Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Publicus]

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

I presume you can read (though it is clear you struggle with comprehension), so you understand the rather simple forum phrase "This." Now as to your question, which Vuelta 2011 or 2012? And if the point here is to compare Contador's 2011 double to Froome's 2012 double, shouldnt we look at the 2011 Giro course as well?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Alberto Contador ‏@albertocontador 33m
Today has been the last hard training, with a leg pain...!!!Now,to recover well,that on Saturday starts the Tour. #6daystogo #Tour

Jonathan Vaughters ‏@Vaughters 22m
@albertocontador A leg pain? Injury? Out of the Tour??!! #startingrumors...teehee

 

[Angliru]

The result is everything that matters. Froome finished higher

Yep that 10 minute gap wasn't as vast as it appeared.

 

[xrayvision]

Alberto Contador ‏@albertocontador 33m
Today has been the last hard training, with a leg pain...!!!Now,to recover well,that on Saturday starts the Tour. #6daystogo #Tour

Jonathan Vaughters ‏@Vaughters 22m
@albertocontador A leg pain? Injury? Out of the Tour??!! #startingrumors...teehee

Just hard training, it´s supposed to hurt JV....

 

[LaFlorecita]

Yep that 10 minute gap wasn't as vast as it appeared.

really huh, result is more important, let's not look at what race, how the rider in question raced and the time difference

4th at Vuelta, 10 minutes back, nowhere to be seen in the second half of the race

5th at Tour, 5 minutes back, crashed a lot and lost 1'20" on the first stage due to a crash, attacked all the time

 

[The Hitch]

Ahhh, thanks for clearing that out.

I was getting worried, more worried . . .

It seems to work both ways with Contador. In 2010 he didn't ride it (the tt) because he wasnt feeling good (though that was illlness).

In 2011 he did ride it to get some form.

 

[Taxus4a]

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!!

He was at the begining, in Arrate, an explosive climb that suit better to Valverde, Purito or Contador, he managed to follow him, after a lot of attacks from Contador.

But if Brailsford thought really the risk with him in his first year with two GT wasnt hight, and he wouldnt affect at the end he has a lot to learn about road race.

Uran would be a better choice, but he was thinking in Lombardia, so he doesnt care a lot and didnt ask the team for that, and he soft pedaling a little helping Froome, I know him. And that was good, he won later Piemonte and did poidum at Lombardia.

 

[Jelantik]

Alberto Contador ‏@albertocontador 33m
Today has been the last hard training, with a leg pain...!!!Now,to recover well,that on Saturday starts the Tour. #6daystogo #Tour

Jonathan Vaughters ‏@Vaughters 22m
@albertocontador A leg pain? Injury? Out of the Tour??!! #startingrumors...teehee

lol.. vaughters starting rumour... niceeee...

 

[airstream]

Yep that 10 minute gap wasn't as vast as it appeared.

Is it quintessence his strength like a stage racer or evaluation criterion for the Tour?

What's more importand, final spot or gap?

 

[Taxus4a]

lol.. vaughters starting rumour... niceeee...

Anyway I cant see that, did he delete it?

Contador always refers to "dolor de piernas": pain leg, when he has had a hard training or a hard stage, sometimes after a good win.

It is a possitive message

 

[Taxus4a]

really huh, result is more important, let's not look at what race, how the rider in question raced and the time difference

4th at Vuelta, 10 minutes back, nowhere to be seen in the second half of the race

5th at Tour, 5 minutes back, crashed a lot and lost 1'20" on the first stage due to a crash, attacked all the time

In this I am with you. Contador Tour was better. Clearly, he just was "bad" a day. Five days before finish people was considering him still the favourite to win

But for me it is not the same to do Nats as a built up than Olimpic as an important objetive.

But the important different for me is that it was first time Froome did two GT in a year. For Contador was the first time he did it with one month difference, but anyway it is note the same.

When Alberto won giro and Vuelta the same year, Levi was better not considering time bonus and help, in la Vuelta, and Contador didnt finish very strong. and that considering there is a long time between Giro and Vuelta.

Froome is not so young in age, but still not only is learning important things in cycling, but as well his body is learning new situations.

If you want the "spanish opinion", I was in the (famous) spanish party yesterday night, talked with tipycal football followers that watch the Tour and Vuelta, and they are with Contador, thinking difficult, but he could win, and other thing are with you that cant write here... so... you would be happy here

 

[LaFlorecita]

In this I am with you. Contador Tour was better. Clearly, he just was "bad" a day. Five days before finish people was considering him still the favourite to win

But for me it is not the same to do Nats as a built up than Olimpic as an important objetive.

But the important different for me is that it was first time Froome did two GT in a year. For Contador was the first time he did it with one month difference, but anyway it is note the same.

When Alberto won giro and Vuelta the same year, Levi was better not considering time bonus and help, in la Vuelta, and Contador didnt finish very strong. and that considering there is a long time between Giro and Vuelta.

Froome is not so young in age, but still not only is learning important things in cycling, but as well his body is learning new situations.

If you want the "spanish opinion", I was in the (famous) spanish party yesterday night, talked with tipycal football followers that watch the Tour and Vuelta, and they are with Contador, thinking difficult, but he could win, and other thing are with you that cant write here... so... you would be happy here

 

[xrayvision]

He was at the begining, in Arrate, an explosive climb that suit better to Valverde, Purito or Contador, he managed to follow him, after a lot of attacks from Contador.

But if Brailsford thought really the risk with him in his first year with two GT wasnt hight, and he wouldnt affect at the end he has a lot to learn about road race.

Uran would be a better choice, but he was thinking in Lombardia, so he doesnt care a lot and didnt ask the team for that, and he soft pedaling a little helping Froome, I know him. And that was good, he won later Piemonte and did poidum at Lombardia.

And Lance is never tested positive...
So you think Brailsfard must be joking, or he have no idea what he´s doing.
Running the most successful team the last 2 years, turning half the team into future tour winners, and claiming the only true opponent to Froome would have been Wiggo if he had ridden the tour.
He sure as hell knows something we don´t.
So now its suddenly an argument that Froomey rode the tour, but it isn´t that AC had been outside competition more than a year prior to the Vuelta.
Brailsford were dead serious when he said Froome was ready, and he expected him to win, make no mistake, as he expects him to win the tour this time.

Nobody here knows who´s in better shape, or who will win it, arguing about season results and use it to predict the outcome of a forth coming race based on it is just....airstreamish.

 

[airstream]

And Lance is never tested positive...
So you think Brailsfard must be joking, or he have no idea what he´s doing.
Running the most successful team the last 2 years, turning half the team into future tour winners, and claiming the only true opponent to Froome would have been Wiggo if he had ridden the tour.
He sure as hell knows something we don´t.
So now its suddenly an argument that Froomey rode the tour, but it isn´t that AC had been outside competition more than a year prior to the Vuelta.
Brailsford were dead serious when he said Froome was ready, and he expected him to win, make no mistake, as he expects him to win the tour this time.

Nobody here knows who´s in better shape, or who will win it, arguing about season results and use it to predict the outcome of a forth coming race based on it is just....airstreamish.

You are so funny with your black and white visions. Declaring about top conditions guarantees that a rider will be very good during 3 weeks or what? Naturally, they said about top conditions, because hoped Froome's rent of form will be enough to fight for the win, though, all that was one global experiment with absolutely unpredictable outcome. Or Brailsford should've had to predict the future special for you?

Aha, to reason like Airstream is to know nothing about cycling.. I got it... As I see, you have better criteria for predictions and evaluations than 'mine'?

 

[Taxus4a]

And Lance is never tested positive...
So you think Brailsfard must be joking, or he have no idea what he´s doing.
Running the most successful team the last 2 years, turning half the team into future tour winners, and claiming the only true opponent to Froome would have been Wiggo if he had ridden the tour.
He sure as hell knows something we don´t.
So now its suddenly an argument that Froomey rode the tour, but it isn´t that AC had been outside competition more than a year prior to the Vuelta.
Brailsford were dead serious when he said Froome was ready, and he expected him to win, make no mistake, as he expects him to win the tour this time.

Nobody here knows who´s in better shape, or who will win it, arguing about season results and use it to predict the outcome of a forth coming race based on it is just....airstreamish.

A team that order to Uran to lost 1 minute and a half in the Giro, the day he was goint to wear pink yersey, just to help Wiggo to loss 5 second less... it is a team that dont know a lot about cycling.

Wiggo wasnt any guarantee, and anyway, always things happends, it is good to have two options till the mountains, if the second option is reliable as uran show last year.

They make a lot of mistakes. They lost the Vuelta having the strongest man and the third one. Froome even sprinted for a 10 km banner. They lost Tirreno been clearly the stronger team... they use the team in bad moments in this Giro for no worthy things and they dont have people for the important moments.

They have good profesionals, physical trainers, methods, money to have always the most comfort in all the ways, and things like that, but they try to handle road as it would be track, what in one way it works, i.e marginal gains, but in other way it doesn´t. With people as Flecha before and now Lopez they have some experience inside, López was signed up for his experience and to be as a director inside the road, becouse they needed.

I dont like usually the way they race, they are lucky to have very good riders, other way they would fail a lot...

 

[The Hitch]

What "famous" Spanish party?

 

[LaFlorecita]

LOL

On Facebook

Oleg Tinkov
On Saturday, 100th Tour de France edition is starting in Corsica.
Everybody is talking about SKY team and Chris Froome. They are all sure he is going to win.
In contrast, I am very much sure that Alberto Contador will be crowned as the winner on Champ Elisee on July 21st.
I am not going to give you any insights on Team Saxo-Tinkoff, but I guarantee you that the team is super motivated, and our moral is very high. Despite on the very strong Sky roster, thanx to Belorussia . I believe that our team is the strongest in the peloton, our manager Bjarne Riis is the smartest and most tactically savvy, and we, sponsors, are behind it.
Alberto is strong and on the peak of his form just in time, he is more experienced and less nervous than Chris.
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!
Мы дадим им прикурить!

 

[airstream]

I disagree. If one contemplates like that, anyone can be accused of any defeat. Riders are sometimes weaker on particular days and it's absolutely normal. No one is immune from such situation because it's sport and there's always a loser. As to the Vuelta, I think Sky did it OK. They had a well-tried rider Wiggins and surprisingly strong rider of uncertain quality Froome who in theory could crack on any mountain day and it wouldn't have been a surprise whatsoever. No one knows the future and it's quite ridiculous to reason postfactum in such cases.

Btw, the last sentence means 'we'll kick their a~~es'

 

[Siriuscat]

That made me laugh from an unashamed contador fanboy, what is your beef with froome

Why did it make you laugh?? He got caught with an amount of a drug that was so infinitismally small it can only measured electronically in his system that he couldn't prove was beef after the UCI gave him that suggestion, that neither UCI nor WADA could prove was a tranfusion and that CAS could pin-point either but suggested it could have been an Energy Drink so was banned on the prinicple that it was in his system.... Read the papers, he's served his ban, he's back.... end of discussion.

Sky and Froome, well we could take on the Geert van Lienders line or the Wiggo's dodgy Blood values from previous tours line or the I've just come back from a major illness and I'm a GT superstar now line. Sky are clean because they haven't been caught yet same as anyone else out there.

Contador - do I trust him to be clean?? Yes as much as the rest of them but I know the reality. He's still brilliant though and brings a buzz to every race he rides.

I'm a bike race fan, pure and simple and over the last 35 years I've developed certain blind spots regarding riders, I know what they really are but I'm still a fan because they bring something to bike racing that keeps me coming back...... Pantani, Kelly, Robert Miller, Hinault, Indurain, Perico, Ullrich, Contador. Wiggo, Froome, Schleck's etc, no Panache, no excitement in their racing.

I can handle the bad stuff because I love bike racing and that's the most important part of any of this.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I disagree. If one contemplates like that, anyone can be accused of any defeat. Riders are sometimes weaker on particular days and it's absolutely normal. No one is immune from such situation because it's sport and there's always a loser. As to the Vuelta, I think Sky did it OK. They had a well-tried rider Wiggins and surprisingly strong rider of uncertain quality Froome who in theory could crack on any mountain day and it wouldn't have been a surprise whatsoever. No one knows the future and it's quite ridiculous to reason postfactum in such cases.

Btw, the last sentence means 'we'll kick their a~~es'

reminds me of that time he told someone "suck my d.ick" in russian on twitter

 

[Taxus4a]

I disagree. If one contemplates like that, anyone can be accused of any defeat. Riders are sometimes weaker on particular days and it's absolutely normal. No one is immune from such situation because it's sport and there's always a loser. As to the Vuelta, I think Sky did it OK. They had a well-tried rider Wiggins and surprisingly strong rider of uncertain quality Froome who in theory could crack on any mountain day and it wouldn't have been a surprise whatsoever. No one knows the future and it's quite ridiculous to reason postfactum in such cases.

Btw, the last sentence means 'we'll kick their a~~es'

And you must be ready for that.

In the Vuelta Froome was in red, had showed in La Covatilla to be at least as strong than Wiggo in the mountains and beated him at Salamanca ITT, the strong point of Wiggo...so at least dont work, he deserves. It was just the strong leadership of Wiggo into the team that made that.

To have 5 good riders for GTs, and sacrifices all them for one always from the begining, for me is foolish. Use them in other way.

They did ok in the Tour. Froome could have won in other team, maybe, but that was ok, at least considering the weak oposition and how was the route.

 

[Taxus4a]

What "famous" Spanish party?

When I am abroad, some young people tell me: ou, spanish, very good party...It is not so different, but some people associates Spain and party.

 

[Siriuscat]

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.

What Milburo said......

 

[Siriuscat]

What "famous" Spanish party?

Armada 1588 ..... ;0)

 

[Miburo]

Tinkov has inside info, how foolish you may think the man is in cycling he has insight. Not even airstream can deny that (i think ).

Contador will be ready. We'll see this man again.