Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[LaFlorecita]

Like I said, Croix de Fer was too early

 

[Carols]

Re:

Like I said, Croix de Fer was too early

Yep...

I don't want to see him going out like this :sad:

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

Like I said, Croix de Fer was too early

Was it though? He was in the same group as Roglic and Roglic is gonna win the stage. Meanwhile I absolutely can't imagine him catching that break if he had attacked on the Telegraphe. He simply spent too much energy trying to catch the break on the CdF, or you could say he simply wasn't strong enough. I think the tactic was the right one.

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

Like I said, Croix de Fer was too early

Was it though? He was in the same group as Roglic and Roglic is gonna win the stage. Meanwhile I absolutely can't imagine him catching that break if he had attacked on the Telegraphe. He simply spent too much energy trying to catch the break on the CdF, or you could say he simply wasn't strong enough. I think the tactic was the right one.

Yep....he just wasn't strong enough. Kudo's for trying though.

 

[Forever The Best]

Re: Re:

Like I said, Croix de Fer was too early

Was it though? He was in the same group as Roglic and Roglic is gonna win the stage. Meanwhile I absolutely can't imagine him catching that break if he had attacked on the Telegraphe. He simply spent too much energy trying to catch the break on the CdF, or you could say he simply wasn't strong enough. I think the tactic was the right one.

Perhaps after the team working all day to catch the break and reducing the gap to 30 seconds or so he could have attacked on the bottom of Telegraphe. But I don't think it would have worked. So today's tactic was the right one imo. But he wasn't strong enough after such an effort on CdF.

 

[buchanan]

It was very much the right tactic and actually could have worked out perfectly if he was riding a bit stronger. He didn't bury himself and had good help from Pantano and Mollema. He just isn't quite strong enough anymore. Nice try though and good tactics.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Like I said, Croix de Fer was too early

Yep, really stupid place to attack. He was never going to bridge 3 minutes on the CdF, ride for 80km, and then outclimb everyone else in the break, with his current form. Especially after not taking it easy yesterday.

Should have lost loads of time yesterday and then just got in the break from the start; or go on the Telegraphe.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Like I said, Croix de Fer was too early

Was it though? He was in the same group as Roglic and Roglic is gonna win the stage. Meanwhile I absolutely can't imagine him catching that break if he had attacked on the Telegraphe. He simply spent too much energy trying to catch the break on the CdF, or you could say he simply wasn't strong enough. I think the tactic was the right one.

Roglic started Croix de Fer 3mins ahead of Alberto.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Anyway, great job by his teammates, especially Mollema and Pantano. Hope they aren't too disappointed.

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

Like I said, Croix de Fer was too early

Was it though? He was in the same group as Roglic and Roglic is gonna win the stage. Meanwhile I absolutely can't imagine him catching that break if he had attacked on the Telegraphe. He simply spent too much energy trying to catch the break on the CdF, or you could say he simply wasn't strong enough. I think the tactic was the right one.

Yes, Contador showed he was strong by setting a record on the Croix De Fer. But then he was completely spent. If he'd done it on the Telegraphe he might've had a better chance, presuming the gap stayed similar (around 4 minutes to peloton).

 

[Red Rick]

The best tactic would have been to lose half an hour yesterday, and then join the breakaway from the get-go today.

My name is Captain Hindsight, and you're welcome.

 

[LaFlorecita]

He has one more chance, tomorrow, but he must wait till Izoard or he's screwed. Will be super hard to win either way.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

Like I said, Croix de Fer was too early

Was it though? He was in the same group as Roglic and Roglic is gonna win the stage. Meanwhile I absolutely can't imagine him catching that break if he had attacked on the Telegraphe. He simply spent too much energy trying to catch the break on the CdF, or you could say he simply wasn't strong enough. I think the tactic was the right one.

Roglic started Croix de Fer 3mins ahead of Alberto.

It was incredibly hard to win either way. But do you really think Contador alone could have climbed the Telegraphe-Galibier combo faster than the Sky train and attacking gc contenders at the end of the climb, especially if the stage win is at stake?

 

[arvc40]

Good effort from Contador but in today's F1 style racing the effort required to bridge was always going to be a factor against guys already up the road.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

The best tactic would have been to lose half an hour yesterday, and then join the breakaway from the get-go today.

My name is Captain Hindsight, and you're welcome.

This

 

[DFA123]

Re:

The best tactic would have been to lose half an hour yesterday, and then join the breakaway from the get-go today.

My name is Captain Hindsight, and you're welcome.

It was pretty obvious yesterday that he should have done that, once he got dropped yesterday. But, as discussed here, probably either his ego or team orders made him dig deep and limit losses yesterday. At the moment he's trying to balance going for a stage win, while still hoping to finish top 10 in the GC. The two aims just aren't compatible with his current form. It's difficult to see where he wins a stage from here, so I guess trying to finish top 10 will be the aim now.

 

[DNP-Old]

May he never retire.

 

[hrotha]

Screw it, if he hadn't done what he did it would have been a dreadful stage. That's exactly the kind of thing he should be doing if you ask me.

 

[arvc40]

Record time up a climb today means not a lot.

 

[Forever The Best]

Re:

Screw it, if he hadn't done what he did it would have been a dreadful stage. That's exactly the kind of thing he should be doing if you ask me.

This. Pathetic riding by the others yet again, especially Uran.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

He has one more chance, tomorrow, but he must wait till Izoard or he's screwed. Will be super hard to win either way.

He's gonna take that as a reference if he'll retire or not.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re:

Screw it, if he hadn't done what he did it would have been a dreadful stage. That's exactly the kind of thing he should be doing if you ask me.

Absolutely. Animated the stage and rode with all he had. What more can you ask as a fan?

 

[arvc40]

I'd be amazed if Contador won tomorrow, if he goes early or waits on Froomes wheel I think he implodes. Alberto on Euro now !

 

[Blanco]

Re: Re:

Screw it, if he hadn't done what he did it would have been a dreadful stage. That's exactly the kind of thing he should be doing if you ask me.

This. Pathetic riding by the others yet again, especially Uran.

Nothing wrong with Uran's riding, he's riding very smart and very good.

 

[Red Rick]

Contador added nothing to his palmares today, yet he did add to his legend.