Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Carols]

I swear I saw Katusha drop all of Sky but Lil' Richie and Froome yesterday. They won't be laying down arms. Quintana wants podium. Common goals up to a point, Saxo benefits.

EDIT: Oh I forgot Saxo now has 3rd!

 

[Carols]

Another great interview with Bjarne a minute ago, I try make a resume.

He was asked about the team competition, if it meant something, he said yeah, the guys feels it great, they worked hard for it, so its a great morale boost.

Then some rumors about the weather tomorrow, it said it could rain and thunder and another rumor was if that is the case the organizers could perhaps shorten the stage and only climb the alpe once.

Riis´s answer to that: Yes I heard the rumor to, but I hope it wont happen.
We want to race...with a sneaky smile on his face.

He has a plan and he expects fireworks tomorrow.

Thanks, this is good Glad the boys morale is up with those yellow helmets. They have to feel good about today's performances by Berto and Roman also.

Xray you are right this is a Team that is gelling into a powerhouse

 

[Jelantik]

i don't think movistar and katusha will work for saxo. After all, purito got screwed out of his vuelta win by contador. Any place ahead of contador is what purito wants. Valverde is going to help quintana got podium. So in a sense of that they must attack, the 3 of them has a common goal. Just not the same person who they want to attack. Purito and quintana, wants to attack contador and kreuziger. Contador wants froome. Kreuziger will hang tight. So does rogers for team GC. So yes, sky will have to deal with the attack. Coz if quintana and purito goes to attack saxo boys, contador will respond. And guess what, if contador goes.. god knows that froome isn't going to let him out of his side.

Gap stage, lil' richie was already briefly pop by the relentless drill from katusha at the beginning then, saxo boys added to it. That's only 2 teams. So tomorrow, it will be at least 3 team are attacking each other, then bye bye ritchie.

 

[boladelmundo]

Interesting... I read a rumor that said, "Nieve to Saxo for 2014."

Samuel Sanchez and Bertie are good friends for a start.
Also on Ventoux, Mikel Nieve was happy to pull for Bertie because he trusts Bertie would be true to his words, whatever the deal was that day.

Edit: I forgot to mention Stage 15 Giro 2011 when Bertie was controlling the race and Mikel won by just merely less than 2 minutes faster than Bertie.

 

[The Hitch]

Exactly, he was beat by 9 seconds, not 2 minutes.
My bet: Froome is showing fatigue and if Saxo can isolate him tomorrow...

Froome said he was taking it easy and saving for the next 3 stages.

 

[Carols]

i don't think movistar and katusha will work for saxo. After all, purito got screwed out of his vuelta win by contador. Any place ahead of contador is what purito wants. Valverde is going to help quintana got podium. So in a sense of that they must attack, the 3 of them has a common goal. Just not the same person who they want to attack. Purito and quintana, wants to attack contador and kreuziger. Contador wants froome. Kreuziger will hang tight. So does rogers for team GC. So yes, sky will have to deal with the attack. Coz if quintana and purito goes to attack saxo boys, contador will respond. And guess what, if contador goes.. god knows that froome isn't going to let him out of his side.

Gap stage, lil' richie was already briefly pop by the relentless drill from katusha at the beginning then, saxo boys added to it. That's only 2 teams. So tomorrow, it will be at least 3 team are attacking each other, then bye bye ritchie.

Exactly...common purpose, not an alliance just each wanting what they want. If Berto has the legs he uses it to his advantage

 

[boladelmundo]

Froome said he was taking it easy and saving for the next 3 stages.

So Froome didn't actually go into super *** mode then.
Just a little bit *** is enough to win against Bertie, how scary that is.

 

[Publicus]

I think Contador is going to regret not switching to a TT bike on the final descent.

I honestly think the bike change was the biggest difference. Contador is starting to come good in the final week. Hopefully tomorrow he continues the trend.

 

[Carols]

Froome said he was taking it easy and saving for the next 3 stages.

Really????? If true it's all over He could be bluffing though! Tomorrow we find out.

 

[maxmartin]

So Froome didn't actually go into super *** mode then.
Just a little bit *** is enough to win against Bertie, how scary that is.

Yep, he knows big days ahead. Is that why he is surprised to win to stage with almost no effort?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Really????? If true it's all over He could be bluffing though! Tomorrow we find out.

I'm 99% sure he was being honest

 

[Angliru]

I was kind of hoping Froome-Dawg would gift this stage
to El Pistolero...as sort of a sign of the changing of the
guard...a final tip of the hat to the tired old warrior.

...and announce it to the media after the stage. Yeah, that would be really classy.

 

[sultanofhyd]

Contador didn't die on the bike either.

 

[Carols]

...and announce it to the media after the stage. Yeah, that would be really classy.

Hey at least he chose not to be Lance today then LOL

 

[Publicus]

Don't count on movistar and katusha, just don't. They'll be rather enemies than rivals.

I think what you count on is them attempting to make the race to get on podium. I would use that to my advantage as much as possible. If Quintana and Contador can get away together, it is in their interest to work together to get as much time against Froome as possible. Sure it doesn't help if Kreuziger is there, but lets say he's shredded as well. Seems to me in that case JRod and Quitana, who have podium aspirations, could become allies.

A lot of dependencies of course, but it all requires Contador to come good the next three days.

 

[movingtarget]

Valverde looked happy for Froome.

 

[Narce_]

I honestly think the bike change was the biggest difference. Contador is starting to come good in the final week. Hopefully tomorrow he continues the trend.

I didn't see the stage, but isn't it possible that he didn't change bike because of his elbow? Time trial bike must be uncomfortable if it hurts only a bit.

 

[sultanofhyd]

I didn't see the stage, but isn't it possible that he didn't change bike because of his elbow? Time trial bike must be uncomfortable if it hurts only a bit.

He had aero bars on his bike, it wasn't the elbow.

 

[murali]

Tactically, j-rod and MOV aren't really interested in helping anyone other than themselves.

Having said that, they will support Contador, whenever he launches his set of attacks, and help to break porte. Once porte is off, then its every man to themselves.

 

[Publicus]

Froome said he was taking it easy and saving for the next 3 stages.

Mollema also said he felt good after the stage to Gap--so guys do lie. Looking at Froome's veins, speed, etc., it's clear he went full gas EXCEPT on the 1st descent.

 

[xrayvision]

Froome said he was taking it easy and saving for the next 3 stages.

Good for him, now he just has to prove it.

 

[maxmartin]

Mollema also said he felt good after the stage to Gap--so guys do lie. Looking at Froome's veins, speed, etc., it's clear he went full gas EXCEPT on the 1st descent.

Can his veins get even more obvious???

 

[Carols]

Can his veins get even more obvious???

Well you just earned the 'ignore'

 

[Publicus]

Can his veins get even more obvious???

LOL. Well, for me, it's a way of telling how much someone is exerting themselves--especially someone as lean as Froome. That's just my opinion. We'll see if he was bluffing a bit.

 

[jilbiker]

chapeau

Anyone notice Eurosport commentators today were just saying the word "chapeau" all over the place?...ha-ha. Imitation is the best form of flattery, gues they were copying Alberto. His "chapeau", "kudos" to Froome.