Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Cance > TheRest]

Wow, that was really emotional to watch . . . :sad:

 

[Carols]

Re:

That was B E A U T I F U L


Tears

Yes... :sad:

 

[portugal11]

Re:

Wow, that was really emotional to watch . . . :sad:

What? I'm not watching...

 

[jsem94]

Re:

It's somehow different when you saw a rider come up and then go. Contador must have been the first true cycling great I've seen come and go.. the other legends were before my time

I think this is one of my first memories when I thought 'this guy is insane'

PN 2007

This! I remember that PN very well too, and I didn't find it weird at all to see him fight for the Tour with Rasmussen. Two other legends would be Cancellara and Boonen, but they were prominent before I started watching .

 

[Puccini]

 

[Pennino]

Okay folks, this was amazing, but who really is ready for his retirement? This is like a really sad dream...

 

[hulkhogansknees]

Oh man, what a ride it has been the last three weeks. Exciting and emotional.
Everything I have to say about Contador, has already been said ITT, so many good posts.
I first heard about him during the Paris-Nice of 2007 and his reputation as an aggressive rider made me keep an eye on him during the 2007 Tour where he battled my compatriot Michael Rasmussen. And strangely I found myself cheering for the young Spanish climber. And the rest is, as they say, history…

I’ve never rooted harder for an athlete or a team than I did for Alberto Contador, which also made some of the recent years a bit rough. But I feel that this ending, after all, is perfect. A rider from another era gets to say goodbye on his own terms and with a beautiful victory on a mythical climb, receiving the praise and love of the fans every single day.

Contador’s exit will make me a lot less emotionally invested in cycling in the future, but I am eternally grateful for all the memories and his inextinguishable, competitive fire and will to fight and entertain.
Life goes on but cycling won’t be the same for me.

Gracias and chapeau to Alberto Contador.

 

[LaFlorecita]

https://twitter.com/lavuelta/status/906954579933372416

 

[Lexman]

it might have been posted elsewhere but what was his time yesterday on Angliru?

 

[perico]

Re:

It's somehow different when you saw a rider come up and then go. Contador must have been the first true cycling great I've seen come and go.. the other legends were before my time

I think this is one of my first memories when I thought 'this guy is insane'

PN 2007

I've seen many come come and go. I started following around 1984. Alberto was the first one I knew was going to be a future TDF winner the first time I watched him race. He was so young, and smooth on the bike that it was apparent that the kid was something different. From Fignon on, I will always stand by my conviction that Contador was the most naturally gifted grand tour rider I've ever seen. He has a lot of "what ifs" like LeMond (though under different circumstances). To use a baseball analogy, Contador is like Mickey Mantle. Circumstances prevented him from having the greatest statistics ever, but was the most natural player anyone had ever seen.

 

[fantomas]

Re:

it might have been posted elsewhere but what was his time yesterday on Angliru?

44:46

http://www.climbing-records.com/2017/09/new-angliru-top-50-far-away-from-fastest.html

 

[Lexman]

Re: Re:

it might have been posted elsewhere but what was his time yesterday on Angliru?

44:46

http://www.climbing-records.com/2017/09/new-angliru-top-50-far-away-from-fastest.html

thanks for the link!

 

[Red Rick]

Honestly, there is no sport where you can end a career as beautifully as in cycling. This has been absolutely amazing

 

[rick james]

Enjoy your lazy days now Alberto, a great end to an amazing career

 

[bob.a.feet]

Re:

Honestly, there is no sport where you can end a career as beautifully as in cycling. This has been absolutely amazing

In NFL you can end on a high note without doing much, looking at you Peyton

 

[red zone]

Adios Champeon .

you will truly be missed

 

[gunara]

Thanks for the photo and video, La Flo, I didn't watch the ceremony. I think even the announcer's voice was shaking for one second. And the chants are rather cute although I hope Alberto won't take it seriously , this goodbye is too beautiful to spoil.

And I always enjoy Jarlinson's look, that sprightly happy face.

 

[Red Rick]

I especially liked Michel Wuyts commentary today, about how he had turned commentators into fans

 

[Simurgh]

A beautiful farewell it was! Thank you, again, for everything, Alberto!

 

[Red Rick]

How far we have come. I agree Flo. I agree

I LOVE ALBERTO!!!

The greatest cyclist of this generation.

And hey, I have permission:

Do that and you will face a very long ban.

Stop it now. If you want, you can open your very own I Love Alberto thread. But stop spreading your silliness throughout the forum.

Susan

Edit:
career highlights
http://www.mediafire.com/download/c4ukctviqmyc27n/highlights.docx

 

[fantomas]

https://twitter.com/EnricMasNicolau/status/906968102910357505

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

Honestly, there is no sport where you can end a career as beautifully as in cycling. This has been absolutely amazing

In NFL you can end on a high note without doing much, looking at you Peyton

The way manning ended his career was completely different though. He had a mediocre season and his defense carried the team to a superbowl win. Alberto however went out guns blazing giving cycling fans an incredible show.

 

[Ariane]

It has all been said; Thank you Alberto for all you have given us. You rode the 'highs' with modesty and humbleness and the 'lows' with dignity and reticence. As a newbie here, I have followed your every move since I discovered you on 'Discovery''. You are irreplaceable. Thank you all on this thread for your amazing - (and over the years, informative posts) - and an especial thanks to 'La Flo' . Tears tonight!

 

[LaFlorecita]

Finishes with 68 victories or 78, depending on your POV. Pretty damn impressive, considering he can't sprint to save his life and also gave away several wins.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Finishes with 68 victories or 78, depending on your POV. Pretty damn impressive, considering he can't sprint to save his life and also gave away several wins.

Considering just how dominant he has been at several stretches of his career, I'd say its a little on the low side. Way too many 2nd places especially lately. 85-90 would be a better representation.