Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[webbie146]

you think so? I thought that last year, but he seem to be much more at ease climbing this year

Well he's def more at ease this year, but still the difference in cadence compared to 07/11 is huge. Just look at his attack @ stage 1. He used to adjust his cadence to his power output. Higher power output, higher cadence. For example here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Zk9j990URxk#t=1462

He used to put most of the load on his cardiovascular system. Scientifically it's been proven that this is the most efficient pedelling style

His cadence was perfect in the 12 Vuelta, Nibali did this in the 12 tour too.
Now a days he's using a bigger gear, and not upping his cadence that much when attack. Putting more of the load on the muscles. You can see the change in his physic too. He's become more muscled because of it (especially is upper body).

Anyways it seems to work for him, that's what counts haha I kinda miss his 07 style though, that was amazing ^^

 

[Jelantik]

very true about his gears. nowadays he seems to push way bigger gears than in the past, most of the time he's in the big ring on the climbs. kreuziger also uses absolutely gonchar-botero-sayaresque gears. he was always climbing on sheer power but now his cadence is even lower

I wonder if this is what Bjarne was saying about 'working on things that Bjarne wanted contador to work on?'. Also Contador seems to try to master his sprint burst from 500/600m. Dunno I just noticed. Maybe that's new thing he needs to work on against Froome. As far as, his gearing changes... maybe he saw Froome spins his small gear faster than anyone else, so he needs his kick to stick.

 

[the sceptic]

today looked like the Old-Old Contador

 

[LaFlorecita]

today looked like the Old-Old Contador

Which means...?

 

[the sceptic]

Which means...?

the Contador from last year who tries.. but doesnt have the legs.

 

[LaFlorecita]

the Contador from last year who tries.. but doesnt have the legs.

Ah yes. You're right.

 

[Jspear]

the Contador from last year who tries.. but doesnt have the legs.

Was the terrain really hard enough for his "trying" to make any big differences?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Was the terrain really hard enough for his "trying" to make any big differences?

3km at 9% seems hard enough.

 

[murali]

the Contador from last year who tries.. but doesnt have the legs.

well said..............

 

[Butterhead]

today looked like the Old-Old Contador

Jesus, I hope you are being sarcastic. Everybody here thinking he must be peaking, and course he couldn´t for once drop his opponents he is back to the 2013 season level.
It´s pathetic.

 

[Jspear]

3km at 9% seems hard enough.

3 K doesn't seem very long though....

 

[Jack_89]

3km at 9% seems hard enough.

for me...no.

at the end of climb, how many riders? 20-30?
Many can resist and stay on wheels. However in last years gaps were always very small....there is a reason for this

 

[the sceptic]

Jesus, I hope you are being sarcastic. Everybody here thinking he must be peaking, and course he couldn´t for once drop his opponents he is back to the 2013 season level.
It´s pathetic.

Not saying he is back to that level, one so-so day doesnt cancel out all the good stuff he has done this year. Just saying that it reminded me of last year thats all.

 

[LaFlorecita]

for me...no.

at the end of climb, how many riders? 20-30?
Many can resist and stay on wheels. However in last years gaps were always very small....there is a reason for this

Hmm you make a good point... Perhaps you're right

 

[Red Rick]

3km at 9% without really steep parts is not enough to drop another world class climber who is also very explosive. Not that suprising

 

[Publicus]

His most dominant win here netted him all of 11" if IIRC. Usually the winner doesn't get much more than a couple of seconds. The climb just isn't the tough to stay away over the top--if it was, we'd see more evidence of it in prior additions.

 

[jens_attacks]

3km at 9% without really steep parts is not enough to drop another world class climber who is also very explosive. Not that suprising

yes right....


2009 same finale:

1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana 4.16.29 (40.35 km/h)
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto 0.09
3 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
4 Antonio Colom Mas (Spa) Team Katusha
5 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C. 0.28
6 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0.33
7 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0.36
8 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 0.55
9 Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Fuji-Servetto
10 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas

 

[Red Rick]

yes right....


2009 same finale:

1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana 4.16.29 (40.35 km/h)
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto 0.09
3 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
4 Antonio Colom Mas (Spa) Team Katusha
5 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C. 0.28
6 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0.33
7 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0.36
8 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 0.55
9 Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Fuji-Servetto
10 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas

Take Valverde away, Contador attacks and you get about the same results, Valverde is in absolutely great shape

 

[Jack_89]

Take Valverde away, Contador attacks and you get about the same results, Valverde is in absolutely great shape

yeah, i think same thing

 

[the sceptic]

3km at 9% without really steep parts is not enough to drop another world class climber who is also very explosive. Not that suprising

But it should be enough to drop the likes of Evans, Slagter, Cunego, Mollema. etc

Anyway, lets hope for a good ITT now. There wont be any hiding this time.

 

[Angliru]

3km at 9% without really steep parts is not enough to drop another world class climber who is also very explosive. Not that suprising

Also maybe we're overrating the 15 second gap he achieved on Valverde on the first stage. We all recognize that Valverde has been in great form this year and he too must be thinking the same, thus his stage one attack on Contador. He spent a bit of time in the wind thinking that Contador was hurting only to find that Contador wasn't suffering and was simply waiting for the gradient to change so that he could attack. Had they been sharing time in the wind maybe Valverde could've stuck to Contador's wheel that day but he was riding a wave of success from earlier races.

 

[Jack_89]

I still have the impression that it went ''deep'' today.
I finished to see the arrival of Vuelta 2012 and the facial expressions were completely opposite to today. Probably can't drop Valverde but others can arrive with more 10s

 

[rhubroma]

Contador is at the end of a remarkable streak of good form, as is Valverde. Remember what he's done so far.

This is certainly not the Contador of 13 as a result. It's just the end of Phase I.

Phase II begins at the Dauphine and then the Tour. With the right balance between work and recovery between the two, we should be set to have the best Alberto at the Tour.

 

[Red Rick]

Contador is at the end of a remarkable streak of good form, as is Valverde. Remember what he's done so far.

This is certainly not the Contador of 13 as a result. It's just the end of Phase I.

Phase II begins at the Dauphine and then the Tour. With the right balance between work and recovery between the two, we should be set to have the best Alberto at the Tour.

So you're saying we're not gonna see an all year long peak

 

[rhubroma]

So you're saying we're not gonna see an all year long peak

Nope, because if we do the divine laws have been breeched. Even gods have no power over the Fates.