Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[ferryman]

Another totally cool GCN vid with Matt Stevens and Alberto. I especially liked the Strava comments . And of course poor Matt gets left for dead yet again at the end.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/01/news/road/video-gcns-alberto-contador-interview_359687

Nice video. One observation, I've noticed he very rarely trains with any mitts on. Fine going up but even in training the downhill must be very fast and not without risks...

 

[Electress]

Another totally cool GCN vid with Matt Stevens and Alberto. I especially liked the Strava comments . And of course poor Matt gets left for dead yet again at the end.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/01/news/road/video-gcns-alberto-contador-interview_359687

Vastly entertained by the Strava ringer comment. Think that KoM might remain for quite some time...

 

[Jelantik]

Roche of course has shared some "secrets" about AC with Froome and Sky...anyone think that will show next year at all?

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/froome-contador-two-greatest-rivals-says-nicolas-roche-154542

Maybe he told Froome, the secret of Alberto is his cofee which is the one that Froome's has been making fun of Alberto about . Well what do you expect? Roche comes to Sky is bound to have him sharing of all Alberto's secrets. (whatever that would be) Same with deJongh, Yates and Julich came to TS. The only question is which secrets are worth more? the rider or the coach? And it's not like Roche was Alberto's training partrner all the time. Roche trained a lot with Roman judging from Roman's twitter.

Besides wasn't that there's some rumor about Roche actually wanted to stay but he wanted more money? So, spilling the secret might be a way to stick it to Oleg!! Beside of course it's the natural thing to do for your new team. Other wise what's his worthy off? (not that I underestimate his skill). But he will face lots of strong climbers to lead his own GT. Poel, Konig, Porte, Henao, Froome, and Geraint, Kennaugh (medium climb). I thought at TS he got more room for that (even with the arrival of Sagan. It's not like Sagan can win Paris-Niece or Romandie or Switzerland)

ow look coffee shop stop. Told ya'.. roche (front bottom left) is busy telling froome and sky about Alberto and his coffee

 

[LaFlorecita]

Vastly entertained by the Strava ringer comment. Think that KoM might remain for quite some time...

Yeah super funny I can't find which climb it is though

 

[LaFlorecita]

Nice video. One observation, I've noticed he very rarely trains with any mitts on. Fine going up but even in training the downhill must be very fast and not without risks...

Honestly if you crash those gloves aren't going to make a big difference. They'll just tear... (I think)

 

[Angliru]

Honestly if you crash those gloves aren't going to make a big difference. They'll just tear... (I think)

They make a big difference. I crashed on a high speed descent and had I not had gloves on, my palms would've been shredded to a bloody mess. Instead only the knuckle on my left thumb was damaged. Impulsively braced my hand as I fell, sliding across the tarmac grinded my knuckle to the bone. My gloves tore partially but were repairable. Wearing gloves is always better than none at all when it comes to crashes.

 

[LaFlorecita]

They make a big difference. I crashed on a high speed descent and had I not had gloves on, my palms would've been shredded to a bloody mess. Instead only the knuckle on my left thumb was damaged. Impulsively braced my hand as I fell, sliding across the tarmac grinded my knuckle to the bone. My gloves tore partially but were repairable. Wearing gloves is always better than none at all when it comes to crashes.

Okay palms, more protection of course, I was thinking of knuckles, this image came to my mind

Either way Contador trains without a helmet often too, as long as you ride uphill and go downhill carefully the risk is minimal I guess

 

[Dr. Juice]

UCI should allow wearing no helmet on a MTF (final climb). It's a shame they banned that at the end of 2004.

 

[Electress]

They make a big difference. I crashed on a high speed descent and had I not had gloves on, my palms would've been shredded to a bloody mess. Instead only the knuckle on my left thumb was damaged. Impulsively braced my hand as I fell, sliding across the tarmac grinded my knuckle to the bone. My gloves tore partially but were repairable. Wearing gloves is always better than none at all when it comes to crashes.

Make some difference in preventing ulnal nerve damage too if riding for long periods.

Hate those images, LaFlo. Horrible to imagine just how much that crash hurt and how gutted he was to quit last year. This is my only big fear about 2015 - win or lose I can cope with, because of the greatness of giving the double a go, but if he crashes out and can't try, I'll be absolutely devastated.

That said, perhaps the things I appreciate more than anything about cyclists is their endurance, resilience and bloody minded courage.

 

[icefire]

Either way Contador trains without a helmet often too, as long as you ride uphill and go downhill carefully the risk is minimal I guess

In some countries you can be fined for riding a bike on open roads without a helmet. Just like riding through a tunnel without lights.

 

[LaFlorecita]

he looks in okay shape for February but he looks about 50 years old

 

[trevim]

he looks in okay shape for February but he looks about 50 years old

It's the beard! I'm trying that same trick myself although Alberto doesn't need to become more respectable

 

[LaFlorecita]

Some last minute action in the charity auction and Alberto's bike is sold for 15,000 euros

http://www.tinkoffsaxo.com/auction/

 

[icefire]

he looks in okay shape for February but he looks about 50 years old

WTF is he doing in a bar where they serve salchichas de metro?

 

[Electress]

It's the beard! I'm trying that same trick myself although Alberto doesn't need to become more respectable

Swarthy Alberto. All very Viva Zapata! But I'm no fan of the scruffy beard - can't be fagged to shave look. Prefer a bit of clean-cut understated style tbh.

Don't think he quite looks 50 though - just knackered.

 

[Carols]

Some last minute action in the charity auction and Alberto's bike is sold for 15,000 euros

http://www.tinkoffsaxo.com/auction/

Definitely out of my price range!

 

[TANK91]

UCI should allow wearing no helmet on a MTF (final climb). It's a shame they banned that at the end of 2004.

I agree, was great watching the final climb with n ohelmet. I would love Froome to bring the cap back like my avatar, how cool would that be.

 

[Electress]

I agree, was great watching the final climb with n ohelmet. I would love Froome to bring the cap back like my avatar, how cool would that be.

Cool would not be the word I would choose. Looks like a gangly 1950s schoolboy!

 

[Carols]

Mick and Saxo talk Double

Alberto will have a strong and committed team. Hopefully Roman will be on it also!

The veteran Australian is coming off perhaps his best season ever, with two stage wins at the Giro d?Italia and another, his first, at the Tour de France.

Despite that personal success, the 35-year-old said his goals for 2015 are very clear: to help teammate Alberto Contador attempt to become the first rider in nearly 20 years to win the Giro and Tour in the same season.

?The goal is to help Alberto. If anyone can do it, he can,? Rogers told VeloNews. ?We?ll bring a strong squad to help Alberto. I hope to ride both the Giro and Tour, just like I did last year. That worked out pretty good.?

For 2015, Rogers will be an integral part of the Tinkoff squad as Contador aims to become the first rider since Marco Pantani in 1998 to pull off the Giro-Tour double.

?We will bring a very strong team to help Alberto in both races,? said Tinkoff sport director Lars Michaelsen. ?It will probably be one of Alberto?s strongest teams he?s ever had. We?re supporting him 100 percent.?

http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/02/news/rogers-committed-helping-contador-take-shot-giro-tour-double_359835

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Is majka doing the giro as super domestique this year, or will they gamble on Basso and Rrgers?
Leaving Kreuziger, Kiser and Majka for the tour?

I would think a few of them will do the double wont they?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Is majka doing the giro as super domestique this year, or will they gamble on Basso and Rrgers?
Leaving Kreuziger, Kiser and Majka for the tour?

I would think a few of them will do the double wont they?

Read the article.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Swarthy Alberto. All very Viva Zapata! But I'm no fan of the scruffy beard - can't be fagged to shave look. Prefer a bit of clean-cut understated style tbh.

Don't think he quite looks 50 though - just knackered.

Did you see his latest tweet

 

[Miburo]

Is majka doing the giro as super domestique this year, or will they gamble on Basso and Rrgers?
Leaving Kreuziger, Kiser and Majka for the tour?

I would think a few of them will do the double wont they?

Contador doesn't anyone in the giro. If he stays on his bike, he'll destroy them all and they'll give up immediately.

 

[Red Rick]

Why all the fuzz around Albeardo?

 

[Dr. Juice]

So Rogers, Basso, Hernandez, Bennati, Tosatto for the Giro ...and Rogers, Majka, Kiserlovski, Sagan do the Tour.
Sagan on his own of course (mostly).
Rest to be announced and crashes or injuries might change the plan.

Rogers, Basso, Hernandez are the key teammates for Alberto in the Giro. Majka, Kiserlovski and Rogers in the Tour for the mountains.
I suspect that Bennati and Tosatto also do the double? In the Tour every teammate is important...on the flat and on the climbs.