Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Zam_Olyas]

Taxus4a why do you want to know whether he'll ride nats. It's not like you care about him. I guess you care about the nats and don't want AC to tarnish the Spanish national jersey.

And can you get my nick right for once?

"dont say you love me just to put it in my face" syndrome eh?

 

[Parrulo]

Wasn't Contador supposed to ride the nats if he was "feeling good"?

 

[Publicus]

Wasn't Contador supposed to ride the nats if he was "feeling good"?

I think it was the opposite. He would only ride if he thought he wasnt on track

Contador will decide at the last minute whether to ride the Spanish National Championships, depending on how he feels in the training sessions just prior to the time trial (June 21) and the road race (June 23). If all goes according to the plan currently in effect, he will not be at the start line in Bembibre.

 

[Parrulo]

I think it was the opposite. He would only ride if he thought he wasnt on track

Ahhh, thanks for clearing that out.

I was getting worried, more worried . . .

 

[Miburo]

a shame he doesn't ride nationals but even then he probably wasn't allowed to win it either way. Some sponsors don't like it that much and a guy like contador won't get extra publicity being the spanish ch. anyways.

 

[Taxus4a]

Taxus4a why do you want to know whether he'll ride nats. It's not like you care about him. I guess you care about the nats and don't want AC to tarnish the Spanish national jersey.

And can you get my nick right for once?

Contador is an important rider, and I dont live very far from Bembibre, so I would like to see him race

Not today, I have just came to party...But I could

You think I hate him, and that is not true...

I would like to know, it is a hard circuit, it suit him more than others, it would be good news to see him against Valverde.

I see he is not riding...

 

[xrayvision]

How?


Lots attacks vs Sky is wittingly losing tactics.

yes we surely saw that during the Vuelta...

 

[xrayvision]

This cue is even more confident. Why? Froome's got all necessary elements. He's an excellent mountain sprinter which provides explosiveness of his punch. He's a great TTer which automatically means he's able to ride uphill in a high steady tempo. That's it. His Tour Ospedale is a matter of the nearest future. His climbing manner is probably not so spectacar. I agree on that. But spectacle and strength always don't coincide.

All this?

It´s just hilarious! Did you miss the Vuelta last year?

 

[airstream]

Oh yeah, apparently the Vuelta where Froome obviously was on remain of his form is a massive argument. Are you serious? Is it the last prime of hope for you?

 

[Netserk]

Oh yeah, apparently the Vuelta where Froome obviously was on remain of his form is a massive argument. Are you serious? Is it the last prime of hope for you?

And yet Contador had strength enough that he could've won the Tour in '11....

 

[airstream]

And yet Contador had strength enough that he could've won the Tour in '11....

utopian myth. 5-10 people would agree with that on here

 

[Netserk]

utopian myth. 5-10 people would agree with that on here

Just because you don't like it, doesn't make it a myth

 

[LaFlorecita]

Just because you don't like it, doesn't make it a myth

Well said.

 

[airstream]

I'm neutral to it by virtue of obvious answer

 

[The Blues]

I really don't see it either. Not that I know if I have any more credibility to you guys, but there were a couple of guys stronger as I see it. Maybe also Fränk, but definitely Andy and Cadel.

 

[Miburo]

If Contador didn't have bad luck he would have podium'd it, that's a fact. Froome didn't even podium the vuelta and i think we can all agree that podiuming the tour is a bit harder than the vuelta.

And the giro 2011 was way harder than the tour 2012, no way denying that.

Contador had even crashed which could have slowed down his progress, how much is unsure though.

Contador's tour 2011 was way more impressive than what Froome did in the vuelta. Heck after froome's vuelta many had more respect for what contador was able to do in the tour.

 

[airstream]

The result is everything that matters. Froome finished higher

 

[Taxus4a]

All this?

It´s just hilarious! Did you miss the Vuelta last year?

The Vuelta was his first year he rode two GT, and been the first time he attempt to be up in GC in both of them, and he got it...2nd and 4th. But the problem is that he dont take a rest in his shape, he was on top shape for the olimpics...it is not the same as Evans this year...he went to the Giro in a good shape, but just to built up for the TdF, and after Giro he take a rest

Next time will be different. I dont know if he could win two GT in a year, but maybe.

Froome was very strong last year in TdF, at the begining and at the end

 

[Taxus4a]

I really don't see it either. Not that I know if I have any more credibility to you guys, but there were a couple of guys stronger as I see it. Maybe also Fränk, but definitely Andy and Cadel.

Contador had a knee problem that affect him on the Pyrenees (nobody attacked seriously there), but after the two rest days he was ok. He did two good stages before Galibier, so that means he wasnt tired, nor more tired than other years. He did a good final ITT, so that means he didnt finish tired. at least other years as in 2010 his final ITT was worse (considerating wind change, he could have been top ten, but no more, with Andy close).

So, for me, if he failed in Galibier, or he couldnt get the stage in Alp dhuez and take more time, wasnt a problem of the Giro, or the influence was very little. There were stronger people for that stages, at least in Galibier, IMO.

 

[icefire]

a shame he doesn't ride nationals but even then he probably wasn't allowed to win it either way. Some sponsors don't like it that much and a guy like contador won't get extra publicity being the spanish ch. anyways.

Spanish nationals have become a race of Movistar vs rest of the world, where Movistar always wins.

 

[Publicus]

Airstream brings new meaning to the (American) phrase: hater. He just doesn't want to acknowledge Contador's place in cycling. Sad really.

 

[Publicus]

If Contador didn't have bad luck he would have podium'd it, that's a fact. Froome didn't even podium the vuelta and i think we can all agree that podiuming the tour is a bit harder than the vuelta.

And the giro 2011 was way harder than the tour 2012, no way denying that.

Contador had even crashed which could have slowed down his progress, how much is unsure though.

Contador's tour 2011 was way more impressive than what Froome did in the vuelta. Heck after froome's vuelta many had more respect for what contador was able to do in the tour.

This. All of it.

 

[xrayvision]

Mørkøv won the nationals, sorry we can´t see him wearing the jersey in the tour, he truly deserved it.

 

[airstream]

This. All of it.

What ' a lot of it'??? What is harder on course Tour 11 or Vuelta was tactically passed over in silence, on which race the opponents were stronger too.

 

[xrayvision]

The Vuelta was his first year he rode two GT, and been the first time he attempt to be up in GC in both of them, and he got it...2nd and 4th. But the problem is that he dont take a rest in his shape, he was on top shape for the olimpics...it is not the same as Evans this year...he went to the Giro in a good shape, but just to built up for the TdF, and after Giro he take a rest

Next time will be different. I dont know if he could win two GT in a year, but maybe.

Froome was very strong last year in TdF, at the begining and at the end

Your comparison to the tour is a bit weak, I think we can agree on that the competition in that tour was as bad as it was in 2008.
And to repeat Sir Brailsfords own words prior to the Vuelta...Froome is rested from the tour and is in top condition!!