Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

Though with the shape he's in now it better be part of the "different approach" otherwise he'll be in Vuelta 2012 shape at best

During his ban he kept posting saying that he had broken training records etc. Based on this I expected him to be an absolute monster when he came back. unfortunately that doesn't seem to be the case. I now take what he says about different approaches etc with a pinch of salt

 

[Pentacycle]

Though with the shape he's in now it better be part of the "different approach" otherwise he'll be in Vuelta 2012 shape at best

Seriously, I hope you won't fall into a depression, you're constantly talking like he's already lost the Tour. There's a long way to go, but right now I think you're overreacting to say the least. He's not THE top favourite now, but that'll only make him better.

This is what you look like to us:

 

[Publicus]

During his ban he kept posting saying that he had broken training records etc. Based on this I expected him to be an absolute monster when he came back. unfortunately that doesn't seem to be the case. I now take what he says about different approaches etc with a pinch of salt

He lacked race fitness at the 2012 Vuelta. And while he may have been hitting training records, they were probably odd comparisons since I'm sure in previous years he also had some race kilometers under his belt. Revisit this topic in June or July. I think AC has the ability to improve between now and the TdF, which is all that really counts at the end of the day (per Contador's focus this year). Recall that Nibbles is targeting his peak for the Giro, so he should be further along (plus I think he's matured in the off season quite a bit).

 

[Cobblestones]

It's never easy for a cyclist to return from a suspension. Most come back slower than before their 'break'. On the other hand, the Sky Train surely cannot keep the pedal to the metal from now to July again, or can it?

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

He lacked race fitness at the 2012 Vuelta. And while he may have been hitting training records, they were probably odd comparisons since I'm sure in previous years he also had some race kilometers under his belt. Revisit this topic in June or July. I think AC has the ability to improve between now and the TdF, which is all that really counts at the end of the day (per Contador's focus this year). Recall that Nibbles is targeting his peak for the Giro, so he should be further along (plus I think he's matured in the off season quite a bit).

Hope you are correct Will be great if this early season form is a Riis bluff

 

[LaFlorecita]

Seriously, I hope you won't fall into a depression, you're constantly talking like he's already lost the Tour. There's a long way to go, but right now I think you're overreacting to say the least. He's not THE top favourite now, but that'll only make him better.

This is what you look like to us:

I am already depressed Honestly I don't really care anymore, I know he'll lose so I won't end up immensely disappointed since I am already expecting it. And everything he does manage to win will be a positive surprise.

I have seen enough of Alberto to know he won't improve enough to take on Froome. I mean, Froome is nowhere near top form either.

It is extremely frustrating though not to know what the matter is with Alberto

 

[movingtarget]

Well if Froome shows he can consistently beat Alberto for a few years then yes he's a better cyclist and thus the best stage racer of this generation.

What are you talking about ? Froome has won Tour of Oman and that's all. He has not won a grand tour yet. Plenty of riders have potential and don't fulfill it. Andy Schleck ? Froome has plenty of potential but early season races don't always indicate what will happen later especially when the weather is bad and racing is a bit chaotic. Many thought Froome had Tirreno won as well but he was beaten. Tirreno was a difficult race and everyone who finished in the top five or even top 10 has performed well. Nibali turned the race around on one stage like Contador in the Vuelta and he had the ideal companions in the break. Sky was caught out and Froome and Contador had ordinary days in difficult conditions and on a hard course. This is cycling. Froome is a long way from being the dominant rider of his generation.

 

[veganrob]

I am already depressed Honestly I don't really care anymore, I know he'll lose so I won't end up immensely disappointed since I am already expecting it. And everything he does manage to win will be a positive surprise.

I have seen enough of Alberto to know he won't improve enough to take on Froome. I mean, Froome is nowhere near top form either.

It is extremely frustrating though not to know what the matter is with Alberto

C'mon. Let's not go through this again.

 

[Carols]

C'mon. Let's not go through this again.

Yeah let's not

LaFlo is in doomsday mode, even talking down Alberto in the Andy thread. LaFlo HTFU!!!!!

Alberto is already a Legend even if he never wins another race. But he will win Again, so please stop

 

[pdluz7]

Contador will champion the tour de france 2013. Only hearts.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Yes Red Rick though his legs seem very skinny.

Lol Carol I am not in Doomsday mode, this is just how I am

 

[Michele]

It's never easy for a cyclist to return from a suspension. Most come back slower than before their 'break'. On the other hand, the Sky Train surely cannot keep the pedal to the metal from now to July again, or can it?

There's ever that "keep 90-95% of form" factor to consider.

 

[personal]

It's never easy for a cyclist to return from a suspension. Most come back slower than before their 'break'. On the other hand, the Sky Train surely cannot keep the pedal to the metal from now to July again, or can it?

They can. They did it last year, didn't they?
They will be even stronger, but Contador and Saxo also.

And, (well, I hope) teams and riders will adjust their tactics and deal with Skyborg better then last year.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Berto teammates for CI

Manuele Boaro

Jesús Hernández Blazquez

Jay McCarthy

Benjamin Noval

Sérgio Paulinho

Michael Rogers

Rory Sutherland

Manuele for the tt yay

 

[Cyivel]

Rogerio did well here last year lets hope he can provide some decent support.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Didn't Alberto say he'd ride much more Italian races this year? So far just T-A and maybe GP Nobili, no other Italian races on his schedule either

 

[notrolfsorensen]

Didn't Alberto say he'd ride much more Italian races this year? So far just T-A and maybe GP Nobili, no other Italian races on his schedule either

That's also more than last year plus WC is in Italy and maybe Lombardia again in the end of the season

 

[LaFlorecita]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcC5gnE75I4

 

[LaFlorecita]

Crit is in 10 days and catalonia in 3 weeks, that's just lame

Stage 1

Stage 2 ITT

Stage 3

 

[LaFlorecita]

Why the f such a flipping huge profile

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

First gc victory for AC this year in CI. (Is Froome or Nibali racing?)

 

[LaFlorecita]

First gc victory for AC this year in CI. (Is Froome or Nibali racing?)

Dunno about Nibali but Froome is definitely racing

Edit: No Nibbles cos no Astana

 

[Cyivel]

First gc victory for AC this year in CI. (Is Froome or Nibali racing?)

Froome is

So far

Colombia (COL): Atapuma, Pantano (COL)
Team Saxo-Tinkoff (TST/Denmark): Contador (ESP), Rogers (AUS)
BMC Racing Team (BMC/USA): Evans (AUS), Moinard (FRA), Van Garderen (USA)
Garmin-Sharp (GRS/USA): Talansky (USA), Martin (IRL)
AG2R La Mondiale (ALM/France): Bardet, Péraud, Gadret (FRA)
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits (COF/France): Coppel (FRA), Taaramäe (EST)
FDJ (FDJ/France): Fédrigo, Bouhanni (FRA)
Bretagne-SecheEnvironnement (BSE/France): Koretzky, Lequatre, Vachon (FRA)
Sojasun (SOJ/France): Hivert, Pauriol (FRA)
Team Europcar (EUC/France): Rolland, Voeckler (FRA)
Team La Pomme Marseille (LPM/France): Gonçalves (POR)
Sky ProCycling (SKY/Great Britain): Froome (GBR), Porte (AUS)
RadioShack-Nissan (RLT/Luxembourg): A. Schleck (LUX), Monfort (BEL), Klöden, Voigt (GER)
Blanco Pro Cycling Team (BLA/Netherlands): Bos, Kelderman (NED), Bobridge (AUS), L. L. Sánchez (ESP)
Team Argos-Shimano (ARG/Netherlands): Barguil (FRA), Geschke (GER)
IAM Cycling (IAM/Switzerland): Denifl (AUT), Tschopp (SUI)

 

[LaFlorecita]

Rogers will win I just feel it

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Froome is

So far

Froome AND Porte? Nice now we can see if Froome might get a contender in his own team this July (other than an tired Wiggo)