Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Leinster]

Re:

The difference in chances aren't for because of climbing times, it's almost completely how it's raced and how likely he is to reach the mountains in good health. I think the only top contender who's very likely to do the Giro right now is Landa.

I nearly said Valverde, but he and Landa will be teammates next season, and no guarantee Valverde will be back, or in form.

 

[contador_attacks]

Re: Re:

The crashes are killing him in the Tour... It's unbelieavable.

There's something else other than the crashes though.

In Paris-Nice this year, Dan Martin couldn't follow Contador's attack on the final 2 stages. He tried to bridge across and couldn't hold on. Fast forward to July, and Martin with 2 broken vertebrae was able to sit in the GC group at whatever pace Kwiatkowski or Landa could throw down, with enough in reserve to sprint away for a few extra seconds at the finish. But Contador after his couple of crashes couldn't keep up on most of the big stages.

Of the 2, clearly somebody did something right in the months between March and June, and somebody got something wrong.

The preperation wasn't perfect, it's a fact, but the crashes are clearly destroying him...

 

[silvergrenade]

Re: Re:

The crashes are killing him in the Tour... It's unbelieavable.

There's something else other than the crashes though.

In Paris-Nice this year, Dan Martin couldn't follow Contador's attack on the final 2 stages. He tried to bridge across and couldn't hold on. Fast forward to July, and Martin with 2 broken vertebrae was able to sit in the GC group at whatever pace Kwiatkowski or Landa could throw down, with enough in reserve to sprint away for a few extra seconds at the finish. But Contador after his couple of crashes couldn't keep up on most of the big stages.

Of the 2, clearly somebody did something right in the months between March and June, and somebody got something wrong.

The preperation wasn't perfect, it's a fact, but the crashes are clearly destroying him...

Contador:
"My Tour de France prep is going perfectly at Dauphine"
"I'm happy ahead of the Tour de France. Not many guys win the Dauphine and then win the Tour, but the condition is good. For me, it was better to go behind the leaders and in my own tempo so that I can go better at the Tour de France."


"I preferred to take my own tempo and decided to save my legs. The most important thing is that I've finished this race really fresh. In the last few years, I've finished tired, empty. I think that I can now recover well in the next three days and then start my preparation again. I know that I need to work on my intensity, but at the moment it's perfect. It's not about the GC here."

I rest my case.

 

[contador_attacks]

Re: Re:

The crashes are killing him in the Tour... It's unbelieavable.

There's something else other than the crashes though.

In Paris-Nice this year, Dan Martin couldn't follow Contador's attack on the final 2 stages. He tried to bridge across and couldn't hold on. Fast forward to July, and Martin with 2 broken vertebrae was able to sit in the GC group at whatever pace Kwiatkowski or Landa could throw down, with enough in reserve to sprint away for a few extra seconds at the finish. But Contador after his couple of crashes couldn't keep up on most of the big stages.

Of the 2, clearly somebody did something right in the months between March and June, and somebody got something wrong.

The preperation wasn't perfect, it's a fact, but the crashes are clearly destroying him...

Contador:
"My Tour de France prep is going perfectly at Dauphine"
"I'm happy ahead of the Tour de France. Not many guys win the Dauphine and then win the Tour, but the condition is good. For me, it was better to go behind the leaders and in my own tempo so that I can go better at the Tour de France."


"I preferred to take my own tempo and decided to save my legs. The most important thing is that I've finished this race really fresh. In the last few years, I've finished tired, empty. I think that I can now recover well in the next three days and then start my preparation again. I know that I need to work on my intensity, but at the moment it's perfect. It's not about the GC here."

I rest my case.

In his view the preperation was perfect. However, I disagree. It's a sum of situations - the crashes, etc... and in the end, he didn't have the legs do what he had to do.

 

[Simurgh]

La Vuelta will be the last race of Alberto's carrer.

 

[DNP-Old]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXfHbrNFo3t/?taken-by=acontadoroficial

Nooooooo

 

[LaFlorecita]

***

 

[silvergrenade]

Just saw his social media message...
Sad day indeed!

There was sadness in his smile....

 

[Gigs_98]

 

[Simurgh]

A sad day indeed. We are all lucky to have witnessed him race, because his exploits will be retold in decades from now. Centuries, perhaps. Strongly considering to travel to Nimes, so I might get a glimpse of him "live" so to speak. It is the last chance...

 

[LaFlorecita]

so I guess it didn't work out with Trek at all... a few days ago his brother ruled out retirement.

 

[Matteo.]

That is the end.
I'm surprised, despite everything, I thought he would continue for another year.
I'm sad but I believe in him. If he has made this decision is the right one

 

[DenisMenchov]

 

[Red Rick]

I don't think this is on his own terms. I'm so sad

 

[Forever The Best]

This is the news I wake up with?

 

[ice&fire]

Re:

I don't think this is on his own terms. I'm so sad

Trek's terms were probably Cali and Colo instead of Giro and Vuelta.

 

[Frankschleck]

Great rider, will be a big miss in the peloton, but i understand his choice, he can't compete with the best of the best anymore, so go out while still preforming at a good level. Chaupeau Contador, true champion and racer, even if the last 2 seasons werent fantastic.

 

[jsem94]

Everything must naturally come to an end eventually. He will be missed.

 

[Red Rick]

All aboard the hype train. One last time

 

[DFA123]

Sounds like there are some divisions between Contador and Trek, which is a shame but I guess understandable repurcussions after the disastrous Tour. Neither willing to budge in their aims and salary demands for the following season.

Great chance for finishing on a high at the Vuelta though. For me, he goes in as joint second favourite with Nibali behind Froome; and I don't trust Nibali's form at all, so he could still end with a stage win and a podium.

 

[infeXio]

:sad: :sad: :sad:

 

[Ikbengodniet]

Goodbye work. Spending the rest of the day watching highlights.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Something tells me he will still race the Giro next year, depending on how the Vuelta turns out of course.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Something tells me he will still race the Giro next year, depending on how the Vuelta turns out of course.

Good call. I'm not convinced this is the final word on the subject. Could easily just be an act of brinkmanship - a classic piece of Contador double-speak.

 

[Ikbengodniet]

Re:

Something tells me he will still race the Giro next year, depending on how the Vuelta turns out of course.

You mean if Trek put the right amount of dollars on the table?