Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Krzysztof_O]

Fuente Dé: Contador's Revolution

How an innocuous transition stage produced historic drama and defined the Spaniard's career and identity

www.cyclingnews.com

I read it and wanted to share here but someone was faster Very interesting read. After Cuitu Negru stage I realized that Alberto (whom I supported) probably won't win the Vuelta. It was so unlikely but it happened!

 

[tobydawq]

I read it and wanted to share here but someone was faster Very interesting read. After Cuitu Negru stage I realized that Alberto (whom I supported) probably won't win the Vuelta. It was so unlikely but it happened!

Yes, it turned out that the Eneco Tour was the best way to prepare for the Vuelta.

 

[Red Rick]

Oh, certainly. Then again, everybody did.
Although even by the standards of the day and even at his most conservative he was less conservative than many.

I think the only really conservative win was the 2008 Giro. Even in the 2015 Giro when he was isolated all the time he made some comically aggressive moves.

 

[Leinster]

I think the only really conservative win was the 2008 Giro. Even in the 2015 Giro when he was isolated all the time he made some comically aggressive moves.

You couldn't call the 2015 Giro "conservative." Yes, he made most of his time over Aru and Landa in the TT and had to defend from then on, but he was launching attack after attack on them on every mountain stage until they finally cracked him on Finestre, by which time he had enough of a lead that it was too late.

 

[hrotha]

I would never call his 2015 Giro "conservative". I was referring mostly to his 2008-2010 seasons.

 

[red_flanders]

The guy was always just a bike racer who seemed to love it. Such a contrast to the snore-fest tactics he was often dealing with. I miss Alberto!

 

[Carols]

The guy was always just a bike racer who seemed to love it. Such a contrast to the snore-fest tactics he was often dealing with. I miss Alberto!

You are not alone! The Sport misses Alberto...he attacked, good legs or bad. It's who he is and we Loved him for it!

 

[Sciatic]

You couldn't call the 2015 Giro "conservative." Yes, he made most of his time over Aru and Landa in the TT and had to defend from then on, but he was launching attack after attack on them on every mountain stage until they finally cracked him on Finestre, by which time he had enough of a lead that it was too late.

Loved that there was drama on every mountain stage ‘cause he was always so outnumbered. He even made losing time on Finestre exciting, especially since that’s the first time I’d ever seen the climb in a race.

 

[Red Rick]

Loved that there was drama on every mountain stage ‘cause he was always so outnumbered. He even made losing time on Finestre exciting, especially since that’s the first time I’d ever seen the climb in a race.

My favorite single moment is Monte Ologno. Contador had no reason to attack, but Landa had a mechanical and Contador decided to literally nuke the first meter of that climb.

 

[lenric]

Well, I don't think Contador ever was "conservative". Even in his peak years. He attacked whenever he wanted irrespective of his advantage.
For sure, one might argue he was conservative at his 2010 Tour, but I find it kind of misleading, as I think it was just Schleck that was really impressive over there.

 

[McEwen2006]

I think what makes it intriguing is having 2 riders that are dominant, to where they go a mano v mano battle, where they both try to destroy the other. Then something like the 19 Giro, where a upstart takes advantage of the feud of 2 riders and then that puts the 2 riders forcing to be more aggressive.


Now as far as the topic about Contador's impressive levels (I am using this term literally) I dont necessarily rank his 2009 Tour as number 1, because his competition was not nearly as strong as some of the other grand tours. In 09 you had a almost 40 Lance, Bradly Wiggins when he first was transforming into a stage racer. Also in the Top 10 if I recall right was Le Mevel, Casar, Vande Velde had his best Tour finish. Plus the route wasn't very exciting as the previous years. I only thing that exhibited how strong his level that day was his TT win over Cancellara.

To me, his most impressive Level was the 11 Giro. HE was so far ahead of everyone, he was gifting stages (Which helped win the 12 Vuelta with the gift to Tiralongo.)

I think his level at the 07 Tour was most impressive of the 3 TDFs win, because he was able to Stop and Start so many times, it just Rasmussen was on the same climbing level as him.

The Giro 2015 is so hard to judge because he crashed in it twice and didn't win a stage if I recall right, but he did have 2 fight off the 2 headed Astana monster. I would say his level was better in the 2012 Vuelta. Its played off of the De Fuente victory that he was that good, but Purito was flying that Vuelta, and as we all know, Purito and Valverde always find their best form for the GT at the Vuelta.

So I would right now go with my list being

1. Giro 2011
2. Tour 2007
3. Tour 2009
4. Tour 2010
5. Vuelta 2014
6. Vuelta 2012
7. Giro 2015
8. Vuelta 2008
9. Giro 2008

Tour 2009 was pretty good level-wise IMO, even though Evans and Menchov flopped big tome.

The top 10 was :

1. Contador
2. A.Schleck
3. Armstrong
4. Wiggins
5. F.Schleck
6. Kloden
7. Nibali
8. VandeVelde
9. Kreuziger
10. Le Mevel

I's say this looks like a decent enough top 10 (the top 7 is as good as it gets), even if you compare it to the Giro 2011.

What tips it in Tour 2009's favour IMO was Contador's TT win in Annecy. I know he beat Cancellara thanks to the little climb, but that was still a phenomenal performance.

 

[McEwen2006]

Well, I don't think Contador ever was "conservative". Even in his peak years. He attacked whenever he wanted irrespective of his advantage.
For sure, one might argue he was conservative at his 2010 Tour, but I find it kind of misleading, as I think it was just Schleck that was really impressive over there.

Yeah exactly. Contador attacked 4 times in the Tour 2010 (Mende once, Ax 3 Domaines twice, Tourmalet once), or 5 times if we count the Port de Balès climb. I think he only looked conservative in Morzine-Avoriaz and La Madeleine, but he had pretty bad legs in Morzine and due to this maybe he was just happy to manage to follow Andy in La Madeleine.

 

[McEwen2006]

View: https://youtu.be/Kb3m7CMosXc


I just made this video on Alberto's amazing 2014 year, hopefully you will enjoy it guys

 

[gregrowlerson]

View: https://youtu.be/Kb3m7CMosXc


I just made this video on Alberto's amazing 2014 year, hopefully you will enjoy it guys

Very good.

Just missing his great ride in the queen stage of T-A (destroying Nairo).

 

[McEwen2006]

Very good.

Just missing his great ride in the queen stage of T-A (destroying Nairo).

Yes it's true, even the first stage of the Basque Country Tour could have been included. I wanted to make a fairly short video though, initially I expected it to last 5 or 6 minutes but it ended up being way more than that

 

[cellardoor]

View: https://youtu.be/Kb3m7CMosXc


I just made this video on Alberto's amazing 2014 year, hopefully you will enjoy it guys

Nice video, thanks for taking the time to make it.

 

[Oldermanish]

The guy was always just a bike racer who seemed to love it. Such a contrast to the snore-fest tactics he was often dealing with. I miss Alberto!

Alot of those races were dull because he was a fearful attacker. Most guys could probably only manage one response to his moves and then they'd still have to be strong enough to hold on or get dropped while the camera was on their tortured faces...
Better to lay low and let a team effort bring him back than look weak.

 

[Carols]

Alot of those races were dull because he was a fearful attacker. Most guys could probably only manage one response to his moves and then they'd still have to be strong enough to hold on or get dropped while the camera was on their tortured faces...
Better to lay low and let a team effort bring him back than look weak.

FEARLESS attacker

 

[red_flanders]

Alot of those races were dull because he was a fearful attacker. Most guys could probably only manage one response to his moves and then they'd still have to be strong enough to hold on or get dropped while the camera was on their tortured faces...
Better to lay low and let a team effort bring him back than look weak.

Oddly the folks I’m thinking of used the same boring tactics whether he was there or not...

 

[Oldermanish]

Oddly the folks I’m thinking of used the same boring tactics whether he was there or not...

Armed with a large, well-staffed team they could play that way.

 

[Fyr3]

Back in 2012 when I got into cycling it was Contador and Froome I always liked. I know Froome gets lots of criticism but I think an unfair amount is towards him rather than the team itself. Contador was always the best one to watch, I remember his win on the Angliru in his last Vuelta was one of the my favorite stages ever and I was so happy for him.

 

[McEwen2006]

Back in 2012 when I got into cycling it was Contador and Froome I always liked. I know Froome gets lots of criticism but I think an unfair amount is towards him rather than the team itself. Contador was always the best one to watch, I remember his win on the Angliru in his last Vuelta was one of the my favorite stages ever and I was so happy for him.

I actually think it has more to do with the team. Those who don't like Froome probably didn't like Wiggins either.

I don't hate Froome anyway, mentioning that he went from an average rider to a world-class rider all of a sudden in the 2011 summer is just a fact. Good for him though, he will be remembered as one of the strongest cyclists of his generation.

 

[perico]

I think what makes it intriguing is having 2 riders that are dominant, to where they go a mano v mano battle, where they both try to destroy the other. Then something like the 19 Giro, where a upstart takes advantage of the feud of 2 riders and then that puts the 2 riders forcing to be more aggressive.


Now as far as the topic about Contador's impressive levels (I am using this term literally) I dont necessarily rank his 2009 Tour as number 1, because his competition was not nearly as strong as some of the other grand tours. In 09 you had a almost 40 Lance, Bradly Wiggins when he first was transforming into a stage racer. Also in the Top 10 if I recall right was Le Mevel, Casar, Vande Velde had his best Tour finish. Plus the route wasn't very exciting as the previous years. I only thing that exhibited how strong his level that day was his TT win over Cancellara.

To me, his most impressive Level was the 11 Giro. HE was so far ahead of everyone, he was gifting stages (Which helped win the 12 Vuelta with the gift to Tiralongo.)

I think his level at the 07 Tour was most impressive of the 3 TDFs win, because he was able to Stop and Start so many times, it just Rasmussen was on the same climbing level as him.

The Giro 2015 is so hard to judge because he crashed in it twice and didn't win a stage if I recall right, but he did have 2 fight off the 2 headed Astana monster. I would say his level was better in the 2012 Vuelta. Its played off of the De Fuente victory that he was that good, but Purito was flying that Vuelta, and as we all know, Purito and Valverde always find their best form for the GT at the Vuelta.

So I would right now go with my list being

1. Giro 2011
2. Tour 2007
3. Tour 2009
4. Tour 2010
5. Vuelta 2014
6. Vuelta 2012
7. Giro 2015
8. Vuelta 2008
9. Giro 2008

Van de Velde finished 4th at the TDF the year prior, and would’ve been Garmin’s undisputed leader in 2009 had he not cracked a vertebrae in his back at that year’s Giro. Sastre finished in 15th that year as well. Really the biggest name missing was Valverde

 

[roundabout]

Menchov, Sastre and Leipheimer were doubling up from the Giro though.

And Basso and Sanchez were also missing.

 

[perico]

Menchov, Sastre and Leipheimer were doubling up from the Giro though.

And Basso and Sanchez were also missing.

Leipheimer crashed out before the mtns anyway. The top 4 prerace favorites wouldn’t have changed had everyone targeted the race. The biggest change was that Evans just flopped. Bertie, Andy, and Lance all finished (at least on the road in regards to Lance) in the Top 5. Wiggins surprised, but he was hardly a weak fluke. VDB confirmed it as well over the next few years.

You’re right about Basso, but he never really showed at the TdF after his ban. The only weak link in the Top 10 to me was LeMevel.