Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[ILovecycling]

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[xrayvision]

What happen to Majka again? He was on the official start list to T-A.

 

[infeXio]

His knee messed up again

 

[greenedge]

The body changes and it's not as easy to maintain a level of fitness and weight as in their younger days. Look at Cadel Evans and Carlos Sastre. The seasons after their Tour wins were likely filled with obligations and commitments far exceeding anything they had experienced in the past. Couple that with having achieved the crowning glory of their careers and the same drive that got them there just maybe isn't/wasn't there anymore.

He still came 3rd in the Giro though and won 2 stages the year after his win in the TDF- so he did not completely lose motivation.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

He still came 3rd in the Giro though and won 2 stages the year after his win in the TDF- so he did not completely lose motivation.

Yeah. Evans doesn't seem to have motivational issues, either.

 

[Cimber]

What happen to Majka again? He was on the official start list to T-A.

He old knee injury was messing up again. He is, however, scheduled to do Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, so hopefully he can get back on track for the Giro

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

He still came 3rd in the Giro though and won 2 stages the year after his win in the TDF- so he did not completely lose motivation.

Also, there is no way that Sastre was ever going to compete with the Chicken and Contador in 2007.

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

Yeah. Evans doesn't seem to have motivational issues, either.

Yeah, Evans would love to get 2 TDF under the belt. Sure He said something about it putting him in the top 20 ever

 

[Miburo]

Also, there is no way that Sastre was ever going to compete with the Chicken and Contador in 2007.

Why are you saying this? Btw sastre was in that tour and ended up 4th or 5th (not sure)

I don't think anyone will debate that sastre was at that level.

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

Why are you saying this? Btw sastre was in that tour and ended up 4th or 5th (not sure)

I don't think anyone will debate that sastre was at that level.

Because it wouldn't have mattered how motivated Sastre was that year, Contador and chicken were so much better. It had been suggested that Sastre lost motivation after his 2006 win

 

[Miburo]

Because it wouldn't have mattered how motivated Sastre was that year, Contador and chicken were so much better. It had been suggested that Sastre lost motivation after his 2006 win

Sastre won the tour in 2008, what win are you talking about in 2006?

 

[cineteq]

Because it wouldn't have mattered how motivated Sastre was that year, Contador and chicken were so much better. It had been suggested that Sastre lost motivation after his 2006 win

It amuses me when I see these kind of comments.

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

Sastre won the tour in 2008, what win are you talking about in 2006?

Lol My bad, wrong year

In that case, regards 2009, just replace the chicken and Contador with Contador, Schleck and possibly armstrong.

 

[Miburo]

Lol My bad, wrong year

In that case, regards 2009, just replace the chicken and Contador with Contador, Schleck and possibly armstrong.

Sastre rode the giro being 100% and won 2 stages. You can't make that comparison.

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

Sastre rode the giro being 100% and won 2 stages. You can't make that comparison.

Even if he hadn't done the Giro, do you think it would have been lack of motivation that would have prevented him winning the 2009 TDF?

 

[del1962]

34 years of age and a course not really suited to Sastre in 2009, (time trials), possibly motivation

 

[jens_attacks]

Even if he hadn't done the Giro, do you think it would have been lack of motivation that would have prevented him winning the 2009 TDF?

well he could have top 5'ed

anyway, sastre in terms of talent was never close to lance,alberto or andy

 

[Miburo]

Even if he hadn't done the Giro, do you think it would have been lack of motivation that would have prevented him winning the 2009 TDF?

No but he could have ended up 3th, i think the lack of motivation is a stupid argument.

I was just pointing out some things you were writing that didn't make sense.

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

No but he could have ended up 3th, i think the lack of motivation is a stupid argument.

Agreed. Pointless speculating how motivated a rider may be, especially Contador who never seems to have a problem in that respect

 

[airstream]

well he could have top 5'ed

anyway, sastre in terms of talent was never close to lance,alberto or andy

I disagree. Rather Sastre was too shy and too unlucky and always turned out to be in the teams with a bit stronger rider. Sastre is too soft and to gentle for this ruthless GT massacre. In addition, the 2009 Tour situation can not be looked into account only from sporting perspective. By and large Sastre occupied a few posts on Cervelo: manager, top rider and consultant. I read he had to solve many problems around the team. Besides, we remember how press pestered him prior the Tour. ASO preview book even didn't list him among the favorites while journos always asked: 'Does it hurt you, hey?!' In short, even an iron Sastre gave up and started doing crazy pointless attacks.

 

[xrayvision]

I disagree. Rather Sastre was too shy and too unlucky and always turned out to be in the teams with a bit stronger rider. Sastre is too soft and to gentle for this ruthless GT massacre. In addition, the 2009 Tour situation can not be looked into account only from sporting perspective. By and large Sastre occupied a few posts on Cervelo: manager, top rider and consultant. I read he had to solve many problems around the team. Besides, we remember how press pestered him prior the Tour. ASO preview book even didn't list him among the favorites while journos always asked: 'Does it hurt you, hey?!' In short, even an iron Sastre gave up and started doing crazy pointless attacks.

According to Riis, Sastre was the most difficult rider he ever worked with, lack of team spirit, hard to please, sometimes difficult to make him work and train the way Riis wanted him to etc etc, in short, Sastre was probably his own biggest enemy, and not the world around him.

EDIT: But still Riis believed he had greater potential than Sastre did himself.

 

[Angliru]

He still came 3rd in the Giro though and won 2 stages the year after his win in the TDF- so he did not completely lose motivation.

Yes, I agree he did ride a great Giro. Now I didn't say he (Sastre) completely lost his motivation and I failed to mention the difference in age of Sastre and Evans compared to Contador, which is a major a factor . Another factor for Sastre is the number grand tours he had ridden over the course of his career, often 2 in one season in addition to his other races AND the fact that he's done the triple (all 3 grand tours in one year) at least once (maybe more, I can't recall). They obviously takes a toll on a rider.

As far as Contador, his actual annual race days may not be high compared to many riders but the events that he enters are always with intention of being a factor in the ultimate outcome which has to be equaling as taxing as racing more days but more for the purpose of training and prep target events.

 

[Jelantik]

I'm very impressed at these riders ability to speak other language than their native tounge. It makes them closer to the fan if they can speak other language. (even though I have no idea what they are saying ). I was wondering, Alberto is missing from this interview? Does he speak Italian? Froome seems to be the one that's not as fluent as the rest, but hey, he is not bad either.

http://www.steephill.tv/players/720...=7a180970-85c1-11e2-bb64-66569e18b70c&yr=2013

 

[Carols]

I'm very impressed at these riders ability to speak other language than their native tounge. It makes them closer to the fan if they can speak other language. (even though I have no idea what they are saying ). I was wondering, Alberto is missing from this interview? Does he speak Italian? Froome seems to be the one that's not as fluent as the rest, but hey, he is not bad either.

http://www.steephill.tv/players/720...=7a180970-85c1-11e2-bb64-66569e18b70c&yr=2013

Bertie knows a tiny bit of English but otherwise it is all Spanish. LaFlo will know

 

[King Boonen]

According to Riis, Sastre was the most difficult rider he ever worked with... difficult to make him work and train the way Riis wanted him to ...

Well, we shouldn't really call him out on that one should we?