Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Red Rick]

I'd like to see confirmation there was headwind on the climb today.

 

[Carols]

In that interview he seemed fine, smiling throughout. Of course I couldn't understand a word. But his demeanor said he was just fine.

 

[Puccini]

Alberto Contador in TV:
I'm happy and I think the" best things" (Le Tour de France) are always waiting..."
Good luck in Tour de France!

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

In that interview he seemed fine, smiling throughout. Of course I couldn't understand a word. But his demeanor said he was just fine.

Didn't see his interview because Eurosport switched to MotoGP
He must be dying inside though

 

[loge1884]

Re:

Someone seems pretty upset that Contador is widely recognized as the best stage/gt rider of all time. .

was that ment to be a belated April Fool's?

I mean I would place Contador in the top tier of GT riders, but there were a few which have been very clearly above his level ... just to name a some (in alphabetic order): Anquetil, Bartali, Binda, Bobet, Coppi, Gaul, Gimondi, Indurain, Hinault, Merckx ....

 

[LaFlorecita]

This hurts so much. I'm so bitter. Could have entered history with a 5th win instead he finishes 2nd again, no one remembers a 2nd place
He has so many 2nd places in the last few years
Doesn't hurt as much as Paris-Nice though, I couldn't sleep for one week after that

 

[loge1884]

Re:

This hurts so much. I'm so bitter. Could have entered history with a 5th win instead he finishes 2nd again, no one remembers a 2nd place
He has so many 2nd places in the last few years
Doesn't hurt as much as Paris-Nice though, I couldn't sleep for one week after that

if you would fancy Peter Sagan you would need a treatment for insomnia ...

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

This hurts so much. I'm so bitter. Could have entered history with a 5th win instead he finishes 2nd again, no one remembers a 2nd place
He has so many 2nd places in the last few years
Doesn't hurt as much as Paris-Nice though, I couldn't sleep for one week after that

if you would fancy Peter Sagan you would need a treatment for insomnia ...

Probably could do with an eye test as well.

 

[rhubroma]

Re: Re:

Someone seems pretty upset that Contador is widely recognized as the best stage/gt rider of all time. .

was that ment to be a belated April Fool's?

I mean I would place Contador in the top tier of GT riders, but there were a few which have been very clearly above his level ... just to name a some (in alphabetic order): Anquetil, Bartali, Binda, Bobet, Coppi, Gaul, Gimondi, Indurain, Hinault, Merckx ....

It's pointless to make judgements between generations, BUT the sport is much more globalized now. The level so much higher that it is difficult to imagine the legends of the past performing as well today.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

This hurts so much. I'm so bitter. Could have entered history with a 5th win instead he finishes 2nd again, no one remembers a 2nd place
He has so many 2nd places in the last few years
Doesn't hurt as much as Paris-Nice though, I couldn't sleep for one week after that

if you would fancy Peter Sagan you would need a treatment for insomnia ...

Probably could do with an eye test as well.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Re: Re:

Anyway, obvious pacing fail is obvious. On to vacation. Maybe he can win a pub quiz somewhere.

He can win the "most top-10s without a win" competition

He might be planning on winning the ninja award....if only he could stop falling off his bike....that tends to get noticed lol

 

[loge1884]

Re: Re:

Someone seems pretty upset that Contador is widely recognized as the best stage/gt rider of all time. .

was that ment to be a belated April Fool's?

I mean I would place Contador in the top tier of GT riders, but there were a few which have been very clearly above his level ... just to name a some (in alphabetic order): Anquetil, Bartali, Binda, Bobet, Coppi, Gaul, Gimondi, Indurain, Hinault, Merckx ....

It's pointless to make judgements between generations, BUT the sport is much more globalized now. The level so much higher that it is difficult to imagine the legends of the past performing as well today.

agree with you ... but then one should also abstain from claiming "best of all time" ....
in my book he still is the best GT rider of the 21st Century (the Texan not being part of the contest), but could be surpassed if Chris Froome wins the TdF this year ...

 

[Valv.Piti]

Bad pacing, getting badly out-roulered or a combination? I thought he was in pole after that intermediate.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Re:

This hurts so much. I'm so bitter. Could have entered history with a 5th win instead he finishes 2nd again, no one remembers a 2nd place
He has so many 2nd places in the last few years
Doesn't hurt as much as Paris-Nice though, I couldn't sleep for one week after that

Not many will remember this 2nd place, but he's last two Paris-Nice's will go down in our memory banks as epic efforts of the highest order.

"Sometimes when you lose you actually win." (White Men Can't Jump)

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

This hurts so much. I'm so bitter. Could have entered history with a 5th win instead he finishes 2nd again, no one remembers a 2nd place
He has so many 2nd places in the last few years
Doesn't hurt as much as Paris-Nice though, I couldn't sleep for one week after that

Not many will remember this 2nd place, but he's last two Paris-Nice's will go down in our memory banks as epic efforts of the highest order.

"Sometimes when you lose you actually win." (White Men Can't Jump)

Really, only the people who watched might remember those performances in 20 years, no one remembers 2nd place, it's worth nothing at all. No place in the history books of cycling for 2nd.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Bad pacing, getting badly out-roulered or a combination? I thought he was in pole after that intermediate.

Bad pacing is 100% certain. Can't exclude the other one for certain. The crash from thursday can't have helped but the effect is impossible to quantify.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I need to take up boxing to get rid of all this built up frustration.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re: Re:

Bad pacing, getting badly out-roulered or a combination? I thought he was in pole after that intermediate.

Bad pacing is 100% certain. Can't exclude the other one for certain. The crash from thursday can't have helped but the effect is impossible to quantify.

If he hurt his shoulder, then riding in a TT position cannot have been too pleasant. But yeah, probably also didn't pace himself right - he also lost a lot of time to Quintana in the last part of the Pais Vasco TT last year after he'd set a dominant first intermediate time at the top of the climb (Part of that was also due to a very careful descent and Nairo changing bike).

 

[Netserk]

He always paces himself like this. Always.

 

[Carols]

Re: Re:

In that interview he seemed fine, smiling throughout. Of course I couldn't understand a word. But his demeanor said he was just fine.

Didn't see his interview because Eurosport switched to MotoGP
He must be dying inside though

He seemed qenuinely happy, I can tell when he's faking it. I think he felt he did everything he could and was beaten. That is much easier to handle than losing by 2 seconds......

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Bad pacing, getting badly out-roulered or a combination? I thought he was in pole after that intermediate.

Bad pacing is 100% certain. Can't exclude the other one for certain. The crash from thursday can't have helped but the effect is impossible to quantify.

I just don't know how such a good and experience rider can do that over and over again..

But I'd also say that Valverde at this point is a better rouleur than him, the older Contador has gotten more he has gotten a 'pure' climber.

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

This hurts so much. I'm so bitter. Could have entered history with a 5th win instead he finishes 2nd again, no one remembers a 2nd place
He has so many 2nd places in the last few years
Doesn't hurt as much as Paris-Nice though, I couldn't sleep for one week after that

Not many will remember this 2nd place, but he's last two Paris-Nice's will go down in our memory banks as epic efforts of the highest order.

"Sometimes when you lose you actually win." (White Men Can't Jump)

Really, only the people who watched might remember those performances in 20 years, no one remembers 2nd place, it's worth nothing at all. No place in the history books of cycling for 2nd.

Poulidor begs to disagree.

He's the exception that proves the rule though.

 

[Carols]

Re:

I need to take up boxing to get rid of all this built up frustration.

Try some yoga or tai chi .

 

[LaFlorecita]

Folks, don't even dare to suggest the crash cost him time, Valv.Piti will be hunting you down!

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

I need to take up boxing to get rid of all this built up frustration.

Try some yoga or tai chi .

Or a boyfriend. :lol: