Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[LaFlorecita]

Perhaps de Jongh should talk to him. I think Froome loses less time when he is in fact the weaker climber of the day because he paces himself better.

Anyway, as to who the better climber of the two is when both are in top form is the one big mystery which should have been resolved last year and might be resolved this year. It's very much uncertain, which is what makes the prospect of a GT battle so appealing, but I'm leaning towards Froome, based on the totality of evidence since 2012, but the latest clash has contributed a little bit to that as well, like the Dauphine (before Froome's crash) did last year.

As to Contador being always off his climbing performance at this time of the year, that seems to have changed beginning last year and continuing this year. He's joined the year long peakers. There's clearly no one who can outclimb him right now other than Froome and possibly Quintana.

Contador has always done the year long peak thing so don't make it sound like he's copying Sky. However he improves from February to July as does everybody even the "year long peakers"

Even last year, it was clear his climbing got better as he got closer to the Tour.

 

[Carstenbf]

What time difference? Froome started the climb at most 5 seconds behind Contador.

Definitely seemed like more than 5s to me, as I was looking for him and couldn't see him anywhere near the front. Anyways remember feeling that even though Contador won the day, I felt that Froome came out looking quite good. Especially considering the second half of the climb, and how he dropped Bardet et. al. like stones all of a sudden.

(btw all this from a guy cheering for AC and boo'ing the Alien )

 

[SeriousSam]

I'm not disagreeing that he's still peaking for his most important races and will be much stronger for them than he is now. It's just that his form right now (and same time last year) is already such that he can now longer get outclimbed by lesser riders, which occurred a few years ago according to BlurryVII.

 

[rhubroma]

What's your point? Andalucia doesn't mean anything, Contador is always off his climbing performance in february, especially this year doing the double. 2011, he can't beat Cummings, Van garderen between others on Malhao, 2009 (his best season) gets beaten by Colom on Malhao as well.
And this year he looked quite off his competitive weight. Contador in good form is certainly not gonna be dropped, I'd say it'd even go the other way around.

Now the thing about the first MTF, is that Froome didn't just let go, if he tried to follow AC on the bottom steep part where AC went pretty hard, he wouldn't have been able to go as fast on the second part of the climb. Contador was better that day, just like he was in the TT, ending point.

Now the thing is: you'll never see Froome getting dropped wheel to wheel because he never tries to follow AC when he attacks, he just kind of "let go" because he can't respond, that means he is dropped, he just wants avoid the "rough way". On the other hand, AC has an unfortunate tendency to always immediately jump on the wheel like he did with Andy Schleck at the time, which means when he gets dropped (which never actually happens when he is on form), people like you get excited .

I'd say last year, bar his crash and abandonment of the Tour, was arguably his best season.

I also think at last year's Vuelta, both riders were at "peak" (I qualify this because both crashed out of the Tour) form and the Spaniard was better.

At the same time Froome is the greatest cyclist in terms of sheer power output and stamina that Contador has ever faced. Indeed in a long, not very hilly TT Froome is probably a bit more powerful, although it seems that when Contador is on a really good day he can even put a few seconds into him.

It's damn close! It is a shame both aren't going for the double, or, in this sense, Contador changes course and focuses exclusively on the Tour. But that would not be befitting of his class, thus so be it. Bar injury or illness the next couple of seasons should give us some epic battles, one way or the other.

 

[BlurryVII]

Perhaps de Jongh should talk to him. I think Froome loses less time when he is in fact the weaker climber of the day because he paces himself better.

Anyway, as to who the better climber of the two is when both are in top form is the one big mystery which should have been resolved last year and might be resolved this year. It's very much uncertain, which is what makes the prospect of a GT battle so appealing, but I'm leaning towards Froome, based on the totality of evidence since 2012, but the latest clash has contributed a little bit to that as well, like the Dauphine (before Froome's crash) did last year.

As to Contador being always off his climbing performance at this time of the year, that seems to have changed beginning last year and continuing this year. He's joined the year long peakers. There's clearly no one who can outclimb him right now other than Froome and possibly Quintana.

I mean since 2012, Contador has the upper hand when they both clashed in GT's (2 - 1) .

And Froome will always have the edge on anyone at the Dauphin? thanks to his schedule (coming from Romandie) . I'd say that the irregularity of performance he showed at the Tour 2013 is quite worrying because it is supposed to be his prime. The level he showed the last week is not anywhere near on-form AC. And when you know about the relentless consistency of Contador in a GT...

 

[LaFlorecita]

I'm not disagreeing that he's still peaking for his most important races and will be much stronger for them than he is now. It's just that his form right now (and same time last year) is already such that he can now longer get outclimbed by lesser riders, which occurred a few years ago according to BlurryVII.

I am not sure we can draw that conclusion after just 1 season in which it didn't happen (his best season to date by the way)

 

[Netserk]

He was still dropped by Kwiat monster in February last year. 2014 February and 2009 February were comparable and he was much better in March both years.

 

[TANK91]

Blurry all we know is there both strong and they are the best by a long way but dont give me this crap about Contador, he and Froome ride for the win in every race. Did you even see the gaps between 2nd and 3rd in Andalucia? Yet you are talking like he got beat by other riders. Basically what some are saying is Contador should dominate the rest of the season yes? I mean he lost by a sec yet he sucks in Feb, well expect pure domination in March then.

Contador got beat by no other riders, just Froome last time i checked. I wonder what people would have said if Froome does not attack like he did and overturn the Andalucia GC, it would have been "Oh Contador is the best he is in a monster shape", he lost by 1 sec lmao.

 

[TANK91]

Also sorry to clog this up with something off topic but what is Eduard Beltran like, i never even knew he was on Tinkoff. I just seen the cancellation of genting highlands article and they said they hoped he could do somemthing, is he a good climber?

 

[Jack_89]

Froome out. Nibali's malediction strikes again.

Who's the next?

 

[HappyLoser]

Froome out.

Nothing special. SKY training policy already destroyed him in 2014. I think... he's done as a GT contender. Shame.

 

[Jspear]

Nothing special. SKY training policy already destroyed him in 2014. I think... he's done as a GT contender. Shame.

Froome was just 2nd in a gt last year. I would consider that contending for a gt. You can't just right him off. Even last year in the Tour he had monster form. He just crashed out...so did AC.

 

[Jelantik]

Nothing special. SKY training policy already destroyed him in 2014. I think... he's done as a GT contender. Shame.

Froome seems to be fragile as he is getting old. He's been plague with so many health issue. I guess that would be his demon. Maybe sky should let their rider to eat more. They are too anorexic. Marginal gain ala sky is worst than being in a super model diet.

Sigh.. I was looking forward for the battle. Now, down to Nibali (which hasn't shown anything promising so far) and Quintana (which not clear how he is form now) against Contador (who we know got a great form at Andalucia). I hope contador is healthy.

 

[rune1107]

Bertie signs with Tinkoff-Saxo for 2016!!

 

[SeriousSam]

Now that his tormentor misses the race due to sickness, will Contador's possible, dare I say probable, victory of TA be similarly tainted as Nibali's Tour win was last year?

What are everyone's views on this?

 

[TANK91]

Now that his tormentor misses the race due to sickness, will Contador's possible, dare I say probable, victory of TA be similarly tainted as Nibali's Tour win was last year?

What are everyone's views on this?

Intersting i persoanally think it is a lil diff though. Froome and Contaor have beat eachother, Nibali rarely if ever has come out on top vs Contador. Froome and Contador are a whole new level imo above the rest, they manage to peak all year and still be the top men in the GT's.

 

[etymology]

Now that his tormentor misses the race due to sickness, will Contador's possible, dare I say probable, victory of TA be similarly tainted as Nibali's Tour win was last year?

only if nibs and quintana crash out.


d.

 

[Netserk]

Now that his tormentor misses the race due to sickness, will Contador's possible, dare I say probable, victory of TA be similarly tainted as Nibali's Tour win was last year?

What are everyone's views on this?

If Quintana or Nibali drop him on stage 4 and both fail to finish the race. Not that Nibali's win was tainted.

 

[Jelantik]

only if nibs and quintana crash out.


d.

hm.. then contador can just spin his pedal with one leg then to win it.

Btw, Nibali looks really thin. He must have been diet like crazy to be that thin. He even looks thinner than Contador. Too bad Froome is sick. I guess, every time the press starts making too much hype about these 4, something always happen. Maybe we should stop hype it too much before the race, so we won't jinx it.

 

[BlurryVII]

Now that his tormentor misses the race due to sickness, will Contador's possible, dare I say probable, victory of TA be similarly tainted as Nibali's Tour win was last year?

What are everyone's views on this?

I don't see why? Contador has already shown he can beat Froome pretty badly, while Nibali has never proved anything against AC or CF that's why his Tour victory is tainted especially seeing how far he was from both at the Dauphin? and getting dropped on the only very short opportunity AC had before he crashed (gerardmer).

In other words, Froome is not superior to AC, that's why a possible TA win will not be tainted.

 

[arvc40]

Now that his tormentor misses the race due to sickness, will Contador's possible, dare I say probable, victory of TA be similarly tainted as Nibali's Tour win was last year?

What are everyone's views on this?

No. Just watch and enjoy.

 

[Donkey]

Now that his tormentor misses the race due to sickness, will Contador's possible, dare I say probable, victory of TA be similarly tainted as Nibali's Tour win was last year?

What are everyone's views on this?

you are certainly the biggest troll here and that's something to say with presence of likes of tank91 and others

 

[Kwibus]

Now that his tormentor misses the race due to sickness, will Contador's possible, dare I say probable, victory of TA be similarly tainted as Nibali's Tour win was last year?

What are everyone's views on this?

I don't consider Nibali's win tainted.

So ofcourse I won't consider Contador winning here(if he does) as tainted.

 

[Electress]

No tainting in my eyes, whoever wins a race can only beat those who show up and finish.

Frankly, I'll enjoy T-A a whole lot more without Froome, since a. his riding style hurts my eyes and b. I won't have to endure quite so sickening a Sky/Froome love-fest from the commentators (not that there won't be plenty 'what might have been if he were here' lamentations to turn me off my lunch in any case. Note to self - must learn Spanish ...)

 

[Miburo]

Now that his tormentor misses the race due to sickness, will Contador's possible, dare I say probable, victory of TA be similarly tainted as Nibali's Tour win was last year?

What are everyone's views on this?

It is a little bit not as much as Nibali, not even close. Contador proved that he can beat everyone, nibali never did with Contador and Froome.

In T-A he only beat them in one stage, yea sure that's great proof that nibali can beat them in a GT

A victory is only worth as much as the ones you beat. Nibali beat only fodder in the tour, GT-wise they are fodder even piti.