Berto bounced back a bit in today's ITT. Obviously not the kind of result we are used to in short ITTs. But faster than Mollema, Pinot, Nibali, Uran and Quintana
So a nice result.
Catalunya is a way different race then Tirreno. And a local guy will be extremely motivated to win there.BlurryVII said:Nice TT from alberto, indeed.
Now I just saw Catalunya kicks off next monday already, ouch! Contador seems average, Froome will be more or less like last year at this point if he was really sick, it'll be up to Quintana not to lose it really.
And then to wait over a month and 2 weeks to see the Contador from last year with veins popping out and shtuff![]()
Recovery never was an issue for him. let's disregard that last year was one of his best years in his career.ICEROCK said:Guys, Contador is old. Accept the fact. He will have issues with recovery. That is why I think he still can win Giro, but no way in hell he could win Tour after Giro unless he quits or crashed out of Giro in early stages.
Yes, it's like last year's route, just without the real MTF. Only the Purito sprint and Barcelona stage are GC relevant.Poursuivant said:Does Tour of Catalunya have just the one MTF? I can't find too much info on the parcours.
Ah that is dissappointingNetserk said:Yes, it's like last year's route, just without the real MTF. Only the Purito sprint and Barcelona stage are GC relevant.Poursuivant said:Does Tour of Catalunya have just the one MTF? I can't find too much info on the parcours.
Nah, I don't think I will bother accepting the fantasy facts you have outlined.ICEROCK said:Guys, Contador is old. Accept the fact. He will have issues with recovery. That is why I think he still can win Giro, but no way in hell he could win Tour after Giro unless he quits or crashed out of Giro in early stages.
hey look at the bright side. He can use the mountain for training. Not bad at all. He said he enjoyed breaking the peloton apart on stage 6. So might as well do it another dress reahearsal before he does that in the Giro and TourPoursuivant said:Ah that is dissappointing
because he recovered so badly after breaking his leg last year ? If I recall, Froome had longer, a less serious injury and recovered less well. I don't think AC'll have any bigger issues recovering than any one of his main rivals would between the Giro and the Tour. It won't be a cake walk, but I'd place bets on his recovery over many others.ICEROCK said:Guys, Contador is old. Accept the fact. He will have issues with recovery. That is why I think he still can win Giro, but no way in hell he could win Tour after Giro unless he quits or crashed out of Giro in early stages.
It's pointless comparing Contador to other riders. He won the Tour at 24 or 25. He has said himself that two more years will probably see him off. Riders like Contador that win from a young age never keep it going as long as people like Evans who had a later start in the sport and was a much different rider. Contador's best chance to win the double was 2011. Take out the knee problems and the crashes he might have have really pushed Evans but it was obvious in the final week that the fatigue was also getting to him even though he kept attacking and Evans was having the best year of his career. I give Contador no chance of doing the double this year. In 2011 he came off an easy Giro win and gifted stages but even then Contador said it was a much harder Giro than it looked and then to back up and do the Tour and win is incredibly difficult. If he was not up against Froome and Quintana I would give him a much better chance. And there has to be question marks about Nibali and whether he will be in the sort of form he was in last July. If he is then he will be another rider for Contador to worry about.Miburo said:Recovery never was an issue for him. let's disregard that last year was one of his best years in his career.ICEROCK said:Guys, Contador is old. Accept the fact. He will have issues with recovery. That is why I think he still can win Giro, but no way in hell he could win Tour after Giro unless he quits or crashed out of Giro in early stages.
He'll decline eventually sure. No one disputed that. But as history has proven riders can prolong their careers and still have a very respectable if not the same level as when they were younger.
Canc, piti, purito, evans (one of the oldest tour winners iirc), peraud,...
Suddenly being terrible after last year is a ridiculous mindset and based on nothing unless you still have nightmares from 2013.
He's btw not even that bad in this TA. For a double he's in fine shape
Damn. Pitty you didn't tell him he was wasting his time before he came up with his no chance at all plan for 2015. Contador must be really stupid.movingtarget said:It's pointless comparing Contador to other riders. He won the Tour at 24 or 25. He has said himself that two more years will probably see him off. Riders like Contador that win from a young age never keep it going as long as people like Evans who had a later start in the sport and was a much different rider. Contador's best chance to win the double was 2011. Take out the knee problems and the crashes he might have have really pushed Evans but it was obvious in the final week that the fatigue was also getting to him even though he kept attacking and Evans was having the best year of his career. I give Contador no chance of doing the double this year. In 2011 he came off an easy Giro win and gifted stages but even then Contador said it was a much harder Giro than it looked and then to back up and do the Tour and win is incredibly difficult. If he was not up against Froome and Quintana I would give him a much better chance. And there has to be question marks about Nibali and whether he will be in the sort of form he was in last July. If he is then he will be another rider for Contador to worry about.Miburo said:Recovery never was an issue for him. let's disregard that last year was one of his best years in his career.ICEROCK said:Guys, Contador is old. Accept the fact. He will have issues with recovery. That is why I think he still can win Giro, but no way in hell he could win Tour after Giro unless he quits or crashed out of Giro in early stages.
He'll decline eventually sure. No one disputed that. But as history has proven riders can prolong their careers and still have a very respectable if not the same level as when they were younger.
Canc, piti, purito, evans (one of the oldest tour winners iirc), peraud,...
Suddenly being terrible after last year is a ridiculous mindset and based on nothing unless you still have nightmares from 2013.
He's btw not even that bad in this TA. For a double he's in fine shape
I know right. What were they thinkingarvc40 said:Damn. Pitty you didn't tell him he was wasting his time before he came up with his no chance at all plan for 2015. Contador must be really stupid.movingtarget said:It's pointless comparing Contador to other riders. He won the Tour at 24 or 25. He has said himself that two more years will probably see him off. Riders like Contador that win from a young age never keep it going as long as people like Evans who had a later start in the sport and was a much different rider. Contador's best chance to win the double was 2011. Take out the knee problems and the crashes he might have have really pushed Evans but it was obvious in the final week that the fatigue was also getting to him even though he kept attacking and Evans was having the best year of his career. I give Contador no chance of doing the double this year. In 2011 he came off an easy Giro win and gifted stages but even then Contador said it was a much harder Giro than it looked and then to back up and do the Tour and win is incredibly difficult. If he was not up against Froome and Quintana I would give him a much better chance. And there has to be question marks about Nibali and whether he will be in the sort of form he was in last July. If he is then he will be another rider for Contador to worry about.Miburo said:Recovery never was an issue for him. let's disregard that last year was one of his best years in his career.ICEROCK said:Guys, Contador is old. Accept the fact. He will have issues with recovery. That is why I think he still can win Giro, but no way in hell he could win Tour after Giro unless he quits or crashed out of Giro in early stages.
He'll decline eventually sure. No one disputed that. But as history has proven riders can prolong their careers and still have a very respectable if not the same level as when they were younger.
Canc, piti, purito, evans (one of the oldest tour winners iirc), peraud,...
Suddenly being terrible after last year is a ridiculous mindset and based on nothing unless you still have nightmares from 2013.
He's btw not even that bad in this TA. For a double he's in fine shape
Because of CatalunyaNetserk said:0: 5
1: 55
2: 35
3: 5
Ask me again in a week and it'll be different.
What about piti? He won at 22 already, he's still up there and 2 years older than contador?movingtarget said:It's pointless comparing Contador to other riders. He won the Tour at 24 or 25. He has said himself that two more years will probably see him off. Riders like Contador that win from a young age never keep it going as long as people like Evans who had a later start in the sport and was a much different rider. Contador's best chance to win the double was 2011. Take out the knee problems and the crashes he might have have really pushed Evans but it was obvious in the final week that the fatigue was also getting to him even though he kept attacking and Evans was having the best year of his career. I give Contador no chance of doing the double this year. In 2011 he came off an easy Giro win and gifted stages but even then Contador said it was a much harder Giro than it looked and then to back up and do the Tour and win is incredibly difficult. If he was not up against Froome and Quintana I would give him a much better chance. And there has to be question marks about Nibali and whether he will be in the sort of form he was in last July. If he is then he will be another rider for Contador to worry about.Miburo said:Recovery never was an issue for him. let's disregard that last year was one of his best years in his career.ICEROCK said:Guys, Contador is old. Accept the fact. He will have issues with recovery. That is why I think he still can win Giro, but no way in hell he could win Tour after Giro unless he quits or crashed out of Giro in early stages.
He'll decline eventually sure. No one disputed that. But as history has proven riders can prolong their careers and still have a very respectable if not the same level as when they were younger.
Canc, piti, purito, evans (one of the oldest tour winners iirc), peraud,...
Suddenly being terrible after last year is a ridiculous mindset and based on nothing unless you still have nightmares from 2013.
He's btw not even that bad in this TA. For a double he's in fine shape