Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[ILovecycling]

“You know the first thing Alberto said when he stepped into the team car at the Tour, still in his jersey and with his knee bleeding?” Mauduit said. “He said, ‘I will be at the Vuelta. You can be sure. I will be at the Vuelta.’

What A Man.



edit: thx for article cineteq

 

[Miburo]

Tomorrow D-day, it's not that big of a climb but it should tell us a lot, not the whole story but a lot.

As i said before, if he's not behind more than 1 minute on quintana/Froome sunday, he'll have a chance to win this.

 

[LaFlorecita]

What A Man.



edit: thx for article cineteq

Indeed, what a man

 

[BlurryVII]

Interesting detail, we know la Zubia is a steep climb, more than 9 % over 4 kms, but it'll feel even steeper for the riders because it's a 4 kms straight line to the finish ... no turns.
If someone is having a bad day, he might lose a lot.

 

[Arredondo]

Tomorrow D-day, it's not that big of a climb but it should tell us a lot, not the whole story but a lot.

As i said before, if he's not behind more than 1 minute on quintana/Froome sunday, he'll have a chance to win this.

If he's already 1 minute behind those two at sunday, he will not win this ofcourse.

It's not that Contador in his best form is better then these two guys. They are pretty much of the same level.

 

[BlurryVII]

If he's already 1 minute behind those two at sunday, he will not win this ofcourse.

It's not that Contador in his best form is better then these two guys. They are pretty much of the same level.

If he is one minute behind them at sunday, he is no more no less at 2013 levels. it'll be over.

At his best form, it's another story, he is better than them.
Especially Quintana, he has to show a stronger level than he had at the Tour 13' or at this years Giro. He was impressive but he hasn't reached stratospheric heights either.

 

[LaFlorecita]

If he is one minute behind them at sunday, he is no more no less at 2013 levels. it'll be over.

But unlike in 2013, he has room to improve.

 

[Arredondo]

If he is one minute behind them at sunday, he is no more no less at 2013 levels. it'll be over.

At his best form, it's another story, he is better than them.
Especially Quintana, he has to show a stronger level than he had at the Tour 13' or at this years Giro. He was impressive but he hasn't reached stratospheric heights either.

Quintana at the moment, looks like he will reach his Tour '13 form this Vuelta. If Contador is 1 minute behind on Pajares, it means that he will need another week to really reach his full potential to start thinking taking time back (instead of losing time).

In other words, time is too short for Alberto to make up a + 1 min deficit against Quintana or Froome.

I don't know if the Alberto from the spring is better then Froome Tour 2013 and Quintana last weak TDF 2013. I think it's impossible to say.

 

[inthepink]

Tomorrow D-day, it's not that big of a climb but it should tell us a lot, not the whole story but a lot.

As i said before, if he's not behind more than 1 minute on quintana/Froome sunday, he'll have a chance to win this.

What ???

Froome is up to win this ....There are 2 TT and he is the best on TT by far...For me non of the climbs are hard enough to put alot of distance between the top 3/4 ....Race decided on TT

 

[BlurryVII]

Quintana at the moment, looks like he will reach his Tour '13 form this Vuelta. If Contador is 1 minute behind on Pajares, it means that he will need another week to really reach his full potential to start thinking taking time back (instead of losing time).

In other words, time is too short for Alberto to make up a + 1 min deficit against Quintana or Froome.

I don't know if the Alberto from the spring is better then Froome Tour 2013 and Quintana last weak TDF 2013. I think it's impossible to say.

But unlike in 2013, he has room to improve.

He'll have room to improve for sure, but he'll never reach his full potential. It's impossible.
I mean he can improve but not that much. He'd need more than a Fuente De strike to win .

Also, Contador from the spring (Pais vasco / Dauphiné / Tirreno) was not at his best. He was great but it was certainly not showing his full potential. He can still be better. He was most likely at his best at the Tour but he crashed.

 

[Miburo]

What ???

Froome is up to win this ....There are 2 TT and he is the best on TT by far...For me non of the climbs are hard enough to put alot of distance between the top 3/4 ....Race decided on TT

I refer to stage 16 and 20. Many things are possible there.

It's btw not certain at all how good Froome really is.

 

[Carols]

“Each day passing without major problems is a good thing, but it is true that my situation is still the same, not better nor worse. Now we will recover from today’s efforts – it was once again a very hot day”, adds the Spanish team leader."

Oh well at least it's not worse.....


“Tomorrow, my ambition is to identify my current shape. I'm sure that there will be riders better than me with more explosiveness. I hope to do a good race without loosing my position in the GC. I'll do the best I can and see what that will amount to. According to how it goes, we’ll see what the team tactics will be for the rest of the race”, explains Alberto after stage five and continues.

“My condition is as I expected. I need more days of competition, more training, because these days are demanding if you haven’t had a good approach to the race. But we'll see how I am tomorrow. Although it’s a short climb, the heat means that the differences may be bigger than expected, but not between all the favorites”, concludes Alberto, who was impressed by the team’s performance and strength.


Tomorrow we all find out a bit more, maybe a lot more.

 

[inthepink]

!. Two stages won't make a massive difference....Parcour not a hard as last year for climbing IMO

2. Don't be fooled by Froome ..He went for intermediate sprints today ...What does that say...He is up for the win....Philip Deignan's diary says as much

 

[murali]

another interesting words from the post:

“Knowing how hard-headed Alberto is, it’s no surprise that Contador is here,” Hernández continued. “When I talked to him a few weeks ago, he said, ‘What do I do? I don’t feel bad, but not great.’ He said, what’s worse, going to the Vuelta and failing, or sit at home and climb the walls?”

http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/08/news/encouraging-signs-contador-opening-days-vuelta_342838

 

[cineteq]

2. Don't be fooled by Froome ..He went for intermediate sprints today ...What does that say...He is up for the win....

I think it'd rather mean the opposite. He seems unsure of his capabilities.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I think it'd rather mean the opposite. He seems unsure of his capabilities.

Remember Contador at the 2011 Giro?

 

[BlurryVII]

‘What do I do? I don’t feel bad, but not great.’ He said, what’s worse, going to the Vuelta and failing, or sit at home and climb the walls?

Those are meaningful words.
I'd think the same way he does..

Must have been hard for him to make up his mind, now that he's in, I bet the only place that would please him is the top spot on the podium.

 

[peloton]

I think it'd rather mean the opposite. He seems unsure of his capabilities.

Smart racing. Grab seconds anywhere you can, to me it means nothing else.

 

[Miburo]

Btw instead of being afraid that Contador will drop, i'm just happy. This is why i watch cycling. The excitment of the unknown, how long will he hold on? He'll give his all and i can only respect that.

 

[cineteq]

Smart racing. Grab seconds anywhere you can, to me it means nothing else.

How's that smart if he's expected to obliterate the field in the MTFs and ITTs? It'll be smart if he's not in 'top' form. Maybe you meant that.

Remember Contador at the 2011 Giro?

Yes, but no with regards to time bonuses. Can you be more specific?

 

[LaFlorecita]

How's that smart if he's expected to obliterate the field in the MTFs and ITTs? It'll be smart if he's not in 'top' form. Maybe you meant that.

Yes, but no with regards to time bonuses. Can you be more specific?

Contador attacking for bonus seconds on stage 8.

 

[Miburo]

I guess it's true what wuyts said "Contador is the only spaniard who is really well know in spain outside the cycling community.'

 

[peloton]

How's that smart if he's expected to obliterate the field in the MTFs and ITTs? It'll be smart if he's not in 'top' form. Maybe you meant that.

Not at all. It's never a bad idea to grab seconds if the opportunity arises. It's called smart racing.
You never know what might happen.

 

[cineteq]

Contador attacking for bonus seconds on stage 8.

12 sec. at the finish, with no other GC rider in the top 3. That's smart . Was he expected to obliterate the field in the ITT?

Thing is, if you see that behavior from underdogs like Evans or Rodriguez, then it makes sense to do it.

 

[mrhender]

I think it'd rather mean the opposite. He seems unsure of his capabilities.

Agreed..

Desperate attempt to raise himself from his inferiority complexes..

I doubt he's going for the two seconds, other than to make a statement that he is here...
I suspect, that beeing only half as popular as Wiggins
with Contador getting all the attention drives him to prove that he is more than just a relentless rider in mtf and tt's..

He wants to become what seems to come naturally to Contador..
I guess he is frustrated that Contador having won no GT's in a few years, and the feud with Wiggins has left him as the Power-guy..
Nothing more nothing less..
And that is was he is trying to change..

All though I must admit that the way I saw him in Dauphiné enlarged my symphathies to him a bit..

Enough of Froome for me now.. I know, wrong thread.. Sorry..

Contador is leaving me blank as to where he is..
I've chosen a pessimistic stance as far as GC goes, not be be dissapointed later on.. I do think that even beeing here after what happened in the tour is just proving my notion of him as a true fighter...