Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[VayaVayaVaya]

Two things: 1) I’ve even seen Contador and Lances best bud/ co-host George Hincapie interacting on social media and George has not taken part when Lance has gone off on his podcast about Contador, as far as I’m aware; 2) Lance will sometimes mention things he saw on the internet (picture of Roglic and Bernal from 2016 Tour of Slovenia, for example) that we’re posted on here; I’m sure all of this is posted elsewhere, but I also wouldn’t be shocked if he’s a reader or even a poster.

 

[perico]

I was reading Vaughters book this weekend and came across this nugget about Contador. I had heard similar stories about Alberto’s pretty stunning natural ability, but this Vaughters has seen Contador’s blood values in 2009. Here is what he said:

“I know that some people thought that there were potential doping issues around Alberto, and, obviously, he did later test positive for clenbuterol. So why was I interested in him? Well, because I believed—and still do—Alberto to be the most talented GC rider of his generation. I believed he could win a Grand Tour clean, and that the stricter the anti-doping controls became, the more he would win due to his physiological superiority. I drew that conclusion from a few points of reference.

One was Iñigo San Millán, who had tested Alberto at a very young age. Iñigo said it was the most remarkable and eye-opening physiological test he’d ever conducted. Iñigo had conducted a lot of tests, on both clean and dirty riders.

Alberto gave us no cause to worry. He released all his blood values and his biological passport to us and our doctors. They reviewed them and said there was nothing remarkable to be seen in the blood tests, which, in light of how well Alberto was riding in 2008 and 2009, is really a statement. The 2007 season was pre–biological passport, so 2008 was as far back as we could review.

Anyway, clean rider versus clean rider, Contador wins. That’s why I liked him.”

Excerpt From
One-Way Ticket
Jonathan Vaughters

‎One-Way Ticket

‎Sports & Outdoors · 2019

books.apple.com

This material may be protected
[/QUOTE]

 

[LaFlorecita]

I was reading Vaughters book this weekend and came across this nugget about Contador. I had heard similar stories about Alberto’s pretty stunning natural ability, but this Vaughters has seen Contador’s blood values in 2009. Here is what he said:


Excerpt From
One-Way Ticket
Jonathan Vaughters

‎One-Way Ticket

‎Sports & Outdoors · 2019

books.apple.com

Yeah, I remember similar comments from San Millan surfaced quite a few years ago. I think it was something about him producing very little lactate even during big efforts. I wonder how his test values compare to Pogacar's, as San Millan stated Pogacar scored highly on recovery values compared to some other very successful riders.

 

[Leinster]

Two things: 1) I’ve even seen Contador and Lances best bud/ co-host George Hincapie interacting on social media and George has not taken part when Lance has gone off on his podcast about Contador, as far as I’m aware; 2) Lance will sometimes mention things he saw on the internet (picture of Roglic and Bernal from 2016 Tour of Slovenia, for example) that we’re posted on here; I’m sure all of this is posted elsewhere, but I also wouldn’t be shocked if he’s a reader or even a poster.

I’ve never watched Lance’s podcasts, but I got sent a clip after the 2018 Tour where Hincapie asked, in relation to Froome finishing 3rd behind G, “how did it feel when you finished 3rd behind your teammate?” and before George could finish the question Lance shot back “It fcukin sucked!”

I got a definite sense that it was a button of Lance’s that George likes to push now and again...

 

[perico]

I’ve never watched Lance’s podcasts, but I got sent a clip after the 2018 Tour where Hincapie asked, in relation to Froome finishing 3rd behind G, “how did it feel when you finished 3rd behind your teammate?” and before George could finish the question Lance shot back “It fcukin sucked!”

I got a definite sense that it was a button of Lance’s that George likes to push now and again...

LOL Yeah he does. Lance gets his panties in a wad, which is part of the fun of the show. George, doper that he was, is essentially a nice guy who gets under Lance’s skin. Funny enough is that Andy Schleck was a daily guest this year.
Note: I listen to most of the available podcasts during the TdF, and I think Lance sucks as a human being. I listen to Johan’s more than Lance’s because even though I find him quite a reprehensible person when it comes to his past actions, it can be extremely insightful.

 

[Oldermanish]

Just a fleeting recognition: Tadej's out of the saddle climbing technique occasionally resembles Contador's. That allows for a better variety of muscle group concentration for the sake of hard efforts. Roglic is primarily a seated spinner on climbs and that should help with overall fatigue. After 3 weeks it may have been his undoing, too. His struggle up the last part of the TT was tough to watch.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

AURUM Bikes | Born From Experience

AURUM is the exclusive bike brand from Grand Tour champions Alberto Contador and Ivan Basso. Magma; the ultimate carbon, lightweight road racing bike.

aurumbikes.com

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Just priced it out - starts at 9,999 EUR

 

[LaFlorecita]

The blue one looks good - however there is no way I'm spending 10 grand on a bike

 

[BlueRoads]

That's a price I'd spend on a horse, not a bike

 

[ice&fire]

They ain't lying on the "exclusive" thing

 

[Ted Striker]

That's a price I'd spend on a horse, not a bike

how ironic

 

[TourOfSardinia]

That's a price I'd spend on a horse, not a bike

You can still get out of the saddle!

 

[Gigs_98]

That's a price I'd spend on a horse, not a bike

That's also a price I definitely don't spend on a horse

 

[Fuente De]

Contador being Elon Musk, and Aurum the new Tesla Start with a high luxury bike, sell it at a profit, create more affordable bike etc.

When do bikes usually decrease in price significantly, after some months, or years or only when a new edition comes out? Not so familiar with the price curve of bikes tbh.

It looks good but 10k is too much even for most amateurs. They may have gone a bit too elite with their ambitions here, or their production capacities are very slim so it is more about the collector status.

Maybe Andy Schleck will sell them in his bike shop. lol

Anyhoo, cool to see Bertie being an entrepreneur and not just a eurosport pundit. Do it for a while, until you become the DS we all need.

 

[Carols]

That's also a price I definitely don't spend on a horse

Heck what kind of horse can you get for under 10K?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Contador being Elon Musk, and Aurum the new Tesla Start with a high luxury bike, sell it at a profit, create more affordable bike etc.

When do bikes usually decrease in price significantly, after some months, or years or only when a new edition comes out? Not so familiar with the price curve of bikes tbh.

It looks good but 10k is too much even for most amateurs. They may have gone a bit too elite with their ambitions here, or their production capacities are very slim so it is more about the collector status.

Maybe Andy Schleck will sell them in his bike shop. lol

Anyhoo, cool to see Bertie being an entrepreneur and not just a eurosport pundit. Do it for a while, until you become the DS we all need.

Yeah not sure which is the right way to go. They've obviously made the choice to go for a very exclusive high end feel. I'm not sure the bike is special enough to stand out among similarly priced high-end machines but it'll attract the type of customer that is willing to spend 10k on a bike just 'to have it'. Collector's item as you say. It's 'cooler' and more special perhaps than a BMC or Specialized.

If they had decided on a more budget version they would still have to compete with the established brands. Let's be honest, as a small-scale company they will always be slightly more expensive so the upper class market could be best as that's where you'll find the customers that don't mind spending 500-1000€ more for a unique bike.

Alberto and Ivan are really taking off as an entrepreneur duo. They've also set up a similarly exclusive sports/bike related skin care brand (that sounds very vague I'm sure but think chamois cream and similar).

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Heck what kind of horse can you get for under 10K?

One that's dead. And beaten after dying.

 

[BlueRoads]

Heck what kind of horse can you get for under 10K?

If it's not trained yet, quite a good one.

 

[Red Rick]

Yeah not sure which is the right way to go. They've obviously made the choice to go for a very exclusive high end feel. I'm not sure the bike is special enough to stand out among similarly priced high-end machines but it'll attract the type of customer that is willing to spend 10k on a bike just 'to have it'. Collector's item as you say. It's 'cooler' and more special perhaps than a BMC or Specialized.

If they had decided on a more budget version they would still have to compete with the established brands. Let's be honest, as a small-scale company they will always be slightly more expensive so the upper class market could be best as that's where you'll find the customers that don't mind spending 500-1000€ more for a unique bike.

Alberto and Ivan are really taking off as an entrepreneur duo. They've also set up a similarly exclusive sports/bike related skin care brand (that sounds very vague I'm sure but think chamois cream and similar).

It's a known phenomenon a certain amount of people will pay more money for that exclusive feel. I've even heard some anecdotes of products that sold better when prices were jacked a crazy amount, but that was not really a comparable thing to racing bikes.

My guess is they simply can't compete with the big manufacturers, but if they can still make a really good bike that has a different look they can make it work.

 

[Amazinmets87]

I wouldn't pay 10K for a car.

 

[Leinster]

Heck what kind of horse can you get for under 10K?

You can get them for £5.99/lb at Tesco.

 

[Koronin]

I wouldn't pay 10K for a car.

What kind of car can get for under 10K?

I'm in the camp of not paying that much for a bike. For a car, well the 3 cars we're looking at to replace what is now an 16 year old car is going to cost around 30K or a good bit higher.

 

[Amazinmets87]

What kind of car can get for under 10K?

I'm in the camp of not paying that much for a bike. For a car, well the 3 cars we're looking at to replace what is now an 16 year old car is going to cost around 30K or a good bit higher.

I drive a 2000 Ford Expedition. Paid $1,000. 17K miles and a few cross country trips in. No repairs yet.

 

[Koronin]

I drive a 2000 Ford Expedition. Paid $1,000. 17K miles and a few cross country trips in. No repairs yet.

I must say I'm impressed by that.