Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[LaFlorecita]

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?

It's very obvious

 

[No_Balls]

Yep. I dont know what to believe coming from the TS-camp any longer because, to be honest, there have been made many contradictionary statements the last weeks. First those emotional tweets (when he wasnt far off from training on the bike), then did that tweet-dude conviniently showed up, then we had Vidarte laying all kinds of smokescreen and frankly lied to us, then we had Facebook-photos and now this. The idea of him not feeling any pain over one climb and then decides to participate in a GT is of course ridiculous. This has been carefully orchestrated by a man named Riis.

And yes, the bandage on his leg from the video is part of the scam.

 

[ferryman]

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

3rd favourite with half of the bookies on Oddschecker

Seriously though, what a guy, what a legend! He has just made what was shaping up to be an interesting Vuelta into a compelling one

Vamos Alberto. Vamos.

 

[Jspear]

Yep. I dont know what to believe coming from the TS-camp any longer because, to be honest, there have been made many contradictionary statements the last weeks. First those emotional tweets (when he wasnt far off from training on the bike), then did that tweet-dude conviniently showed up, then we had Vidarte laying all kinds of smokescreen and frankly lied to us, then we had Facebook-photos and now this. The idea of him not feeling any pain over one climb and then decides to participate in a GT is of course ridiculous. This has been carefully orchestrated by a man named Riis.

And yes, the bandage on his leg from the video is part of the scam.

So what's the end game? Why all the drama? Is it because they really think they can win? How does this play to their advantage? Opinions...

 

[kingjr]

So what's the end game? Why all the drama? Is it because they really think they can win? How does this play to their advantage? Opinions...

First of all, I don't whether this is orchestrated somehow or not, but if you want to know what it's good for just look at all the praise he got since he announced he was gonna ride, for his image it's a great move.

 

[No_Balls]

So what's the end game? Why all the drama? Is it because they really think they can win? How does this play to their advantage? Opinions...

Obviously to keep their competitors guessing. AC will be considered a joker and his rivals will wonder in what kind of shape he is in. If he'll attack they will wonder if they can let it go and preserve (not very likely) or if they should follow and mark. The element of surprise is there should they be vauged in a false sense of security about his presumed lack of shape.

If he could live up to it then he is in a pretty good position. He wont be the marked man like before. It is a high game to play but they dont really lose to play those cards - if it does not go according to plan they have the excuse in Albertos legs/lack of preparation and if it goes according to plan then stages and/or podium is up for grabs. Win/win really.

 

[LaFlorecita]

This ****ing guy.

You coming around a bit Hitch?

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

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.

I don't think anyone seriously believes that yesterday was the first day Alberto rode with no pain.

My take is that Alberto's tweet about "Goodbye to the Vuelta" was a mind game. Just a little inducement for his rivals to relax and open their sphincters a tad so he can put his foot up there at the Vuelta.

 

[TANK91]

The guy is a beast i would not mind him winning as it is better storyline and i would love him to be record Vuelta holder one day. He is better than Heras. I would also like Froome to win as i think this is his one great chance for another GT as he seems he is going to stick to the one GT a year route especially with crashing out this year.

 

[The Hitch]

You coming around a bit Hitch?

Coming around?

I've noticed the name "The Great One" being used a lot today.

Who gave him that, eh?

Besides, aren't you the one who went on holiday for the Tour cos they had no faith in him

 

[The Hitch]

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.

Stages would be so much more awessome. Ive seen Contador in the situation where he gave up on gc, once in my life. The stage started, the flag dropped, the down on gc riders tried to create a break and 5 minutes into the stage Alberto Contador Velasco is attacking 100km out ripping up the entire field and causing mass carnage.

Imagine Contador going into a gt trying to play Emanuellle Sella in the 3rd week. We already saw his teammate do just that in the TDF and my compatriots will forgive me for saying RM34 is an inferior rider. Imagine Contador, arguably the greatest climber of all time going into a gt just to win stages in the 3rd week.



**** gc.

 

[jilbiker]

Obviously to keep their competitors guessing. AC will be considered a joker and his rivals will wonder in what kind of shape he is in. If he'll attack they will wonder if they can let it go and preserve (not very likely) or if they should follow and mark. The element of surprise is there should they be vauged in a false sense of security about his presumed lack of shape.

If he could live up to it then he is in a pretty good position. He wont be the marked man like before. It is a high game to play but they dont really lose to play those cards - if it does not go according to plan they have the excuse in Albertos legs/lack of preparation and if it goes according to plan then stages and/or podium is up for grabs. Win/win really.

If AC came to Vuelta on crutches or a wheelchair his rivals still will not let him join the breakaway

 

[Jelantik]

First and foremost... he doesn't look fat as one of the poster here suggested. He looks lean, to me. Second of all, not sure what I think of. Did he reach the form to contest the GC? or is he chasing stage win or even repeat what Majka did? king of the mountains and stage wins? He didn't specifically say anything about contesting for overall. Rather than said, stage win on the last week...

Either way.. it would awesome to see contador in the breakaway.. and do his fuente de or lanciano. Not to win GC but to smash the breakaway.. That would be priceless

 

[Jelantik]

So what's the end game? Why all the drama? Is it because they really think they can win? How does this play to their advantage? Opinions...

I don't know.. maybe the answer is so simple. We are the one that over analyze everything too much (as usual) . I guess we are the victims of our own fantasy and our own mind games.. Maybe what he did, was just stating what his actual feeling... nothing more, nothing less..

 

[Jspear]

I don't know.. maybe the answer is so simple. We are the one that over analyze everything too much (as usual) . I guess we are the victims of our own fantasy and our own mind games.. Maybe what he did, was just stating what his actual feeling... nothing more, nothing less..

Your killing our fun speculation.

 

[contador977]

Considering Contador's base form was strong all year long, I think his form will come back to him at the Vuelta considering he didnt go deep into his reserves at the Tour. How great that form will be, who knows. He is usually coy about his intentions. I believe he thinks he can win the Vuelta. Quintana, Froome and Contador should make for some incredible mountain stages and they will want to beat each other. Part 2 of this big battle will be TDF '15.

 

[memyselfandI]

He is usually coy about his intentions.

Ponferrada..

 

[SeriousSam]

Imagine Contador, arguably the greatest climber of all time going into a gt just to win stages in the 3rd week.

He'd probably have more than 3 pitiful Tour stages one of which is a time trial. The real skill is to win a lot of stages and the GC, like Nibali or Armstrong.

 

[pdluz7]

It's not really confirmed (not 100% sure but many are saying it right now on twitter), Contador has already been training since july 30th apperently.

The guy on twitter thus wasn't lying when he said that he saw Contador training. Contador is crazy man, how the hell can he ride in 2 weeks with that injury lol

Edit: it could be that these guys are just quoting the original one on twitter who said it. I don't know...I should stop looking into this...

Confirmedhttp://martinmeyers0.wordpress.com/2014/08/15/contador-of-hoe-maak-je-een-comeback/

 

[ILovecycling]

Stages would be so much more awessome. Ive seen Contador in the situation where he gave up on gc, once in my life. The stage started, the flag dropped, the down on gc riders tried to create a break and 5 minutes into the stage Alberto Contador Velasco is attacking 100km out ripping up the entire field and causing mass carnage.

Imagine Contador going into a gt trying to play Emanuellle Sella in the 3rd week. We already saw his teammate do just that in the TDF and my compatriots will forgive me for saying RM34 is an inferior rider. Imagine Contador, arguably the greatest climber of all time going into a gt just to win stages in the 3rd week.



**** gc.

yeah that would be incredible.
otoh my ideal scenario is AC to lose time on Quintana and Froome in first week and then attack like a mad man in 2nd and 3rd.It would be so awesome if he beats best climbers of this and upcoming generation.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Coming around?

I've noticed the name "The Great One" being used a lot today.

Who gave him that, eh?

And who told us we could not use it anymore eh?

Besides, aren't you the one who went on holiday for the Tour cos they had no faith in him

That must have been someone else.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I don't think anyone seriously believes that yesterday was the first day Alberto rode with no pain.

My take is that Alberto's tweet about "Goodbye to the Vuelta" was a mind game. Just a little inducement for his rivals to relax and open their sphincters a tad so he can put his foot up there at the Vuelta.

Well it was partly true that the wound healing was getting troublesome at the time, a surgeon from Madrid came to Lugano to reopen the wound to clean it again, and he removed some dirt and small stones.

 

[LaFlorecita]

He'd probably have more than 3 pitiful Tour stages one of which is a time trial. The real skill is to win a lot of stages and the GC, like Nibali or Armstrong.

Pitiful? Okay then.

Contador never really pushes for stages anymore once he's in the lead. He gives others a chance

And don't use Nibali as an example, in his case it wasn't skill but extreme luck.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Ponferrada..

A parcours for classic types

 

[inri2000]

Pitiful? Okay then.

Contador never really pushes for stages anymore once he's in the lead. He gives others a chance

And don't use Nibali as an example, in his case it wasn't skill but extreme luck.

Agreed, you can be great without being greedy.