Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

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18-Valve. (pithy)

May 4, 2011
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Red Rick said:
Chances might be bigger on high altitudes, but the absolute risk is gonna be very small still.
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Yeah, we're not dealing with a bunch of amateurs here. If his condition is that serious (which I doubt) they can make an exception for him and let him stay below 4,500 meters or whatever.

Electress said:
My mum had epilepsy and brain sensitivities, and I would certainly not have encouraged her to climb Kili. Even balancing the medication to not have fits on a day to day level can be complicated and she wasn't that extreme. Even a small fit on the side of a mountain in Britain isn't funny, let alone half way up a 5,600 m or whatever mountain in Tanzania.

And I am probably one of the least risk averse people - I used to be a polar scientist - I've had my fair share of high jinks in extremely hostile environments. But as a consequence, I have a very healthy respect for what altitude sickness can do to even the healthiest of souls.

I'm not saying AC wouldn't be fine. Perhaps he could jog up Kili and not think twice. He might react brilliantly to altitude. But he won't know just from having tooled about in tenerife or the Alps at a max of 3000 m because altitude sickness can be very arbitrary in who it affects and how.

I'm equally sure you're right in that he'll have doctors there with him and that you're right in that his risk of both injury and fatality is probably higher in absolute terms road cycling. But he can't do his job without taking those risks and he is, to a large extent, in control of them. This is just a bit of fun. Is it worth it just for a bit of a jolly?

And I love Oleg!!
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I let the folks at Tinkoff be the judge of that. I'm assuming his docs have all his relevant info and that it was deemed safe.

I'm not saying that it's necessary to take even the tiniest bit of extra risk, just so Pain Face Riis can take his team building fetish to the next level, but I just don't see the big deal. Of course I'm assuming that they know what they're doing. We don't seem to be on the same page about that.

Also, climbing a mountain together is great for team building, IMO. I'd actually like it better if there were more risk - actual climbing - more teamwork - involved, but i think it could work. At least they have a common and inspirational goal. Some will probably need mental support along the way. I'm sure they'd all rather stay at home with their partners and families, though, but this is what you get when you sell your soul to Riis.
 
Jspear

Jspear

Feb 23, 2014
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LaFlorecita said:
I can only hope but I am not so sure
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You should be able to hope and be pretty sure. :) He is a professional athlete and he seems more focused than ever. I can't imagine he would let something like this get in the way of his well being. He has said himself that he is way more professional now. He knows his body better than us...he knows what he can and can't do. I don't think he is reckless.
 
LaFlorecita

LaFlorecita

May 15, 2011
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Jspear said:
You should be able to hope and be pretty sure. :) He is a professional athlete and he seems more focused than ever. I can't imagine he would let something like this get in the way of his well being. He has said himself that he is way more professional now. He knows his body better than us...he knows what he can and can't do. I don't think he is reckless.
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I believe I would describe him as stubborn and reckless

Edit: of course I don't know him personally, it is just my impression
 
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Electress

Aug 26, 2014
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Jspear said:
You should be able to hope and be pretty sure. :) He is a professional athlete and he seems more focused than ever. I can't imagine he would let something like this get in the way of his well being. He has said himself that he is way more professional now. He knows his body better than us...he knows what he can and can't do. I don't think he is reckless.
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If you ever saw James Cracknell in the race to the South Pole, I think that demonstrates that professional athletes are very prone to ignoring pain and putting themselves and their bodies at considerable risk because of their will to win. Cracknell basically got pneumonia and very serious blisters which nearly stopped the whole thing. He could easily have lost fingers, toes and nose. Or died. It the other side of that drive to win olympic gold.

As for AC - he just rode uphill with a cracked tibia for what 18k in the TdF? I think that says it all. I mean, I love him for it, but if I were his doctor, I'd be watching him like a hawk and I sure wouldn't trust he'd tell me immediately if he thought I was about to stop him doing what he wanted. Plus the bad thing about altitude sickness is that it affects cognition and you may well not be the best judge of your own condition because of it, irrespective of whether you're trying to ignore your symptoms to get to the top with your team mates.

But look, I don't doubt he'll have the best medical support. I suppose it's about our individual perception of the risk: reward ratio. Could equally well do some via ferrata in the dolomites for team building - the climbing that 18 Valve suggests, with some horrible exposure but pretty low actual risk and no significant altitude. But I'm not Riis, so what I think scarcely matters!!

On the bright side though, at least no-one is suggesting they all go off and hunt brown bears in the Tien Shan and bond over fermented camel's milk and salt balls…poor Vincenzo!!
 
Jelantik

Jelantik

Jul 19, 2010
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Of course as fan we are worry about contador. that's natural. And the fact that contador is an athlete and most athlete will always try to push their boundaries of pain and suffering. Kili isn't a cake walk. Even people who plans an expedition for months, not everyone can finish it off. So the lure to be able to put you both of your feet on the top of the mountain, is really a feast. That's what I'm a little concern about contador. Sure he will not jeopardize it, but if I were him, I would be lying to say if I don't want to be one of few top cyclist in the world who have conquered mt. Kilimanjaro and I will try it to do that. Not everyone got that chance and not everyone can do it either. I know it's silly thought or might be crazy. But for those who have been doing expedition climbing the highest mountain around the world understand, only select view can do it. So maybe for contador, this is another challenge. Crazy, but it's still a challenge to conquer. Dunno.. just IMO.
 
Miburo

Miburo

Jul 29, 2012
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Some of you guys are crazy, really? You're concerned about this mountain thing? LOL

Anyways i can't wait until he recks everyone next year, won't be easy, by far his toughest challenge but that's what he feeds on.
 
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arvc40

Jul 1, 2013
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Electress said:
If you ever saw James Cracknell in the race to the South Pole, I think that demonstrates that professional athletes are very prone to ignoring pain and putting themselves and their bodies at considerable risk because of their will to win. Cracknell basically got pneumonia and very serious blisters which nearly stopped the whole thing. He could easily have lost fingers, toes and nose. Or died. It the other side of that drive to win olympic gold.

As for AC - he just rode uphill with a cracked tibia for what 18k in the TdF? I think that says it all. I mean, I love him for it, but if I were his doctor, I'd be watching him like a hawk and I sure wouldn't trust he'd tell me immediately if he thought I was about to stop him doing what he wanted. Plus the bad thing about altitude sickness is that it affects cognition and you may well not be the best judge of your own condition because of it, irrespective of whether you're trying to ignore your symptoms to get to the top with your team mates.

But look, I don't doubt he'll have the best medical support. I suppose it's about our individual perception of the risk: reward ratio. Could equally well do some via ferrata in the dolomites for team building - the climbing that 18 Valve suggests, with some horrible exposure but pretty low actual risk and no significant altitude. But I'm not Riis, so what I think scarcely matters!!

On the bright side though, at least no-one is suggesting they all go off and hunt brown bears in the Tien Shan and bond over fermented camel's milk and salt balls…poor Vincenzo!!
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James Cracknel and his TV Celeb mate Ben Fogle are a pair of twits that invent dangerous adventures so they can make TV docs and release books.
 
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18-Valve. (pithy)

May 4, 2011
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Miburo said:
Some of you guys are crazy, really? You're concerned about this mountain thing? LOL

Anyways i can't wait until he recks everyone next year, won't be easy, by far his toughest challenge but that's what he feeds on.
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Um, didn't he try the double in 2011 already? Or do you think he'll attempt the GT triple in one season? Surely he'll be dead tired after the barrage of mountain stages in the French Alps. Mentally it'd be even tougher.


Giro - Tour would only be his toughest challenge by far if Astana loses their PT license and would only be invited to the Giro. As it stands though, he faces exactly zero competition there and can start his season really late (unlike in 2011) and hit his first peak halfway through the Giro. He "only" has to race it smartly this time.

If Nibali skips the Giro, it depends on the second Tour ITT mainly. If it's a flat one, then yeah, it's going to be really tough regardless. Otherwise it may be doable.
 
LaFlorecita

LaFlorecita

May 15, 2011
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18-Valve. (pithy) said:
Um, didn't he try the double in 2011 already? Or do you think he'll attempt the GT triple in one season? Surely he'll be dead tired after the barrage of mountain stages in the French Alps. Mentally it'd be even tougher.


Giro - Tour would only be his toughest challenge by far if Astana loses their PT license and would only be invited to the Giro. As it stands though, he faces exactly zero competition there and can start his season really late (unlike in 2011) and hit his first peak halfway through the Giro. He "only" has to race it smartly this time.

If Nibali skips the Giro, it depends on the second Tour ITT mainly. If it's a flat one, then yeah, it's going to be really tough regardless. Otherwise it may be doable.
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Nibali and Valverde will race il Giro though
 
1

18-Valve. (pithy)

May 4, 2011
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LaFlorecita said:
Nibali and Valverde will race il Giro though
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Nibali won't for sure if Astana stays in the WT. Otherwise it depends on the behind the scenes BS with ASO. It would be great for the race, so I hope you;rwe right.

But it's clear that Vino has no intention of sending Nibali to the Giro. It's also clear that Nibali is Vino's ***** and doesn't decide his own schedule.
 
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Dr. Juice

Jun 5, 2014
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18-Valve. (pithy) said:
Nibali won't for sure if Astana stays in the WT. Otherwise it depends on the behind the scenes BS with ASO. It would be great for the race, so I hope you;rwe right.

But it's clear that Vino has no intention of sending Nibali to the Giro. It's also clear that Nibali is Vino's ***** and doesn't decide his own schedule.
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Martinelli should take Nibali and Aru with him and go into the desert. Found a new team. The difference between Riis and Vinokourov is that there will never be a positive test ( extremely rarely) in a Riis team. Vinokourov is an amateur who also has no interest in the sport.
 
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BeagRigh

Apr 30, 2014
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Dr. Juice said:
Martinelli should take Nibali and Aru with him and go into the desert. Found a new team. The difference between Riis and Vinokourov is that there will never be a positive test ( extremely rarely) in a Riis team. Vinokourov is an amateur who also has no interest in the sport.
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+1. I know this is the Contador thread but this may be the result the UCI want...

Anyway, if Astana get kicked off the WT I'm sure they'll still get a wildcard invite to the Giro... and if not could they invite an Italian national team with Nibali and Aru?
 
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Electress

Aug 26, 2014
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arvc40 said:
James Cracknel and his TV Celeb mate Ben Fogle are a pair of twits that invent dangerous adventures so they can make TV docs and release books.
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Ben might not be an athlete, but James Cracknell is a double Olympic gold medalist and a six times World Champion rower. As an example of someone who has the will to win to the point of pushing his body beyond reasonable limits, I think my point stands.

Regarding the Giro, I hope Nibali races, even if it does make the Giro-Tour double harder for Contador.

If AC actually manages the double I predict protests about how it doesn't really count because he didn't have any proper competition in the Giro….
 
Miburo

Miburo

Jul 29, 2012
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18-Valve. (pithy) said:
Um, didn't he try the double in 2011 already? Or do you think he'll attempt the GT triple in one season? Surely he'll be dead tired after the barrage of mountain stages in the French Alps. Mentally it'd be even tougher.
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It was easier back then since he had no competition when 100%
 
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arvc40

Jul 1, 2013
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Electress said:
Ben might not be an athlete, but James Cracknell is a double Olympic gold medalist and a six times World Champion rower. As an example of someone who has the will to win to the point of pushing his body beyond reasonable limits, I think my point stands.

Regarding the Giro, I hope Nibali races, even if it does make the Giro-Tour double harder for Contador.

If AC actually manages the double I predict protests about how it doesn't really count because he didn't have any proper competition in the Giro….
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Oh well, Contador and all will do there trip up the Mountain and there will be no problems.

Also, competition at Giro will be irrelevant. Just having the Giro title is all that counts regarding the double. There will certainly be plenty of competition at the Tour and when the double is complete Contador will be more celebrated than ever.
 
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