Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[roundabout]

He did blow himself up twice trying to follow the pace.

does Quintana get to ride conservatively in this other universe?

 

[LaFlorecita]

does Quintana get to ride conservatively in this other universe?

I have no idea what you're on about.

 

[Lanark]

I have no idea what you're on about.

Seems fairly obvious. It's disingenous to suggest that Contador could have finished 2nd if he rode more conservatively (which he did already), while Quintana attacked on the penultimate climb in the Ax-3-Domaines stage, and attacked early in the Ventoux stage, both certainly much more emblematic of a 'yellow or die' attitude than what Contador showed, and certainly actions that cost him much more time than those negligable attacks by Contador.

Froome and Quintana were just much better last year in the Tour, the place were Contador finished was an honest representation of his level during that Tour. Maybe he can improve this year, it's not impossible or very unlikely. But even an improvement might not be enough, after all, the last time he showed a level high enough to beat a 100% Froome was in the Giro 2011, almost 30 months ago, and the last time before that was in the 2009 Tour. He will have to reach that level again to win the Tour this year.

 

[karlboss]

If Contador rode for 2nd or 3rd I doubt he'd have reached 2nd, but I suppose it's possible he was the weakest of 3 in the Vuelta 2012 and still won, and 3rd is a possibility in my mind, though i'd still say 4th, only closer.
GC riders by my reckoning are 1st Froome, daylight, 2nd Quintana, daylight then I'd struggle to separate Contador, Valverde, Rodriguez, Nibali, Porte, Wiggins. Doubt remains over Porte's ability to contest for a full 3 weeks, and Wiggins ability to return to form, so I guess Contador is definitely in my top 6. Contador never approached out climbing Froome, and in flat TT of 33km not 54km he lost 2 minutes.
The difference is Contador is the only one of that list who has demonstrated, by whatever means, to be capable of a level far above what the others have ever done. I haven't seen anything to suggest he'll make that level again, so in my 3-6 best GC riders he remains.
IMHO Tour 2009 form would see him place minutes between himself and Froome, Giro 2011 would be close.

 

[Jelantik]

I guess I'm expecting Contador to be at the level he was last year and the year before which is with Rodriguez and Valverde, a whisker behind Nibali, and nowhere near Froome. To me it appears that the only people who may get close are Quintana and Porte, who still needs to be consistent over 3 weeks. In Contador's twitter pics he looks no more ready than last year, his talk is the same as last year, I guess I'm pessimistic in looking for a return to 2010 form, I'll believe it when i see it.
As for Froome's nearest rival, I'd place it evenly as Contador and Nibali. I'd include Valverde on strength but he's less of a threat as he rides more predictably. I think more will depend on tactics than strength.

we shall see on his first few race. If he is no where to win and keep saying, i'm too heavy etc, etc.. then last year performance might be in store for him. Problem with valverde, he only shots for podium. Once he got it, he just stayed on that. Nothing wrong with that, but that probably makes his ride is predictable. I see Porte more like Menchov kinda type, but better climber. Diesel but great TT. Quintana is more less like a combination of Purito and Contador probably. If he can improve his TT, he is Froome's nemesis. As far as Nibali, I like him a lot. And he is certainly improve in the past 2 years, but I'm still having difficult time to put Nibali as Froome's biggest threat. Even Purito I thought is a hair better than him in the mountain. I'm not writing off contador either. Whatever happen last year.. i think it has something to do with his motivation. I don't know. But I feel like he wasn't as 'wanting' to win as he used to be. He said something about the build up. So now, he got what he is asking. To race a little later and less race. So we'll see.

 

[Jelantik]

I really don´t get it.

On what bases do you justify that AC suddenly went from a top 3 contender to suddenly only be a top 10 contender?
The guy just turned 31, he is in his prime, he had a bad year, it happens for everyone, look at wiggins, look at Gilbert, Look at Husvord, Look at Boonen etc etc, writing him off like hes a second grade gc rider is just ridiculous, and in same sentence say that Porte is a favorite, its like saying a Beetle would turn into a Porche 911 just because it changed mechanic.

AC is not finished by a mile, if he can stay clear of his allergy problems then Froome will have his hands full, mark my words.

I will not only mark your word. But put a star and asterix next to it. I agree with your comment. Contador is not old and about to die. It's just you can't attack and stay away very long when sky rides that hard to make everyone on their limit. But contador is contador. The boy who makes the race. So twisting my finger, hope the weather would be good (no allergies), and he got what he's been saying 'the solid base'.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Seems fairly obvious. It's disingenous to suggest that Contador could have finished 2nd if he rode more conservatively (which he did already), while Quintana attacked on the penultimate climb in the Ax-3-Domaines stage, and attacked early in the Ventoux stage, both certainly much more emblematic of a 'yellow or die' attitude than what Contador showed, and certainly actions that cost him much more time than those negligable attacks by Contador.

Froome and Quintana were just much better last year in the Tour, the place were Contador finished was an honest representation of his level during that Tour. Maybe he can improve this year, it's not impossible or very unlikely. But even an improvement might not be enough, after all, the last time he showed a level high enough to beat a 100% Froome was in the Giro 2011, almost 30 months ago, and the last time before that was in the 2009 Tour. He will have to reach that level again to win the Tour this year.

Do you even understand what I said in the first place I wasn't talking about Contador's attacks because he didn't attack, I'm talking about him trying to follow Froome and then blowing himself up, while he could've lost half the time if he'd just dropped.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I will not only mark your word. But put a star and asterix next to it. I agree with your comment. Contador is not old and about to die. It's just you can't attack and stay away very long when sky rides that hard to make everyone on their limit. But contador is contador. The boy who makes the race. So twisting my finger, hope the weather would be good (no allergies), and he got what he's been saying 'the solid base'.

I agree. Some people on this forum...... Sheesh wtf is wrong with the wait and see approach. I am in no way interested in discussing whether Contador could've finished 1st or 2nd or 3rd or 27th. I don't care. It's in the past. I just want to see how he'll perform this year. 2007 2009 2011 2013 it's all in the past and counts for NOTHING this year.

 

[TearMeApart]

There's no chance Contador is finished, and people writing him off are going to wind up with egg on their faces sooner or later. He would have finished 2nd, with ease, at last year's Tour if he didn't adopt a yellow or nothing mentality.

It's false. If he adopted yellow or nothing mentality, he would have made an attempt of suicide Alpine raid, but instead of this he throw in the towel
on the Alpe d'Huez stage yet. I'd say Contador had to do the things he is not get used to doing — to defend smartly. Though, nobody can criticize him for that, because it's pretty specific kind of work and either one often does it and hence is successful at it like Valverde or Rodriguez or one never does it and collides with the wall when he is in trouble. Everything requires experience and Contador surely has got this kind of experience.

 

[rogerg]

Certainly the most talented cyclist of this decade

 

[Butterhead]

Alberto Contador ‏@albertocontador 1m
Tough day with a big leg pain,but with one thought:if you have a goal,focus on it,fight for it and it will be yours.

HE posted this pic together with his tweet, bit strange...

 

[thehook]

As a fan. Looking at Albetro's tweet. I think he is showing the fans what is motivating him. Dominance & amazing form.

my .02$

 

[LaFlorecita]

Alberto Contador ‏@albertocontador 1m
Tough day with a big leg pain,but with one thought:if you have a goal,focus on it,fight for it and it will be yours.

HE posted this pic together with his tweet, bit strange...

Why is it strange?

 

[Carols]

Alberto Contador ‏@albertocontador 1m
Tough day with a big leg pain,but with one thought:if you have a goal,focus on it,fight for it and it will be yours.

HE posted this pic together with his tweet, bit strange...

I hope he isn't thinking of riding the Giro!!!!

 

[Butterhead]

Why is it strange?

Since its an old picture, but I guess it brings on some nice memories at a time where he showed everyone that he was the best cyclist in the world.

But its a good sign, to me it sounds like he´s hungry again and have a score to settle.

 

[Jelantik]

Alberto Contador ‏@albertocontador 1m
Tough day with a big leg pain,but with one thought:if you have a goal,focus on it,fight for it and it will be yours.

HE posted this pic together with his tweet, bit strange...

I hope he isn't thinking of riding the Giro!!!!

LOL... good one. Naaaa.. it's a reminder probably.. or a motivation when he was that strong. How to get there.. but again this is just my little speculation.. god knows why he posted that..

 

[Jelantik]

It's false. If he adopted yellow or nothing mentality, he would have made an attempt of suicide Alpine raid, but instead of this he throw in the towel
on the Alpe d'Huez stage yet. I'd say Contador had to do the things he is not get used to doing — to defend smartly. Though, nobody can criticize him for that, because it's pretty specific kind of work and either one often does it and hence is successful at it like Valverde or Rodriguez or one never does it and collides with the wall when he is in trouble. Everything requires experience and Contador surely has got this kind of experience.

and that's why they never win multiple GT . if contador rides to defend his place, he would be like andy.. always bridesmaid, never a bride (except the one that he got coz' the bride got kick out from the church)

 

[trevim]

I just want to see him winning big, pink is fine, yellow too I don't mind. If he's in Giro 11 shape, neither Froome or Quintana can't stop him I believe.

 

[Miburo]

I just want to see him winning big, pink is fine, yellow too I don't mind. If he's in Giro 11 shape, neither Froome or Quintana can't stop him I believe.

I always thought that too but idk it anymore if contador in that shape can beat Froome.

 

[Butterhead]

I always thought that too but idk it anymore if contador in that shape can beat Froome.

Or if Froome can find the 2013 form again, or you think that is more likely than AC can find his Giro 2011 form?

Ahh yes, its the new revolutionary training methods provided by a swimming coach, very scientific...

What ever AC does, he have always been a better and more talented cyclist than Froome ever was, that should tell you something...

 

[LaFlorecita]

No helmet he must've read Ryo's post careful

 

[trevim]

No helmet he must've read Ryo's post careful

I hope this means we're back to the good old days

 

[jens_attacks]

No helmet he must've read Ryo's post careful

i don't think i've ever been that excited to see alberto riding. ok maybe 2012 eneco comeback but still

and

LET THEM RIDE WITHOUT HELMETS ON THE MTF's YOU STUPID UCI!

 

[Bexon30]

i don't think i've ever been that excited to see alberto riding. ok maybe 2012 eneco comeback but still

and

LET THEM RIDE WITHOUT HELMETS ON THE MTF's YOU STUPID UCI!

I'm defiantly on the side of no helmets on the mtf's and is it me or is Alberto looking more like race weight than this time last year?

Edit: where's he training right now? Is he in the South of Spain?

 

[LaFlorecita]

I'm defiantly on the side of no helmets on the mtf's and is it me or is Alberto looking more like race weight than this time last year?

Edit: where's he training right now? Is he in the South of Spain?

He is in Tenerife I think