Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[LaFlorecita]

Do you think, when Alberto says he wants to retire at the top, he hasn't already considered that he would still be able to earn loads of money if he continued? Don't you think he's weighed that against the reasons for him to quit and figured that it does not matter that much to him?

 

[Kwibus]

I think Alberto isn't very materialistic so having 30 million on his bank account or 40 doesn't really matter to him.

This is what I think purely based on what I've seen/read/heard of him. Maybe I'm wrong

 

[Miburo]

Do you think, when Alberto says he wants to retire at the top, he hasn't already considered that he would still be able to earn loads of money if he continued? Don't you think he's weighed that against the reasons for him to quit and figured that it does not matter that much to him?

We'll see in 3 years, i've seen many athletes after retiring for a few months to continue because they love to compete and i know contador loves to compete. I'm not saying you're wrong, we'll see.

 

[Carols]

We'll see in 3 years, i've seen many athletes after retiring for a few months to continue because they love to compete and i know contador loves to compete.

This will be the key. Whether he can find a different outlet for his competitive nature. IMO he will need to compete at Something. Raising a family just won't do it for a guy like him. It won't be the money or the glory that would keep him hanging on, it would be the competition.

 

[Coat-O]

The boys in Oleg's home. (yes it's his throne..)

 

[LaFlorecita]

that is one fugly living room

and it appears he has a painting of a cat (or dog?)

 

[Coat-O]

More pics from the Russian after party.

I wonder what Contador was thinking. I'm sure Sagan liked it!

 

[Coat-O]

that is one fugly living room

and it appears he has a painting of a cat (or dog?)

I would love to see a Cribs edition of Oleg's home. I'm sure it's.. interesting.

 

[LaFlorecita]

WTF. thanks for the pics Coat-O. Look at Rafal's face

and who's that lady next to Alberto?

 

[ILovecycling]

Sagan and Majka are surely partying hard

 

[Amazinmets73]

It would be amazing alright. But to be honest (and I know a lot of people will disagree) I don't even think the double is doable anymore let alone a legendary treble. If anyone can do it (the double, i mean) It's Contador but I still have massive doubts. If he stays fit and in good form we'll soon know if the era of multi GT wins in a single season is long gone or if it's still a possibility.

The Giro-Tour double is one thing, but I see no reason that a rider of Contador's class couldn't win the Giro-Vuelta in the same year

 

[Amazinmets73]

I don't think it's very likely either, but I'm glad he's giving it a shot. And I'm happy to see him race whatever. Every race is better for having him attend because of his attitude and competitive spirit.

What worries me most is just how much motivation there will be for a smaller objective in 2016 and onward. I guess he'd like at least one more TdF if he doesn't do it next year, but after that..?

If he doubles in 2015 he's one GT away from tying Merckx, that's most definitely motivation

 

[Miburo]

The Giro-Tour double is one thing, but I see no reason that a rider of Contador's class couldn't win the Giro-Vuelta in the same year

He already did lol

 

[Amazinmets73]

He already did lol

I know, but the poster seems to believe such feats are a thing of the past...

 

[Carols]

If he doubles in 2015 he's one GT away from tying Merckx, that's most definitely motivation

Only in forums like these, unfortunately. The record books will say 8 and he will have 3 to go

 

[LaFlorecita]

Only in forums like these, unfortunately. The record books will say 8 and he will have 3 to go

in forums & in the minds of the fans. Anyone with a brain knows he won 8 GTs and not 6. That two titles got stripped is of no importance. He stood on the highest step of the podium 8 times. Alberto doesn't care about record books, he doesn't care about records, neither should we.

 

[Carols]

in forums & in the minds of the fans. Anyone with a brain knows he won 8 GTs and not 6. That two titles got stripped is of no importance. He stood on the highest step of the podium 8 times. Alberto doesn't care about record books, he doesn't care about records, neither should we.

The fans of 50 years from now will only see the records in black and white. WE may know he won but 98% of the world will not.

And I Care!!! He is listed 6th now and should be tied for 3rd only behind Merckx and Hinault.

 

[LaFlorecita]

The fans of 50 years from now will only see the records in black and white. WE may know he won but 98% of the world will not.

And I Care!!! He is listed 6th now and should be tied for 3rd only behind Merckx and Hinault.

I couldn't care less about fans 50 years from now, I might be dead already, Alberto will probably be dead already and anyways, they would only know his name anyway, not what kind of rider he was, what races he won etc. I can't imagine 6 or 8, 8 or 10 GT wins would make a big difference to what they know about him.

Yes it is frustrating, but so be it. You can get all worked up about it but it will never change. That is the reality.
6 or 8 GTs it is still a **** load of GTs. And I'm not sure where this list of most GT wins is, but I sure as hell have never seen one. Can't imagine many people would look for it, so who cares what it states.

 

[Miburo]

I couldn't care less about fans 50 years from now, I might be dead already, Alberto will probably be dead already and anyways, they would only know his name anyway, not what kind of rider he was, what races he won etc. I can't imagine 6 or 8, 8 or 10 GT wins would make a big difference to what they know about him.

Yes it is frustrating, but so be it. You can get all worked up about it but it will never change. That is the reality.
6 or 8 GTs it is still a **** load of GTs. And I'm not sure where this list of most GT wins is, but I sure as hell have never seen one. Can't imagine many people would look for it, so who cares what it states.

You're only a young woman fleur, not an old guy like alberto

 

[LaFlorecita]

You're only a young woman fleur, not an old guy like alberto

Hence "might" and "will probably"

 

[nhowson]

I couldn't care less about fans 50 years from now, I might be dead already, Alberto will probably be dead already and anyways, they would only know his name anyway, not what kind of rider he was, what races he won etc. I can't imagine 6 or 8, 8 or 10 GT wins would make a big difference to what they know about him.

Yes it is frustrating, but so be it. You can get all worked up about it but it will never change. That is the reality.
6 or 8 GTs it is still a **** load of GTs. And I'm not sure where this list of most GT wins is, but I sure as hell have never seen one. Can't imagine many people would look for it, so who cares what it states.

Well put. As someone who isn't really a fan of Contador, this is my point when people try and get me on side with any "point" that Contador actually isn't that good.

 

[ralphbert]

And I Care!!! He is listed 6th now and should be tied for 3rd only behind Merckx and Hinault.

For me what makes contador special is not the quantity of wins but how he races. There is no point in having 10 GT victories if they are all ugly and boring. Cycling should be beautiful and exciting, I think Contador nails both of these traits in his riding.

 

[Red Rick]

Is it that time of the thread-cycle again, where Flo is posting the most depressing crap she can come up with?

Cheer up Flo, people still remember stories about Coppi

 

[LaFlorecita]

Is it that time of the thread-cycle again, where Flo is posting the most depressing crap she can come up with?

Cheer up Flo, people still remember stories about Coppi

Wut??

What I think is depressing, are people who are still crying about those 2 GTs he lost. Will it help to repeat how frustrating and sad and annoying it is every few weeks? Will that give him back those wins? No! So get over it.
I am not the one posting the depressing crap here.

I wouldn't be able to name you a single stage Coppi won, or Bartali, or Fignon, or Hinault, or Gimondi, or even Merckx. I know their names, I know roughly which big races they won, I know they were good cyclists. That is it, though. I doubt many people who started watching a couple years ago know much more than I do. I also doubt that will be any different for new fans in 2060. So I don't see why we should care if they know he won 6 or 8 GTs. What matters is what the current fans will remember. At least, that's what matters to me. I couldn't give two ****s what people will think about him when I'm a 70-year old chilling in a retirement home.

I will repeat what I posted yesterday: 6 or 8 GTs, what does it matter, it's still a lot. His GT and stage race wins will earn him a place in history as one of the best stage racers ever. I don't see how those 2 GTs would have made a difference.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Now, what I think is annoying about those stripped titles, is that Andy Schleck and Michele Scarponi of all people are now GT winners, that he still hasn't won a stage at the Giro, that he still has to win the Volta a Catalunya, and most of all that people can get away with talking about those races as if they never happened - remember Brailsfraud saying "no one has even managed to win two consecutive Tours since Indurain - that should tell you how hard it'll be to win two consecutive GTs"?