Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[LaFlorecita]

Damn, may quit after this season already

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-froome-will-be-my-most-dangerous-tour-de-france-rival

I was kinda hoping that he'd do 2 years of winning as many GT's as possible and then go on a last year where he'd just cause absolute mayhem in every race just as goodbye

Man that would suck please Alberto, don't leave us!

 

[Carols]

Damn, may quit after this season already

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-froome-will-be-my-most-dangerous-tour-de-france-rival

I was kinda hoping that he'd do 2 years of winning as many GT's as possible and then go on a last year where he'd just cause absolute mayhem in every race just as goodbye

If he takes down the Double it is possible.

"Pressed on whether he might retire at the end of this year if he achieves the Giro-Tour double, Contador explained: “It’s complicated to say yes to that today. I believe that I still could do another year. But it’s only: ‘I believe.’ The weeks and months to come will tell me what decision to take at the end of the season. What is sure is that that I can’t see myself remaining a professional rider for more than three more seasons.”

Geez I hope he gives us at least those 3 more seasons! I guess it depends on the body and spirit.

On the positive side when he retires I may be able to ease my watching habits just a bit .

 

[Miburo]

He's right Froome is above Nibali and Quintana, they haven't proved otherwise after all.

I personally think quintana is slightly overrated and Nibali doesn't have the same talent as the other 3 guys in terms of climbing at least.

I still don't know who is the better climber when both in topform; contador or froome? (disregarding clinic) It's very hard to call, if quintana improves this year then he's in the discussion too of course.

I believe though that quintana is a very fragile rider and i wonder how such a rider will react faced with certain situations.

Rain, wind, cobbles, downhill attacks. I don't know how quintana is mentally too, i hope for his case that piti will actually ride for him next year.

Mental strength is at least as important as talent, especially when you face guys like nibali and Contador who will attack from 100km if necessary. I seriously hope for quintana he won't end up in the yellow jersey early, cause he'll be screwed. Nibali and Contador will eventually go mental if such a situation would occur, idk about froome. Many interesting scenarios can play out in july.

Then again 3 of them might crash in the 1st week...

 

[Flamin]

He's right Froome is above Nibali and Quintana, they haven't proved otherwise after all.

I personally think quintana is slightly overrated and Nibali doesn't have the same talent as the other 3 guys in terms of climbing at least.

I still don't know who is the better climber when both in topform; contador or froome? (disregarding clinic) It's very hard to call, if quintana improves this year then he's in the discussion too of course.

I believe though that quintana is a very fragile rider and i wonder how such a rider will react faced with certain situations.

Rain, wind, cobbles, downhill attacks. I don't know how quintana is mentally too, i hope for his case that piti will actually ride for him next year.

Mental strength is at least as important as talent, especially when you face guys like nibali and Contador who will attack from 100km if necessary. I seriously hope for quintana he won't end up in the yellow jersey early, cause he'll be screwed. Nibali and Contador will eventually go mental if such a situation would occur, idk about froome. Many interesting scenarios can play out in july.

Then again 3 of them might crash in the 1st week...

Everyone from Movistar says Nairito is mentally super strong.

And how is he a fragile rider? Based on what?

 

[BlurryVII]

I don't believe him, it's way too early, he is only 32 ffs and he loves his job. Even if he pulls off the double , he'll keep up remember he already said not so long ago "whatever happens this season, it's almost certain I'll still be in the peloton in 2016. "
The question is more about 2017.

That being said, I think only if he does the triple then it might be over this year but that won't happen.

 

[indianfanboy]

Porte seems to have got back his form.I know its still a long way to the Giro but that Time Trial is gonna be interesting.Porte looks strong in TT but can he gain on Contador in it

 

[Miburo]

Everyone from Movistar says Nairito is mentally super strong.

And how is he a fragile rider? Based on what?

This is just an opinion of me, i might be wrong, we'll see.

 

[Dr. Juice]

Porte seems to have got back his form.I know its still a long way to the Giro but that Time Trial is gonna be interesting.Porte looks strong in TT but can he gain on Contador in it

Both in the same form, he would hardly gain anything. Maybe 30 seconds if his form is really good.

They should be nearly equal in a flat TT.

 

[May0maniac]

Both in the same form, he would hardly gain anything. Maybe 30 seconds if his form is really good.

It's nearly 60km long, so I'd say 30-50sec if he's in top shape.

 

[Dr. Juice]

It's nearly 60km long, so I'd say 30-50sec if he's in top shape.

...Spot on.....

 

[LaFlorecita]

It's nearly 60km long, so I'd say 30-50sec if he's in top shape.

I agree, in 2011 when Porte was **** he almost matched Alberto in the TTs they rode together (Vuelta a Castilla y Leon, Giro, TDF) so naturally he'll take some time. But not much imo. I've always said Alberto in top form can limit his losses in a long ITT to 1-1.5s/km to the very best TTers (Tony, Sir Bradley etc). So 30-50s seems like a fair number to me.

 

[May0maniac]

Uran will be the bigger problem in the ITT but he shouldn't be a huge problem for Contador in the mountain stages.

 

[Dr. Juice]

Uran will be the bigger problem in the ITT but he shouldn't be a huge problem for Contador in the mountain stages.

Yeah...Uran rivals with Froome half a step behind Tony and Wiggins. Then another half a step behind Porte/Contador.

 

[Red Rick]

Wait we're talking 100% Velasco on a hilly TT?

Portes tt'ing does vary so much as his climbing, you can kick him out of his bed on his worst day and he'll still put in a decent TT, whereas he'll climb with the gruppetto and his only use would be catching his team leader would he fall off the mountain

 

[May0maniac]

Wait we're talking 100% Velasco on a hilly TT?

Portes tt'ing does vary so much as his climbing, you can kick him out of his bed on his worst day and he'll still put in a decent TT, whereas he'll climb with the gruppetto and his only use would be catching his team leader would he fall off the mountain

Yes, but todays Contador isn't the ITT rider that he used to be in 2009.
The ITT isn't that hilly.

As far as i know the first climb is 5km at 3,6% and the second only has a steep final ramp, they shouldn't be a big factor.

 

[Dr. Juice]

Yes, but todays Contador isn't the ITT rider that he used to be in 2009.
The ITT isn't that hilly.

As far as i know the first climb is 5km at 3,6% and the second only has a steep final ramp, they shouldn't be a big factor.

But on 2011 level I suppose. A shame he couldn't do the 54 km Bergerac TT.

 

[Miburo]

Yes, but todays Contador isn't the ITT rider that he used to be in 2009.
The ITT isn't that hilly.

As far as i know the first climb is 5km at 3,6% and the second only has a steep final ramp, they shouldn't be a big factor.

I don't think it's fair to use 2013 as a reference since he clearly was in terrible shape.

He performed pretty well in all the ITT of 2011,2012 and 2014.

It isn't extremely hilly but not flat, it suits Contador rather well.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I don't think it's fair to use 2013 as a reference since he clearly was in terrible shape.

He performed pretty well in all the ITT of 2011,2012 and 2014.

It isn't extremely hilly but not flat, it suits Contador rather well.

Only the last 10km suit him tbh

 

[Red Rick]

Right, even then, it just means we get to see Porte get dropped like stone in pink

 

[Publicus]

I don't know about AC losing 30" to 1'+ to anyone on ITT that happens on stage 14. He recovers better than most GC riders (as best I can tell from his performance over the years). Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if he was the best of the GC guys.

 

[May0maniac]

I don't know about AC losing 30" to 1'+ to anyone on ITT that happens on stage 14. He recovers better than most GC riders (as best I can tell from his performance over the years). Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if he was the best of the GC guys.

Uran should be the best GC guy in the ITT.

 

[Miburo]

Uran should be the best GC guy in the ITT.

Cause he had 1 amazing ITT in the giro?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Cause he had 1 amazing ITT in the giro?

His TT at the Vuelta was good too

 

[May0maniac]

His TT at the Vuelta was good too

Yes, he also had a good one at Romandie, where he sucked durning all the other stages.

 

[Electress]

Cary is awful, imo. I have to be starved for cycling news to read something from the Telegraph sport, anyway. The article is set up for the audience. And in that regard, i understand: promote cycling in the UK. He really doesn't write about Contador in a flattering way - lots of reference to doping, while i feel the inference is ofc, Froome and Sky pure. the other irritating thing about the article was of course, Cary's reference to the win-win situation heading into TdF and a ready-made excuse for Contador, should he lose. Uhg...

also agree with you about false modesty being worse than arrogance - at least for sure in a professional athlete. Nadal, for example, the humble Rafa act is way over the top into false modesty. but Contador is nothing like it. i like Berto's of modest confidence. and one of the reasons i am a fan - he's charming!

I agree whole-heartedly. I'm pretty straightforward, really, so I much prefer open dislikes / likes whatever. I hate the kind of sneaky undermining someone; whilst not actually saying anything. Bit cowardly IMO.

I also find it tiresome that 'promoting cycling in the UK' equates to 'wildly supporting UK riders with excessive hyperbole' whilst slightly undermining others by comparison. All a bit unnecessary.

Damn, may quit after this season already

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-froome-will-be-my-most-dangerous-tour-de-france-rival

I was kinda hoping that he'd do 2 years of winning as many GT's as possible and then go on a last year where he'd just cause absolute mayhem in every race just as goodbye

This. I am torn. I really want him to go out in a blaze of glory. But I would love to see him for a few more years. Can't imagine loving cycling as much without him, TBH. And his just having a whole pile of fun on the hills in whatever race would be awesome. It'd be sheer joy having a bit more 'for the love of the race' about cycling (and lots of sports, tbh). The trouble with commercialisation and organisation is that it can become so crushing of this kind of thing, and yet that's the stuff that inspires me.

I also hate to think of not seeing that lovely riding style any more. But I like what I see of the guy outside of cycling that I'd would want him to move on to something else substantial, not just linger on and diminish because he's not sure what else to do next or doesn't know how to end.

I don't believe him, it's way too early, he is only 32 ffs and he loves his job. Even if he pulls off the double , he'll keep up remember he already said not so long ago "whatever happens this season, it's almost certain I'll still be in the peloton in 2016. "
The question is more about 2017.

Yeah, but he has talked a lot about the sacrifices he's made in the last couple of years. His contract is coming up. I think he gave a pretty honest answer in the article. I guess we'll see.

I realise Porte seems to be in form, but what about his consistency? And AC's recovery is usually pretty great. I think he'll do well enough in that TT. Porte doesn't really worry me excessively - only as a device to tiring Alberto more than I'd like.