Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[The Hitch]

Hitch don't say that

No seriously. If this isn't a work (i dont think it is, though i suppose it could be) then he either played all his fans for idiots this last year, talking himself up while knowing he wouldn't be good, OR, he really is an idiot. There are tests riders do before races. Riders who have won as many gts as Contador has knows what being in good form for a gt is. Contador knows this cos he has that climb he always does before a gt. Did he not do it this year or did he do it, see his time was minutes off his best but still thought he was going to win the Tour?

 

[jens_attacks]

check the last week guys and girls:

 

[jens_attacks]

if i'd could choose a week to peak for, this will be the one. even valverde still has his chances to win le tour. but in this week, you can bonk and lose minutes. i still think that sky went hard too early. and froomey too.

 

[EnacheV]

To me, it looks like Lance Armstrong when he was back in 2009 (?), nothing in his legs. So much pain to stay on his opponents wheel.

 

[Taxus4a]

Really strange. All this time, through all his bad from through Dauphine even through the first 9 days of the Tour he kept saying all was good.

And now all of a sudden basically overnght he realizes he isnt anywhere near his best afterall. A guy with as much gt experience as Contador?

How much of an idiot is he?

He is very clever, and he knows exactly how he is and how are his rivals, and he knew before to come to the TdF, but he has to keep the atention with him... that is normal...
I had my little doubts after the TTT, but the team is really great.

 

[Gloin22]

The team can be amazing, but if the leader isn't up to par, it doesn't matter.

 

[Afrank]

I'm going to go ahead and take the same attitude of Jens. Got a hard final week coming up, and anything can happen...anything!

 

[Miburo]

I'm with Jens here. Alberto will still win the Tour

Exactly. Screw logic.

He'll destroy the borgs.

The last week is so hard, if he really peaked for it we might see something.

You remember how much his form changed in the tour 2011 in only a few days? He can still do this

 

[Taxus4a]

I have just read a whatsupp from a friend thinking to bet 100 euros to Contador 12/1
He wanted my advice, becouse he doesnt follow cycling usually...

Well, I told him that it is too much money to lose...but if he want to lose...


What is the team going to do if Kreuziger tomorrow put half a minute with him?

 

[Ryaguas]

Yes! at last some optimism in the thread...!

Yes fuq logic guys! is a good idea!

 

[The Hitch]

Blind optimism probably not the best idea on the eve of the tt. Yall be back to hitting the bottles in 15 hours.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Blind optimism probably not the best idea on the eve of the tt. Yall be back to hitting the bottles in 15 hours.

Or roll up a joint for Fyefi and others.

 

[Miburo]

Blind optimism probably not the best idea on the eve of the tt. Yall be back to hitting the bottles in 15 hours.

At least we'll have a reason to drink then i guess.

I don't feel like hating on Contador after 1 week in the tour, i'll do that in 2 weeks.

 

[The Hitch]

At least we'll have a reason to drink then i guess.

I don't feel like hating on Contador after 1 week in the tour, i'll do that in 2 weeks.

Dont blame me. Im the guy who tells you your girlfriend is cheating on you BEFORE you get married, rather than let you delude yourself for a little while longer and then watch the trainwreck from a distance.

 

[Miburo]

Dont blame me. Im the guy who tells you your girlfriend is cheating on you BEFORE you get married, rather than let you delude yourself for a little while longer and then watch the trainwreck from a distance.

I don't blame you, you've reasons to hate on him but i just don't feel like doing it. It's still early in the tour, many things still can happen.

He looks like absolute **** right now, i realise that but yea i still have some hope. I won't be crushed when Froome wins it, it's only normal but i still think he can pull it off.

Besides I rather see Contador doing crazy stuff to win it than do absolutely nothing to try and win the tour that way. I didn't really like the tour 2010 although he won it.

I really enjoyed the tour 2011 (last week) even though he lost it.

 

[Ryaguas]

Not giving up on Contador anytime time soon

 

[Carols]

airstream just like alberto is peaking towards the 3rd week. Watch out!

rotflmao!!!!!

 

[Carols]

Really strange. All this time, through all his bad from through Dauphine even through the first 9 days of the Tour he kept saying all was good.

And now all of a sudden basically overnght he realizes he isnt anywhere near his best afterall. A guy with as much gt experience as Contador?

How much of an idiot is he?

They delude themselves that the form will come because it always has before. They think they just have to work harder, differently and rest more. He has said for months that it has been difficult to find form.

The earlier and brighter they burn the sooner and quicker they burn out. Most refuse to admit it and keep believing and trying. The mind is willing but the body just cannot produce like it always has before. It must be dreadfully difficult to face and admit even to yourself.

I'd say it's to early to give up, but I've seen all the indicators now. Tomorrow is the final test. He looked good in the TTT, but tomorrow it is him, the road and the clock. Maybe the body will do what the mind is asking of it. We can only hope.

 

[Carols]

To be honest, at this point I would be excited to see him win a stage

I would be excited to see him ride without pain and effort, win or lose!

 

[darwin553]

Not giving up on Contador anytime time soon

So he is the 10k man and Froome is the 1500m sprinter?

 

[DenisMenchov]

They delude themselves that the form will come because it always has before. They think they just have to work harder, differently and rest more. He has said for months that it has been difficult to find form.

The earlier and brighter they burn the sooner and quicker they burn out. Most refuse to admit it and keep believing and trying. The mind is willing but the body just cannot produce like it always has before. It must be dreadfully difficult to face and admit even to yourself.

I'd say it's to early to give up, but I've seen all the indicators now. Tomorrow is the final test. He looked good in the TTT, but tomorrow it is him, the road and the clock. Maybe the body will do what the mind is asking of it. We can only hope.

Contador is too young for that to happen, but when you think about it, he was way ahead of his generation back in 2007, and had 6 incredible years, so what you're saying might be true. But I don't think it can happen that drastically, even Armstorng on his return managed to reach the podium on his own.

 

[Jelantik]

Let's reverse it.

Did you think evans was gonna win the tour in 2011? Did you think valverde after last year's performance was ever gonna have a chance for a podium in a tour? Did you think Wiggins was ever gonna win a tour after 2010?

95% of this forum would have said "no". Don't write a rider off too early. Contador is only 30 years old.

I still believe that one day we'll see him at 100% again.

Good way of seeing it, miburo. Why a sudden switch off light and it seems to start to come up after Bjarne showed up. Hmm . Somethin' somethin'? or are they quietly move the leadership role? Hmmm.. b/c His DS interview seemed to be confident and he explained contador's ITT lackcluster at Dauphine.

interesting snipet form his DS:
Contador blamed his allergies for his low-key performance at the Dauphiné but Mauduit said that the race had also come immediately after a heavy training load, which contributed to his tired showing in the time trial.

"He was working a lot before the Dauphiné and he wasn't so fresh because he was using it as a last training for the Tour," he said. "Of course, he has made a lot of progress in the time trial because he has worked a lot, both before and after the Dauphiné. It's a maybe bit different at the Tour too because the boys have one hard week in the legs, and that's also a change to the way they start the TT, so we will see."

For now, I still believe.. He'll fight.

 

[Carols]

Contador is too young for that to happen, but when you think about it, he was way ahead of his generation back in 2007, and had 6 incredible years, so what you're saying might be true. But I don't think it can happen that drastically, even Armstorng on his return managed to reach the podium on his own.

It can. I am 62, I've seen it happen to Hinault, LeMond, Indurain and Pantani. Read about it for Merckx; only had newsreels back then, he was done at 30. I did see Merckx in person when he was still riding though.

If they hang on grimly trying to recapture the magic it sometimes burns brightly again for a short time.

Lance was aided, he admitted everything up to his return in 2009. I don't believe his returned clean story.

Maybe I'm wrong; praying I am but it is like watching history repeat itself. The same history I've witnessed for decades; The fall of a Great Champion

 

[DenisMenchov]

It can. I am 62, I've seen it happen to Hinault, LeMond, Indurain and Pantani. Read about it for Merckx; only had newsreels back then, he was done at 30. I did see Merckx in person when he was still riding though.

If they hang on grimly trying to recapture the magic it sometimes burns brightly again for a short time.

Lance was aided, he admitted everything up to his return in 2009. I don't believe his returned clean story.

Maybe I'm wrong; praying I am but it is like watching history repeat itself. The same history I've witnessed for decades; The fall of a Great Champion

I'm much younger then you are, but the Fall is inevitable. Almost no one leaves on his best, Federer, Schumacher, Ronaldinho, Jordan... Not to mention cyclists.

Funny thing is I hated the 2009 Tour Contador, he looked so inhuman, nothing around him was interesting for me. Then he was so dominant at 2011 Giro, i even liked him less. But in 2011 Tour he looked like human, he was getting dropped on mountain stages, but refused to give, that's where he got my sympathy, and eventually in 2012 Vuelta, he never looked the strongest, but won. So unlike many, I now support Contador, maybe even like him.

 

[IndianCyclist]

I'm much younger then you are, but the Fall is inevitable. Almost no one leaves on his best, Federer, Schumacher, Ronaldinho, Jordan... Not to mention cyclists.

Funny thing is I hated the 2009 Tour Contador, he looked so inhuman, nothing around him was interesting for me. Then he was so dominant at 2011 Giro, i even liked him less. But in 2011 Tour he looked like human, he was getting dropped on mountain stages, but refused to give, that's where he got my sympathy, and eventually in 2012 Vuelta, he never looked the strongest, but won. So unlike many, I now support Contador, maybe even like him.

I figured 33 is the age of fall when VO2 max start to decrease. Contador is too young.