Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Kwibus]

Good. That means you did call me a troll? LOL

Anyway, "those guys" know who they are. They are the same that got double standards.

I said that I do get the feeling you are trolling yes, but I don't think you are one.

 

[Kwibus]

There is a difference between trying to prove you're the best and trying to win as much as possible. I don't think AC has anything left to prove. He proved this year that he's very far from past it, and it makes sense he wants a new challenge. AC announced he was going to do the Giro even before the parcours of the Giro and the Tour came out and before all the others announced to leave the Giro for what it is. We shouldn´t expect him to pass the Giro, which he agreed to ride with his own team and with the Giro organisation (not to mention that he loves it) for a high variance ****ing contest in the Tour, which he still do anyway.


The Tour is not necessarily the best race. It is the most important one and I think its the most overrated one. The Tour has the most importance because of it's history and because of it's time slot in July, when the people have their vacation and when theres not much other sport going usually (it barely clashes with Wimbledon, EC or WC soccer). Winning the Tour does not make you the best rider, it makes you the most marketable rider.

Part 1: Exactly. Alberto was the first one to announce he will do the Giro so why ask him to skip the Giro because the other big GC guns have the balls to ride it as well? Better whine about them not riding the Giro.

Part 2. Agreed and I'd like to add that the Giro is an pretty freaking awesome race as well and Contador is a rider that sees it and likes cycling above just the TdF.

 

[cineteq]

There is a difference between trying to prove you're the best and trying to win as much as possible. I don't think AC has anything left to prove. He proved this year that he's very far from past it, and it makes sense he wants a new challenge. AC announced he was going to do the Giro even before the parcours of the Giro and the Tour came out and before all the others announced to leave the Giro for what it is. We shouldn´t expect him to pass the Giro, which he agreed to ride with his own team and with the Giro organisation (not to mention that he loves it) for a high variance ****ing contest in the Tour, which he still do anyway.

About Nibali, I think I've said that he won because his main rivals crashed out. I think he could dominate so much (winning isn't dominating), because he faced weak competition that didn't even bother to follow him at times. Do we know what would've happened had AC stayed on his bike, no, but I think it's a pretty good guess he was the better climber and I like to think he could've taken back all that time. Anyway, most of that talk was about who was the best rider of the year, not about who won the Tour de France or who won the Giro. A Giro win is a Giro win and a Tour win is a Tour win, no matter the competition. It does have influence over who you can rate the best of the year, however.

The Tour is not necessarily the best race. It is the most important one and I think its the most overrated one. The Tour has the most importance because of it's history and because of it's time slot in July, when the people have their vacation and when theres not much other sport going usually (it barely clashes with Wimbledon, EC or WC soccer). Winning the Tour does not make you the best rider, it makes you the most marketable rider.

Oh, and evidently no to the last part

Ha ha...the funny thing I agree with some of what you wrote.

Somehow this is your interpretation of LaFlo's post, but the reason is not that Contador rides the Giro because his competition is weak at the Giro. No, he rides the Giro because he wants to ride Giro. That he ends up with no big GC rivals at the Giro is not his fault and in no way reason for him to decide he shouldn't ride the. Giro. That would be ridiculous of course.

It would be nice for him if does what he wants to do. But to elaborate more on what I said previously. The reality is: sponsors and probably Tinkoff would want to see Contador at the highest level in the Tour. Sorry, but riding the Giro full gas is not going to help him achieve the double. He's not 24, he'll be 34+. He has not shown lately he can do this. In fact no rider has shown it. The only rider, based on his age and potential, who can achieve a GT double next year, IMHO, is Nairo Quintana.

 

[ferryman]

Contador obviously knows the best competition show's up at the Tour. He is either worried or very confident he can win the Tour. Im sure he feels the Giro is a wrap, I feel that way. I wonder if Contador is banking on Froome not being consistent alien mode in the Tour mountains and thinks he can follow the big surges from Froome and outsmart him in the end, like the Vuelta. I dont know the numbers on Ventoux vs Dauphine attacks. In the Vuelta, Froome plays his cards differently if he is wearing the red jersey. Going to be interesting. To me Froome is 2 different people, at times his mentality seems bullet proof, other times somewhat fragile.

Contador played his hand earlier than any of the rest of the GT contenders and before any GT route had been announced. I'm riding the Giro, come and join me. Froome, nah, Nibali nah, Quintana, nah. Still time for your man to man up and go the Giro. Surely, with a big juicy flat 60 klic ITT he is a big favourite.

 

[Kwibus]

It would be nice for him if does what he wants to do. But to elaborate more on what I said previously. The reality is: sponsors and probably Tinkoff would want to see Contador at the highest level in the Tour. Sorry, but riding the Giro full gas is not going to help him achieve the double. He's not 24, he'll be 34+. He has not shown lately he can do this. In fact no rider has shown it. The only rider, based on his age and potential, who can achieve a GT double next year, IMHO, is Nairo Quintana.

I think it's actually Tinkoff that wanted to set the extra challenges for Contador as he feels that Contador needs it to motivate him.

Quintana is a huge talent, but based on what he's shown so far I doubt he has more chance than an 2014 Contador to win 2 GT's in a row.

Like I said before I also think riding the Giro will probably mean he won't win the TdF, but we will have to deal with it since he will ride the Giro anyways.
Allthough, if there is one rider right now of which I think that could possibly do it... well then it's Contador.

 

[Kwibus]

Contador played his hand earlier than any of the rest of the GT contenders and before any GT route had been announced. I'm riding the Giro, come and join me. Froome, nah, Nibali nah, Quintana, nah. Still time for your man to man up and go the Giro. Surely, with a big juicy flat 60 klic ITT he is a big favourite.

It's a tough hilly TT so personally I don't really see why Froome is the big favourite for that TT. Contador is great on courses like that and other good climbers have shown in the past that a hilly course like that won't put minutes into them.

 

[ferryman]

It's a tough hilly TT so personally I don't really see why Froome is the big favourite for that TT. Contador is great on courses like that and other good climbers have shown in the past that a hilly course like that won't put minutes into them.

I know. To my shame, I was being disingenous.

 

[Jspear]

It would be nice for him if does what he wants to do. But to elaborate more on what I said previously. The reality is: sponsors and probably Tinkoff would want to see Contador at the highest level in the Tour. Sorry, but riding the Giro full gas is not going to help him achieve the double. He's not 24, he'll be 34+. He has not shown lately he can do this. In fact no rider has shown it. The only rider, based on his age and potential, who can achieve a GT double next year, IMHO, is Nairo Quintana.

AC will be 32 at next years Tour - and based on his form this year he has the potential to do the double. He has officially won 6 gt's (and on the road he has 2 more), it makes sense for someone of his caliber to go for the double.

I agree that NQ has the potential to do the double...hopefully he will try it in the not so distance future.

 

[cineteq]

AC will be 32 at next years Tour - and based on his form this year he has the potential to do the double. He has officially won 6 gt's (and on the road he has 2 more), it makes sense for someone of his caliber to go for the double.

I agree that NQ has the potential to do the double...hopefully he will try it in the not so distance future.

He's 1 1/2 years younger, oops. Anyway, I disagree he's NOT shown this year he can win the double. Where? Valverde is the only one who was remotely close to have done that, if anything.

 

[Jspear]

He's 1 1/2 years younger, oops. My bad I was wrong. Anyway, I agree he has shown this year he can win the double. Valverde is one who wasn't remotely close to having done that, if anything.

We actually agree!

 

[cineteq]

We actually agree!

I think you need to delete that post, not cool changing the quoting.

 

[Jspear]

I think you need to delete that post, not cool changing the quoting.

Lol...relax. It's just a forum...
Back to AC...
Edit: with all due respect, I don't think you should be dictating what is cool around here. Leave that to the mods. I think you have done plenty in this thread that others have deemed "not cool." That aside I didn't mean it in any condescending way (if it came across that way, sorry). We're just talking in circles now (you bashing AC constantly, others defending him) so I thought I'd respond with a twist.

 

[LaFlorecita]

It's a freaking revolving door

 

[Kwibus]

He's 1 1/2 years younger, oops. Anyway, I disagree he's NOT shown this year he can win the double. Where? Valverde is the only one who was remotely close to have done that, if anything.

Ok, that's your opinion.

I guess we will find out from May till the end of July.

 

[LaFlorecita]

He's 1 1/2 years younger, oops. Anyway, I disagree he's NOT shown this year he can win the double. Where? Valverde is the only one who was remotely close to have done that, if anything.

no, he's 2+ years younger

 

[cineteq]

Lol...relax. It's just a forum...
Back to AC...
Edit: with all due respect, I don't think you should be dictating what is cool around here. Leave that to the mods.

The joke of the day. Btw, not dictating anything, I'm just pointing out what newcomers do, although you're not. Cheap shots.

no, he's 2+ years younger

June/July 2015. Read the whole discussion or stay out.

 

[LaFlorecita]

The joke of the day. Btw, not dictating anything, I'm just pointing out what newcomers do, although you're not. Cheap shots.

June/July 2015. Read the whole discussion or stay out.

Surely you know roughly when AC's birthday is, and it's not June/July. Although, since you also thought he was 34+ and didnt even check your facts, I'm not 100% sure.

And just like you're not the one to be dictating what's cool, you're also not the one to be dictating who can join a discussion. Leave both to the mods

 

[Carols]

I can totally understand that after last year AC has little desire to focus on the Tour alone. It's not like he gets a lot of love there. He has done pretty much everything, he has a few good years left. So why not try and tick off some of the remaining 'may well be impossible' feats? The desire to win yet another GT can't motivate him the same way it did at the beginning. I think he thrives on the challenge of adversity like the situation at the Vuelta.

I love him for doing this stuff. He laid down a challenge that no one else wants to join in with. Why back away from something he wants to do just because it isn't anyone else's priority? I happen to think he has a real shot and will happily place a bet on him.

Fact is, for all some people go on about AC needing / wanting to beat Froome to show someone something (I'm not quite sure who or what), it is really vice versa. He's the guy with the cabinet full of trophies. It is Froome and others who needs to beat an in-form Contador to prove something. AC can do whatever he wants over the next couple of years, and I'm pretty sure history will prove that all these guys are minnows in comparison to what he's achieved already.

Excellent post. History will show that Contador was a Titan among minnows.

How some folks cannot see that now is baffling. But then many Legends were not recognized as such until the passage of time put their feats into perspective.

I've been off line for 2+ weeks, getting caught up and trying to ignore all the baiting!

 

[thehook]

Hmm been putting some thought into. This AC Giro vs Tour vs Vuelta. And how they are perceived/valued?

We can sit here and debate how many Tours & Giros. He owns. However one small point or question I would ask is. Do you think AC really values the Tour as much as say any other GC rider aside from Froome?

TS/Bjarne & Oleg know that they have the most explosive/exciting GC rider in the world. He does lite up a race. Like really no other in a GT. Oleg wants a Tour trophy and a huge party in Paris. But he also knows that having AC (the commodity) flying his colors is leverage. Nibs is the RIGHTFULL owner of the Tour title. But who could not say that AC would have made it interesting? Again leverage. The big name riders are a commodity. For there teams. And can be used as such for leverage/bargaining. ASO & RCS want the big names on there start line.

AC wants to be know as an all time great. The guy is an murderer on the bike. He has won all 3 tours. As he works to solidify his legend. He can now pick his Tours. He is the Leverage!

my $.02

 

[LaFlorecita]

Hmm been putting some thought into. This AC Giro vs Tour vs Vuelta. And how they are perceived/valued?

We can sit here and debate how many Tours & Giros. He owns. However one small point or question I would ask is. Do you think AC really values the Tour as much as say any other GC rider aside from Froome?

TS/Bjarne & Oleg know that they have the most explosive/exciting GC rider in the world. He does lite up a race. Like really no other in a GT. Oleg wants a Tour trophy and a huge party in Paris. But he also knows that having AC (the commodity) flying his colors is leverage. Nibs is the RIGHTFULL owner of the Tour title. But who could not say that AC would have made it interesting? Again leverage. The big name riders are a commodity. For there teams. And can be used as such for leverage/bargaining. ASO & RCS want the big names on there start line.

AC wants to be know as an all time great. The guy is an murderer on the bike. He has won all 3 tours. As he works to solidify his legend. He can now pick his Tours. He is the Leverage!

my $.02

I agree 110%

Let AC do as he pleases! He is not a Tour-obsessed rider which is a good thing. He wants the Giro-Tour double - go for it I say

 

[LaFlorecita]

Gasparotto joins the coffee drinking amigos

 

[Jspear]

Gasparotto joins the coffee drinking amigos

Is this recent? Are they training yet?

 

[BlurryVII]

Is this recent? Are they training yet?

Yes, from today or yesterday.

Actually I've read he's been training pretty good apart from the 3 sponsors days .
Salads are also appearing on his instagram lol

 

[LaFlorecita]

Is this recent? Are they training yet?

https://twitter.com/albertocontador/status/536901444373577728

4:17 PM - 24 Nov 2014

and De Jongh replied:

Steven de jongh ‏@stevendejongh 2h2 hours ago
@albertocontador @enrigasparotto @sergiompaulinho @jesushernandez3 Another 6h ride today ;-)

Yes, from today or yesterday.

Actually I've read he's been training pretty good apart from the 3 sponsors days .
Salads are also appearing on his instagram lol

Poor guy, living on salads

 

[Kwibus]

https://twitter.com/albertocontador/status/536901444373577728

4:17 PM - 24 Nov 2014

and De Jongh replied:

Steven de jongh ‏@stevendejongh 2h2 hours ago
@albertocontador @enrigasparotto @sergiompaulinho @jesushernandez3 Another 6h ride today ;-)



Poor guy, living on salads

And his first race day is still far far away. He seems motivated