Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Dr. Juice]

I think the double Tour-Vuelta would have been within Alberto's cards. He would have won the Tour or missed it by seconds and his form in the Vuelta.... 1 GT in his legs vs tibia fracture ...I think he would have had at least the same form as he actually had without the crash but with the Tour in his legs.

I agree regarding " he has nothing to prove". Another Tour is nice, but why not try to do the double?

Personally I think Alberto is extraordinarily determined for his goal next year and will train until he falls from the bike.
Have the feeling he will contain himself in the Giro ( just do the necessary) and go full ballistic in the Tour. Let's hope so.

 

[Angliru]

Well said Carols. I don't understand why people are so negative about Giro-Tour double? And I don't really care if Quitana, Froome or Nibali doesn't want to do it. None of them has won more than 6 GTs in their palmares. Contador has it all. So what's next? just try to win one GT again? It's a safe bet and easier to achieve just to target one GT. But hey like I said, the guy has won so many GT, why keep doing something safe and sure? why not try something risky that he hasn't been able to achieve it before?

When he set up his goal to tackle TDF and Vuelta this year, I'm sure he has planned to win both. (until the crash derailed it). Not sure if you read what he said after winning Vuelta, he said that he would never know what happen in TDF if weren't crash.

It's impossible. Really? people think going to the moon is impossible. Conquering mt everest w/o oxygen is impossible. But those people like carols said are the one who always say: everything is possible. Hesjedal, Menchov aren't Contador. So if they failed, well they failed. Contador is Contador. If he wants to do it to challenge himself, as a fan, I have nothing better than to say: Chapeau. I will support his decision. And I believe he can do it.

My prediction is: (if he can achieve 2014 form or better)
The worst result would be he wins Giro and podium TDF.

It's primarily the same cast of characters that find the negatives in anything Contador does that are tearing down his ambitions to ride the Giro and Tour in 2015. The fact that he has conceded that it is a tough combo, has guaranteed nothing other than that he will give both events his best efforts is not enough for the anti-Contador crowd. They have to create a scenario where Contador is arrogant for daring to go against the grain.

I personally can see why he would go for the Giro/Tour double. The Giro has been an event that has brought him great joy and success, coupled with the love he receives from the Italian tifosi. The Tour on the other hand, while he has had his share of success there, he's also had an equal or greater amount of suffering, pain, heartache, disappointment and betrayal.

 

[ILovecycling]

Well, troll or not, I have made my point. Right now it's just dream talk. When reality hits next July, then we can talk again.

Knowledge = understanding of or information about a subject that you get by experience or study, either known by one person or by people generally.

As I stated to the other poster, you cant estimate his situation right, as your knowledge about AC,GT's and cycling are not sufficient.

saying that we practically cant discuss about it now and you are right until he wins and you'll be proven wrong is a statement to avoid a proper discussion.

 

[Jagartrott]

You can't have a proper discussion about this without factual knowledge. Otherwise, it's just an exchange of opinion - and that's pretty worthless really.

Let's talk human physiology, psychology, training, etc. - then we may be able to assess the probability of any top rider to achieve a GC double.

 

[Publicus]

You can't have a proper discussion about this without factual knowledge. Otherwise, it's just an exchange of opinion - and that's pretty worthless really.

Let's talk human physiology, psychology, training, etc. - then we may be able to assess the probability of any top rider to achieve a GC double.

The floor is yours.

 

[Jagartrott]

I linked to what Robert Millar said. I would like to hear from other experts.

 

[ILovecycling]

Thats what I think should be discussed here.We have a lot of experience, informations, we have a extensive topic we can talk about. Most of those people here are very (imo) informated and educated, so lets have a nice discussion about (a positive ) problem.

IMHO Its one of the best situations that can happen in cycling. Its a positive feature that someone attempts a Double. It would be even more gracious for cycling if those 4 riders would do it.I think it would be a pretty huge subject for international media who often dont care a **** about cycling.

As for the analysis. For now, I only gonna write my opnions training/schedule wise. (time is precious)
First I would start with the end of a season. I think AC already made the first step torwards to be in the best possible condition to win a Giro - Tour double, and thats DNS in Beijing. The base of success for him is to have a proper monthly rest. Then to start slowly training during november, december and build a proper base.That means ride couple of thousands km during off season.Not too hard because imo there shouldnt be any 'early spring' peak or something like this.

He should reach his first peak form in 1st-2nd week of Giro. Why in 2nd? Obviously cuz he needs to make a gap to the opponents into the 3rd week and be ready to slightly decling by the end of the race in my theory.With Sestriere going as recover pace as possible to win in GC e.g. by a minute.
That means he shouldnt do ANY classics.I would prefer Algarve - Cataluna -Romandy.With algarve completely off form and contesting only in Romandy.
The question is, what to do after Giro? Hard to say, Im not sure what is the best option.I would suggest he should rest a LOT and then ride Route du Sud (suisse and dauphine too hard). I think rider who contest a Tour ftw after giro shouldnt have more than 35-40 days of racing.
And then the real deal will come.The Tour 1st week. IMO in this scenario he would be in a bad condition so a key is to not lose time in 1st week.Then ride probably full gas, cuz considering a Vuelta there shouldnt be any big rivals, and of course because he will need to go 110% at Tour in order to win it.

just my 0.02$

 

[Electress]

Well, troll or not, I have made my point. Right now it's just dream talk. When reality hits next July, then we can talk again.

“All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake up in the day to find it was vanity, but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.”

As Contador said, if not him, who?

Frankly, if I were him I'd be pretty unbothered by merely winning another GT. It's not like he's got much to prove in that department. He's coming towards the end of his career, he's regained stellar form. What better time is there for tilting at windmills ?

It's for precisely this reason why I support Contador. Sport needs its transcendent moments, and it takes guts to set yourself a challenge so publicly. IF he fails, so be it, at least he had the guts to make the attempt.

(which isn't a veiled criticism of any other rider BTW. If it's not their dream, there's no point in trying for it)

 

[Amsterdam]

I think it's fantastic that Contador is gonna ride the Giro. If he rides then I will watch the race and enjoy. That's what I'll remember of him. I don't care if he wins the Tour three times or four times. He makes cycling beautiful to watch.

 

[arvc40]

This .....................................

 

[arvc40]

I think it's fantastic that Contador is gonna ride the Giro. If he rides then I will watch the race and enjoy. That's what I'll remember of him. I don't care if he wins the Tour three times or four times. He makes cycling beautiful to watch.

This ......................................

 

[sacrifice&hardwork]

"I don’t know if I can win the double, but the only way to find out is to try.” —Alberto Contador

 

[Donkey]

Do you think he can improve his TT skills? I believe ITT and TTT will be crucial for the double. It musn't happen that he's trying to erase 2 mins loss in both GTs.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Do you think he can improve his TT skills? I believe ITT and TTT will be crucial for the double. It musn't happen that he's trying to erase 2 mins loss in both GTs.

he won't have to worry about the GT at il Giro. He'll beat most of his rivals and the ones he could lose time to are no match for him in the mountains.

 

[LaFlorecita]

"I don’t know if I can win the double, but the only way to find out is to try.” —Alberto Contador

this is why I love him

 

[BlurryVII]

Do you think he can improve his TT skills? I believe ITT and TTT will be crucial for the double. It musn't happen that he's trying to erase 2 mins loss in both GTs.

Daddy Julich will take care of that

 

[Miburo]

he won't have to worry about the GT at il Giro. He'll beat most of his rivals and the ones he could lose time to are no match for him in the mountains.

If no one of the big 4 rides it, it's an easy ride. You never know of course but he should be able to easily win it at 90%.

 

[LaFlorecita]

he won't have to worry about the GT at il Giro. He'll beat most of his rivals and the ones he could lose time to are no match for him in the mountains.

Woops i meant TT of course

 

[Piz Buin]

If no one of the big 4 rides it, it's an easy ride. You never know of course but he should be able to easily win it at 90%.

This
i think the double is possible. But only if either no one or all of the other big 3 ride it. Everything in between and it's going to be next to impossible.

 

[Dr. Juice]

This
i think the double is possible. But only if either no one or all of the other big 3 ride it. Everything in between and it's going to be next to impossible.

I think he can beat Quintana and Nibali with the Giro in his legs. But against a 100% Froome going for the Tour it's going to be hard because he must drop him at some point.
Nevertheless I think Alberto can be at 100 % in the Tour if no one from the Top 4 rides the Giro. He is clearly stronger than Aru and with the TT, he can beat him at 80-85 %. All the others are 3 levels down on Contador in the mountains ( those who can TT ) or much weaker in a TT.

21 racing days won't hurt much if he doesn't need to go full gas. Not much different to three 1 week races. A month is enough to recover if he is not empty. But it's important that he contains himself.

 

[HappyLoser]

This is going crazy. It means Tenerife is not enough...

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/new...inkoff-saxo-voeckler-fined-for-podium-no-show

 

[trevim]

Contador going for bilharzia, the ultimate PED

 

[Red Rick]

This is going crazy. It means Tenerife is not enough...

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/new...inkoff-saxo-voeckler-fined-for-podium-no-show

That's some altitude training

 

[Jspear]

Contador going for bilharzia, the ultimate PED

lol! Good post.

 

[Jspear]

That's some altitude training

Ya that's high, but is it as high as they usually are when they train "at altitude"? I don't think this is necessarily for altitude training this far out from the next season....