Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[LaFlorecita]

So Miburo, La Flo, Carol and Jelantik are you happy with today? I thought he was better for sure, it don't say aloto be beat by Mollema but he has defo improved hasn't he.

No I'm not happy

 

[The Hitch]

If the past few years are any indication, second place often ends up becoming 1st place.

Now that Heras is on his way to getting that vuelta back, its happened twice, in "the past few years" and more

3 times if you want to count Contador giro 2011 which was a different thing entirely.

 

[vcampbell]

I just read this last page. I think Contador was much better than in the first week. His position on the bike was terrible, but he was always like that. Almost 4 minutes? Maybe a bit much, but what's then? I have no doubt, that he will try something on Ventoux. I don't know that it will be an(or many) attack(s) or just Saxo will ride on the front a hard pace, but he will try something. And there are the other moutain stages (the quality of the stages is another question). Last year I was already like he lost the Vuelta, then Fuente De happened. Yes, Froome is strong, but the hell cares? He is nothing compared to Alberto.

And I'm sure if Contador will not be able to win the Tour, he will be at least 2nd. But I still think that he can and he will do it.

 

[airstream]

Miburo, I was asking you to save your january sig.

 

[Carols]

No I'm not happy

I am Ecstatic Just saw his ride, obviously wasn't putting out enough power but looked solid and fluid, held his position well all the way throughout.

Dump one of the indicators of his swift demise right off the list

First time in this race other than the TTT that he has looked good actually.

LOL strange to be happy with a 2 min loss but there was much more at stake here than this one stage.

 

[The Hitch]

I just read this last page. I think Contador was much better than in the first week. His position on the bike was terrible, but he was always like that. Almost 4 minutes? Maybe a bit much, but what's then? I have no doubt, that he will try something on Ventoux. I don't know that it will be an(or many) attack(s) or just Saxo will ride on the front a hard pace, but he will try something. And there are the other moutain stages (the quality of the stages is another question). Last year I was already like he lost the Vuelta, then Fuente De happened. Yes, Froome is strong, but the hell cares? He is nothing compared to Alberto.

And I'm sure if Contador will not be able to win the Tour, he will be at least 2nd. But I still think that he can and he will do it.

Contador's odds to win the Vuelta the day before Fuente de were like 5/2. Now they are like 30/1

 

[vcampbell]

Contador's odds to win the Vuelta the day before Fuente de were like 5/2. Now they are like 30/1

I'm not that guy who is supporting his favorite rider about his odds. I'm supporting him, because I have seen for what he is capable for. He won 7 GTs, I guess he knows what to do.

And actually I think, after 7 years I'm too late to support other riders, when he is in the race, so he has no other chance just to win.

 

[burning]

That is one huge misconception about Alberto: He's never done well with ITT. The ones he's aced are the ones that have some gradient in the profile, but the pancake-flat stuff he is average.

His best ever flat TT is from 2007 when he was probably on ridiculous stuff

 

[Jelantik]

So Miburo, La Flo, Carol and Jelantik are you happy with today? I thought he was better for sure, it don't say aloto be beat by Mollema but he has defo improved hasn't he.

YEEEES. OF COURSE Tank! As you said, he could hardly podium right? well, who's knocking the door now? + He is moving up to 4th spot after such a not so bad ITT. Hmmm, imagine that. The difference between 2/3/4/5 are just seconds. Podium isn't really a fantasy.

Froome? Maybe, maybe *still optimistic* only if belkin, movistar, saxo and garmin do another round of sunday's fiesta combining pena cabanga and enchilada... I don't think he'll be that lucky again. Besides, fat french lady is still hair blowing her hair.

 

[Liquigas]

Sorry but without "help", Contador is only a rider to podium in GTs.

 

[Jelantik]

Yes because Valverde is a loser. Champions don't ride for second place because everyone will forget about anything but the winner in 5 years time.

not when your name is "contador"

 

[Publicus]

I am Ecstatic Just saw his ride, obviously wasn't putting out enough power but looked solid and fluid, held his position well all the way throughout.

Dump one of the indicators of his swift demise right off the list

First time in this race other than the TTT that he has looked good actually.

LOL strange to be happy with a 2 min loss but there was much more at stake here than this one stage.

He felt the same way about the race (I'll try to dig up the quote)

 

[silverrocket]

Cut me some slack. I'm trying to find some reason to watch the next 10 stages.

Well you could always follow the exciting race for the green jersey. Oh, wait a second...

 

[Jelantik]

I am Ecstatic Just saw his ride, obviously wasn't putting out enough power but looked solid and fluid, held his position well all the way throughout.

Dump one of the indicators of his swift demise right off the list

First time in this race other than the TTT that he has looked good actually.

LOL strange to be happy with a 2 min loss but there was much more at stake here than this one stage.

you are happy because he shows a sign of fighting and a spark of life That's all we can hope. Because that usually follows by "fireee woorrkkksss"!!!!!!

 

[Miburo]

Sorry but without "help", Contador is only a rider to podium in GTs.

Yea moron, it's not that Contador won any GT's last year, right?

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Yea moron, it's not that Contador won any GT's last year, right?

or the year before that

 

[hfer07]

In all fairness- If you take Froome & Porte off the ITT results- I believe Contador did a "decent TT" against the specialists, considering the kind of terrain & technicality of the course--obviously his 2011 TDF ITT was what it was desired today, but at least seems like "improvement" is happening-not quite enough to win the Tour, but at least to lift his confidence a bit & get on attack mode in the coming stages....

 

[InterestedSpectator]

In all fairness- If you take Froome & Porte off the ITT results- I believe Contador did a "decent TT" against the specialists, considering the kind of terrain & technicality of the course--obviously his 2011 TDF ITT was what it was desired today, but at least seems like "improvement" is happening-not quite enough to win the Tour, but at least to lift his confidence a bit & get on attack mode in the coming stages....

Well posted, first sensible comment since.....ooh, (I couldn't be bothered to look back, they were all so tedious, fanboys I believe is the expression).

 

[Carols]

He felt the same way about the race (I'll try to dig up the quote)

That would be appreciated Thanks!

 

[Publicus]

That would be appreciated Thanks!

From his official press release via AlbertoContadornotebook.info:

Alberto Contador did a clear-thinking analysis of what happened in the Mont-Saint-Michel time trial, where he performed at the level of all the leaders except Froome, who stood out above the rest. “It was a time trial in which the main thing we saw was that Froome was at a level above everybody else. He’s very strong, chapeau to him,” said the Saxo-Tinkoff leader.

At the same time, Contador emphasized that, in spite of “not being in optimal condition, I think that I did a time that was pretty much on a par with the rest of the GC riders. I’m confident that the final week, in the Alps, I’ll be better. Meanwhile, calm.”

Alberto repeated that Froome “is in a state of form in which he’s very difficult to beat and we’ll have to take it one day at a time.” About his own day, he was relatively satisfied with his performance. “I’m wasn’t bad in the time trial, even though I didn’t have a super day, but it wasn’t a route that was well-suited to my characteristics. Every day I’m doing a little better and that’s always encouraging.”

Finally, Contador doesn’t consider anything won or lost at this point and says that there is still a race. “Yes, of course there’s still a Tour,” he said. "Cycling is one of the sports in which the most things can happen, and if you have one bad day you can lose everything. Of course there’s still a Tour. We’re going to do everything we can to get as high up as possible and to make it a nice race as well.”

 

[Red Rick]

Contador's odds to win the Vuelta the day before Fuente de were like 5/2. Now they are like 30/1

Contador knows his odds

zero zero zero zero zero zero zero zero cinquo or something

 

[The_Juan]

Unless Riis' plan is to remove Contador's leash when they got to the Alps... I really have no idea what happened to AC this year.

Now, we all suspect all gloves are going to come off at the bottom of the first Alp HC climb, but how's that a "plan" when it has to be preceded with a loss of 5 minutes to your main rival?

Like I said, the bunks of the third week of a Vuelta, Giro or Tour are the stuff of legends (they are due to cyclist's hematocrit levels taking a nosedive, as opposed to a dietary bunk like the one Alberto had at Ax 3 Domaines) but planning your TdF around someone else's misfortune is really the wrong way to go about it.

 

[Red Rick]

Btw, I was never supporting the guy cause he was winning races, I was supporting him cause was and is simply plain awesome and cause he makes racing interesting. I can't remember any race that was more interesting because Froome was in it (maybe the 2011 Vuelta)

 

[ILovecycling]

This 2 times better and he can raise 8 fingers in Paris
I think he can do it ,just limit losses at Sky.Ventoux on sunday and then let the fireworks begin

 

[Jelantik]

Contador knows his odds

zero zero zero zero zero zero zero zero cinquo or something

the odds can be zero. but anything can happen