Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Red Rick]

The WC doesn't give WT points, theres only Lombardia and Bejing

 

[LaFlorecita]

It's more about "have to". there is no way he can remain WT #1 if he doesn't ride Beijing.
Valv will easily score some points in WC. Lombardia is more Valv territory than AC territory.

What i dont know is whether AC wants to top WT.

There are no points to be scored at the Worlds.

It's absolutely possible to remain #1 without riding Beijing. He would need to beat Valverde at Lombardia or finish 1 spot behind him.

And he does want to top the WT, else he wouldn't be going to Beijing.

 

[Electress]

It's more about "have to". there is no way he can remain WT #1 if he doesn't ride Beijing.
Valv will easily score some points in WC. Lombardia is more Valv territory than AC territory.

What i dont know is whether AC wants to top WT.

Surely, anyone would? It'd cap the renaissance post-2013 and a PR man's dream for Tinkoff Saxo…No. 1 after crashing out of TdF and miraculous recovery from broken tibia…? Plus pipping Vvde…that would be even more piquant.

Though Beijing. Does make me uneasy. I'd be living on Mars Bars.

 

[Carols]

Haha, he knew Froome's numbers and could top them. Nice to have an ex Sky coach around

“(I had) the belief that if he could do it (make the Vuelta) then so could I,” explained Contador. “I saw the training data with the coach that had worked with them [Sky] and that knew the times that they had done. We compared than and sometimes they were better. That gives you confidence, but he is a very hard racer.”

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-froome-and-quintana-will-be-my-biggest-rivals-in-2015

 

[trevim]

The only reason for Contador to ride Beijing is to mess with Valverde. Good reason as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Carols]

Surely, anyone would? It'd cap the renaissance post-2013 and a PR man's dream for Tinkoff Saxo…No. 1 after crashing out of TdF and miraculous recovery from broken tibia…?

Indeed. World #1 despite all the adversity. It is the stuff legends are made of

Though Beijing. Does make me uneasy. I'd be living on Mars Bars.

Makes me shiver . Tuna from a can through the entire race.

Are there any stages there where he can earn WT points? I've never bothered to watch it.

 

[gregrowlerson]

The only reason for Contador to ride Beijing is to mess with Valverde. Good reason as far as I'm concerned.

Nice to see that this forum can entertain even in the absence of grand tours

 

[Ryaguas]

Ouch

What bothers me the most is that the previous doctor didnt clean the wounds 100% cuz the Dr. Cesar Flores found stones inside the wound after reopening it... pretty sure that the italian doctor was a fan of Froome

 

[Ryaguas]

BTW... besides Basso and Kiserlovski... is there any other climber being signed for the team?

 

[SeriousSam]

Imagine the following. Nibali targets the Giro, Froome the Tour, Quintana the Vuelta. Contador does all 3 and wins them all. He'd without a doubt be the second best GT rider of all time (after Lance)

 

[Miburo]

Imagine the following. Nibali targets the Giro, Froome the Tour, Quintana the Vuelta. Contador does all 3 and wins them all. He'd without a doubt be the second best GT rider of all time (after Lance)

You're saying Lance is the best GT rider?

 

[Walkman]

Imagine the following. Nibali targets the Giro, Froome the Tour, Quintana the Vuelta. Contador does all 3 and wins them all. He'd without a doubt be the second best GT rider of all time (after Lance)

He will never ride all three. I actually doubt he will ride the Giro unless he feels he can't win the Tour (like Nibali last year). Would be interesting to see him do a try though. But realistically, then it should be next year. He is only getting older and there are a lot of young talents coming up.

 

[Ryaguas]

Imagine the following. Nibali targets the Giro, Froome the Tour, Quintana the Vuelta. Contador does all 3 and wins them all. He'd without a doubt be the second best GT rider of all time (after Lance)

Oh boy... here we go

 

[Netserk]

I think his point is that considering Evans' riding style and max capabilities, following someone's wheel is the best tactic for him, no matter which place he is in GC.

That depends on what you ride for. If you ride for first place, then following wheels when (far) down in GC is never the best tactic.

 

[Jspear]

Imagine the following. Nibali targets the Giro, Froome the Tour, Quintana the Vuelta. Contador does all 3 and wins them all. He'd without a doubt be the second best GT rider of all time (after Lance)

Riding all the gt's in one year:
“At the moment it is not a goal”, he said, “I have to think about it because it is something that motivates me. I would do something different, but I have to look at the pros and cons and today I think I won't try.

http://cyclingquotes.com/news/contador_to_end_season_in_lombardia/

 

[David_Incognito_66]

I don't understand how he had to lie, about his leg, about his goal for Vuelta. It seems that he likes to do that all the time. For me it just raises more suspicion for a already very suspicious team.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Sure.

10 characters

 

[SeriousSam]

That depends on what you ride for. If you ride for first place, then following wheels when (far) down in GC is never the best tactic.

That's a good point. Following wheels might give you the lowest expected (average) time loss to the leader but if the only thing you care about is the first place, you should try to increase the variability in outcomes and attack. Long range suicide attacks rarely work and will give you a lower average ranking, and more time lost on average, but when they do come off, they just might win a weaker rider the race. Following wheels never does.

I think Contador is the best when it comes to riding for the win. Very defensive when ahead, very aggressive when behind. That he's entertaining is a byproduct of him always riding for the win.

 

[veganrob]

He is a very savvy rider. Probably the best around. He may overstep his boundaries sometimes but he puts the fear in every rider in the race with him.

 

[BlurryVII]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8Upk1NDILw

Sorry if this has been posted already

 

[Ryaguas]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8Upk1NDILw

Sorry if this has been posted already

Awesome video... You can see that He is a really humble person. His attitude is way different than LA and AS when interacting with the press... in that video it looks like he is talking to friends having some snacks.

AHHHH... the people in the bus hospital in the Tour didnt clean the wound well... I thought that was an italian doctor that did it.

Awesome interview! thanks a lot!

 

[No_Balls]

Marca interview:

http://www.marca.com/2014/09/16/ciclismo/1410880939.html

 

[arvc40]

Haha, he knew Froome's numbers and could top them. Nice to have an ex Sky coach around

“(I had) the belief that if he could do it (make the Vuelta) then so could I,” explained Contador. “I saw the training data with the coach that had worked with them [Sky] and that knew the times that they had done. We compared than and sometimes they were better. That gives you confidence, but he is a very hard racer.”

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-froome-and-quintana-will-be-my-biggest-rivals-in-2015

Yes I saw this today. It reads like they where topping Froomes numbers despite the knee and the numbers his coach had seen before Froome injuries when he worked for sky. Plus Contador credits Froome as a good TT rider which is hilarious as he just smashed him in TT at Vuelta. Lol

 

[Publicus]

Pretty interesting description of how Froome attacks (I certainly noticed it a few times this year where he would throw down an attack and then immediately follow with an even harder and longer acceleration). I wonder if Froome will attempt to change his tactics going into 2015.

 

[Electress]

Awesome video... You can see that He is a really humble person. His attitude is way different than LA and AS when interacting with the press... in that video it looks like he is talking to friends having some snacks.

AHHHH... the people in the bus hospital in the Tour didnt clean the wound well... I thought that was an italian doctor that did it.

Awesome interview! thanks a lot!

Cycling - never short of conspiracy theories…! LOL I must admit, leaving a dirty wound is pretty bad. Had sepsis set in, AC could have been in serious trouble.

Do agree AC always seems pretty genuine and thoroughly nice in such things. Even allowing for PR etc. etc. etc. Why I never understand why people are so willing to believe he's hatching dastardly plots all over the place. Not that he isn't savvy, mind.

Pretty interesting description of how Froome attacks (I certainly noticed it a few times this year where he would throw down an attack and then immediately follow with an even harder and longer acceleration). I wonder if Froome will attempt to change his tactics going into 2015.

I think Sky and Froome have to…they need more variety - they don't really seem to have the ability to surprise. I kind of feel the peloton has got their number. They need to change up.

I've always appreciated Contador's ability on the road as a team leader. He knows how to use his strengths. Tactically, I think he's pretty astute. Reads the road and his rivals well. (which, with 20:20 hindsight, is what I think the stage 17 antics were all about.) He also exploits the psychological advantage that he has - on which score, one of the things I most pleased to see is that I don't think Froome is quite the 'spectre' he was. In fact, I think the shoe might be on the other foot.

Am I the only person who feels the jury is still a bit out on Quintana? Not that he's rubbish (Lol) just…I have a lingering but…

Haha, he knew Froome's numbers and could top them. Nice to have an ex Sky coach around

Just so long as said coach doesn't try and inflict the monkey-brain training theories and bang on too much about marginal gains!