Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Taxus4a]

Re:

Didn't watch a lot of todays stage, but he seemed to have a nice recovery and didnt get a setback after yesterday efforts.

The problem was the efort on th echelons, he is a rider who suffer in the plain.

He payed that yesterday a little. He was at his level today he is not paying Giro...And I think Quintana can do bot Giro and Tour at his best level... this year wanst that way, but he can.

And I think Contador did, but the level of Contador in le Tour is not to win.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Didn't watch a lot of todays stage, but he seemed to have a nice recovery and didnt get a setback after yesterday efforts.

The problem was the efort on th echelons, he is a rider who suffer in the plain.

He payed that yesterday a little. He was at his level today he is not paying Giro...And I think Quintana can do bot Giro and Tour at his best level... this year wanst that way, but he can.

And I think Contador did, but the level of Contador in le Tour is not to win.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Classic Taxus post. One track mind to tear down a contador. What did he do to you? Quintana has never won the Tour, won the Giro and Vuelta under questionable circumstances, and just got destroyed by the Giro-Tour double attempt. Contador beat your beloved Landa while going 1-5 in the Giro-Tour attempt (and has won 9 GTs) and somehow he's a B rate cyclist in your mind...just truly bizarre.

 

[lenric]

I believe he said that Contador's current level is not Tour winning. And I completely agree with him.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Right be he also has been trotting out the argument that Contador's been riding at his best level, regardless of age, in recent years, but that he isn't as gifted as current cyclists (e.g. Quintana) or cyclists of other eras. And the whole Quintana can ride Giro-Tour double better than Contador even though he's looking at 2-12 vs 1-5 seems questionable. I could be wrong, but I feel like Taxus has a personal agenda, which, I guess, is his right.

 

[Jelantik]

I hope he will do the Vuelta, the form seemed to improve since last week.

I think he should do as well. Looks like it's going to be a pretty low quality field apart from Froome as well, so definite chance of a podium there.

What - Vuelta will have a better GC field than the TDF.

Lol. No. Perhaps better than the GC field at the end of the Tour given all the withdrawals, but certainly not from the startlist.

Check the startlist.[/quote]
How is it better?
Vuelta: Nibali, A. Yates and Zakarin
vs
Tour: Valverde, Porte, Quintana, Landa and Martin[/quote]

add Froome to the list.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

I know I'm beating a dead horse, and I don't disagree that Contador almost certainly cannot compete for the Tour yellow jersey anymore, even without crashes (although I think he would have been top 5 without crashes), but, here is a good illustration of the deep-seated bias that Taxus continues to flaunt here. Someone linked to this 2013 Taxus blog post/article or whatever this is. An excerpt: "I would not say that the first Tour de Froome was better than the first Tour of Contador was, Froome finishs several days in the bus, something that Contador din not, who is around the 40th at relevant stages, but making an assessment of the circumstances, and the results of its two time trials, the Tour de Froome is certainly not worse , and arguably even more promising in terms of three weeks."

For context, Contador finished the 2005 Tour after brain surgery in 31st at 1:04 back, Froome in 84th at 2:22 back, but somehow Froome's performance was just as good if not better...Not sure why I care, just find it very curious.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Re:

I'm not too sure about Contador riding the Vuelta. I'm also not too sure about him not doing anything after the Tour. The worst thing is to go into the off season late, and to go into it with a burnout.

For Contador to have a shot at something great next year, it's incredibly important to go into the off season fresh. That means no Vuelta. That also means there are very few suitable races left for him. Too bad. Trek should figure out something better than to send Contador to the Vuelta.

The last question is if what Contador did today is the best he can do. I think not, but I can't be sure and I like my delusions.

I am hopeful of a good performance in stage 20; a short ITT with a punchy climb.....maybe he can even win it?

Well, I am every bit as delusional!

But I believe that a decision on the Vuelta can be based on lot on stage 20. If he rides strongly, then it would would suggest that his form is still pretty good, and that a good GC is possible. Also what DFA said, about the shorter and less multi mountain mountain stages in Spain could suit him better.

I hope he does the Vuelta. But then again, I just want to see him racing grand tours.

 

[bambino]

Re: Re:

I'm not too sure about Contador riding the Vuelta. I'm also not too sure about him not doing anything after the Tour. The worst thing is to go into the off season late, and to go into it with a burnout.

For Contador to have a shot at something great next year, it's incredibly important to go into the off season fresh. That means no Vuelta. That also means there are very few suitable races left for him. Too bad. Trek should figure out something better than to send Contador to the Vuelta.

The last question is if what Contador did today is the best he can do. I think not, but I can't be sure and I like my delusions.

I am hopeful of a good performance in stage 20; a short ITT with a punchy climb.....maybe he can even win it?

Well, I am every bit as delusional!

But I believe that a decision on the Vuelta can be based on lot on stage 20. If he rides strongly, then it would would suggest that his form is still pretty good, and that a good GC is possible. Also what DFA said, about the shorter and less multi mountain mountain stages in Spain could suit him better.

I hope he does the Vuelta. But then again, I just want to see him racing grand tours.

A short TT with climb won't tell you anything about his overall form. Have you been daydreaming when the concensus has been his problem is endurance which will probably not show on Saturday?

 

[liamito]

Re: Re:

Didn't watch a lot of todays stage, but he seemed to have a nice recovery and didnt get a setback after yesterday efforts.

He did say his legs felt bad all day after yesterday's effort
But the result was quite decent

Didn't De Jongh say Vuelta would depend on his sensations during these last mountain days? Right now I would say he didn't convince himself.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Didn't watch a lot of todays stage, but he seemed to have a nice recovery and didnt get a setback after yesterday efforts.

He did say his legs felt bad all day after yesterday's effort
But the result was quite decent

Didn't De Jongh say Vuelta would depend on his sensations during these last mountain days? Right now I would say he didn't convince himself.

Well, the Izoard result isn't all that if it was worse because of the long range attack the day before. However, it was a dumb way to get an indication for the Vuelta.

Onto the TT. Expecting a 22nd place.

 

[bambino]

Re: Re:

Didn't watch a lot of todays stage, but he seemed to have a nice recovery and didnt get a setback after yesterday efforts.

He did say his legs felt bad all day after yesterday's effort
But the result was quite decent

Didn't De Jongh say Vuelta would depend on his sensations during these last mountain days? Right now I would say he didn't convince himself.

Well, the Izoard result isn't all that if it was worse because of the long range attack the day before. However, it was a dumb way to get an indication for the Vuelta.

Onto the TT. Expecting a 22nd place.

I think he will be Top-5 (and about par Froome) in TT and will say afterwards that without crashes he could very well be riding in yellow to Paris.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

I know I'm beating a dead horse, and I don't disagree that Contador almost certainly cannot compete for the Tour yellow jersey anymore, even without crashes (although I think he would have been top 5 without crashes), but, here is a good illustration of the deep-seated bias that Taxus continues to flaunt here. Someone linked to this 2013 Taxus blog post/article or whatever this is. An excerpt: "I would not say that the first Tour de Froome was better than the first Tour of Contador was, Froome finishs several days in the bus, something that Contador din not, who is around the 40th at relevant stages, but making an assessment of the circumstances, and the results of its two time trials, the Tour de Froome is certainly not worse , and arguably even more promising in terms of three weeks."

For context, Contador finished the 2005 Tour after brain surgery in 31st at 1:04 back, Froome in 84th at 2:22 back, but somehow Froome's performance was just as good if not better...Not sure why I care, just find it very curious.

Taxus obviously has a big love for Froome and deep-rooted hatred for Contador. I wouldn't believe anything he posts on Contador as there is more than likely a lot of bias involved, as can be seen in your example. He just doesn't make any sense.

 

[CosmicRocker]

I think one of Contador's problems over the last couple of years is his riding style. He is in his mid-30s now. That's not really old for most people, but it is for an athlete, for ANY sport. When Contador rides, and particularly when he stands to climb, he bobs and weaves a lot. He moves around on his bike more than any other rider in the peleton. And he is using a lot more energy doing that. And he runs out of "gas". Just this week, he goes out and is blowing up everybody and is on fire. Then he wears himself out and finished 8th. But it's probably too late to change now.

 

[Carols]

Re:

Right be he also has been trotting out the argument that Contador's been riding at his best level, regardless of age, in recent years, but that he isn't as gifted as current cyclists (e.g. Quintana) or cyclists of other eras. And the whole Quintana can ride Giro-Tour double better than Contador even though he's looking at 2-12 vs 1-5 seems questionable. I could be wrong, but I feel like Taxus has a personal agenda, which, I guess, is his right.

Indeed he does, I blocked him ages ago

Alberto is one of the most gifted riders I've seen the last 50+ years of following the sport. Alas he is no longer the rider he was, age does that to all of them.

 

[lenric]

Re:

Right be he also has been trotting out the argument that Contador's been riding at his best level, regardless of age, in recent years, but that he isn't as gifted as current cyclists (e.g. Quintana) or cyclists of other eras. And the whole Quintana can ride Giro-Tour double better than Contador even though he's looking at 2-12 vs 1-5 seems questionable. I could be wrong, but I feel like Taxus has a personal agenda, which, I guess, is his right.

I haven't read his posts for a while, since I find them unintelligible, so I don't know whether he has a bias.

 

[Blanco]

Time for a long rest, then hit the Giro in best possible shape and walk out like a true champion, as he always was.

 

[lenric]

 

[Jspear]

Re:

Oh my lol! Thanks for sharing....

 

[JS10]

I for one will be sad when El pistelero rides off into the sunset.The old adage "It is better to try and fail than fail to try" sums up Alberto perfectly!.

 

[cellardoor]

Discussion of the Vuelta is a bit premature until we know if he's actually racing next year or not. If he's retiring then I'd like to see him in the Vuelta. If he's continuing then hopefully he takes a rest.

 

[dusty red roads]

That photo is hilarious!!!

 

[dutchdescent]

Re: Re:

Oh my lol! Thanks for sharing....

Wow! Love the expression of Alberto. Campéon..

 

[Scarponi]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/23-seconds-10-years-after-cadel-evans-2007-tour-de-france-podium/ While it focuses on Cadel Evans a little it's still a great read into contadors first rival Evans and his first Tour win.

 

[bob.a.feet]

10 years ago today