Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[senatorrick]

He said he is going for stagewins in the later part of race.
anything else is a bonus.

Yes I'm aware of that but seriously I don't beleive that, if Froome isn't in Form Nairo crashes, you know anything, besides he's A.C he's going for the podium for sure

 

[the sceptic]

 

[DenisMenchov]

What a man.

I was one of the biggest Contador's haters but he turned me in to a fan.

 

[LaFlorecita]

What a man.

I was one of the biggest Contador's haters but he turned me in to a fan.

That is very cool

 

[DenisMenchov]

That is very cool

There were other factors included: Rassmusen's ban, Ricco's ban, Menchov's retiree.. But still he was exceptional in the last couple of years.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Broke their leg??

He has a cut that afected in some extensión to a bone, but not broke any leg. To stop three weeks after top form, is better than to ride all the Tour to prepare for the Vuelta.

He fractured his tibia. In other words broke his leg.

 

[Red Rick]

To celebrate

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5B5jOIRAT0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LxNlLMQTvU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BROWqjuTM0g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycRwxWufmQc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0YmrXTC1b0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUwLH3M6Uq0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPbIvTgV6Rs

 

[BlurryVII]

After the Tour, Contador said he'd go to the Vuelta only for the win, and that has always been his mindset. I don't believe one little bit he'll go for stages . Downplaying games as usual

Anyway, this confirms that the Jacinto Vidarte dude was talking bull****. I never believed him. He even said "Maybe, maybe he'll be back for the Tour of Beijing" yeah sure man.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

We had the Lance the Uniballer.

Now we have Alberto the Unilegger.

Hail cycling!

Very happy he's racing in the Vuelta. Perhaps his injury was not as serious, and he overplayed it in an effort to keep expectations down and stay out of the spotlight.

 

[BRCYC11]

Riis confirms he is searching the market for riders to help Contador in the mountains. http://www.bt.dk/cykling/tungt-skyts-oenskes-riis-paa-bjerg-shopping (In Danish)

 

[Jack_89]

After the Tour, Contador said he'd go to the Vuelta only for the win, and that has always been his mindset. I don't believe one little bit he'll go for stages . Downplaying games as usual

Anyway, this confirms that the Jacinto Vidarte dude was talking bull****. I never believed him. He even said "Maybe, maybe he'll be back for the Tour of Beijing" yeah sure man.

totally agree.

he never raced only '' to join '', especially a GT. and also this time Berto will race to win otherwise he prepared Worlds and Lombardia.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

The 2014 Vuelta presents a perfect opportunity for Andrew "The Bowling Ball" Talansky to take down 3 of cycling's top pins in one fell swoop: Contador, Froome, and Quintana.

 

[Miburo]

The 2014 Vuelta presents a perfect opportunity for Andrew "The Bowling Ball" Talansky to take down 3 of cycling's top pins in one fell swoop: Contador, Froome, and Quintana.

Disrespectul comment. Unbelievable.

How dare you not mention the man on your prof pic in that list of riders?

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Disrespectul comment. Unbelievable.

How dare you not mention the man on your prof pic in that list of riders?

LOL.

If Pappy crashes out of the Vuelta, I think the retirement will be immediate.

 

[yespatterns]

This was me this morning waking up to the great news. I'm now 100% stoked for the Vuelta!

 

[thehook]

Not knowing the Vuelta profile. I would have to say if there are a few "easier" stages in the first week. He can almost use those as "active recovery"

Gotta say AC is the Man!

Dude is all guts! How can you not be a fan by the way he rides any race?" the 2nd place is no good"..........Cmon AC kick some butts!

 

[Beech Mtn]

While I very much hope AC is all good and has been sandbagging with big plans to win the Vuelta, I think the far more likely scenario is that he meant what he said - show up and honor the race, but only target stage wins.

Sure, AC usually rides only to try to win. But he's coming off a broken leg. In my opinion, he's riding this to get more race KMs so he doesn't go into next season having not raced a single GT this year (given how early he crashed out of the Tour).

Hopefully he can get a stage or two, pick up a few more points for the team, trounce Froome a little bit here or there to gain in the mental battles, and set himself in good stead physically for next year. Hopefully Oleg and the team are not rushing him and he's really ready.

And if I am wrong, and he was sandbagging all along and really tries to win the whole thing, I'll be very, very happy to have been wrong.

 

[the sceptic]

While I very much hope AC is all good and has been sandbagging with big plans to win the Vuelta, I think the far more likely scenario is that he meant what he said - show up and honor the race, but only target stage wins.

Sure, AC usually rides only to try to win. But he's coming off a broken leg. In my opinion, he's riding this to get more race KMs so he doesn't go into next season having not raced a single GT this year (given how early he crashed out of the Tour).

Hopefully he can get a stage or two, pick up a few more points for the team, trounce Froome a little bit here or there to gain in the mental battles, and set himself in good stead physically for next year. Hopefully Oleg and the team are not rushing him and he's really ready.

And if I am wrong, and he was sandbagging all along and really tries to win the whole thing, I'll be very, very happy to have been wrong.

well, the first week is pretty easy with only one MTF with 4 km at 10% iirc, so he will have some time to ride himself into shape.

 

[yespatterns]

All i know is, my fantasy Vuelta team picks just got a lot more complicated.

 

[SeriousSam]

The winning stage message is obviously bull****. He must believe he can win the Vuelta, the bookmakers do not.

Bet on Contador now if you think he can stay with Quintana and Froome on climbs because the odds are really, really good.

 

[LaFlorecita]

The winning stage message is obviously bull****. He must believe he can win the Vuelta, the bookmakers do not.

Bet on Contador now if you think he can stay with Quintana and Froome on climbs because the odds are really, really good.

I thought you were talking about odds in the 50/1 range... he's the 4th favorite, that's not bad

 

[Jspear]

All i know is, my fantasy Vuelta team picks just got a lot more complicated.

Agreed. This makes any sort of predicting a lot harder. I still think he wants to win and that he is just setting himself really low expectations.

 

[Cimber]

While I very much hope AC is all good and has been sandbagging with big plans to win the Vuelta, I think the far more likely scenario is that he meant what he said - show up and honor the race, but only target stage wins.

Sure, AC usually rides only to try to win. But he's coming off a broken leg. In my opinion, he's riding this to get more race KMs so he doesn't go into next season having not raced a single GT this year (given how early he crashed out of the Tour).

Hopefully he can get a stage or two, pick up a few more points for the team, trounce Froome a little bit here or there to gain in the mental battles, and set himself in good stead physically for next year. Hopefully Oleg and the team are not rushing him and he's really ready.

And if I am wrong, and he was sandbagging all along and really tries to win the whole thing, I'll be very, very happy to have been wrong.

I really agree with this. Especially the part about getting a GT om the legs for the sake of 2015.

However, while what he says might very well be true, he just is the kind of rider who will always fight and not lose time on purpose, so we can always hope for a Fuente recap (-;

 

[Carols]

While I very much hope AC is all good and has been sandbagging with big plans to win the Vuelta, I think the far more likely scenario is that he meant what he said - show up and honor the race, but only target stage wins.

Sure, AC usually rides only to try to win. But he's coming off a broken leg. In my opinion, he's riding this to get more race KMs so he doesn't go into next season having not raced a single GT this year (given how early he crashed out of the Tour).

Hopefully he can get a stage or two, pick up a few more points for the team, trounce Froome a little bit here or there to gain in the mental battles, and set himself in good stead physically for next year. Hopefully Oleg and the team are not rushing him and he's really ready.

And if I am wrong, and he was sandbagging all along and really tries to win the whole thing, I'll be very, very happy to have been wrong.

Totally agree! People getting all excited he can win? Geez the man had a fractured tibia and has had One Day of pain free riding and you expect him to win a GT against on form Nairo and Froome? Darned you are setting yourself up for some major disappointments. Then some will get angry at him for disappointing them when all he ever said is he would Try to win a stage.

If Anyone could do it it is Alberto. But I'm sure not betting any $$$ on it. He is a Hero for starting and if he gives us a few thrills and just maybe wins a stage I will be very happy. If he takes down the race well he goes to the top of my all time favorite list, displacing my revered and beloved Il Pirata.

But I have absolutely No Expectations he will be able to accomplish a Vuelta win.

EDIT: Did you all notice the wrapped leg in his video?

 

[Miburo]

You're a fool if you believe that yesterday was the first day he had no pain riding.

I already stated it but ok let's do it again.

Think about it. You're contador, you ride with pain and then finally there's a day you've no pain. Would you then directly announce you're gonna do the vuelta? There's still 10 days, why not wait a few more days to see if the pain is really gone? Why rush it? You're contador, a guy who always rides to win and now after a day with no pain you directly announce to do the vuelta?

Don't make any sense at all.