Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[bajbar]

There is a very big chance of rain for Sunday!!! All those tricky descents in wet conditions... Bardet and Froome to gain 2 minutes on the Mont du Chat descent

 

[DFA123]

Re:

There is a very big chance of rain for Sunday!!! All those tricky descents in wet conditions... Bardet and Froome to gain 2 minutes on the Mont du Chat descent

I think there is a big difference between Bardet and Froome, and that wet descents could spell big trouble for Froome. Bardet is a technically great descender and has big balls with it - the harder the better for him. Froome on the other hand, has very big balls descending, but is technically pretty average - I think he could end up pushing his luck a bit too much on a wet descent.

Unfortunately for Contador, he has small balls descending these days and is technically average. So, it's difficult to see how the conditions will play into his hands too much.

 

[bambino]

Re: Re:

There is a very big chance of rain for Sunday!!! All those tricky descents in wet conditions... Bardet and Froome to gain 2 minutes on the Mont du Chat descent

I think there is a big difference between Bardet and Froome, and that wet descents could spell big trouble for Froome. Bardet is a technically great descender and has big balls with it - the harder the better for him. Froome on the other hand, has very big balls descending, but is technically pretty average - I think he could end up pushing his luck a bit too much on a wet descent.

Unfortunately for Contador, he has small balls descending these days and is technically average. So, it's difficult to see how the conditions will play into his hands too much.

It could play in the way that no-one has balls to risk their Tour and go all-in on that wet descent. I guess we have to wait and see.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

There is a very big chance of rain for Sunday!!! All those tricky descents in wet conditions... Bardet and Froome to gain 2 minutes on the Mont du Chat descent

I think there is a big difference between Bardet and Froome, and that wet descents could spell big trouble for Froome. Bardet is a technically great descender and has big balls with it - the harder the better for him. Froome on the other hand, has very big balls descending, but is technically pretty average - I think he could end up pushing his luck a bit too much on a wet descent.

Unfortunately for Contador, he has small balls descending these days and is technically average. So, it's difficult to see how the conditions will play into his hands too much.

It could play in the way that no-one has balls to risk their Tour and go all-in on that wet descent. I guess we have to wait and see.

That could be true, particularly so early in the race, maybe no-one will be willing to risk. But then again, if there are gaps over the climb, which there surely will be, i guess it's likely that either someone chasing to get back or looking for a stage win will try to push on.

The fact that most of the contenders did the descent before in race conditions a month ago might encourage them to go harder as well.

 

[bob.a.feet]

Every descending discussion ends in comparing ball size :lol:

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Every descending discussion ends in comparing ball size :lol:

Balls are generally what it all comes down to at the pro level; unless the descent is exceptionally challenging, or someone is really poor technically. Maybe a bit of luck as well at times.

Froome is proof of that. He's taken time and pressured rivals on numerous descents in the past couple of years, while very rarely crashing, and despite not being technically amazing.

 

[Singer01]

Such a shame Valverde and Nibali aren't here, downhill in the rain would have given them a real chance to put serious damage into their competitors. Also a shame Andy Schleck isn't kicking around still, would have been comedy gold watching him descend, he could probably climb it faster than he could descend it.

 

[LanLions]

If it's raining on the uphill I can see Contador going over the top alone, or maybe with Aru. Froome is never as good in the rain and Contador is usually way better. Froome would probably catch and drop him on the descent though.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Not quite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfMNDkoWjpc

now I'm sad. He wasn't even breathing

Alas those days are gone. No grimace, not even a deep breath, rides away.....

He is a Great Champion in decline, age brings all of them down. I am just happy to have seen the Legend that is Alberto Contador. You all can disagree but I've followed this sport for 50+ years and he is one of the Best to ever throw his leg over a bike in those 50 years.

Hopefully he has enough left to give us a show, if not his legacy is not diminished. His star has dimmed but the Glory of 2007-2015 will always be with us. I have it all on dvd .

Still epic viewing

I would also love to get a DVD of Paris-Nice 2016 and 2017, the final stages; such awesome racing there from Contador.

Oh I also have the 2016 Basque Country and P-N, the 2017 final PN stage is still on the dvr

I am VERY slack with my cycling DVD's and haven't bought any for ages (though I do have the '07 and '09 Tours)!

 

[gregrowlerson]

Re: Re:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5HdSbRaPcU

that's hilarious :lol: just the way he tells it :lol: :lol: baby toy, the woman :lol:

Everyone wants a yellow jersey, but we all now just want the pink whistle

 

[gregrowlerson]

Re:

Such a shame Valverde and Nibali aren't here, downhill in the rain would have given them a real chance to put serious damage into their competitors. Also a shame Andy Schleck isn't kicking around still, would have been comedy gold watching him descend, he could probably climb it faster than he could descend it.

Sunday's stage will be the one time that I'm happy that Kloden isn't still racing.

 

[Pennino]

Re:

I think its a bit problematic that the climbing domestiques seems a little off-form, but Nairo, Aru and Porte won't have that much help in the real mountains either. All these teams are pretty mediocre. Out of all contenders, Bardet might actually have the strongest squad which could be very helpful on stage 9 (that Contador said is the hardest day, which is true). Thats a bummer because they wont be able to threaten Sky before Chat.

They should be able to figure out something among themselves. And why not before Chat?

 

[Lexman]

if it rains on sunday I think Contador will lose a lot of time in that descent ...

 

[Jelantik]

Re:

If it's raining on the uphill I can see Contador going over the top alone, or maybe with Aru. Froome is never as good in the rain and Contador is usually way better. Froome would probably catch and drop him on the descent though.

Froome is in upward trajectory. He'll be up there and then bomb the descent to left everyone to fight for 2nd place. Raining will be problematic for Contador on the descent. He doesn't have a good track record to stay upright, so he's probably reluctant to push his luck too much. But Froome, i think he'll go kamikaze to drop everyone.

 

[Carols]

Re:

Such a shame Valverde and Nibali aren't here, downhill in the rain would have given them a real chance to put serious damage into their competitors. Also a shame Andy Schleck isn't kicking around still, would have been comedy gold watching him descend, he could probably climb it faster than he could descend it.

He could have a wet downhill contest with Wiggo while we all LOAO! Really who would win????

 

[Angliru]

Re: Re:

If it's raining on the uphill I can see Contador going over the top alone, or maybe with Aru. Froome is never as good in the rain and Contador is usually way better. Froome would probably catch and drop him on the descent though.

Froome is in upward trajectory. He'll be up there and then bomb the descent to left everyone to fight for 2nd place. Raining will be problematic for Contador on the descent. He doesn't have a good track record to stay upright, so he's probably reluctant to push his luck too much. But Froome, i think he'll go kamikaze to drop everyone.

I agree with this (in bold). Froome will only get stronger as the Tour progresses as he has the Tour/Vuelta in mind and his season has been one of restraint and building form leading up to the Tour.

 

[Carols]

I am VERY slack with my cycling DVD's and haven't bought any for ages (though I do have the '07 and '09 Tours)!

Where can you buy cycling dvds? I want the 2017 Giro! I make my own from dvr recordings. But I only had the Giro streaming (Fubo TV) this year so I couldn't make one.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

if it rains on sunday I think Contador will lose a lot of time in that descent ...

Depends. Maybe Froome won't want to risk everything on the descent either, after all he's already in pole position.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

if it rains on sunday I think Contador will lose a lot of time in that descent ...

Depends. Maybe Froome won't want to risk everything on the descent either, after all he's already in pole position.

Froome apparantly has no fear so I doubt it.

 

[Carols]

“If before the Tour you’d told me that I’d be in this condition I don’t know how I’d answer,” he told Cyclingnews.

“Maybe I’d take it if you put into balance what’s happened to me in the last few years. On the other hand I’m 52 seconds down on Froome. I’m okay. At La Planche des Belles Filles I wasn’t great and I lost some seconds but more than that I felt like I was on the limit. After I recovered I rode tempo and I caught the group back.”

I don't think he is BSing......hopefully he has better legs starting tomorrow!!

 

[LaFlorecita]

Fingers crossed. At least I'm happy he hasn't hit the tarmac!

 

[bob.a.feet]

“If before the Tour you’d told me that I’d be in this condition I don’t know how I’d answer,” he told Cyclingnews.

“Maybe I’d take it if you put into balance what’s happened to me in the last few years. On the other hand I’m 52 seconds down on Froome. I’m okay. At La Planche des Belles Filles I wasn’t great and I lost some seconds but more than that I felt like I was on the limit. After I recovered I rode tempo and I caught the group back.”

I don't think he is BSing......hopefully he has better legs starting tomorrow!!

Strange to hear Alberto so blunt about his form. Hope he does well on Sunday.

 

[tretiak]

Re: Re:

if it rains on sunday I think Contador will lose a lot of time in that descent ...

Depends. Maybe Froome won't want to risk everything on the descent either, after all he's already in pole position.

Froome apparantly has no fear so I doubt it.

The day he crash hard this fearless will be over for good.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Alberto said another rider's wheel(?) cut his shoe almost to his toes?? disc brakes??

 

[Jelantik]

“If before the Tour you’d told me that I’d be in this condition I don’t know how I’d answer,” he told Cyclingnews.

“Maybe I’d take it if you put into balance what’s happened to me in the last few years. On the other hand I’m 52 seconds down on Froome. I’m okay. At La Planche des Belles Filles I wasn’t great and I lost some seconds but more than that I felt like I was on the limit. After I recovered I rode tempo and I caught the group back.”

I don't think he is BSing......hopefully he has better legs starting tomorrow!!

Yeah, it makes weekend even more not convincing. He took it easy at Dauphine. Lost time on the ITT, at the limit already at short stage and lost time. This w,eekend he has no excuse. He either has the form to compete with Froome or he doesn't. If the later then his choice of not riding the tour anymore for next year is a wise one. .