Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[No_Balls]

Contador's interview on RTVE: "I bet on Valverde to close the gap to Froome" => Fail

He cant respect Froome that much if he feels he can throw around seconds in Froomes favour just like that. This is a punishment and i wished i'd be spared these kinds of actions.

I'll try to forget this stage quickly. This is silly.

 

[Carols]

Contador's interview on RTVE: "I bet on Valverde to close the gap to Froome" => Fail

Counting on Bala is never a wise decision. Geeezzz, the 3 Spaniards are even ****ing me off and I usually support all three. Got what they deserve today.

Hopefully Alberto learned a lesson.

 

[LaFlorecita]

That was absolute nonsense.

Why did he even go after Barguil ?
He just lost the seconds he gained Monday. Brilliant.

Yeah, ***

he actually lost 20", he gained 19" on Monday.

"El tiempo perdido no es nada importante"


"He decidido dejar la responsabilidad a Alejandro."

 

[cineteq]

What?!

The same Valverde that we know!?

The wheelsucker for excellence?!

C'mon Berto!!

Valverde's cold blooded. I think it was his pay back for what Alberto did on Monday, he's a very resentful guy. In normal circumstances he would've made an effort to get to Froome.

 

[BlurryVII]

Totally ****ed it up, but I believe his major objective for the day was to punish Valv & Purito for not taking Froome out when they could. He answered immediately to Purtio's moves 2 times, but didn't go after Aru and Froome? Seems to me like a big Spanish soap opera-like feud between the 3 matadores

Yep, he thought Valverde would have closed the gap because the two are fighting for 2nd place, he realized he misjudged the situation and then started to pull a little bit, not much.

Seeing how easily he covered Purito's attacks, he could have done the same with Froome, he was out of the saddle and waited for Valverde to do all the work. I think Alberto completety disliked what Purito and piti did to him on Covadonga.

 

[PirazziAttacksVino]

He should have learned his lesson today, wheelsuck the wheelsucker and you become a 2-wheel sucker

 

[Dr. Juice]

It's incredible Valverde doesn't close the gap 500 m from the summit. Even if he carries Rodriguez and Contador all the way with him, rides the last flat 800 m in 1st position, he would still beat everyone in the sprint with the finger in his nose.
But Alberto should never bet on Valverde. Even if Valverde somehow is in a position to win the Tour de France in the last stage before Paris with his opponent 10 sec ahead of him and struggling - he still wouldn't close the gap.

He will follow Froome on Ancares and destroy him by 30 sec if he stays healthy. But you never know...I just fear a crash or a little cold...things like that.

 

[BeagRigh]

Contador's interview on RTVE: "I bet on Valverde to close the gap to Froome" => Fail

What sort of a eijit does that?!

 

[cineteq]

He will follow Froome on Ancares and destroy him by 30 sec if he stays healthy. But you never know...I just fear a crash or a little cold...things like that.

He's got a small margin for errors in Ancares and Santiago.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I am praying for a repeat of Monday's stage on Saturday... come on Alberto

 

[Flamin]

Lol, do some people really believe that? Froome was stronger today, that's it.

 

[Jack_89]

Bah. I remain thrilled.
Although he has my total confidence I just hope that we (and he) will not have to regret it short

Yeah, ***

he actually lost 20", he gained 19" on Monday.

"El tiempo perdido no es nada importante"


"He decidido dejar la responsabilidad a Alejandro."

 

[No_Balls]

It's incredible Valverde doesn't close the gap 500 m from the summit. Even if he carries Rodriguez and Contador all the way with him, rides the last flat 800 m in 1st position, he would still beat everyone in the sprint with the finger in his nose.
But Alberto should never bet on Valverde.

But here's the thing. Alberto sees his outpointed biggest rival escape in the distance and we"ll all know Albertos typical response to that: he follows without hesitation and thinking twice. There are just two scenarios to why he shouldnt follow Froome at that point:

1) Didn't have the legs and thus was comfortable with following Piti.
2) In form but still "betting on Valverde---->wheelsuck Piti------>punish Piti.

He can of course lie about his approach and thus wont admit he didn't had the legs but he chose to answer the way he did. Well, knowing him, there can only be one answer and that is that its personal. This was not normal AC by any means.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Lol, do some people really believe that? Froome was stronger today, that's it.

I don't think it's that simple... Alberto didn't even try. He followed every attack at the start and seemed to be freewheeling. Then he just sat on Valverde's wheel

 

[Beech Mtn]

He cant respect Froome that much if he feels he can throw around seconds in Froomes favour just like that. This is a punishment and i wished i'd be spared these kinds of actions.

I'll try to forget this stage quickly. This is silly.

+1. Not liking the games being played. These three are more likeable when they are not in the same races, playing out their rivalries.

 

[DFA123]

I don't think it's that simple... Alberto didn't even try. He followed every attack at the start and seemed to be freewheeling. Then he just sat on Valverde's wheel

Yep, he just didn't want to drag Valverde up to Froome and gift him the stage. Must be some real resentment there. Not really sure why Valverde didn't bridge the gap though; he'd still probably have won the sprint even after making a big effort.

 

[contador977]

Lol, do some people really believe that? Froome was stronger today, that's it.

Agreed. Scary strong because Contador looks to be weakening a bit. I dont think Alberto followed Froome's attack for fear of blowing up if he had to hold his wheel for 4km. Froome attack was perfect timing and intimidating strength that caused the 3 of them to pause. Alberto took up the chase but nothing too sizzling in his legs. If Froome goes alien mode the tide's can shift so dramatically on Saturday.

 

[BlurryVII]

Lol, do some people really believe that? Froome was stronger today, that's it.

That was litterally the ****tiest attack . Even Barguil and Purito accelarated better than Froome & AC jumped to both attacks from Purito, and didn't move an inch when Froome attacked. It just doesn't make sense. He wanted to settle scores with Valverde and Purito .

 

[DFA123]

Agreed. Scary strong because Contador looks to be weakening a bit. I dont think Alberto followed Froome's attack for fear of blowing up if he had to hold his wheel for 4km. Froome attack was perfect timing and intimidating strength that caused the 3 of them to pause. Alberto took up the chase but nothing too sizzling in his legs. If Froome goes alien mode the tide's can shift so dramatically on Saturday.

Not much evidence that Froome will go full alien mode though. He's clawed back time by judging his abilities well and riding consistently at the limit - taking advantage of the Spanish trio basically doing intervals up half of the climbs. The one climb where Contador specifically marked him, he beat Froome comfortably.

 

[Dr. Juice]

That was litterally the ****tiest attack . Even Barguil and Purito accelarated better than Froome & AC jumped to both attacks from Purito, and didn't move an inch when Froome attacked. It just doesn't make sense. He wanted to settle scores with Valverde and Purito .

+1

It was half of an accelaration, not even close to Monday. It was just a bad decision. It's funny that some Froome fans think the acceleration was strong enough to even put Rodriguez or Valverde in difficulty. It was a short climb, easier than predicted.

In the high mountains AC is 1 step above Froome and 2 above the other 2 ( +Aru). Let's hope everything goes the right way.

 

[Angliru]

It's incredible Valverde doesn't close the gap 500 m from the summit. Even if he carries Rodriguez and Contador all the way with him, rides the last flat 800 m in 1st position, he would still beat everyone in the sprint with the finger in his nose.
But Alberto should never bet on Valverde. Even if Valverde somehow is in a position to win the Tour de France in the last stage before Paris with his opponent 10 sec ahead of him and struggling - he still wouldn't close the gap.

He will follow Froome on Ancares and destroy him by 30 sec if he stays healthy. But you never know...I just fear a crash or a little cold...things like that.

He'll be alright. Just a momentary lapse in judgement (that I can't understand like everyone else here). I figure he'll win the final mtf to seal his overall victory.

 

[Dr. Juice]

We were all worried after La Camperona with Froome taking 7 seconds and after Lagos de Covadonga with Valverde taking seconds. Alberto is just the strongest in this race.Even if Froome steps up, he won't put him in danger. Just if something goes terribly wrong.

AC won't waste any energy on Saturday, sit on the wheel of Froome and then finish the business.

 

[cineteq]

Riis on Monday
"We talked in the morning and we felt that the best scenario would be if Froome attacked early and Alberto went with him, that way, we only had to follow the wheel." He believes that Froome has superseded Valverde and Rodriguez as the biggest threat to Contador’s overall lead.

So what was good tactic on Monday was no longer valid on Thursday?

 

[Dr. Juice]

Riis on Monday
"We talked in the morning and we felt that the best scenario would be if Froome attacked early and Alberto went with him, that way, we only had to follow the wheel." He believes that Froome has superseded Valverde and Rodriguez as the biggest threat to Contador’s overall lead.

So what was good tactic on Monday was no longer valid on Thursday?

He thought Valverde likes to defend his 2nd place and win the stage. 99 % of the riders would do that. But it's a good lesson for Alberto.

 

[SeriousSam]

Most likely explanation:

Contador wasn't feeling well and when Froome attacked, rather than having to face not being able to hold his wheel and drop back, which would lift Froome's spririts tremendously and constitute an unbearable loss of face, he didn't even try to go with him.