Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[ILovecycling]

One of the Tinkoff-Saxo soigneurs has said he will do Beijing.

really?
faustino?

 

[burning]

probably this.
but once in his career it would be nice

He already won in 2009.

 

[LaFlorecita]

really?
faustino?

http://martinmeyers0.wordpress.com/...-programma-van-alberto-contador-na-de-vuelta/

 

[super_domestique]

Bertie has been the form rider from the beginning. Dominant, masterful performance. Froome, was getting better each day but Contador had his, and every other rider's, measure.

 

[murali]

this looks beautiful.

I think Jrod will go for a hat-trick tho. he needs to salvage his year.

iirc, AC barely made top-10 when he rode Lombardia last time.

 

[Red Rick]

Should be enough to do some damage against incredibly mediocre competition

 

[ILovecycling]

He already won in 2009.

shame on me , then its pointless to focus on it imo

 

[LaFlorecita]

shame on me , then its pointless to focus on it imo

It would confirm his return to the top of the cycling world

 

[Red Rick]

this looks beautiful.
iirc, AC barely made top-10 when he rode Lombardia last time.

Please also remember that AC's form was absolute crap last year, it didn't improve after the Tour. Now it's a one day race, he's not certain to do better even though he's in way better form, cause if they get to the line in a 10 man group, he gets like 6th at the very best.

 

[rhubroma]

I have to say I called this yesterday:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/vuelta-a-espana-2014/stage-18/results


rhubroma1 day ago
I think Contador's big mistake (miscalculation?) was that Froome wasn't simply going on the attack, but chasing down Aru. The Spaniard should have realized that their alliance would have made the move stick, given that neither Valverde, nor Rodriquez had the legs to close the gap. Thus Contador's other mistake, was erroneously estimating that these two, in their best interests, would have shut down Froome's advance.

Normally Contador was in a position that he didn't have to react immediately to his rivals' moves, but force them to cancel each other out and then attack them. Normally. However, Aru and his companions didn't conform to AC's immagined scenario. Though it's not a tragedy, nor do I think indicative that he was too weak.

Tomorrow's stage will be different, and if Contador's got good legs he will try to win it.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Please also remember that AC's form was absolute crap last year, it didn't improve after the Tour. Now it's a one day race, he's not certain to do better even though he's in way better form, cause if they get to the line in a 10 man group, he gets like 6th at the very best.

He DNF'd last year. In 2012 he was 10th or so.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I have to say I called this yesterday:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/vuelta-a-espana-2014/stage-18/results


rhubroma1 day ago
I think Contador's big mistake (miscalculation?) was that Froome wasn't simply going on the attack, but chasing down Aru. The Spaniard should have realized that their alliance would have made the move stick, given that neither Valverde, nor Rodriquez had the legs to close the gap. Thus Contador's other mistake, was erroneously estimating that these two, in their best interests, would have shut down Froome's advance.

Normally Contador was in a position that he didn't have to react immediately to his rivals' moves, but force them to cancel each other out and then attack them. Normally. However, Aru and his companions didn't conform to AC's immagined scenario. Though it's not a tragedy, nor do I think indicative that he was too weak.

Tomorrow's stage will be different, and if Contador's got good legs he will try to win it.

me too

http://velorooms.com/index.php?topic=6585.msg172356#msg172356

Looking forward to stage 20. I think we'll see a repeat of stage 16.

Alberto seemed to be toying with the others today.

 

[LaFlorecita]

https://twitter.com/johndegenkolb/status/510870526798344193

 

[burning]

https://twitter.com/johndegenkolb/status/510870526798344193

Alternatively, he can try to go for 14th to save himself from begging.

 

[No_Balls]

"People asked me at the start of the year what my objectives were - the Tour? - and I said, no, in fact it was the whole season.”

“And this season I’ve finished all the stage races I’ve completed in the top two places and hopefully if there are no problems tomorrow, I can enjoy the final stage.”

Although this Grand Tour has been important for Contador given his crashing out of the Tour and subsequent injury, he argued that his most special win “remains that of Fuente Dé in the Vuelta 2012.”

“This year was a real challenge, it seemed in 2013 as if my best years were behind me, but I knew that a lot of circumstances had stopped me from racing at my best level.”

“That meant, though, that I worked a lot harder, harder than I ever have done before - and I will keep wondering how I could have done in the Tour de France if I hadn’t been injured.”

How will this victory - and defeat of Froome - affect Contador for next year?, he was asked. “It boosts my motivation, because he’s a world-class reference point in the Grand Tours, and beating him is important. But when the season starts next year, we’ll all be back to starting from zero.”

http://m.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-takes-second-summit-win-at-vuelta-a-espana

 

[trevim]

https://twitter.com/johndegenkolb/status/510870526798344193

Come on Alberto be nice with the guy, you never know when you'll need a mountain domestique

 

[TANK91]

8 grand tours pretty nice career

next year, he will have ten i think. giro-tour for sure

Not a chance lol, i would like to see him try it i would also like Froome to do it, if anyone can it is Contador but i dont see him beating Froome in the TDF next year if Froome has a smooth year, he as not been absoloute dominated by Contador, Froome but huge chunks into Alberto. I am just gutted we did not get too see these two in the TDF, Dauphinee Froome was far better than this Vuelta. I think we can all agree now these are easily the best two in the world.

 

[trevim]

Not a chance lol, i would like to see him try it i would also like Froome to do it, if anyone can it is Contador but i dont see him beating Froome in the TDF next year if Froome has a smooth year, he as not been absoloute dominated by Contador, Froome but huge chunks into Alberto. I am just gutted we did not get too see these two in the TDF, Dauphinee Froome was far better than this Vuelta. I think we can all agree now these are easily the best two in the world.

Yeah these two are way ahead of the other GT contenders here. Valverde and Rodriguez had better lead ups to the Vuelta and they were still beaten. I wonder how Quintana (I think he would be really close or even better on Ancares/Somiedo) and Nibali (no ideia what Nibali is worth these days) would compare. Maybe next year we get a straight answer.
Regarding Froome/Contador I still think Froome may be marginally better although their condition wasn't optimal in this Vuelta so it's hard to tell if Contador is better or was simply better prepared. Beforehand, I thought Froome's injuries would allow to be better than Contador but it didn't work out that way.

 

[rhubroma]

Not a chance lol, i would like to see him try it i would also like Froome to do it, if anyone can it is Contador but i dont see him beating Froome in the TDF next year if Froome has a smooth year, he as not been absoloute dominated by Contador, Froome but huge chunks into Alberto. I am just gutted we did not get too see these two in the TDF, Dauphinee Froome was far better than this Vuelta. I think we can all agree now these are easily the best two in the world.

Granted, but you don't contextualize. Alberto was out of shape last year and Froome was in his best shape.

Earlier in Froome's career AC would have stompted him, whereas next year, even if Froome is back on his best form (and he's just about there now, like Alberto), but so is Alberto, the Briton has no chance of dominating the Spaniard again.

 

[Jelantik]

Not a chance lol, i would like to see him try it i would also like Froome to do it, if anyone can it is Contador but i dont see him beating Froome in the TDF next year if Froome has a smooth year, he as not been absoloute dominated by Contador, Froome but huge chunks into Alberto. I am just gutted we did not get too see these two in the TDF, Dauphinee Froome was far better than this Vuelta. I think we can all agree now these are easily the best two in the world.

You are forgetting something. Sure we didn't see this guy toe to toe at their tiptop shape during TDF. But both of them are coming back from injury. One is broken hand and the other one fractured leg. Alberto seems to be the one that reached his form a lot sooner than Froome. (Of course it would spark a debate maybe Contador's form for TDF was superior than Froome to begin with. But we got no proof about where he and froome form were actually). That's what the difference between the two. I guess, what Sean Yates said about Alberto was true. He can come to training camp out of shape and he could ride himself into shape. Giro 2008 is another example.

So for Froome to challenge Contador, he has to arrive at TDF with 100%. I'm not so sure to immediately label Froome can beat contador next year. At this point they are in even score. If Contador will win the Vuelta (barring any accidents), remember Froome got no GT win this year. Contador does. (And his win over Froome will boost his confidence. Confidence is a dangerous thing you know) And Contador might as well on the way to reach no.1 on the WT ranking.

 

[ratattat]

Granted, but you don't contextualize. Alberto was out of shape last year and Froome was in his best shape.

Earlier in Froome's career AC would have stompted him, whereas next year, even if Froome is back on his best form (and he's just about there now, like Alberto), but so is Alberto, the Briton has no chance of dominating the Spaniard again.

Earlier in Froome's career AC was a dopping cheat so probably would have "stomped" a clean up coming rider

 

[Jelantik]

contador:

“This year was a real challenge, it seemed in 2013 as if my best years were behind me, but I knew that a lot of circumstances had stopped me from racing at my best level.”

Hello everyone,
remember last year? everyone talked about Alberto as if he was dead already. What was that? he is old, declining, should retire etc, etc. . At least, this should be a reminder for all of us. Never count him out yet. He has so many setback during his career but he always come back stronger. That why he is one of a kind. A MAESTRO on the bike. A POETRY IN MOTION. period.

REMEMBER THAT.. for next year (hopefully he won't suck)

 

[Pricey_sky]

Congratulations Alberto, a fantastic comeback and he provided some great racing with Froome. I'm looking forward to next year's battles already!

 

[LaFlorecita]

Congratulations Alberto, a fantastic comeback and he provided some great racing with Froome. I'm looking forward to next year's battles already!

Yes, hopefully they'll both enter the Tour in top shape and stay on their bikes

 

[Electress]

Any thoughts on Contador versus Froome's mental strength? IMO, Contador always seems a little bit hungrier and his ability to come back mentally from adversity and dominate is obvious.