Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Miburo]

A mod needs to deal with these comments...

Anyway on topic. Next race for Contador is Oman, right?

Anyone got the stages with profiles and such?

 

[serfla]

I'm sorry there is just so much nonsense in your posts that I completely missed it. I can understand that you're disappointed but you're overreacting.

Well then... Stop reading and responding to nonsense. Put me on ignore list.
You'll save my time too.

 

[Carols]

Well then... Stop reading and responding to nonsense. Put me on ignore list.

Done!!!!
10 char

 

[LaFlorecita]

A mod needs to deal with these comments...

Anyway on topic. Next race for Contador is Oman, right?

Anyone got the stages with profiles and such?

Check tourofoman.om I am on my phone so can't post them

 

[airstream]

The thing is Contador and Wiggins decide their tasks without looking back at the other. Contador is aiming the Tour because he want to get it at any price. Time goes on and possibly the Tour center of gravity may move in someone's else direction. Wiggins is aiming the Giro 'cos objectives of his team are more multi-disciplinary
1. The Tour course is not optimal for him and the team has a better rider;
2. He is still dreaming of winning all the Grand Tours;
3. The team is oriented on very strong perfomances in all of 3 week races.

 

[Forunculo]

http://www.elcomercio.es/rc/2013012...-contador-hecho-desconfiado-201301272055.html

An interesting interview, I'll translate some parts. Sorry for the mistakes

PREGUNTA:Usted ha tenido prácticamente desde que comenzó en el mundo profesional inviernos complicados, ¿Cómo ha sido el último que ha pasado?
RESPUESTA:Ha sido un invierno diferente, tranquilo, en el que no ha habido temas extradeportivos, en el que no he tenido que estar pendiente de mi futuro, de lo que pueda pasar, pero sí es verdad que sido un invierno estresante, en el que he tenido que pasar mucho tiempo fuera de casa, con muchos viajes largos, cambios de horarios, sin poder entrenar. Eso es algo que me suele suceder otros inviernos. La diferencia es que en este se ha concentrado todo en diciembre. He tenido que sacrificar el descanso, la tranquilidad de estar en casa. No he dispuesto de mucho tiempo para mí, pero el que he tenido lo he intentado aprovechar al máximo.

The most tranquil winter in ages but he had many "marketing meetings"

P.:Su equipo, Saxo-Tinkoff, se ha reforzado mucho, ¿qué piensa del grupo de compañeros que tiene?
R.:Es el equipo más potente que he tenido nunca, que correrá por y para mí allí donde compita, algo muy diferente a lo que ha sucedido en el pasado.
P.: ¿interviene usted en los fichajes de su equipo?
R.: Bjarne (Rijs) es inteligente y me comenta los fichajes que se pueden hacer, qué me parecen. He estado informado en todo momento de lo que iba a fichar. Todo fluye de forma natural entre nosotros. Encajan perfectamente, van a tener libertad en determinados momentos y contarán con opciones de hacer sus carreras.
P.: ¿Ha pedido algún nombre en concreto?
R.:Se han intentado fichar a determinados ciclistas, como Kreuziger, Nicolás Roche, Michael Rogers. Otros no se han podido fichar. Yo doy mi opinión.

It's the most powerful team he has ever had, and 100% committed to him unlike in the past

Do you intervene in the signings of the team?
Bjarne is smart and told me the signings that it can be doing, and I give my opinion about them. I have been informed all the time of what he was going to sign. Everything flows naturally between us. They (the signs) fit perfectly, they will have a free role at certain times and will have chances to score their own results

Have you asked any particular name?
It was attempted to sign certain riders, like Kreuziger, Nicolas Roche, Michael Rogers. Others have not been able to sign. I give my opinion.

P.: Tiene 30 años, una experiencia acumulada en el mundo del ciclismo, ¿cómo se ve usted mismo?
R.:Llevo ya muchos años de profesional y pocas cosas me impresionan. He tenido experiencias buenas y menos buenas. Hay que superarlo todo. Sigo disfrutando con lo que hago. Según van pasando los años te planteas cosas diferentes. A día de hoy pienso al cien por cien en la bicicleta. Lo que no sé es por cuanto tiempo lo haré.
P.:¿Sé considera una persona feliz?
R.:Hay diferentes puntos de vista sobre eso. Antes, conseguir una victoria importante significaba una felicidad brutal. Ahora hay otras cosas, otra vida. Con la bicicleta me sacrifico lo que puedo, sufro entrenando, pero hay otras cosas. Tengo una responsabilidad con el equipo. Ganas y estás contento, pero hoy he vuelto a comer los espaguetis con un tenedor por la mañana, como todos los días. Gané el sábado.

(Not so important)

P.: ¿En qué ha cambiado su vida después de todo lo que ha pasado? ¿Qué trato tiene con la gente?
R.:Llevo muchas experiencias en mí vida, de todo tipo, algunas muy particulares, pero la del año pasado (la sanción por el positivo con clembuterol, cuyo nombre nunca pronuncia), me marcó. Ahora diferencio, a partir de aquí, lo mío, y luego están cosas que no son mías. Hay cosas que son importantes y otras lo son menos. Sabes en quien puedes confiar y en quien no.
P.:En qué momentos disfruta más de la bicicleta
R.:Cuando la situación de carrera se me pone complicada, cuando parece imposible ganar. Esos momentos los disfruto a tope. Por ejemplo en 2011, en el Tour, en la etapa de Alpe D´Huez, que tenía opciones de ganar, el atacar al día siguiente, reventar la carrera te permite sentir una liberación diferente.

(After clembuterol saga)
Has the doping saga change you?
Right now I split what it's mine and what it's not mine. Knowing who can be trusted and who not.

When I most enjoy to ride is when I have a difficult situation in a race. Like Tour 2011, at Alpe D' Huez stage. Blowing up the stage let me feel released.

P.: ¿Qué sueños tiene un corredor como Contador?
R.: Antes era ganar el Tour. Yo sí compito es para ganar. No concibo el ciclismo de otra forma. A nivel deportivo ya no es un sueño. A nivel personal, mi sueño es ser feliz, disfrutar con tu gente, con tu familia, con tus amigos, estar tranquilo y no con dolor de cabeza.
P.:¿Sigue recordando lo que hizo en la etapa que finalizó en Fuente Dé?
R.:Aquello salió así. Cuando pensé en hacerlo no fue ni cuestión de segundos. Son cosas que unas veces salen y otras, no, y aquel día salió, aunque quedaba mucho terreno por delante. Es algo que recordaré toda mi vida. Fue una forma de ganar diferente. Atacando todos los días no conseguía hacer diferencias en montaña.

(Dreams)
Time ago winning le Tour was a dream. I race to win. I can't see a different approach about cycling. On personal side it's being happy with my close people.

Fuente De was a matter of seconds. It just happened in that way. I always remember that day, it was a different way after failing every day at mountains.

P.: De verdad, ¿que punto de forma tiene, cómo ha entrenado? ¿Es capaz de ganar sin estar en plenitud?
R.:No he podido entrenar mucho de continuo. Esa es la verdad. He hecho dos miniconcentraciones, una de cuatro días y otra, de tres, en las que entrené fuerte, y luego la semana que llegué aquí antes. He tenido demasiados viajes.
P.:¿Con qué momentos fuertes se queda de su carrera?
R.:La París-Niza de 2007 resultó un paso importante en mi carrera, frente a Rebellin, el Giro de Italia de 2008, con Riccó, sufriendo todos los días.
P.: No va a correr el Giro, tampoco las clásicas, ¿da la impresión de que tiene una cuenta pendiente con el Tour?
R.:Quiero llegar lo mejor posible. El año pasado no lo corrí, el anterior tuve muchos problemas. Quiero hacer a tope Tirreno-Adriático, Criterium Internacional y la Vuelta al País Vasco. El Dauphiné Liberé lo haré más relajado. El resto de carreras saldré con intenciones de ganarlas, de quitar la carbonilla (entre risas). No guardaré nada en esas pruebas, no puedes, porque tienen un nivel altísimo

(About form)
I couldn't train many consecutive days. Once 3 days, other time 4 and the week before San Luis was the longest streak.

Defining moments?
Paris Nice 2007 against Rebellin and Giro 2008 vs Ricco suffering every mountain stage.

(Goals)
I want do Tirreno, Criterium and Basque at max and Dauphine to prepare TdF

P.:En San Luis hay tres corredores que pueden hacer entre los cinco primeros del Tour, usted, Van Garderen y Van den Broeck, ¿vé gente nueva que pueda brillar en Francia?
R.:Chris Froome estará a un nivel altísimo, tanto en montaña como en contrarreloj. Es un claro candidato a la victoria. Cadel Evans ya sabe lo que es ganar, lo mismo que Wiggins. Andy Schleck igual no ha tenido regularidad en los últimos años, pero atesora una clase enorme. También hay que contar con Purito, Valverde. Si tuviese que destacar solo un nombre, sería Froome
P.: ¿Sigue confiando en Andy Schleck?
R.:Sí, confío en él. Lo he sufrido en mis carnes. Cuando se sube un puerto se tiene o no se tiene clase. Tiene mucho que decir.
P.: Es cierto que el ataque que le ha permitido ganar en San Luis, en el Mirador del Sol, fue a causa de una apuesta
R.:Sí, pero no voy a decir cuál. La han perdido mis compañeros. Todos los días en el hotel me decían que tiraban para mí, que no ganaba, me vacilan, y les hice la apuesta de que iba a ganar. Ahora la tendrán que cumplir.

(Potential rivals at TdF)
Froome the most obvious rival but Wiggo, Cadel, Andy and even Purito and Valverde are.

Still confident about Andy Schleck as a rival?(If he is still on that elite league of riders)
Yes I am. I suffered him in first person. When you climb a mountain you have class or haven't got it. He has many thing to say.

Was San Luis won a bet with your team mates?
Yes, but I'm not gonna say what. They lose it. They were joking every day that they were working for nothing so I bet with them about winning the stage. I won the stage. The have to answer the bet.

P.: ¿Dónde está el limite de Contador? ¿Se ha visto ya al mejor Contador de siempre?
R.:No lo sé. Creo que puedo mejorar más en regularidad, en solidez y también el contar con un equipo más fuerte debe de ayudarme en todos los apartados.
P.: No va a correr el Giro, ni las clásicas, ¿y la Vuelta a España?
R.: Si no voy al Giro hay más posibilidades de que la corra, pero también hay corredores en mi equipo que pueden disputar pruebas de tres semanas y están los puntos UCI que son importantes para Saxo-Tinkoff. (Contador no volverá sumar puntos UCI y méritos hasta agostó de 2014, según el reglamento de la UCI).

Where is Contador limit?
I don't now. I'm still improving at regularity and solidity. But having a stronger team must count.

What about Vuelta?
If I don't go to il Giro there are more chance to go but the team has a powerful roster and the UCI points issue is important to Saxo Tinkoff. (He can score again in August 2014)

 

[serfla]

What about Vuelta?
If I don't go to il Giro there are more chance to go but the team has a powerful roster and the UCI points issue is important to Saxo Tinkoff. (He can score again in August 2014)

What the hell is this?
Didn't he "always said it was unlikely he'd do the giro".

Maybe he was drunk.

 

[One Eyed Aussie]

An interesting interwiev, I'll translate some parts. Sorry for the mistakes

Muy bien hecho chico, gracias.

 

[Jelantik]

I think the argument about who's dogging what between alberto and wiggins is useless point. We can't say that Wiggin won TDF because alberto and schleck wasn't there. He won it on the road with whoever showed up at that point. Then coming july, if Alberto wins, then Wiggin's camp will claim.. well of course..that's because Wiggin has giro legs already. And so on and so on.. the argument will continue pointless. If a rider decides to go to grand tour and doesn't win, then touche.. you know. You just got beat by the more prepared opponent or more fresh whatever you call it. If they come with tons of racing leg from some other GT, they must already calculated the chances. So an argument about so and so wasn't there or they got some thousand miles of racing other GT, is really a pointless argument. You compete on the race with whoever shows up and whoever is ready. Other argument, is just an excuse to cover that they aren't good enough or prepare enough to tackle 2 GT at that "point in time". Like I said, if it's difficult to win 2 GT back to back, then don't use that excuse. I would rather say, ow well, not good enough to take on 2 GT! Better find another way to be up there to tackle 2 GTs back to back.

I'm no wiggins fans and I'm alberto fans. So come July, wiggin knows that he got some giro leg, so if he wants to win it.. better get his swimming regiment up to his eye ball. And no excuse. And for Alberto, if he wants to do double, good for him. If he want to focus on TDF.. that would be smart, because none of his rival will ride Giro. (except Wiggin). Just IMO

 

[ferryman]

The thing is Contador and Wiggins decide their tasks without looking back at the other. Contador is aiming the Tour because he want to get it at any price. Time goes on and possibly the Tour center of gravity may move in someone's else direction. Wiggins is aiming the Giro 'cos objectives of his team are more multi-disciplinary
1. The Tour course is not optimal for him and the team has a better rider;
2. He is still dreaming of winning all the Grand Tours;
3. The team is oriented on very strong perfomances in all of 3 week races.

Interesting. Wiggins has never gone toe to toe with Bertie. Froome has, and was dispatched easily on a similar parcours. And yet you still think he has a better chance. Reading between the lines, I guess we are both relying on our boy Andy to make a race of it.

 

[Forunculo]

Interesting. Wiggins has never gone toe to toe with Bertie. Froome has, and was dispatched easily on a similar parcours. And yet you still think he has a better chance. Reading between the lines, I guess we are both relying on our boy Andy to make a race of it.

IMHO the parcours of last Vuelta didn't suit him and was completely off form. He showed good thing till the first mountain finish in Collado La Gallina.


He deserves the doubt and wait for TdF.

My guess is Contador is better and Froome has to show he is better

 

[ferryman]

IMHO the parcours of last Vuelta didn't suit him and was completely off form. He showed good thing till the first mountain finish in Collado La Gallina.


He deserves the doubt and wait for TdF.

My guess is Contador is better and Froome has to show he is better

Hi, he showed good things until Contador finished his reccy of him. An unfit AC then dismantled him. No reason to think it will be any different in July. My point to Airstream was, why send the second string when it has already been proved it is not up to the job?

 

[The Hitch]

Interesting. Wiggins has never gone toe to toe with Bertie. Froome has, and was dispatched easily on a similar parcours. And yet you still think he has a better chance. Reading between the lines, I guess we are both relying on our boy Andy to make a race of it.

Wiggins has gone toe to.toe with contador 2009 and 10 if not 2007. Both times wiggins focus for the year was the tour. The - wiggins wasn't in shape cos he didn't train hard enough argument don't work.you think if contador lost cos he was lazy anyone would accept it as an excuse? No training hard is the whole point.

Froome on the other hand has not. I don't think.he raced against contador pre 2011 and since then only the 2011 vuelta. Where.unlike wiggins it wasn't his aim for the season and he had the perfectly legitimate excuse of having been forced to slave for wiggins a month earlier.

 

[ferryman]

Wiggins has gone toe to.toe with contador 2009 and 10 if not 2007. Both times wiggins focus for the year was the tour. The - wiggins wasn't in shape cos he didn't train hard enough argument don't work.you think if contador lost cos he was lazy anyone would accept it as an excuse? No training hard is the whole point.

Froome on the other hand has not. I don't think.he raced against contador pre 2011 and since then only the 2011 vuelta. Where.unlike wiggins it wasn't his aim for the season and he had the perfectly legitimate excuse of having been forced to slave for wiggins a month earlier.

Hitch. 2009 was a toe to toe but certainly not with Wiggins, who was just wide eyed he could keep up with Armstrong. 2012 Vuelta is the only race Sky have gone toe to toe with Contador is my point. And it was a walk over, so bring on their Capitain, non.

 

[The Hitch]

Hitch. 2009 was a toe to toe but certainly not with Wiggins, who was just wide eyed he could keep up with Armstrong. 2012 Vuelta is the only race Sky have gone toe to toe with Contador is my point. And it was a walk over, so bring on their Capitain, non.

Why is 2009 not toe to toe and 2012 Vuelta yes? In the mountains Contador crushed Froome far more than he did Wiggins 09.

 

[Carols]

(Potential rivals at TdF)
Froome the most obvious rival but Wiggo, Cadel, Andy and even Purito and Valverde are.

Still confident about Andy Schleck as a rival?(If he is still on that elite league of riders)
Yes I am. I suffered him in first person. When you climb a mountain you have class or haven't got it. He has many thing to say.

Interesting, he named all of the most likely with Froome first. IMO Veulta Froome wasn't a fair test of his capabilities and I think Alberto regards him as highest adversary.

Alberto re:Andy 'I suffered him first person', says a lot. Hopefully Andy gets his act together for some epic battles Andy has class and Alberto knows it;show it Andy!!!

If I don't go to il Giro there are more chance to go but the team has a powerful roster and the UCI points issue is important to Saxo Tinkoff. (He can score again in August 2014)

I keep forgetting about the points. Those that predicted Alberto might not ride all the races he wanted to because of that issue may be spot on here. It IS better for others on Saxo to collect WT points than work for Alberto

 

[peloton]

What the hell is this?
Didn't he "always said it was unlikely he'd do the giro".

Maybe he was drunk.

If you haven't noticed, the Giro organizers have tried everything to get him there this year. See Dubai etc.

Keep on trolling, adios

 

[peloton]

An interesting interview, I'll translate some parts. Sorry for the mistakes



The most tranquil winter in ages but he had many "marketing meetings"



It's the most powerful team he has ever had, and 100% committed to him unlike in the past

Do you intervene in the signings of the team?
Bjarne is smart and told me the signings that it can be doing, and I give my opinion about them. I have been informed all the time of what he was going to sign. Everything flows naturally between us. They (the signs) fit perfectly, they will have a free role at certain times and will have chances to score their own results

Have you asked any particular name?
It was attempted to sign certain riders, like Kreuziger, Nicolas Roche, Michael Rogers. Others have not been able to sign. I give my opinion.



(Not so important)



(After clembuterol saga)
Has the doping saga change you?
Right now I split what it's mine and what it's not mine. Knowing who can be trusted and who not.

When I most enjoy to ride is when I have a difficult situation in a race. Like Tour 2011, at Alpe D' Huez stage. Blowing up the stage let me feel released.



(Dreams)
Time ago winning le Tour was a dream. I race to win. I can't see a different approach about cycling. On personal side it's being happy with my close people.

Fuente De was a matter of seconds. It just happened in that way. I always remember that day, it was a different way after failing every day at mountains.



(About form)
I couldn't train many consecutive days. Once 3 days, other time 4 and the week before San Luis was the longest streak.

Defining moments?
Paris Nice 2007 against Rebellin and Giro 2008 vs Ricco suffering every mountain stage.

(Goals)
I want do Tirreno, Criterium and Basque at max and Dauphine to prepare TdF



(Potential rivals at TdF)
Froome the most obvious rival but Wiggo, Cadel, Andy and even Purito and Valverde are.

Still confident about Andy Schleck as a rival?(If he is still on that elite league of riders)
Yes I am. I suffered him in first person. When you climb a mountain you have class or haven't got it. He has many thing to say.

Was San Luis won a bet with your team mates?
Yes, but I'm not gonna say what. They lose it. They were joking every day that they were working for nothing so I bet with them about winning the stage. I won the stage. The have to answer the bet.





Where is Contador limit?
I don't now. I'm still improving at regularity and solidity. But having a stronger team must count.

What about Vuelta?
If I don't go to il Giro there are more chance to go but the team has a powerful roster and the UCI points issue is important to Saxo Tinkoff. (He can score again in August 2014)

Obligated, thanks very much for the translation!

 

[xrayvision]

As from the looks of it, it seems to Roche will be peaking for the ardennes and so with Kreuziger who said he wont ride the Giro eiter.

Majka will most likely get another chance to lead the Giro squard it seems.

Cant wait.

 

[Publicus]

Some pretty happy spectators there.

Has anyone here seen AC in person or spoken to him? La Flo?

I saw him, but didn't speak to him, when he came out to the Bay Area a couple of years ago. He actually looks more solidly built than he appears on tv and dude is wicked serious once he clips into his pedals. From what I could tell, very nice and humble guy.

 

[Miburo]

I saw him, but didn't speak to him, when he came out to the Bay Area a couple of years ago. He actually looks more solidly built than he appears on tv and dude is wicked serious once he clips into his pedals. From what I could tell, very nice and humble guy.

a very nice guy, yea but on his bike a true champion

that's how it should be

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Interesting, he named all of the most likely with Froome first. IMO Veulta Froome wasn't a fair test of his capabilities and I think Alberto regards him as highest adversary.

He does. For good reason.

 

[gruppeto993]

despite all that he has achieved with multiple grand tour wins, alberto is very humble and modest. Andy hasn't won a single stage race and is incredibly arrogant. Talks the talk but can't walk the walk.

 

[LaFlorecita]

despite all that he has achieved with multiple grand tour wins, alberto is very humble and modest. Andy hasn't won a single stage race and is incredibly arrogant. Talks the talk but can't walk the walk.

This. Exactly.

 

[Cimber]

Was San Luis won a bet with your team mates?
Yes, but I'm not gonna say what. They lose it. They were joking every day that they were working for nothing so I bet with them about winning the stage. I won the stage. The have to answer the bet.

I found this quite amusing

What about Vuelta?
If I don't go to il Giro there are more chance to go but the team has a powerful roster and the UCI points issue is important to Saxo Tinkoff. (He can score again in August 2014)

What I conclude from this is that most likely the Tour will be his only GT this year, since the team needs WT points they will let others try to get results in the Giro and the Vuelta.