Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Miburo]

This guys broke his tibia and still rode up a whole ****ing climb.

What willpower, unbelievable.

 

[richwagmn]

https://twitter.com/mrconde/status/488725891221307393

Report that Contador was bombing the descent and crashed. Other reports are that he hit a pothole.

 

[whittashau]

He's a fighter - That's for sure. Incredibly sad news. Even though I'm a Nibali fan I'm also a huge fan of AC. I hope he can come back and be the same rider we saw ripping up races this year.

 

[webbie146]

Think what he's already been through in his career though. Contador is no wilting violet. If anything, it'll probably make him more determined.

I know I'm sure he can do it but this is obviously a huge blow. Training all winter, all year, having tenerife as your second home, only eating salads, busting your *** 5 hours a day, windtunnel testing, and all the things we as fans don't see for nothing. Takes a lot mentally to do it all again another year.

I'm truly sorry for him. Him getting in the car was painfull to watch.

 

[Miburo]

Apperently its a 'clean' break. So maybe he can still do the vuelta but i'm prob being naif.

He still needs to train and when can he do that?

 

[Afrank]

https://twitter.com/mrconde/status/488725891221307393

Report that Contador was bombing the descent and crashed. Other reports are that he hit a pothole.

There are a ton of reports at the moment saying different things. Will have to hear what he has to say. Seems that a few different cyclists are saying he was taking a risk on the descent though.

 

[warmfuzzies]

Contador has 1-2 years left to contest the TdF at a top-5 level. His window for winning may have already closed. His most recent 2 TdF campaigns were not consistent with his winning form in prior years.

 

[SeriousSam]

I know I'm sure he can do it but this is obviously a huge blow. Training all winter, all year, having tenerife as your second home, only eating salads, busting your *** 5 hours a day, windtunnel testing, and all the things we as fans don't see for nothing. Takes a lot mentally to do it all again another year.

I'm truly sorry for him. Him getting in the car was painfull to watch.

Yes, exactly. Doing this has obviously become very hard for Contador, as his comment when Froome crashed out indicated. He said he feels sorry for Froome because there are months of grueling preparation, both mental and physical, that go unnoticed and will be for naught. Putting yourself through that gets harder every year.

Contador is quite unfortunate with how things have gone for him over the years at the Tour. So many victories he should have had, but didn't get.

 

[masking_agent]

Contador has 1-2 years left to contest the TdF at a top-5 level. His window for winning may have already closed. His most recent 2 TdF campaigns were not consistent with his winning form in prior years.

It has closed I think. Sad to say but its his grim reality. He maybe has another Giro or Vuelta but that's about it.

 

[Futuroscope]

His career might be over. Putting all the effort into getting in great shape (he would have destroyed Nibali in the mountains) and then not being allowed to show it. I'm not sure he can motivate himself to do it all over again. Maybe if he could have bounced back at the vuelta but he won't be able to recover in time.

 

[Carols]

This really stinks......I hope his surgery goes well and he recovers quickly. Season probably over but hopefully he recovers fully and is back next year. S*CKS!!!!

Yikes the man rode a mountain with a broken leg. What a Champ!!!

 

[Poursuivant]

I know I'm sure he can do it but this is obviously a huge blow. Training all winter, all year, having tenerife as your second home, only eating salads, busting your *** 5 hours a day, windtunnel testing, and all the things we as fans don't see for nothing. Takes a lot mentally to do it all again another year.

I'm truly sorry for him. Him getting in the car was painfull to watch.

Agree with all of this

 

[LaFlorecita]

Contador is quite unfortunate with how things have gone for him over the years at the Tour. So many victories he should have had, but didn't get.

This is so true. Someone asked him a while ago why when he mentions his greatest victories, he never mentions the Tour. He answered that it's because the Tour is the race that has given him most grief

 

[thirteen]

gutted, just gutted!

i am visiting family in scotland and was just able to log in with 20km to go on the CN app and was wondering where the **** he was and why no one was mentioning him? now i know and feel even worse

 

[hfer07]

This is so true. Someone asked him a while ago why when he mentions his greatest victories, he never mentions the Tour. He answered that it's because the Tour is the race that has given him most grief

Agreed- therefore he should win it next year & be done with it for life. IMO Giro-Vuelta combo will be more attractive for everyone supporting him than he doing the Tour alone....

 

[ILovecycling]

I know I'm sure he can do it but this is obviously a huge blow. Training all winter, all year, having tenerife as your second home, only eating salads, busting your *** 5 hours a day, windtunnel testing, and all the things we as fans don't see for nothing. Takes a lot mentally to do it all again another year.
I'm truly sorry for him. Him getting in the car was painfull to watch.

His career might be over. Putting all the effort into getting in great shape (he would have destroyed Nibali in the mountains) and then not being allowed to show it. I'm not sure he can motivate himself to do it all over again. Maybe if he could have bounced back at the vuelta but he won't be able to recover in time.

These 2 comment are so true.I would write myself,but I really cant anymore

 

[indianfanboy]

Contador will return next year for sure
We'll have a fantastic race with Quintana,Rodriguez and Froome

 

[the_cutter]

It has closed I think. Sad to say but its his grim reality. He maybe has another Giro or Vuelta but that's about it.

I know you're all down, but Contador has looked good all season and super strong going into the last 2 weeks of this Tour. Yes, it has ended all in tears, and its a great shame for him but I see no reason why his level should suddently radically drop. He has at the very very least 2 years left as a top dog in the peloton and he'll be ready.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I know you're all down, but Contador has looked good all season and super strong going into the last 2 weeks of this Tour. Yes, it has ended all in tears, and its a great shame for him but I see no reason why his level should suddently radically drop. He has at the very very least 2 years left as a top dog in the peloton and he'll be ready.

He most likely won't be able to prepare well for next season. 6 to 12 weeks rest, then he can slowly start training again.

 

[indianfanboy]

Horner almost died 2 months back,Contador overcame a fatal condition in his younger days these cyclists are tough they are men of steel...they will never break

 

[djpbaltimore]

Agreed- therefore he should win it next year & be done with it for life. IMO Giro-Vuelta combo will be more attractive for everyone supporting him than he doing the Tour alone....

Based on form alone, he probably should be a member of the 5 time winner club. But, that being said, he did get a little fortunate in 2007. I feel Rasmussen was the best rider in that race.

As for next year, his schedule might depend on the parcours. It would seem likely that there will be more TT kms on the next edition, favoring Froome/ Porte. A return to the Giro to battle Aru and company would seem to suit his characteristics better.

 

[indianfanboy]

He most likely won't be able to prepare well for next season. 6 to 12 weeks rest, then he can slowly start training again.

the older you grow the lesser the conditioning required to get to top shape i have Jens Voigt,Horner and Valverde saying this

 

[the_cutter]

He most likely won't be able to prepare well for next season. 6 to 12 weeks rest, then he can slowly start training again.

So even in the bad case (12 weeks) he has still 39 weeks left to prepare for TDF2015. I trust your man to be able to do it.

 

[ILovecycling]

Contador will return next year for sure
We'll have a fantastic race with Quintana,Rodriguez and Froome

We will be lucky if one of these 4 will stay on the bike by start of the 2nd week.

 

[Futuroscope]

Contador will return next year for sure
We'll have a fantastic race with Quintana,Rodriguez and Froome

I think he will announce his retirement at the end of the year/early next year. I have been a cycling fan for many years but I have never been this disappointed before.