Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[rhubroma]

We should believe the Froome comments, Ventoux might play a part in this.

He is being respectful of Nibali after he won the Tour, classy. He complimented Schleck too. Alberto believes he is #1, no doubt about it. I doubt he feels Nibali can hang with him in the mountains, too much evidence to suggest otherwise. Froome I believe, Contador fears him. Cant get time in the TT from him and dropping Froome with 2013 form is not easy. Also at the Dauphine Stage 2, Froome almost dropped Contador, a metre or 2 bike length opened up. In Alberto's great 2014 season, Stage 2 attack from Froome had Contador in the most difficulty to follow. I personally dont care about the double. I want to see Froome vs Contador with the usual build up that most of the best GT riders take. Contador thru that off. I wish it was different with the Dauphine serving as the appetizer. Giro win, for me, doesnt mean much. I know some posters think Contador dropping Froome later in the Dauphine was meant something, to me it obviously doesnt. Froome crashed. The Vuelta neither were on form. I want answers but I wont get them next year.

But both crashed out of the Tour, with Contador seeming the worse. You must also consider the state of both in the Dauphine. Perhaps Contador started a notch down, while Froome was coming off of Romandie. Besides we saw them both in Catalunya and Contador was ahead. Thus the Vuelta established the hierarchy.

 

[Miburo]

If kreuziger isn't banned, well saxo will be retardedly strong in the mountain.

If all in good shape they've 3 of the top 10 (15?) best climbers in the tour. And then you've rogers, basso and kiserlovski lol

It's been since astana '09 and sky '12 that i've seen such a dominant team assuming all will race and have good shape of course.

 

[peloton]

Giro win, for me, doesnt mean much.

Good for you, how many have you won?

For me, it's the best GT of the season, and means the most to me. Thrilled he's riding it next year, only wish others would have done so too.

 

[Kwibus]

definitely not chubby

ooof the knee still looks bad

Right knee looks horrible, left knee looks battered as well.

 

[peloton]

Right knee looks horrible, left knee looks battered as well.

Left is from the Karpets toss at the TdF -11, iirc? Surprised to see the right knee still so scarred, that was some serious impact there

 

[Publicus]

Left is from the Karpets toss at the TdF -11, iirc? Surprised to see the right knee still so scarred, that was some serious impact there

And to think there were more than a handful of forumites suggesting that he was faking/overstating the extent of his injury (in light of his Vuelta performance)..

 

[peloton]

And to think there were more than a handful of forumites suggesting that he was faking/overstating the extent of his injury (in light of his Vuelta performance)..

Indeed... Go figure

 

[Red Rick]

Go figure he rode the Platzerwasel and made up a minute on the peloton with that knee

 

[The_Juan]

Anyway, barring the last Vuelta, Froome's uphill sprints looked pretty good to me.

You mean to tell me that his sprints and accelerations up the Ancares or the Farrapona were not impressive???

 

[LaFlorecita]

Left is from the Karpets toss at the TdF -11, iirc? Surprised to see the right knee still so scarred, that was some serious impact there

I checked some pictures, he hurt his right knee at the 2011 TDF, his left knee was already scarred.

I guess most cyclists have scarred knees anyway

 

[Red Rick]

Its not like he doesn't have a huge scar on top of his head already. That not fun and I can know

 

[Cimber]

Left is from the Karpets toss at the TdF -11, iirc? Surprised to see the right knee still so scarred, that was some serious impact there

He crashed and hurt it again in Lombardia. So the latest scar is from then and not the Tour

 

[Cimber]

Kreuziger is next to Contador right? He looks fit for someone that isnt allowed to compete.

He is allowed to compete. He was aquited and UCI apealed, meaning he will be able to ride at laest until WADA has decided on the apeal case.

 

[LaFlorecita]

He crashed and hurt it again in Lombardia. So the latest scar is from then and not the Tour

posted 26 September

so it's definitely from the Tour

after all simply crashing doesn't result in a big *** scar.

besides the crash at Lombardia was a low speed crash. I doubt he got badly hurt

 

[Cimber]

posted 26 September

so it's definitely from the Tour

after all simply crashing doesn't result in a big *** scar.

besides the crash at Lombardia was a low speed crash. I doubt he got badly hurt

You are right. Seems to be the Tour scar.

Regarding Lombardia, he reportedly hurt the same knee as in the Tour, så it could have opened the scar prolonging the healing. Low speed crashes can hurt alot too, and they often also makes you lose skin. But ye of course it wasnt super serious, but it was enough for them to decide to drop Beijing (wise decision in any case).

 

[LaFlorecita]

You are right. Seems to be the Tour scar.

Regarding Lombardia, he reportedly hurt the same knee as in the Tour, så it could have opened the scar prolonging the healing. Low speed crashes can hurt alot too, and they often also makes you lose skin. But ye of course it wasnt super serious, but it was enough for them to decide to drop Beijing (wise decision in any case).

You are right about the Lombardia crash, I'm sure it caused some trouble and it made him decide not to race Beijing (though I think he was just looking for an easy way out)

ugly wound, ugly scar. though I presume it'll fade over time and turn out like the one on his left knee

 

[Cimber]

You are right about the Lombardia crash, I'm sure it caused some trouble and it made him decide not to race Beijing (though I think he was just looking for an easy way out)

ugly wound, ugly scar. though I presume it'll fade over time and turn out like the one on his left knee

And you had to post that just before I go for lunch

 

[peloton]

I checked some pictures, he hurt his right knee at the 2011 TDF, his left knee was already scarred.

I guess most cyclists have scarred knees anyway

ah, thanks. That's one unlucky knee!

 

[LaFlorecita]

And you had to post that just before I go for lunch

Bit squeamish?

 

[LaFlorecita]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features...ly-impossible-until-someone-makes-it-possible

 

[Miburo]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features...ly-impossible-until-someone-makes-it-possible

I've read a lot of interviews and this is by far the most honest interview Contador has given in his life.

He really spoke his mind in this interview, especially when he talks about the tour 2011 and Froome.

If Cycling was one of the biggest sports his will to win would have been compared to MJ. That's what i think at least, and that's why i love both of them.

 

[Publicus]

Really enjoyed that interview. He's really grounded and I like that he's willing to challenge himself.

“I have one opinion,” he continues, raising his index finger to emphasise his point. “When I saw that people said that the Giro and Tour were impossible to win together I took a step back and thought, ‘well it’s only impossible until someone makes it possible.’ Why do people think it’s impossible? I mean if I go to the Giro and win, and I then recover well why can’t I think take on the Tour? Of course, I know it’s going to be difficult but there’s a chance. That’s my opinion, and that’s what’s in my head and motivating me.”

His comments about Froome were also quite revealing.

“One thing is sure. After Froome won the Tour de France in 2013, he was asked who his major rivals were for the future and he said Nibali, Quintana and maybe Contador if I could return to that level but that it was different now. Well… that was one race. This year at the Tour we saw that I could be a favourite. When he was attacking this year, we saw that I could live with that, that I could go with him. So when he attacks and you know that inside you have more power, that gives you some security. An edge? I don’t know but security, yes.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I agree, that was a terrific interview and I love his positive attitude. Can he pull off the Giro-Tour double? I don't know. But it's not impossible. It wasn't impossible for Merckx, Hinault, Indurain, etc. I'd love to see Contador give it a serious shot.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I've read a lot of interviews and this is by far the most honest interview Contador has given in his life.

He really spoke his mind in this interview, especially when he talks about the tour 2011 and Froome.

If Cycling was one of the biggest sports his will to win would have been compared to MJ. That's what i think at least, and that's why i love both of them.

Really enjoyed that interview. He's really grounded and I like that he's willing to challenge himself.

His comments about Froome were also quite revealing.

I agree, that was a terrific interview and I love his positive attitude. Can he pull off the Giro-Tour double? I don't know. But it's not impossible. It wasn't impossible for Merckx, Hinault, Indurain, etc. I'd love to see Contador give it a serious shot.

Agreed on all points and I particularly liked his comments about the 2011 TDF, he basically said what some of us have been saying all along.

 

[sir fly]

Lots of excuses speaking about 2011 Tour.
What a whiner.