Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Rollthedice]

Enough said.

Lets pretend Contador didn't have the legs to go with Dawgs thermonuclear Alien ultra attack. He would still have to at least tried to ride within his limits because he just the other day stated him as his fiercest rivals, to limit his losses. This didn't happen because he at the moment thought about Valverdes overall ambitions. He says: "i thought he had the responsibilities to pull".

The only reason why he wouldnt pull (or rather couldnt) where if he was on his limits or was about to bonk. That didn't happen.

It cant be any clearer.

There is something about Alejandro Valverde.

Contador's mistake was that he doesn't read CN forums, particularly posts about Alejandro Valverde. He could have learn that Valverde will never ever pull when in a group even if he were about to loose Tour de France. Apart from the moments when he suddenly realizes that he's one of the best all-rounders in the recent history of this sport, attacks and goes alone for the win, Valverde will always be satisfied with a podium finish. That's what he achieved today and probably at the end of Vuelta.

As for Alberto, he is in control and if nothing dramatic happens he'll follow Froome anywhere, maybe even snatch another win. After all the dawg, even if he tuned down a bit his alienness, was and is the only one who can challenge a resurrected Contador.

 

[Carols]

Wondering why the Froome discussion thread is not lit up with pages of posts congratulating Froome on his wonderful performance today?

Oh, yeah, what fun would that be when there are aspersions to cast over on the Contador thread 🙄

LOL it's much more fun to come over here and bait the Berto fans than to go to their own guys thread and say nice things. But what else can one expect from internet users under fake names? Adult behavior? Sometimes that seems in short supply by some on this forum 😛

IMO Alberto had just made multiple hard efforts and didn't have the legs to follow Froome, who actually made a great little move there, at the time. Why he didn't try later is beyond me. But it doesn't seem to be like him at all to wait for someone else to do the work if he can.

If this was his 'bad day' I can live with that 🙂.

 

[veganrob]

Contador's mistake was that he doesn't read CN forums, particularly posts about Alejandro Valverde. He could have learn that Valverde will never ever pull when in a group even if he were about to loose Tour de France. Apart from the moments when he suddenly realizes that he's one of the best all-rounders in the recent history of this sport, attacks and goes alone for the win, Valverde will always be satisfied with a podium finish. That's what he achieved today and probably at the end of Vuelta.

As for Alberto, he is in control and if nothing dramatic happens he'll follow Froome anywhere, maybe even snatch another win. After all the dawg, even if he tuned down a bit his alienness, was and is the only one who can challenge a resurrected Contador.

Pretty much. AC does not have to do anything, he is in the drivers seat. Alberto shows he understands the race and other riders abilities. Whenever he needed to show something he does. He does not waste energy. Looks at race as three weeks, not one stage.
As for Valverde, I think AC gave him the big payback. When they had the chance to put Froome away days ago, Valv and Purito did not want to help. They thought they were going to put time on AC. Big mistake. So Froome has new lifw and Purito is off the podium and Valverde lucky he is in third.
Ac will win Vuelta. Absolutely no question about it. Today was game for him.

 

[Futuroscope]

Mind games between Contador and Valverde (Rodriguez)! But Froome and Aru did well and Contador didn't have super legs. Losing 20 seconds on Froome wasn't good though.

 

[veganrob]

All true what you say, I believe.

 

[PirazziAttacksVino]

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.

Nobody knows/will know what really happened. When Contador says something, it's only one thing we can be sure of: that we can't be sure of what he talks 😀

But what I'm trying to say is, be careful not to start believing things just because you'd like them to happen/to have happened.

Imo the most likely scenario is that Contador didn't want to close the gap to Froome for Pity & Purito, because Froome didn't look that strong today either. Or that mutant as some say.

But again, what I'm saying here is pure speculation too. Only one thing is for sure: at the end of the day Froome gained time on Contador today.

 

[LaFlorecita]

http://cyclingquotes.com/news/contador_i_had_the_legs_to_follow_froome/

 

[Angliru]

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.

This sounds more like what you would like to believe happened since it's the one that fits your idea that Contador was trying to save face, than the " most likely explanation".

Equally likely is that he didn't want to act as domestique for Valverde and Purito when Froome attacked, hesitated in hopes that Valverde would react and jump on Froome's wheel (a mistake on Contador's part), and paid for it with the loss of 13 seconds. I really doubt avoiding embarrassment of a failed attempt of responding to Froome's attack on his own was the "most likely explanation".

 

[arvc40]

mark my words alberto could have followed and passed froome if he was more aggressive. He's waiting for saturday.

x 2 .....................

 

[Red Rick]

I had the feeling Contador was actually enjoying himself on the lower part of the climb, reacting a bit to everybody, attacking once himself, etc.

 

[BlurryVII]

http://cyclingquotes.com/news/contador_i_had_the_legs_to_follow_froome/

Problem solved 🙂

 

[Energy Starr]

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.😎

As he should. Just like Stage 16 only take a little more time.

 

[leon993]

AC was looking at Valverde and Purito - AC doesn't want to give them anything at all. Froome he respects, and he is not from spain. He also wanted to give a gift to Froome, and in his own words, he had the legs but didn't go after him.

He, also in his own words, hope it won't spell trouble to him later.

To Froome this is a true maestro speaking. But regarding Valverde and Purito there is some bad blood between him and them, and that affects his judgement - hopefully it won't matter in end.

 

[Electress]

This sounds more like what you would like to believe happened since it's the one that fits your idea that Contador was trying to save face, than the " most likely explanation".

Equally likely is that he didn't want to act as domestique for Valverde and Purito when Froome attacked, hesitated in hopes that Valverde would react and jump on Froome's wheel (a mistake on Contador's part), and paid for it with the loss of 13 seconds. I really doubt avoiding embarrassment of a failed attempt of responding to Froome's attack on his own was the "most likely explanation".

This. To me, Contador didn't look especially tired. Not saying he was bursting with energy, but he seemed pretty cool. Seemed pretty much the same as what happened when they didn't work together before - he expected more from Valverde and wasn't especially inclined to make Vvde's or Purito's task easy. Vvde, meanwhile, was expecting Contador to leap on Froome's break, banking on wheel-sucking to the top and winning on the sprint. All a bit of brinksmanship between them gone wrong IMO.

Find it hard to believe that he was able to do what he did on Monday and yet couldn't manage to cover that little break.

We'll see on Saturday, but I reckon that's one stage Alberto would like to win. I do hope so…

Hopefully those photos of the knee will finally put the ridiculous 'he wasn't really that injured' conspiracy theories involving corrupt TdF and Madrid doctors to bed.

 

[Jelantik]

Gosh.. i missed today's stage! Just read the news, and catch up will all your comments. Very interesting indeed. Some believes that contador didn't have the leg. Did he? My guess is probably a little bit of both. One being, conserve energy and the climb didn't suit him, two.. these unspoken battle between these two clowns with Bertie. Valverde probably banked on Contador followed Froome wheel. And Contador thought that it was Valverde responsibility.

Either way, Froome took back the time he lost on previous mountain stage + more. But one thing for sure, Contador only got one headache now. Froome. If Froome goes on Saturday, he needs to follow. If Valverde goes, Froome will definitely go (no question), and Contador will follow. So maybe it's a simpler headache than having Valverde and Purito lurking and jerking him around. At least with Froome is obvious. Hang on or be dropped. As much as I want to believe that Bertie form is good, but Froome's resurrection is concerning.

If Bertie did ran out of a gas... then all hell break loose on Saturday. I hope Bertie can hang with Froome. Because if Froome won Vuelta, the whole world will explode!! OHH NOOO..😱 I hope that won't happen.

 

[Jelantik]

I watched the 9km. I changed my opinion. I think Contador simply ran out of gas. He was grimacing every other breath. He covered most attacks at the bottom of the climb. Even close the gap for some katusha man or some other rider that's not GC man. (why?). When it matters he can't followed. Froome wasn't that stellar at the beginning of the climb. He was mostly at the back when everyone thrown punches. So I have to say clever ride by Froome. And Contador just simply ran out of gas. It's the same scenario as the stage when Froome took 7 seconds (he waited, gauged his effort and not involving in attack and stop etc.) Valverde and Purito didn't chase, because they looked like they were on the limit already. What I didn't get it.. purito decided to attack instead of working together to reel Froome in. Obviously, none of these spaniards have the same agenda.

So saturday will be a confirmation whether or not contador's form can hold the rising form of Froome. It's clear that after attack and cover attack with other riders, contador can't hold Froome's wheel. These are the second time it happens. I wonder if he just stays and watches everyone attacking each other (like Froome did), he would have something left to follow Froome just like on Monday. (on Monday, Froome happened to initiate the first attack)

 

[contador977]

I had the feeling Contador was actually enjoying himself on the lower part of the climb, reacting a bit to everybody, attacking once himself, etc.

Contador says he had the legs to follow Froome. I dont believe him. It created nice gaps the last time he followed Froome on Stage 16 when Purito and Valverde were dropped. Contador has had trouble dropping those 2 Spainish riders who I think are more aligned with each other than with Contador. I think there is some bad blood in that Trio. Froome could turn this race upside down on Saturday, I imagine a viscious attack and if Contador can follow he wins the Vuelta. I bit of a mental blow by Froome today to drop Contador. There is no doubt in my mind Contador simply did not have the legs go on with Froome in that moment. The timing I believe was excellent and Contador was somewhat boxed in. Adding to that, Valverde and Contador do not want to pull the other rider up to preserve their podium spot nor do they want to collaborate with one another. Of the 3, I think its the Contador/Valverde that dislike each other the most.

 

[Netbalp]

I had the feeling Contador was actually enjoying himself on the lower part of the climb, reacting a bit to everybody, attacking once himself, etc.

Why didn't he want to continue to enjoy himself further and take a win?

 

[HappyLoser]

Contador says he had the legs to follow Froome. I dont believe him.

He's always lying. He looked pretty uncomfortable and he couldn't follow Froome this time. The question is - is he able to follow Froome on Saturday? 😎

 

[T-Nielsen]

Quick question: When did we actually know the details of Albertos injury.

I ask because there is a journalist that claims TS was the one misleading with the broken leg. I suspect it is the media, including his own, that just did not check their facts and just wrote, broken leg broken leg broken leg.

 

[Helvellyn]

This is what happens when you don't have a team. Katusha softened up Contador with attack after attack and then Froome dealt the killer blow, just at the right moment when Contador was recovering from an effort. Some of those attacks were not that strong, but Contador was having to cover them every time. A stronger team like Katusha would have been able to pull back at least the some of those early attacks.

It was like a classic style stage with attacks spinning off left, right and centre. However strong you are, you can't cover every single one. Contador had to bank on others having an interest in pulling back some of the attacks and let them work. If he had dragged Valverde and Purito up to Froome then they would immediately have attacked and possibly dropped him anyway. The leader is always going to be the vulnerable one in that situation when they don't have much of a team.

Ultimately, he made a calculation that the time lost was going to be minimal and it was better to save energy. If he's going to crack in a big way on Saturday then he probably doesn't deserve to win. Based on everything we've seen so far, it's reasonable to expect him to be the strongest on Sat and saving energy today, while Froome put in a big effort, won't have done his chances any harm.

I think people are reading too much into it when they say that Contador was trying to punish Valverde.

I'm going to be on a plane during Sat's stage and was really hoping it would be pretty much settled by now. I think Contador allowed some doubt to creep in, just to give me visions of him being dropped for 2 minutes by Froome on Sat, while I'm sitting on the flight 🙁

 

[gregrowlerson]

Not over yet, but Alberto is closing in on a quite miraculous GT victory. 3 more stages; the biggest on Saturday, though time could be gained/lost on all. As long as he has at least thirty seconds up his sleeve going into the time trial the Vuelta should be his. He might consider it his greatest achievement.

 

[personal]

Ha made calculation, played waiting game and limited his losses.

😀

 

[Red Rick]

AFAIK, Contador has never before said anything like this after getting dropped. He doesn't always lie

 

[Electress]

Ha made calculation, played waiting game and limited his losses.

😀

Yeah. I think it was a calculated 'mistake' insofar as he realised that he may well lose time to one of other of them no matter what unless he expended a lot of energy he wanted to keep in the tank for Sat, where I'm pretty convinced he wants to win if he can. I don't think he's feeling utterly brilliant, but I'm not sure he's on his last legs either. I hope not. I'll be gutted if he loses this now.

Quite apart from Sat, I'm worried about something sneaky today from one or other of his adversaries.