Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[gunara]

Wonder which humiliation against Nibali you talking about? Alberto is not going to lose to him anytime soon, except if he is back to 2013 levels.

This year Contador proved he was back, real good. He is even stronger than Froome last year comparing the first half of season.
He is just unbeatable on the mountains this season, and if he gets dropped at la Vuelta it's only because of poor form/injury.

That's exactly what I tried to say. Alberto has proved something this year, and it makes me more relaxed this year, compared to the stressful last year, and I can take a 'disappointing' Vuelta. I'm sure Alberto will do a proud ride anyway if he race it.

About Nibali part, maybe I forgot to give it a tongue, I was just imagining, with confidence Contador's fans have this year, it will be disastrous if it happen next year, a horror 2013 all over again. I don't believe it will happen, though.

I think that people who say "Contador shouldn't start unless he's good enough to win" somewhat simplify Contador's mindset and the mindset of a champion in general. There were at least few situations in the past when he would back off if he was going by that rule.

One of the races that seemingly earned AC a lot of fans was the Tour 2011, wasn't it? Had he been afraid of the fresher, better prepared guys (who on top of that didn't have doping case hanging above their heads), he wouldn't have started. Yet he did and even when he realised he won't be able to win, he went 100% and animated the race.
And my point isn't that he should do what satisfies the fans... just that sometimes the win isn't the only satisfying option. I don't think Contador was devastated in Paris in 2011. He gave it his all and tried everything in order to win - it just didn't work but I doubt he has regrets, those belong to losing like, I don't know, Andy Schleck.

And if he loses to Froome and Quintana because the injury messed his preparation, I'm sure he's sensible enough to not draw the conclusion that they're superior riders. And you shouldn't be like "it will be unbearable to watch" - that's a bit childish.

Having a winner attitude is contradictory to missing an opportunity to compete because of the fear of defeat.

So, if his full recovery is at stake - sure, he shouldn't start. But that's it.

I'm with every point of this. And maybe because I am one of those whose heart got stolen by Alberto in that 2011 TdF. Kind of indifferent to him before that, but, man, I can't love watching any other cyclist more than I do watching him since then, he makes me happy watching cycling. Last year was the saddest, every race was painful to watch (but not exactly unbearable), but he's showed the improvement I need this year, and as a fan I thank him for that, so if riding a Vuelta - with any intention he has - makes him happy, then I'll be happy too

 

[JRTK73]

Majka showed sprinting, climbing and time trailing skills in this tour. I would never say someone will win a grand tour in the future because it is too hard to predict. You would have to say though that Majka has as much chance as anyone else.

 

[paperbackwriter]

that's just a matter of opinion. Maybe some of the fans don't care if you see Contador like last year. Last year most of the poster here felt like Contador was dead. Yeah, it's unbearable to see Froome walked all over Contador's head last year. Since Contador is back from his ban, he hasn't showed any glimpse of his used glorious form before, not until this year. So yeah, I would like to see him again on the top. (maybe to finally be able to say to the non Contador fans that the man still has it in him).

Every fans has different emotional reaction to see their favorite rider who used to be dominated, got tossed around like a toy. Some people calls it childish, some call it esprit de' corps.

I'm not Contador, so I don't read his mind. Every time contador lines up on the race, he intends to win it. 2011 tour, I'm sure Contador believed he can win it. If I'm not mistaken he went to the Giro, because he wasn't so sure if he would be able to ride the Tour. And then he could ride the tour. With the form like that from the Giro, why not? He got every chance to win TDF. So to me being injured and being not fresh are totally different thing. But that's just my opinion..

Again, is it real "esprit de corps"? Shouldn't it be more about supporting him even if he chooses to ride and gets his a** kicked because he's undertrained? Sure, it won't be pleasant to watch for a fan but it's a part of rooting for someone, if Contador and his team can go through it, I'm sure you'll live as well
Just try to think about comparisions with your or your friends' life. As for me, I'd be pretty annoyed if I told someone that I'm sending my articles to the magazine which is really big and kind of unlikely to publish them and they answered "you shouldn't do it, it will only cause disappointment".

Obviously I'm not in Contador's head either but one thing I know for sure is that he doesn't have a mentality of a teenage girl Fans often have it and it's not meant as an insult, it's just that they see watching cycling (or any other sport) as an entertainment and let go of their rational side.
If you think about which wins were special for Contador (in his own words), you can see that it was usually about beating his own limits. IMO it goes with his character and Riis' way of thinking that the true champion should start if he's healthy.

What would you say about Vuelta 2012? Did you like seeing him almost losing to a guy who's a worse GC rider than Froome? Should he pull out of the Giro 2008 when he fractured his elbow in fear that Ricco could beat him? Perhaps he should give up cycling altogether when there was a big risk involved? Sure, each of those situations is different, Tour 2011 is different as well but there's a pattern of not giving up - something which Contador's fans seem to not be very good at

(And losing has nothing to do with "being a clown". Was Talansky a clown fighting with the time limit? Was Froome a clown in Vuelta 2012, when he basically fought to stay in the 4th place as soon as he realized he's too tired after the Tour to keep up with Contador, Purito and Valverde? If you do your best, you'll never come across as a clown.

Sure, he most likely cares about proving he's better than Froome, Nibali and Quintana at some point. But losing to the two of them in the Vuelta or not starting at all is pretty much the same in this regard - it'll mean it's simply not the time to do it. After Vuelta 2012 few were stupid enough to say that it proves Contador is better than Froome; it will be pretty similar.)

BTW, most people said that Nibali made a stupid choice when he decided to go for the Tour instead of Giro/Vuelta. You never know how things will pan out.

 

[Kwibus]

Contador is a man who wins like a hero and loses like a legend. Bring on La Vuelta

That's 100% true.

 

[Jelantik]

Couple of 'mistakes' imo.
1st You are very harsh to Nibali here.He is the second best GT rider as for palmares behind Contador,he is clearly better than Evans and freakin Wiggo

2nd Thats wrong.Quintana is not explosive rider at all and Vuelta 5-12km mountains (up to 1500m above sea) doesnt suit him.Froome otoh is very explosive as you could see at Cabarga.Hill sprinting finishes are not his speciality either (piti and murito will take time) but still he should be better on these than Nairo.
Vuelta is clearly the worst GT for Quintana (for Froome Giro it is)

As for Alberto participating at Vuelta.Call it childish or whatever but I want him to race only in form to conted overall or at least smash stage wins.

LoL.. I know I will start a ****storm as soon as I mention Nibali. Nooo, I didn't mean to put Nibali in the class of Wiggins and Evans. None at all. I just can't see that Nibali is better than Froome or Contador or Quintana (he could proof me wrong). I guess this is a moot point argument anyway. Because none of them haven't been in the same GT (unless you count 2012 TDF). God knows maybe next year nibs won Giro-Tour double. Then I have no problem admitting I was wrong. It's just a matter of my current perception. (everyone entitles to their own perception right? until we have proof?). Don't get me wrong. Nibali rode superbly at TDF. But we kept having a nagging question about what happen if Froome and Contador were there? But that's a moot point.

As far as Quintana.. I wasn't implying that he is an explosive climber. Quintana to me is a pure climber. He eats and breathes mountain since he was born. So the more mountains and the more the road goes up hill, more steeper, he is a happy camper. He is not explosive like Purito for sure. But I think he can hang with Froome this time as long as he can time his attack.

So I guess we shall see when Vuelta comes

 

[RobbieCanuck]

Contador is a man who wins like a hero and loses like a legend. Bring on La Vuelta

Contador is probably chomping at the bit to get back to racing, because IMO that is the kind of competitor he is. The fact he is "training" may just be part of his rehab plan, because cycling is a great rehab exercise.

But I hope he does not rush back just because he is disappointed about the Tour. There is no point in jeopardizing a million dollar career for one race.

 

[BlurryVII]

 

[BlurryVII]

 

[BlurryVII]

Maybe it's just me but the rider next to Sagan looks like Alberto. He looks thinner than the other 2 TCS riders behind and he seems to have white shoes and alberto is the only one in team who doesn't wear red and white shoes this year..

Edit: By the way, this photo was taken today.

 

[ILovecycling]

I think its highly unlikely,as Sagan and Kreuziger train in Italy (around garda) and Alberto usually in suisse (lago lugano).These two places are separated by more than 200km.
OTOH everything is possible

 

[BYOP88]

Sagan isn't Spanish so he might have a different training program. He might only stop off for a quick coffee.

 

[Miburo]

That's most likely Kreuziger, if i had a close shot i should be able to tell. Kreuziger and contador their style are completely different.

 

[BlurryVII]

Well just stumbled upon this selfie taken with an italian fan, posted on 5th august.

I don't know if that is really a week old, but damn alberto gained some serious weight.
Can't see how he'll be in shape, he didn't pay attention to his weight during the break

 

[Miburo]

It's kinda funny how last week the press guy from saxo said Contador only trained on his hometrainer but this was posted at pretty much the same time on twitter LOL

 

[jens_attacks]

how do we know that it's a recent photo?

the guy should have took a selfie with the knees

 

[Miburo]

how do we know that it's a recent photo?

the guy should have took a selfie with the knees

It doesn't matter, it's already obvious that Contador is training for 2 weeks. Even Riis pretty much confirmed by saying contador can still make the vuelta. He wouldn't say that if contador was on the hometrainer last week and can only ride with 1 leg.

That's at least my interpretation of it.

 

[BlurryVII]

how do we know that it's a recent photo?

the guy should have took a selfie with the knees

Posted 5th august on facebook.
see by yourself https://www.facebook.com/contador/photos_stream?tab=photos

It's pretty hard to get the knees in a selfie frame

 

[sir fly]

Posted 5th august on facebook.
see by yourself https://www.facebook.com/contador/photos_stream?tab=photos

It's pretty hard to get the knees in a selfie frame

Eddy Merckx preparing for the Vuelta

Posted on 11th of August on Cyclingnews Forums.

 

[roundabout]

If he takes as much time as I do in getting pictures uploaded it could have been taken in June.

 

[BlurryVII]

Eddy Merckx preparing for the Vuelta

Posted on 11th of August on Cyclingnews Forums.

The date sure doesn't mean anything, it might be a pic a bit older than what it looks at first sight, but I don't think the guy would have waited a lot before posting it on fb. He would rather hasten to show his friends that he met the great AC me thinks.

If he takes as much time as I do in getting pictures uploaded it could have been taken in June.

No way, he was much sharper in June.

 

[Jack_89]

There are no more doubts now: he will go the Vuelta with the aim of winning

 

[richwagmn]

Well just stumbled upon this selfie taken with an italian fan, posted on 5th august.

I don't know if that is really a week old, but damn alberto gained some serious weight.
Can't see how he'll be in shape, he didn't pay attention to his weight during the break

Damn hard to tell he's gained any weight with a wide angle lens like that.

 

[sir fly]

Kind of a dumb trolling but anyway, at least I try to bring some info when I can.

Kind of appropriate for you to recognize it as such.

 

[roundabout]

No way, he was much sharper in June.

I am too lazy to do it, but maybe someone more interested can get the metadata for the pic

Edit: although it appears Facebook doesn't retain it for whatever reason

 

[BlurryVII]

Kind of appropriate for you to recognize it as such.

Thanks troll