Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[hfer07]

I can't help but think I should stop following Alberto. Ever since I started following him really closely (2010) he has been underperforming on every stage or race I watched bar etna.

And this morning I was torn-what should I do? Watch the paris stage and ceremony or not? I want to see Alberto on the podium, but seeing Froome on the top step would be unbearable for me. And then I got feeling Alberto was gonna win: he'd follow Froome on this stage and break him in the coming stages. I would actually see Alberto ride into paris in yellow for the first time, I'd see him cross the finish line with his arms in the air for the first time, I'd see him on the podium for the first time. And now I'm torn again

With all due respect, but is evident you never liked Contador at all- You adore/praise/cheer him ONLY when he wins-not in defeat or difficulty. At this point, I won't be surprised if next year you'll dispose him like a bad habit, find the next rider to cheer for and move on......

sad indeed-but good luck to you Flo- it was fan anyways.....

 

[LaFlorecita]

It will be painful LaFlo, but if you love Cycling stick with it. I know Alberto brought you to cycling but it is and always will be a great sport with or without Berto.

You know I doubt I actually love cycling. I like other cyclists as well but none get me so excited and on the edge of my seat as Alberto.

I will watch no matter who is on the steps because I've loved cycling for decades before Berto came along. Watching Wiggo last year wasn't pleasant and watching Froome Dawg will be much worse

But Cycling Lives on, they are only players on the stage for their allotted time, then the next crop takes over, it is the way of sport.

You're right, it's just hard to accept especially because it seems like Alberto should have so many more good years left.

Berto will be up there and he will smile and be gracious because he is a great, classy, gentleman. There might even be 2 Saxos up there!

Yes and that's why I want to see him but I know it'll be fake, maybe he'll be smiling but he'll be dying on the inside. I want to see him smile and be happy but I want him to be genuinely happy.

When his time is past you will find another favorite to root for

I hope so but I can't see it. I'm desperately trying to find a new favorite but I just can't find one, Alberto is Alberto. He really needs to become good again, I don't think I'll be able to follow cycling closely without Alberto... it isn't looking good it's so frustrating. I really want to kow what is going on, but I guess we'll never find out.

Anyway if Alberto decides to stay in the race I hope he can at least win a stage, otherwise it's just a gigantic struggle for nothing.

I actually think it would be better to lose a lot of time, then go for a stage win. Saxo would not win the team classification but I doubt it's a real goal anyway.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Yes this is a very good post atlest he tried today he just don't have the legs, what I don't get is how he does not put his nose into the wind? Why did he just stay on Nieve today? Has the Kreu thing annoyed you I thought it was silly bringing Mollema back with him he should have followed the Belkin guys in, I may be getting deceived but AC did not look happy looking back a few ties to see who was in RK group.

I was wondering about that as well and was yelling at the TV - come on, do something! But I guess he was just completely done.

 

[LaFlorecita]

With all due respect, but is evident you never liked Contador at all- You adore/praise/cheer him ONLY when he wins-not in defeat or difficulty. At this point, I won't be surprised if next year you'll dispose him like a bad habit, find the next rider to cheer for and move on......

sad indeed-but good luck to you Flo- it was fan anyways.....

You couldn't be more wrong.

 

[ILovecycling]

With all due respect, but is evident you never liked Contador at all- You adore/praise/cheer him ONLY when he wins-not in defeat or difficulty. At this point, I won't be surprised if next year you'll dispose him like a bad habit, find the next rider to cheer for and move on......

sad indeed-but good luck to you Flo- it was fan anyways.....

She is his fan,one of the best!But like all of us imo she has her way of supporting and following cycling and Berto,thats all.You are wrong.

 

[ILovecycling]

@Flo
If you hate Froome (i dont for example) you can support Nairo maybe.He is one of a few cyclist who can beat Froome next year and you'll get your revenge and have a new cyclist to cheer for after Alberto retires.

 

[Gugashwill]

Has Contador/Tinkoff said anything, anywhere, about today's stage?
Maybe Kreuziger should be freed to have a shot at the podium?

 

[LaFlorecita]

@Flo
If you hate Froome (i dont for example) you can support Nairo maybe.He is one of a few cyclist who can beat Froome next year and you'll get your revenge and have a new cyclist to cheer for after Alberto retires.

I'm trying. I like him but he's nowhere near Alberto's level of awesomeness for me.

 

[LaFlorecita]

"@MikeKaltoft: Sounds like Bjarne Riis is about to give up on winning the Tour - now going for two riders on the podium and winning the Team GC."

 

[murali]

Yes this is a very good post atlest he tried today he just don't have the legs, what I don't get is how he does not put his nose into the wind? Why did he just stay on Nieve today? Has the Kreu thing annoyed you I thought it was silly bringing Mollema back with him he should have followed the Belkin guys in, I may be getting deceived but AC did not look happy looking back a few ties to see who was in RK group.

When I saw the attack from Kreuziger, I thought that mollema had nothing left. I dont want to blame kreu for it.

Also, AC seemed not at his best.

 

[Carols]

You know I doubt I actually love cycling. I like other cyclists as well but none get me so excited and on the edge of my seat as Alberto.

Well for me it is the sport first and riders second. There are Very Special Riders that come along and steal my heart, Alberto is certainly one of those. But I can enjoy just about any bike race. If one can't root for a rider just enjoy the tactics and chess match. Heck I'll even root for Tommy V. to make it interesting.

You're right, it's just hard to accept especially because it seems like Alberto should have so many more good years left.

Yes he should, but it appears we will not see his best again, so need to appreciate what he gave us for all those years and wish him the best from here on out. Maybe he can make a resurgence next season. If not he will have to win on race savvy and tactics or retire.

Indurain put it best 'only the sour fruit is left for me', he went out, won an Olympic Gold and retired at the end of that year.

Yes and that's why I want to see him but I know it'll be fake, maybe he'll be smiling but he'll be dying on the inside. I want to see him smile and be happy but I want him to be genuinely happy.

If you came in 2010, you saw Tour, Giro, Vuelta!!!

I hope so but I can't see it. I'm desperately trying to find a new favorite but I just can't find one, Alberto is Alberto. He really needs to become good again, I don't think I'll be able to follow cycling closely without Alberto... it isn't looking good it's so frustrating. I really want to kow what is going on, but I guess we'll never find out.

There will never be another Alberto, that is a given. I've been following Nibs for 3+ years and he is just coming into his own. Pick a young one and follow him. Quintana, who could not love that guy??? He is a star in the making.

Well I think I know what is going on with Alberto and I've expressed it here more than once....the Flame of Greatness is flickering

Anyway if Alberto decides to stay in the race I hope he can at least win a stage, otherwise it's just a gigantic struggle for nothing.

Second is not nothing although I'm sure it will seem like that to him as well as us his fans.

I actually think it would be better to lose a lot of time, then go for a stage win. Saxo would not win the team classification but I doubt it's a real goal anyway.

I don't think there is a stage with his name on it here unless his legs come good, Froome will never let him go even if he is 10 mins down

Appreciate all he has given us, the bounty of 6 years, to watch whenever we want to Maybe we will get a bit more before he hangs up the wheels, I hope so.

 

[Carols]

"@MikeKaltoft: Sounds like Bjarne Riis is about to give up on winning the Tour - now going for two riders on the podium and winning the Team GC."

Well that is a reasonable goal.......and appears the best they can do.

 

[Carols]

I'm trying. I like him but he's nowhere near Alberto's level of awesomeness for me.

LaFlo, cyclists of Alberto's level of awesomeness are few and far between. They steal one's heart when they appear.

 

[Donkey]

@Flo
If you hate Froome (i dont for example) you can support Nairo maybe.He is one of a few cyclist who can beat Froome next year and you'll get your revenge and have a new cyclist to cheer for after Alberto retires.

Quintana has nothing in his brain. He's just a climber. Not an adorable personality.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Carol you are completely right (except I started following Alberto in 2007), it's just hard to accept. I feel like I've seen so little from him still. Anyway I have around 10 wins to rewatch, but I just want new ones it gets boring after 10 times...

 

[masking_agent]

I just hope its not the beginning of the end a career for our great Alberto

 

[Carols]

Carol you are completely right (except I started following Alberto in 2007), it's just hard to accept. I feel like I've seen so little from him still. Anyway I have around 10 wins to rewatch, but I just want new ones it gets boring after 10 times...

Oh 2007; then you have seen the best there was to see; Revel in it! I only discovered him a year earlier!

Watching him ride is never boring I alternate Pantani, LeMond and Berto when on the trainer in winter. Makes me pedal faster and my heart sing with joy at their exploits.

You will find a new fav when Berto hangs up the wheels, he will never replace Berto in your heart, but there is room to appreciate another without diminishing the joy Berto brought!

 

[ILovecycling]

Quintana has nothing in his brain. He's just a climber. Not an adorable personality.

With this comment it looks like you have nothing in your brain...
how you can say this bs?he is in1st great year,almost no interviews or TV shows with him,we dont have a clue what is in his brain so stfu

 

[LaFlorecita]

I just hope its not the beginning of the end a career for our great Alberto

It probably is

 

[postmanhat]

True, but I'd rather see him go down in flames then turn into a defensive cyclist!

True. found his wheelhanging today a bit of a disgrace. What on earth did he promise Nieve to let him do all the riding?

 

[LaFlorecita]

True. found his wheelhanging today a bit of a disgrace. What on earth did he promise Nieve to let him do all the riding?

He probably couldn't do anything else.

Sad that this guy who used to be one of the most agressive racers out there has turned into a wheelsucker. I guess somewhere between T-A en Pais Vasco he just broke down mentally. No use attacking anymore. Poor guy.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Fleur, Are you as tough in life as you are on Contador? you don't accept lesser than first place?

 

[maxmartin]

Yeah totally agree, especially about that last bit

Contador isn't ruling out an alliance with the Spaniards, so it's likely: "but there may well be circumstances when riders’ objectives do overlap." Their goals of podium and Contador's goal of winning are compatible and both ultimately need the same result to achieve: destroying FroomeSKY. So I definitely don't see why an alliance isn't possible. At a Vuelta, Contador agreed to allow Valverde a stage win, but Valverde cracked so Contador went for the stage instead. There certainly is a compatibiltiy between the Spaniards and the appeal of an all Spain podium would certainly appeal more than having Froome around. Not sure about Schleck working with Contador, especially after the chain gate incident.

“The route this year provides a lot of opportunities. There are some short mountain stages where you can take a risk and make attacks from a long way out if things have got complicated in the overall standings. But if things go to plan I won’t be thinking about tactics until after the second time trial."
Again Contador leaves open the possibility of an alliance which would likely be needed to do a similar attack as Schleck did in 2011. Also Contador strongly hints that he will attack after the second TT - Ventoux or Alpe d'Huez??



Whatever you're smoking must be extremely strong . Froome has already said that he's been peaking for most of the year, so an increase by that much would only occur with Clinic related products. Froome can only climb at 1600 VAM and put out a maximum of 6.4w/kg. Whereas before his comeback, Contador was doing climbs at over 1800VAM and 7w/kg - he was doing those figures in multiple stages in GT's he raced in per year. Contador has only been back from his comeback for only 8 months, so it's unrealistic to expect him to do that currently, but if he peaks for the TDF then those figures will be evident in his climbing. You're obviously a Froome fan so massively over-estimate Froome's abilities. I am neither a Froome or Contador fan so I actually can see who's the better rider from a neutral point of view. You may get your wish of Froome winning. As I said before, it's not whether Froome is better than Contador (he clearly isn't), it's whether Contador can reach his old form that will determine who wins the TDF.

I want to hear Nick101's opinion about today stage, both bold parts make me laugh!

 

[Pulpstar]

He's promised Nieve King of the mountains. Witness the forthcoming Saxo-Carrot top alliance in the alpes.

Today always was going to be a Sky/Froome day. Tactically simple, and only one significant climb. The rest of the alpes offer more possibilities for other teams, especially the Madeleine stage.

Also Chris went deeper than I thought today, he needed Oxygen at the end so I reckon he is the type of rider who will be looking brilliant and then just... stop.
Ofc Alberto 2009 or a fully juiced Pantani/Armstrong is not here to put him under that pressure.

But I don't think anyone is taking back the 7 minutes on Froome they need (He will add more in the MTT)

 

[LaFlorecita]

Fleur, Are you as tough in life as you are on Contador? you don't accept lesser than first place?

I am not tough on Contador, I'm just repeating his own words. And he's right. For a champion "the second place is not good".