that should be enough, is also coming sooner, rather than later.

Your post left me a bit misty eyed and touched. I feel the exact same way.

And me.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

That was pretty good. Perhaps he should have tried to drop Henao a little earlier, but it was good enough. Great to see that he could take back 10 seconds on Richie in the last k. Winning was always going to be hard, but now it does not look impossible. Pantano is a better domestique than the SKY-guys, but will it be enough to isolate Henao on the easier climbs around Nice?

 

[DFA123]

Not bad today. It's difficult to read too much into it I guess. Dropping riders like Henao and Martin is kind of to be expected on a climb like this for someone with ambitions of winning a GT and he couldn't stay with Porte, who's probably the only other near-elite GC climber in the race.

On the other hand, towards the end of a tough race it was encouraging to see a bit more spring in the legs towards the end of a stage. And he kept the attack going rather than fading towards the line. And, moved himself onto the podium which is better than not being there. Another positive was Pantano who looked as good as his promise last year suggested.

 

[portugal11]

Re:

Not bad today. It's difficult to read too much into it I guess. Dropping riders like Henao and Martin is kind of to be expected on a climb like this for someone with ambitions of winning a GT and he couldn't stay with Porte, who's probably the only other near-elite GC climber in the race.

On the other hand, towards the end of a tough race it was encouraging to see a bit more spring in the legs towards the end of a stage. And he kept the attack going rather than fading towards the line. And, moved himself onto the podium which is better than not being there. Another positive was Pantano who looked as good as his promise last year suggested.

Last year, henao was dragging thomas all over the place. This thomas was the one who "only" lost 17 seconds to quintana in a mountain stage