Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[LaFlorecita]

I hope he doesn't have one of those Thor or Cadel viruses


"As the season has progressed, I've been feeling more and more tired. The body feels a bit weak but Liège is the last day of competition before a break and then I'll initiate the preparation for the Tour,” he said, speaking after riding the final eighty kilometres of Sunday’s route. “But of course, I'm here to focus on this race and do the best I can.”

Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...looking-forward-to-a-break.aspx#ixzz2Qvzvrp89

That is interesting, a virus is certainly possible and it would explain everything. Bjarne, send him to a doctor.

 

[Angliru]

I hope he doesn't have one of those Thor or Cadel viruses


"As the season has progressed, I've been feeling more and more tired. The body feels a bit weak but Liège is the last day of competition before a break and then I'll initiate the preparation for the Tour,” he said, speaking after riding the final eighty kilometres of Sunday’s route. “But of course, I'm here to focus on this race and do the best I can.”

Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...looking-forward-to-a-break.aspx#ixzz2Qvzvrp89

I was thinking that was a possible explanation. It really reminds me of Cunego's riding at the 2005 Giro where he was a shadow of the rider he was in 2004, barely able to ride in support of Simoni, let alone ride for himself and defend his Giro title. Of course Contador's performances in this year's stage races hasn't been on that level but he has lacked that snap or even the ability to even initiate a decent attack if at all. It's hard to judge with Contador based on his Fleche Wallone performance since one day races aren't really his specialty and his form leading up to the Ardennes' Week wasn't exactly stellar but the above quote leads me to think he has some type of virus.

 

[forumlurker]

Coming from some supposed fans, saying that he "sucks" and worse is my definition of abandoning a rider when he's down...fairweather fans. The "toss him on a trash heap" statement is just my summarizing the level of disrespect he's lately been shown by some supposed fans.

Can we just stick with Alberto please? This thread is about him, not fans/detractors!

aren't his fans important and relevant to ac? if i were him reading these forums, i'd be kind of bummed by all the fairweather fans.

i think ac is doing alright. he's targeting races starting with le tour. he knows his competition is as good as ever. he can't show his strength and form too soon, and he can't race early season races to win as he has done in the past. come july, we will see the racer who finished first in 7 grand tours and came back from a suspension to win the last vuelta. of course we would like to see him win in oman, san luis, t-a, etc., but for much of the world, the only race that matters is the one in july, and that is when ac will reveal his hand. ac for the tour and vuelta (and florence!) this year

 

[BRCYC11]

I don't know if the danish version is more correct than the english one. But in the danish he says: "The body feels weaker than usually."
Instead if the english which says: "The body feels a bit weak." like Velonation is quoting.

Danish: http://teamsaxotinkoff.com/ny_news.asp?n_id=3977

As if it is not like he use to be feeling, which we have also seen with his performances this season.

 

[Jelantik]

I hope he doesn't have one of those Thor or Cadel viruses


"As the season has progressed, I've been feeling more and more tired. The body feels a bit weak but Liège is the last day of competition before a break and then I'll initiate the preparation for the Tour,” he said, speaking after riding the final eighty kilometres of Sunday’s route. “But of course, I'm here to focus on this race and do the best I can.”

Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...looking-forward-to-a-break.aspx#ixzz2Qvzvrp89

hah.. i was thinking the same thing too.

 

[maxmartin]

That is interesting, a virus is certainly possible and it would explain everything. Bjarne, send him to a doctor.

Not any doctor, they have to find a capable doctor that can cure virus

 

[Hugo87]

That is interesting, a virus is certainly possible and it would explain everything. Bjarne, send him to a doctor.

Could be a Bilharzia mutation.

 

[ElChingon]

I hope he doesn't have one of those Thor or Cadel viruses

No their viruses only hit one hit wonder riders or riders who win when least expected or come in 2nd way too much.

 

[Miburo]

No their viruses only hit one hit wonder riders or riders who win when least expected or come in 2nd way too much.

I see what you did there.

Correct direction?

 

[Zam_Olyas]

That is interesting, a virus is certainly possible and it would explain everything. Bjarne, send him to a doctor.

 

[Carols]

I don't know if the danish version is more correct than the english one. But in the danish he says: "The body feels weaker than usually."
Instead if the english which says: "The body feels a bit weak." like Velonation is quoting.

Danish: http://teamsaxotinkoff.com/ny_news.asp?n_id=3977

As if it is not like he use to be feeling, which we have also seen with his performances this season.

Exactly, there is a problem.

Denying it is just sticking ones head in the sand. Better to find it and fix it if possible!

 

[Miburo]

But tomorrow [Sunday] is my last day of racing prior to taking a break and then starting to build up for the Tour and so I will give it 100 percent and try to go out from this first part of the season on a high note.

I've faith, tomorrow is the day Contador will give us a bit more hope for le tour

 

[xrayvision]

Agree with you on the bolded. The AC fans do tend to overreact a little too much when Contador doesn't perform up to their expectations of him. Contador's is getting older and it's natural that he won't be dominating like he did in the past anymore. Although, his current form should be a cause for some concern I think, but people should also lower their expectations of him.

I hate to say this, but he´s actually not too old, he´s in his absolute prime, and will still be for the next couple of years, his recovery speed might take a slightly decrease over age, but for now it´s certainly not a problem yet.

His troubles must be found elsewhere.

 

[ferryman]

I've faith, tomorrow is the day Contador will give us a bit more hope for le tour

I hope so but I doubt it but I'm not worried about Le Tour yet. TBH I'm more interested in how Andy goes tomorrow.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Zam you troll

 

[Afrank]

I hate to say this, but he´s actually not too old, he´s in his absolute prime, and will still be for the next couple of years, his recovery speed might take a slightly decrease over age, but for now it´s certainly not a problem yet.

His troubles must be found elsewhere.

No he not really old, only 30, but he's by no means young anymore, he's in the latter part of his career. For the normal progression of a rider he should be in his prime right now, but he's been riding well and winning the biggest races since he was 24. Maybe he peaked early? I for one, sincerely hope not.

 

[Miburo]

No he not really old, only 30, but he's by no means young anymore, he's in the latter part of his career. For the normal progression of a rider he should be in his prime right now, but he's been riding well and winning the biggest races since he was 24. Maybe he peaked early? I for one, sincerely hope not.

What about valverde then?

He's already at a top level since 22. I doubt it's that.

 

[Afrank]

What about valverde then?

He's already at a top level since 22. I doubt it's that.

It's different for every rider, some peak early, some peak late, some win from the start and keep winning the rest of their career. Only time will tell which one Contador is. I don't think at all that age is the main reason for his sub-par performance, but I can't find myself discounting the possibility that it could play a role in it.

 

[Jelantik]

It's different for every rider, some peak early, some peak late, some win from the start and keep winning the rest of their career. Only time will tell which one Contador is. I don't think at all that age is the main reason for his sub-par performance, but I can't find myself discounting the possibility that it could play a role in it.

if he did bluff all season long and came july he showed how stronger he is at the TDF,.. I would be calling bjarne the world class master bluffer of all time.

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

if he did bluff all season long and came july he showed how stronger he is at the TDF,.. I would be calling bjarne the world class master bluffer of all time.

I think I would cry tears of joy if it has all been a bluff

His inability to sustain attacks back at the Vuelta suggests not though. He definitely wasn't bluffing then.

Edit: maybe Andy has been bluffing as well?! Would be better than the twists at the end of the Shawshank redemption and Usual suspects combined!

 

[Marco Pantani]

Andy just beat him by a minute.
I like it.

 

[Netserk]

Andy just beat him by a minute.
I like it.

Goes to show how pathetic Alberto is atm.

 

[serfla]

Goes to show how pathetic Alberto is atm.

He showed some enthusiasm, though.

 

[Marco Pantani]

He tried hard.

 

[Jelantik]

He showed some enthusiasm, though.

he got to the breakaway and did his usual dance on the climb. At least he is the only saxo we've seen before the last climb..