Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Jelantik]

Interesting article snippet (CN)

Froome and Team Sky love to talk about the process of racing and winning, about controlling the controllable. Their racing style is based on logic and measured physiology, with little room for emotion and instinct. Froome made it clear he will follow the same process in everything he does this season, including the Tour de France.

"I think it's pretty simple. If we keep following a certain way of training and racing, it makes it a lot more controllable for us. The more you can control in a race then the more you can control the outcome. Cycling isn't always predictable but the more control you have over things, the easier it becomes," he explained.

So Froomey 'science' vs. Alberto - 'instinct'

We saw the results from Wiggins last year (he turned himself into a superman) and this year with Froome and Porte already in the position of holding the leader Jersey. If they continue this rate, it might be possible that every race that sky team enters, they would win it.

So science will be the future of cycling? Then is Alberto type of species going to extinct? thoughts anyone?

 

[LaFlorecita]

You pretty much just contradicted yourself. You claim that Contador is underperforming, yet you have posted links to his interview where he said he will be better at the Tour.

Yes he will be better at the Tour, so what? He can still be underperforming right now right?

You claim that Contador cannot challenge Froome from the tour yet you go on talking about how much stronger Contador would be when he gets his own domestiques in order to beat down on the Sky Train.

Yes. Alberto can't take on the sky train on his own. He needs his domestiques to derail the skyborg train. Then he could stand a chance.

Froome is certainly no guarantee to win the Tour.

He is if he and Alberto both continue riding this way.

Even Contador said that Froome is human and beatable,

When did he say that?

and Froome has already been beaten twice out of 3 MTFs so far this year.

Interestingly Froome has also beaten Alberto on all mtf's this year.

Certainly the Tour will be a lot closer than when Contador was dominating all the stage races that he used to participate in.

No, not at all. It will be exactly the same. Froome will dominate every stage race he participates in. You're a bit of a hypocrite.

The tour (and all the other races the will face each other in) will be a lot closer when Alberto can get back to his old level. Froome with the sky train is way too strong for Alberto in the shape he's in now. If he can maintain his attacks we could see some brilliant battles in the mountains. No trains, just mano a mano.

 

[Parrulo]

To me it looks and sounds like Alberto just wants to concentrate on the TdF this year. He's a tad overweight and his form is a bit off... Me thinks he wants to pull a Lance this year.

i think he wants to ride the vuelta as well to defend his tittle and that is why he is having such a light first part of the season

 

[LaFlorecita]

To me it looks and sounds like Alberto just wants to concentrate on the TdF this year. He's a tad overweight and his form is a bit off... Me thinks he wants to pull a Lance this year.

That would be a shame.... I think he's really struggling, I mean, he always wants to win. He can't just change that.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Interesting article snippet (CN)

Froome and Team Sky love to talk about the process of racing and winning, about controlling the controllable. Their racing style is based on logic and measured physiology, with little room for emotion and instinct. Froome made it clear he will follow the same process in everything he does this season, including the Tour de France.

"I think it's pretty simple. If we keep following a certain way of training and racing, it makes it a lot more controllable for us. The more you can control in a race then the more you can control the outcome. Cycling isn't always predictable but the more control you have over things, the easier it becomes," he explained.

So Froomey 'science' vs. Alberto - 'instinct'

We saw the results from Wiggins last year (he turned himself into a superman) and this year with Froome and Porte already in the position of holding the leader Jersey. If they continue this rate, it might be possible that every race that sky team enters, they would win it.

So science will be the future of cycling? Then is Alberto type of species going to extinct? thoughts anyone?

That would be the most horrible thing that could happen. A future of aliens and skyborgs. No, just no... we need riders like Alberto.

 

[LaFlorecita]

i think he wants to ride the vuelta as well to defend his tittle and that is why he is having such a light first part of the season

I've heard that a lot. You think he will also ride worlds?

Come on, he never rides anything after le tour. He said it himself. He'll only ride la Vuelta when le Tour ends up being a disappointment.

 

[Carols]

Vuelta 2012 was when I really got into watching cycling - that should give you an idea of what I like to see in a GT. I went back to watch the older but more recent GTs but nothing really compared to that.

This!!! Without a doubt the best of the GTs in 2012!!! Nail biting!!!!

LaFlo is very emotional; Highs and Lows when it comes to Alberto. Make allowances for her contradictions

 

[LaFlorecita]

This!!! Without a doubt the best of the GTs in 2012!!! Nail biting!!!!

LaFlo is very emotional; Highs and Lows when it comes to Alberto. Make allowances for her contradictions

What contradictions I don't see any

 

[Carols]

So science will be the future of cycling? Then is Alberto type of species going to extinct? thoughts anyone?

The Soulless Borg will attempt to assimilate the sport I love Praying it doesn't happen!!!

 

[Carols]

What contradictions I don't see any

Dear LaFlo you have a way of predicting Dire things then Bouncing with Joy when Alberto does well. Newcomers might not be aware of these ups and downs. We are used to it and it is ok

 

[pdluz7]

Interesting article snippet (CN)

Froome and Team Sky love to talk about the process of racing and winning, about controlling the controllable. Their racing style is based on logic and measured physiology, with little room for emotion and instinct. Froome made it clear he will follow the same process in everything he does this season, including the Tour de France.

"I think it's pretty simple. If we keep following a certain way of training and racing, it makes it a lot more controllable for us. The more you can control in a race then the more you can control the outcome. Cycling isn't always predictable but the more control you have over things, the easier it becomes," he explained.

So Froomey 'science' vs. Alberto - 'instinct'

We saw the results from Wiggins last year (he turned himself into a superman) and this year with Froome and Porte already in the position of holding the leader Jersey. If they continue this rate, it might be possible that every race that sky team enters, they would win it.

So science will be the future of cycling? Then is Alberto type of species going to extinct? thoughts anyone?

Without emotion, only science. I think not there is cycling. What the future for riders like Sagan, Quitana, Moser and others? I hope Sky do not end up with cycling.

 

[etymology]

We shall see, but if isn't just Froome, it's all the Incredible Sky Domestiques escorting him..... Isolated Froome can be worked over. But how to isolate him????

not that i would ever, EVER suggest - let alone condone - nefarious spectator interference or anything:

i would not cry "foul!" or wonder "geeeeeeze, how did THAT happen?" if ohhhhhh, say, someone were to procure an unobtrusive,short range directional elelctromagnetic burst device capable of frying frying things like oh, say, power meters.

imagine the ensuing hilarity as the powermeterless skyborg are left to guess how much wattage they are putting out, how long they can sustain xxx watts and best of all, who WAS that roadside fan singing "POP goes the skyyyyyyyyyyyyyborg!"

 

[wwabbit]

Is it just me or does it look like he's grimacing? lol

 

[LaFlorecita]

Damn I've never seen Alberto look this bad before. He looks exhausted. Not optimistic at all really wonder what is going on, hope he can have a better year next year but I doubt it. Maybe he should retire when his contract with Saxo ends, I don't think this is good for him

 

[LaFlorecita]

Is it just me or does it look like he's grimacing? lol

Yeah I can imagine that must be hilarious as a Froome fan. I just feel sorry for alberto, poor guy

 

[wwabbit]

Maybe he would be smiling for real if you were one of the two girls....

 

[DA_Man]

It amazes me how much of the Lance legacy is still with us. I've never seen or heard a champion being questioned or doubted the way Alberto is. I mean, the guy has won pretty much everything there is to win, and some of the press still present him as a sort of an amateurish hothead who can't control himself.

Why does it elude everyone that every Alberto attack, although amateurish to the simple-minded, is just as planned as the Sky control-train?

And if you look at the results you'd think Contador would get more credit from this group of cycling gurus but... no! He's still a hothead about to get steamrolled by the control freaks.

 

[The Hitch]

the 2010 giro puts the vuelta sprint festival to shame.

only thing that will stay in people's mind from that vuelta is the fuente de stage, while from the 2010 giro at least 3 stages will be reminded forever

particularly, montalcino and aprica

I thought 2 of the mtfs were quite good in the same way that Zoncolan from the 2010 Giro was also very good ( i think it came 3rd in the stage of the year poll i did that year).

By which i mean especially Lagos i think it was when Contador first attacked with 8 to go and did about 10 attacks including one where he got about a 30m gap on Rodriguez who was stuck behind Valverde, and then Rodriguez realized Contador had gotten away so flew out from behind Valverde and did his own sprint up to Contador.

The stage was made better by the fact that the breakaway was 12 minutes ahead so first you got to see the battle for the stage - Piedra, and then once that was done you got to see the battle for the overall.

But of course Giro had stages even better than that, and was more mixed.

The Grappa stage doesnt even get rated that year but if you think about it in other gts it would have gone down as the best stage. 4 top gc riders (all now gt winners) 12 minutes down on gc, go beserk from 30k out dropping the pink jersey for 5 minutes. Evans dropped on the climb, Nibali flies away on epic descent and Arroyo 4 minutes down is the new favourite and race leader.


It really ****ed me off when in the season review Harmonn said that the Moltacino stage was the only one people will remember from that gt.
We will see mud again. When will we ever see top 10 level riders playing major roles in gc battles on mountain stages because they are 10 minutes up.

 

[_nm___]

Interesting article snippet (CN)

Froome and Team Sky love to talk about the process of racing and winning, about controlling the controllable. Their racing style is based on logic and measured physiology, with little room for emotion and instinct. Froome made it clear he will follow the same process in everything he does this season, including the Tour de France.

"I think it's pretty simple. If we keep following a certain way of training and racing, it makes it a lot more controllable for us. The more you can control in a race then the more you can control the outcome. Cycling isn't always predictable but the more control you have over things, the easier it becomes," he explained.

So Froomey 'science' vs. Alberto - 'instinct'

We saw the results from Wiggins last year (he turned himself into a superman) and this year with Froome and Porte already in the position of holding the leader Jersey. If they continue this rate, it might be possible that every race that sky team enters, they would win it.

So science will be the future of cycling? Then is Alberto type of species going to extinct? thoughts anyone?

i think science is the only way to beat sky. but once you've done your scientific analysis, you might come up with a race tactic plan that still makes for attractive racing


i think the below post is a good answer to your question

It amazes me how much of the Lance legacy is still with us. I've never seen or heard a champion being questioned or doubted the way Alberto is. I mean, the guy has won pretty much everything there is to win, and some of the press still present him as a sort of an amateurish hothead who can't control himself.

Why does it elude everyone that every Alberto attack, although amateurish to the simple-minded, is just as planned as the Sky control-train?

And if you look at the results you'd think Contador would get more credit from this group of cycling gurus but... no! He's still a hothead about to get steamrolled by the control freaks.

 

[Publicus]

Is it just me or does it look like he's grimacing? lol

It's you. He's not grimacing.

 

[ElChingon]

Is it just me or does it look like he's grimacing? lol

Well if you look into it you'll realize that the podium girl on the left hit his right cheek a bit early, he's stiffening up to not fall over before left podium girl hits his left cheek. He's also keeping tight and hoping the first podium girl holds her kiss and doesn't backout before the second girl hits with her kiss, which would put him off balance.

Or the girls are pinching his ****?

 

[jyhjyh]

Shut up Froome

 

[wwabbit]

Looks like Froome is jealous that Contador's got the prettier girl to hold his... umbrella.

 

[Carols]

Is it just me or does it look like he's grimacing? lol

Wrong color jersey is why he isn't happy.....

 

[Miburo]

Maybe a stage victory tomorrow?

Today was so tough that tomorrow many can win.