Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Butterhead]

Roche forced his preparations upon his injuries in the spring, and that is why he couldn´t perform as expected in the Giro, there wasn´t enough time. I would expect him to be in absolutely perfect condition when the tour starts, like the rest of the bunch, and if this goes down to be a battle of the best team, I have no doubt whatsoever that Tinkoff will win the battle, and with a big margin.

I have no illusions that AC should be able to follow Froome in the TT, the only way he can win is by dropping Froome, and I think he will be able to in the 3rd week. It will be a long and hard battle in every aspect, but with the best team and the best fighter and the best tactician in the car behind, I´m confident they can pull it off.

 

[trevim]

If you read Roche's diary it says his next stop is the tour so and I would assume he'd be guaranteed a place as a domestique for Contador and to go stage hunting a couple of times much like the giro only he should be on better form

Roche won't be stage hunting anything in the Tour unless Contador crashes out. A team captain like Contador deserves/requires that all his domestiques are completely commited unlike a young leader like Majka who is still getting experience and not riding GT's to win.
Precisely because of this, I would prefer Roche to be out of the Tour team: he's still the same guy that got angry because Gadret didn't care for his stupid 15th place in the Tour. Let him prepare for his beloved Vuelta, he can help Contador there if he rides it. Otherwise he can be a useful domestique for Majka, like he did in the Giro, missing out in every single important mountain stage.

 

[Jelantik]

Roche won't be stage hunting anything in the Tour unless Contador crashes out. A team captain like Contador deserves/requires that all his domestiques are completely commited unlike a young leader like Majka who is still getting experience and not riding GT's to win.
Precisely because of this, I would prefer Roche to be out of the Tour team: he's still the same guy that got angry because Gadret didn't care for his stupid 15th place in the Tour. Let him prepare for his beloved Vuelta, he can help Contador there if he rides it. Otherwise he can be a useful domestique for Majka, like he did in the Giro, missing out in every single important mountain stage.

i agree. there's no way Riis will let Roche moonlighting for stage win in the Tour. Froome and sky team is not a walk in the park. All hands on deck to support AC. I wasn't very impressed with Roche form on the Giro, especially because he was the designated co-leader. I thought that it might be expected since he barely race during the early season races due to his injury. I have a mixed feeling about his place in TDF squad, but he has a history of doing better on his GT race (according to what I read from his interview).

Is he going to line up for Tour of Switzerland with Kreuziger? or is he going straight to altitude training joining contador & co. after they finish Dauphene. If he doesn't line up for TDF who's replacing him? Sutherland?He doesn't seem strong enough to handle fast pace sky metronomic rhythm. Beltran? He doesn't seem ready enough for GT race. CAS?..

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

woukd kive to see Beltran **** up the sky train in the tour

 

[lenric]

i think that would be the job of Bennati and Tossato. Last year they both were the engine of splitting the peloton on the crosswind. I remembered even Contador was saying that they were like a motorcycle.

Roche this year seems to be up and down since he got injured. He was on the breakaway all the time, but seemed not to have the venesh and timing aptitude like Rogers. I thought Rogers is less climber compare to Roche (or maybe a match but certainly not above). But in the Giro, the last man for Majka was always Rogers. If Rogers can keep his form or he is not peaking yet, he could be the last person for Contador.

Btw wiggins and sky are targetting tour switzerland. I really want to see Kreuziger either win it, podium or finish ahead of wiggins.

The last person for Contador will be Kreuziger (unless he won't ride le tour).

 

[The Hitch]

There is only one???

Only 1 tt? In the whole TDF? Really?

Good news for Contador I guess. Though Imo should always be minimum 80km itt in any gt.

 

[Jspear]

Only 1 tt? In the whole TDF? Really?

Good news for Contador I guess. Though Imo should always be minimum 80km itt in any gt.

Yep, just one....that's one of the reasons why I think Contador has more of a chance of winning. It's 54 K and it's not even pan flat.

 

[The Hitch]

The last person for Contador will be Kreuziger (unless he won't ride le tour).

Err Kreuziger is Contador's Witch king of angmar. If he's not doing the Tour, forgetaboudit.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Yep, just one....that's one of the reasons why I think Contador has more of a chance of winning. It's 54 K and it's not even pan flat.

No its not really flat but there is only the one little hill to deal with, those lumps in the profile are nothing more than 2-3% false flat. Froome should still take a fair bit of time providing he's in good shape of course.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Only 1 tt? In the whole TDF? Really?

Good news for Contador I guess. Though Imo should always be minimum 80km itt in any gt.

I dunno.

I guess Contador would be happier with a prologue/TTT, 35km flat TT and 35k hilly TT.

He's gonna lose bucket loads of time in a 54k flat TT. Way more than he'd lose in 3 TTs adding up to 80k.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Roche won't be stage hunting anything in the Tour unless Contador crashes out. A team captain like Contador deserves/requires that all his domestiques are completely commited unlike a young leader like Majka who is still getting experience and not riding GT's to win.
Precisely because of this, I would prefer Roche to be out of the Tour team: he's still the same guy that got angry because Gadret didn't care for his stupid 15th place in the Tour. Let him prepare for his beloved Vuelta, he can help Contador there if he rides it. Otherwise he can be a useful domestique for Majka, like he did in the Giro, missing out in every single important mountain stage.

Well said, I completely agree. And I'm afraid Rory might miss out because of Roche. Rory would at least be useful.

 

[el_angliru]

Re. Roche, the Danish TV2 commentators mentioned something interesting: Roche's performance was a bit subpar in the 2013 Tour. But he was very strong in the Vuelta only a month later. Letting Roche ride the Giro-Tour combo in 2014 instead of the Tour-Vuelta combo suggests a deliberate scheduling in order to enforce the same sort of peak at the 2014 Tour that he had at the 2013 Vuelta! All according to the commentators. Although I must stress that this is pure speculation. It's not backed up by any statements from DS, coaches or other staff memebers or riders. Could be true though.

I think Roche did OK at this Giro. He wasn't helping Majka much, but it's clear to me that he was free to hunt stages. He came to the Giro as a co-leader but crashed out early in the race. Then Tinkoff-Saxo had two options: Either let him be a domestique for Majka, or a stage hunter. And since it's obvious that he'll ride as a domestique at the Tour, he was given the chance to get some wins in the Giro. Good motivational management.

Roche did OK, I think. He was in a breakaway on both stages that Rogers won. And if Roche had won either of those, then Rogers wouldn't. So from TST's point of view the result was the same! #4 on Zoncolan is pretty good too. And we don't know if Rogers could have won that Zoncolan stage if he didn't have Roche in the breakaway? (I read somewhere that it was decided that Rogers should go for the stage, suggesting, perhaps, that Roche did more of the domestic work in the breakaway. Not sure though).

Oh, and Roche definetely confirmed (in an interview after the last stage) that his post-Giro scheduling is all about preparations for for the Tour.

 

[murali]

i think that would be the job of Bennati and Tossato. Last year they both were the engine of splitting the peloton on the crosswind. I remembered even Contador was saying that they were like a motorcycle.

I was suggesting tht instead of a Roche, AC can use one more massive engine who could power thru small hills, but not the cat1/HC climbs. for that he anyway relies on likes of rogers.

Roche did OK in Giro. Unlike Jrod, he decided to continue in giro. I think he was under-performing bcoz of crash. given 2 weeks rest, he should recover.

If Roche is confirmed, then i dont know whether kreuziger will join him. Majka was struggling towards the end of Giro.(TT and Zoncolan). AC cant win if Rogers is the only person left to be with him in mountains.


Is it possible to gain time in the cobbles? OPQS were doing recon. how abt saxo boys?

 

[Butterhead]

What is all this talk about Kreuziger not being in the tour???
OF COURSE he will be there, he is just as important for AC as Rogers is, and only injuries can prevent it from happening.

And please dont count Roche out just yet, I admit his domestic work havent been superb so far, but it has its reasons.
Considering his preparations until now would only suggest he can and will show up in July in best possible shape, and I am sure he will be a very important rider for the team, SKY will get their hands full this time, the plan is set and all is ready. Stop all the negativity, complain if the dawg drops AC, but not before, and it wont happen either.

 

[murali]

the only way dawg is going to drop AC this year is by crashing the forum.

 

[ILovecycling]

Venga venga

My anniversary 3000. post has to be posted in the best thread of the best cyclist



As for Roche it looks pretty clear he is going to ride le Tour.I would like to see Rory more,but on the other hand I like what el_angliru said.He is always in better form in Vuelta,so he should be better this july than 2013.But imo he is not a good domestique,he lacks that 'all for the leader' feature imo,so thats the question mark.
Kreuziger will ride Tour for sure,he will be the most important member of team (with Mickey if he will hold his form).Im looking forward to see him ride against Valverde,Wiggins and Costa in Suisse!

The itt thing...I agree with Flo that it would be a lot better if there was a prolog/ttt and 40k flat tt,cuz 54 thats hell of a loooong.On the other hand its the last day and after all those attacks only jaune,will and recovery will decide
Right now Im thinking about what kind of avatar I will have to support Alberto in Tour comes july,it has to be something special

 

[The Hitch]

Re. Roche, the Danish TV2 commentators mentioned something interesting: Roche's performance was a bit subpar in the 2013 Tour. But he was very strong in the Vuelta only a month later. Letting Roche ride the Giro-Tour combo in 2014 instead of the Tour-Vuelta combo suggests a deliberate scheduling in order to enforce the same sort of peak at the 2014 Tour that he had at the 2013 Vuelta! All according to the commentators. Although I must stress that this is pure speculation. It's not backed up by any statements from DS, coaches or other staff memebers or riders. Could be true though.

I think Roche did OK at this Giro. He wasn't helping Majka much, but it's clear to me that he was free to hunt stages. He came to the Giro as a co-leader but crashed out early in the race. Then Tinkoff-Saxo had two options: Either let him be a domestique for Majka, or a stage hunter. And since it's obvious that he'll ride as a domestique at the Tour, he was given the chance to get some wins in the Giro. Good motivational management.

Roche did OK, I think. He was in a breakaway on both stages that Rogers won. And if Roche had won either of those, then Rogers wouldn't. So from TST's point of view the result was the same! #4 on Zoncolan is pretty good too. And we don't know if Rogers could have won that Zoncolan stage if he didn't have Roche in the breakaway? (I read somewhere that it was decided that Rogers should go for the stage, suggesting, perhaps, that Roche did more of the domestic work in the breakaway. Not sure though).

Oh, and Roche definetely confirmed (in an interview after the last stage) that his post-Giro scheduling is all about preparations for for the Tour.

Roche said this himself in the pre season.

 

[Red Rick]

Contador was climbing like sh!t last year, and he was tt'ing like sh!t last year. His year he's climbing great. I'm not saying saying he'll win tt's in the tour again but if he's really as good as in 2007, 2009 or 2011 he could really limit his losses

 

[UpTheRoad]

Contador was climbing like sh!t last year, and he was tt'ing like sh!t last year. His year he's climbing great. I'm not saying saying he'll win tt's in the tour again but if he's really as good as in 2007, 2009 or 2011 he could really limit his losses

If Contador is on 2009 TdF or 2011 Giro form, he's not limiting losses to Froome or any other GC contender, as there wouldn't be any losses to limit.

 

[Carols]

If Contador is on 2009 TdF or 2011 Giro form, he's not limiting losses to Froome or any other GC contender, as there wouldn't be any losses to limit.

Indeed, he will be dropping them on the climbs Limiting loses will be for the rest of the peloton. ITT is another story, Berto will have to limit loses there unless he has Froome really tired from chasing him

 

[Jelantik]

If Contador is on 2009 TdF or 2011 Giro form, he's not limiting losses to Froome or any other GC contender, as there wouldn't be any losses to limit.

well we should shall see where he is now pretty soon. Dauphene is just around the corner. Does anyone know who's TS boys going to Dauphene? Hernandez and Paulinho probably the sure bet. CAS?

 

[LaFlorecita]

well we should shall see where he is now pretty soon. Dauphene is just around the corner. Does anyone know who's TS boys going to Dauphene? Hernandez and Paulinho probably the sure bet. CAS?

Contador
Valgren
N. Sorensen
Paulinho
Hernandez
Pires
Beltran
Sutherland

 

[Publicus]

well we should shall see where he is now pretty soon. Dauphene is just around the corner. Does anyone know who's TS boys going to Dauphene? Hernandez and Paulinho probably the sure bet. CAS?

Sutherland, Hernandez, Piers, Paulinho, Beltran, N Sorensen and Valgren.

 

[Jelantik]

Contador
Valgren
N. Sorensen
Paulinho
Hernandez
Pires
Beltran
Sutherland

hmm..it looks like a little weak team compare to sky line up? Contador got Hernandez, Paulinho, Pires, Beltran for the mountain. This year route got some tough mountain, not sure who will left with Contador as the last man. He got no lieutenant at all, while sky bringing all their power climbers. Looks like Contador will have to fend off the sky team by himself? Should be an interesting Dauphene. Does this mean that Contador doesn't come to win instead just for warm up and test his form, unless an opportunity presented itself?

 

[ILovecycling]

hmm..it looks like a little weak team compare to sky line up? Contador got Hernandez, Paulinho, Pires, Beltran for the mountain. This year route got some tough mountain, not sure who will left with Contador as the last man. He got no lieutenant at all, while sky bringing all their power climbers. Looks like Contador will have to fend off the sky team by himself? Should be an interesting Dauphene. Does this mean that Contador doesn't come to win instead just for warm up and test his form, unless an opportunity presented itself?

yea,imo he is confident enough for Tour so he doesnt need to win.