Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Jelantik]

Valverde will ride Beijing too, I guess Alberto can forget about the WT ranking

hm..not so fast. As long as he can latch on Valverde, he has a chance to keep his WT ranking. He is still lead by 14 points. Small, buts still valverde has to pass that point to claim the first spot.

 

[Dr. Juice]

Does Contador value Lombardia above the #1 ranking? He absolutely should. We'll know when he tries to get away before the last punchy climb. If he is content to just follow wheels and minimize the points Valverde gains on him, that would be very disappointing.

If he isn't affected by illness, he will fight for the win. Even he doesn't attack from far out, he will make the race hard together with 1-2 other teams on the 2 long climbs. Then he'll put in a furious attack on the 1,5 km hill and there won't be 7 or 8 men to follow. He won't look back and stop riding like in the shorter climbs of La Vuelta. All or nothing with everything he has.

3 other riders will follow maximum.

EDIT: With Gerardmèr form he would have dropped anybody. Including Valverde.

 

[ILovecycling]

Nope Pedro got it tbh I had no clue that was why Pedro posted it

we all know the true story


vamos alberto, fight tomorrow like you always do!

 

[Electress]

Does Contador value Lombardia above the #1 ranking? He absolutely should. We'll know when he tries to get away before the last punchy climb. If he is content to just follow wheels and minimize the points Valverde gains on him, that would be very disappointing.

But didn't Oleg state winning the WT and Team titles were both objectives this year?

 

[Carols]

Alberto says:

“I’m currently first on the rankings and I would like to finish on the top spot this year, but it wasn’t a goal that I had at the beginning of the year. It has come as a result of a great season, but I’ve gained my points in races that have suited me, while the final two races don’t suit me just as much. I'll give my best and enjoy the races, both in Lombardy and in China, and then I'll take a vacation, which I really need”.

 

[Electress]

Alberto says:

“I’m currently first on the rankings and I would like to finish on the top spot this year, but it wasn’t a goal that I had at the beginning of the year. It has come as a result of a great season, but I’ve gained my points in races that have suited me, while the final two races don’t suit me just as much. I'll give my best and enjoy the races, both in Lombardy and in China, and then I'll take a vacation, which I really need”.

Maybe AC didn't have that goal but Oleg definitely did - it was in a blog for Cycling News!

Ack, he's such a poppet (apologies to male readers!). I never doubt he'll fight for the win…I don't think he really knows how not to.

 

[BlurryVII]

Well that was not a great finish/route for Albertito, the last climb was crap and more suited to puncheur/sprinters.
I'd rather he ends his season, there's absolutely no point going to Pekin since his form is going down..

 

[Dr. Juice]

His form is really gone. I saw the second group behind and Contador was not in it. He was in the third group, not even able to drop 2 of his teammates. He should end his great season which would've been monumental with the Tour-Vuelta double and focus on his big goal next year.

In 2012 he didn't race until August and his form got better and better, that's why he won Milano-Torino and was in the front group at Lombardia.
This year he was tired after La Vuelta.

 

[SeriousSam]

Shouldn't be unhappy, he is still Spain's, and the World's, second best rider in 2014

 

[BigMac]

Tour de Jose: Contador injured in 'bad knee' and feeling lots of pain.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Shouldn't be unhappy, he is still Spain's, and the World's, second best rider in 2014

you troll

Tour de Jose: Contador injured in 'bad knee' and feeling lots of pain.

boohoo

 

[BlurryVII]

Tour de Jose: Contador injured in 'bad knee' and feeling lots of pain.

Probably only communication that he'll end his season and not ride Pekin. I think he realised his form is gone now.

 

[MoreGravityPerKilo]

Hope it's nothing too serious and he can properly rest in Winter. Time to call it quits for this season anyway.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Probably only communication that he'll end his season and not ride Pekin. I think he realised his form is gone now.

yeah, this is a good thing. No use destroying his lungs in Beijing for nothing.

 

[ILovecycling]

yep, no reason to go there, his form is gone and Valverde is too constant wheelsucker to not win WT.

 

[Electress]

Hopefully knee isn't anything serious. I agree he should just call it a day now - he sounded from that quote Carols posted like he needed a break and just kick-back a bit before starting preparation for next season.

 

[Jack_89]

Probably only communication that he'll end his season and not ride Pekin. I think he realised his form is gone now.

i agree, form is gone
After having said that he participating and now having seen that Valverde is unattainable, it is obvious he does not want to participate

 

[Jack_89]

Twitter:

"Today I landed in the last curve,are things of this job,fortunately nothing important,some ice and go.Thanks to all.*@"

 

[Jelantik]

Twitter:

"Today I landed in the last curve,are things of this job,fortunately nothing important,some ice and go.Thanks to all.*@"

that's not good. Maybe he should forget the WT no.1 and get some rest. Is it worth to go to Beijing? I wonder if Oleg pressures him or he just wants to put a cherry on the top of his beautiful all year great season. Better hang the wheels, chill and get ready for Giro-Tour next year. All his opponents have been taking a break, he needed that. Mentally and physically.

 

[Jagartrott]

yep, no reason to go there, his form is gone and Valverde is too constant wheelsucker to not win WT.

While I don't like Valverde's tendency to play the waiting game, you've got to give him credit for always being up there in any race he does.

 

[Miburo]

Why would oleg pressure him? Don't be like wuyts and make up things that don't exist. I heard the same stuff before the vuelta but like i said then it's all bs.

He should quit the season, no way he'll get more points than piti in China.

 

[arvc40]

Says on the Tinkoff site that he hurt his left knee, the same one that was injured at Tour. Think the person writing it must have crashed and bumped there head.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Says on the Tinkoff site that he hurt his left knee, the same one that was injured at Tour. Think the person writing it must have crashed and bumped there head.

Lolz

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Serious question: why does Contador suck at Classics?

Is it a tactical deficiency in being unable to read more complex one day races or is it a physical one (eg not having the punch).

 

[trevim]

Serious question: why does Contador suck at Classics?

Is it a tactical deficiency in being unable to read more complex one day races or is it a physical one (eg not having the punch).

I don't think he ever gave a very good shot at the classics. Today it didn't have anything to do with tactics, just bad shape. But he isn't very good at those either. Anyway, he has top10 Liege and Lombardia, podium La Fleche Wallone and won Milan-Torino so it's not atrocious. Also keep in mind that Contador's best cards are climbing (which today's route didn't really favour) and recovery (that doesn't matter in classics, just look at Dan Martin). He think he can handle the distance just fine.