Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Pricey_sky]

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.

Froome has had to overcome plenty too let's not forget, he has shown lots of fight and mental strength in this Vuelta. I've always been impressed with Contador mentally.

 

[Electress]

Post deleted

 

[No_Balls]

contador:

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.

It was for the most parts people started following cycling in September 2011, bitter AS-fans and bitter Lance-fans who talked like that. "Before you are certain, you are rather overly certain" as Cicero said. Wishful thinking at best.

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.

Quoted for truth.

 

[Ryaguas]

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.

I think Froome 2 steps below AC in that topic... When he is not leading the race he looks kinda lost and he doesnt look for other tactics like attacking from far out... He only gets on the train and try to do something in the last mountain.

 

[Angliru]

I thought he should follow Froome's wheel including as they cross the line. Froome deserved the win and the strength between the 2 was too close to call. If u reverse the situation with Alberto attacking and Froome following, I think Froome could have done the same thing today that Alberto did to him with the benefit of drafting and counter attacking after an attack. Froome deserved to win after doing the damage again today in my eyes.

You need to gain every second you can. Anything could happen with the itt to end the Vuelta. If there were a ceremonial stage into Madrid to end it, maybe a gift would be in order but there is still racing to do.

 

[Angliru]

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

Please refer to the rules of the forum before you get banned before reaching post #10.

 

[Electress]

I think Froome 2 steps below AC in that topic... When he is not leading the race he looks kinda lost and he doesnt look for other tactics like attacking from far out... He only gets on the train and try to do something in the last mountain.

This is my impression, too. I think Team Sky aren't flexible enough on the road. They seem much more comfortable defending a lead than trying to spring a surprise attack. At the same time, those tactics do a lot to prevent others doing the long range attacks, making the 'attack in last 2 km' a lot more likely.

 

[ferryman]

Please refer to the rules of the forum before you get banned before reaching post #10.

Thank you Angliru. Please take note Ratattat.

 

[Angliru]

I think Froome 2 steps below AC in that topic... When he is not leading the race he looks kinda lost and he doesnt look for other tactics like attacking from far out... He only gets on the train and try to do something in the last mountain.

I think the difference between the two is in similar circumstances in the gc that Froome faced, Contador is willing to risk it all for the win with long range attacks while Froome is less willing to sacrifice his current standing in the gc, preferring to take a more orthodox approach.

 

[Angliru]

Thank you Angliru. Please take note Ratattat.

You're welcome Ferryman. That was the censored version of what I really wanted to post.

 

[damian13ster]

I think the difference between the two is in similar circumstances in the gc that Froome faced, Contador is willing to risk it all for the win with long range attacks while Froome is less willing to sacrifice his current standing in the gc, preferring to take a more orthodox approach.

I am not sure. Wasnt Froome's first acceleration over 7km from the finish? If you are able to drop your opponent you can usually take a minute over such distance. In this Vuelta he just wasnt in great shape. Move a race week farther (or, have TT as a stage 19/20) and I think situation might have been very different). Froome and Contador seemed evenly matched last 2 MTFs (Contador did ride away but he didnt do any work on the climb before that)

 

[arvc40]

I am not sure. Wasnt Froome's first acceleration over 7km from the finish? If you are able to drop your opponent you can usually take a minute over such distance. In this Vuelta he just wasnt in great shape. Move a race week farther (or, have TT as a stage 19/20) and I think situation might have been very different). Froome and Contador seemed evenly matched last 2 MTFs (Contador did ride away but he didnt do any work on the climb before that)

Froome can't drop Contador no matter what he does. His trump card is to burn him off his wheel and it does not work anymore. Has not worked all year. 2013 is in the past. Froome and Porte not going to be dropping Contador anytime soon.

 

[TANK91]

I think the difference between the two is in similar circumstances in the gc that Froome faced, Contador is willing to risk it all for the win with long range attacks while Froome is less willing to sacrifice his current standing in the gc, preferring to take a more orthodox approach.

Yeah like Contador who kept saying he is racing to win what did he try in 2013?, honestly people think Fuente De is the norm he could try it 100 times and make it twice. That was such a wierd stage, Froome has tried the last few days to win the Vuelta everyone know's that but their is no way he is going to attack from afar for no reason.

He as drove both of Contador's wins he as certainly tried, atleast twice he was with Kelderman and riders like that having to come back all the time.
Fact is Contador has not really grimaced once apart from Dauphinee he was in a right pain face barely keeping the wheel, did Froome have that acceleration this race? No is the answer, he lost nearly 1 min in the ITT that probably won't happen next year.

 

[arvc40]

I am not sure. Wasnt Froome's first acceleration over 7km from the finish? If you are able to drop your opponent you can usually take a minute over such distance. In this Vuelta he just wasnt in great shape. Move a race week farther (or, have TT as a stage 19/20) and I think situation might have been very different). Froome and Contador seemed evenly matched last 2 MTFs (Contador did ride away but he didnt do any work on the climb before that)

Contador did ride away BUT !. Lol ........

 

[TANK91]

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.

Thing what annoys me is how you know for a fact his injury affected him worst i mean sure his sounds worst how do you know Froome was not badly affected? We all thought the rumours of Contador on his bike was lies but it probably wasn't as he turn't up at the Vuelta and just stop Contador has not been in trouble all year except the Dauphinee, Froome won both of the opening 2 stages untill his crash. He took 10 seconds in the ITT and really dominated Contador on the climb done all the driving and Contador barely took his wheel. That's what people mistake they think Contador was favourite but Froome looked ok to me early on in the TDF.

Im not downplaying Contador but people really need to shut up "oh best ever Contador smashes Froome"? Froome has shown on ax-3 and Ventoux he can rival the very best climbing times ever. Says alot to me that Contador respects Froome alot that little man who has just 1 GT, he knows this his strongest rival Froome thinks the same this could be a legedary rivalry we have comming up. Lance and Ullrich was not fair LA use crush Ullrich these too are evenly matched. Big advantage Froome has is he is what 2 years younger isit?, or one?.

 

[Jelantik]

I think Froome 2 steps below AC in that topic... When he is not leading the race he looks kinda lost and he doesnt look for other tactics like attacking from far out... He only gets on the train and try to do something in the last mountain.

I think with this caliber as froome and contador, looks like being ahead first is certainly a tremendous advantage (well of course. But there's no guarantee that you can keep it either). I guess, It probably easier feels if you are on the upper hand. On 2013, Froome has never been behind. He always gains time in ITT, or in the first mountain. I guess, now that having to race from a deficit, that's all he can do.

Contador's key moment, I thought when he left Froome with 53 seconds on ITT. If Froome wasn't left with 53 seconds, right now probably their difference is a bit closer? They have been back and forth in the mountain. Froome took 7 seconds, next Alberto took 15 seconds. Froome took 20 seconds, then Alberto punched back with 16 seconds.

So I hope, Contador will work on his ITT a lot more (even though he is better this year). He and Froome is going to be touch and go when it comes to the mountain next year. Who has the edge after ITT, will have benefit of following the wheel and finish them off in the last km. IMO.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Yay! CONGRATULATIONS CONTADOR! A few weeks ago, who knew?

Amazing achievement.

 

[Publicus]

Yeah like Contador who kept saying he is racing to win what did he try in 2013?, honestly people think Fuente De is the norm he could try it 100 times and make it twice. That was such a wierd stage, Froome has tried the last few days to win the Vuelta everyone know's that but their is no way he is going to attack from afar for no reason.

He as drove both of Contador's wins he as certainly tried, atleast twice he was with Kelderman and riders like that having to come back all the time.
Fact is Contador has not really grimaced once apart from Dauphinee he was in a right pain face barely keeping the wheel, did Froome have that acceleration this race? No is the answer, he lost nearly 1 min in the ITT that probably won't happen next year.

What do you mean Contador has not really grimaced??? You clearly didn't watch today's stage at all.

 

[Jelantik]

Thing what annoys me is how you know for a fact his injury affected him worst i mean sure his sounds worst how do you know Froome was not badly affected? We all thought the rumours of Contador on his bike was lies but it probably wasn't as he turn't up at the Vuelta and just stop Contador has not been in trouble all year except the Dauphinee, Froome won both of the opening 2 stages untill his crash. He took 10 seconds in the ITT and really dominated Contador on the climb done all the driving and Contador barely took his wheel. That's what people mistake they think Contador was favourite but Froome looked ok to me early on in the TDF.

Im not downplaying Contador but people really need to shut up "oh best ever Contador smashes Froome"? Froome has shown on ax-3 and Ventoux he can rival the very best climbing times ever. Says alot to me that Contador respects Froome alot that little man who has just 1 GT, he knows this his strongest rival Froome thinks the same this could be a legedary rivalry we have comming up. Lance and Ullrich was not fair LA use crush Ullrich these too are evenly matched. Big advantage Froome has is he is what 2 years younger isit?, or one?.

I think you misuderstood what i mean. I'm not saying that contador injury was far more worst than froome. In fact none of us know that. But fact is, both of them crashed out TDF with somekind of fractured or broken injury. Fact is contador seems to have his form back just in time on the ITT, while Froome was clearly still off. So my point is, despite whatever their injury is each of them got less than ideal training like they want too.

I don't think anyone here saying that best contador beat froome. Naaah. Contador in this Vuelta isn't Contador that we used to see. Fortunately he was a tad stronger than the rest of the field. Again, Froome dominated at 2013, that's the fact. But you can't draw a generalization that froome will dominate period. 2014 is the proof of that. And if you read contador's comment he has nothing but telling the world Froome is the reference of the best cyclist in the world. He respects Froome. Just because he respects Froome, that doesn't mean that Contador can't beat him either next year. No one has a crystal ball for next year. I'm contador's fan, but I'm not blind either by making comparison using last year performance or a decade of his performance. If next year froome is better then chapeau. But we have to see it too. For now, Contador is on his way to add 1 more GT win to his palmares.

 

[damian13ster]

Very reasonable post. I think that if both are in top shape they match up perfectly. Won't be surprised that if both come in prepared for TdF that without time bonuses and not many ITT km's, the gap between those two will be less than 1 minute overall.

 

[leon993]

I am still overjoyed by the performance of the Great One in this GT. He won easily with a distance, like he used to. It is 8 now . The last great one, Eddy Merckx, got 12. Extra 2 next year and AC is at 10 .

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

I am still overjoyed by the performance of the Great One in this GT. He won easily with a distance, like he used to. It is 8 now . The last great one, Eddy Merckx, got 12. Extra 2 next year and AC is at 10 .

Hinault got 10 and he would hate it if Contador equaled or bettered that. He doesn't appear to be his biggest fan, at least.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Hinault got 10 and he would hate it if Contador equaled or bettered that. He doesn't appear to be his biggest fan, at least.

If Alberto gets ten (which is still a big if) Hinault can just say Alberto actually has 8.

 

[greenedge]

Contador has raced very well this Vuelta, but i kept on wanting to see him and Froome trade blows. Maybe next year, for now a deserved victory and he had his advantage so there was no need to blow up trying to drop Froome.

 

[ILovecycling]

If Alberto gets ten (which is still a big if) Hinault can just say Alberto actually has 8.

this
otoh it will be very tough to get 10

Hard work and dedication through winter Alberto