Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[LaFlorecita]

He´ll start at tomorrow´s Klasika Primavera, then he planned to not race until Dauphiné, which seems quite long.

He certainly skips the Ardennes, but there were rumours of him doing the Giro, which would be a big change, and which I honestly can´t believe.

I, however, could well imagine he could do Madrid, which is down to one day (1.1) this year, on the Saturday when the Giro takes off (4th of May).

I also, actually, would like to see him race TdS instead of Dauphiné, once again, like he did back in his Liberty Seguros days.

it seems too long, he needs to build his form and I am not sure if training will help that much

 

[xrayvision]

Saxo were donkeys the entire 2012, right until the Vuelta where the great one returned. They had problems on the flats against the SKYBORGS (is the reason of the signings of Rogers and Bena.), but blew them up in the mountains together with Moviestar, nothing suggests the tour this year will be any different, on paper Saxo has a much stronger team, and why shouldn´t Saxo and Moviestar team up again, and lets hope Katusha have learned from the Vuelta and will join in. I predict SKY wont have a easy race at all.

All the negativity here is to some extent missplaced, we are only in April and the weather have truly sucked, which have a much bigger negative effect if your not in the right form, so comparing last years results with todays is not valid.

 

[The Hitch]

Alberto Contador discussion thread.

Alberto Contador, Alberto Contador, oh that climber guy. Leader for that pro conti team good rider. Showed some good balls to get that stage in san Luis.
if he gets his head down and trains real hard he could maybe get a top 10 in the tour. Will be tough vs peter weening though.

 

[trevim]

Oh boy, I thought he would podium. Quintana did too good. Anyway, Contador FTW in Fleche, Liege or wherever he will race next.
Come on Velasco!

 

[Pentacycle]

it seems too long, he needs to build his form and I am not sure if training will help that much

Before the Tour he should go to a warmer region. Right now the weather's still not good in Europe, so I recommend a place like Teide to get ready for his next races. I can assure you he'll feel like new when he returns, instead of falling ill. He needs to get lots of km's and some good climbing in his legs at 25°C, under the warm sun. Like everybody in Northern Europe needs right now.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

So? Weening is in good form, it doesn't surprise me at all

STILL NOT GOOD, HE WAS BEATEN IN A TIME TRIAL BY PIETER ****ING WEENING MAN!!!

 

[LaFlorecita]

STILL NOT GOOD, HE WAS BEATEN IN A TIME TRIAL BY PIETER ****ING WEENING MAN!!!

Lol.

 

[JRanton]

He's been getting worse since Oman relative to the competition. Let's not try to pretend that's a good sign for things to come! I do expect him to be better come Tour time but I don't think it will be enough.

 

[JRanton]

You guys will get a really positive suprise this July
Not even worth the discussion, he can't concivably be worse this July than what he was in last years Vuelta.

Why not? Of course it's possible. Leaving aside all the clinic stuff and bearing in mind his 2011 Giro performance is it possible that he simply trained too hard last year when he wasn't racing and now he's feeling the affect?

 

[LaFlorecita]

He's been getting worse since Oman relative to the competition. Let's not try to pretend that's a good sign for things to come! I do expect him to be better come Tour time but I don't think it will be enough.

He's been getting worse? How do you know that when Froome, Nibali, Evans and Purito are all not in the race?

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Why not? Of course it's possible. Leaving aside all the clinic stuff and bearing in mind his 2011 Giro performance is it possible that he simply trained too hard last year when he wasn't racing and now he's feeling the affect?

Because, baring illness, the fact that he can have the race schedule he wants, will give him the freedom he needs to get into a form as good as possible. Last year he could not do that. The age factor is not that huge between Vulta 12 and Tour 13 either.

 

[Angliru]

Why not? Of course it's possible. Leaving aside all the clinic stuff and bearing in mind his 2011 Giro performance is it possible that he simply trained too hard last year when he wasn't racing and now he's feeling the affect?

Still feeling the effects more than 6 months later? I recall him saying that he's started the season on a lower level than is his custom. Add to that coming into a tough Pays Basque after a bout with flu and then for the weather to be an additional challenge, I think it's reasonable to say all of the above could be factored into explaining his performance.

 

[Miburo]

Still feeling the effects more than 6 months later? I recall him saying that he's started the season on a lower level than is his custom. Add to that coming into a tough Pays Basque after a bout with flu and then for the weather to be an additional challenge, I think it's reasonable to say all of the above could be factored into explaining his performance.

He always downplays his chances, i don't think many on this forum act him real credible on that.

We still remember the "i'm fat, don't expect much" thing last year in san luis.

 

[JRanton]

He's been getting worse? How do you know that when Froome, Nibali, Evans and Purito are all not in the race?

He's just been beaten by four domestiques (three very good ones but even so) including Simon Spliak and beaten in the time trial by Pieter fecking Weening!

In Oman I was actually impressed by him despite eventually beaing beaten by Froome. Lots of good attacks that put his rivals under pressure. He didn't even attack once during the entire Pais Vasco!

 

[trevim]

He's just been beaten by four domestiques (three very good ones but even so) including Simon Spliak and beaten in the time trial by Pieter fecking Weening!

In Oman I was actually impressed by him despite eventually beaing beaten by Froome. Lots of good attacks that put his rivals under pressure. He didn't even attack once during the entire Pais Vasco!

Allow me to see the glass half full.
Contador was so bad that he couldn't even attack, totally against his nature. Nevertheless, he still made the top5 in one of the most brutal 1-week races of the calendar. So this means that once he gets through his problems, he'll be much stronger. And also means that he's not over it.
(Yes, I'm a fanboy Tropea, Col de Manse, Galibier, Kappelmuur and some other things really make us die hard fans of a cyclist that is a true bike rider.)

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

I think my mentality has been wrong these last few months.

Contador was amazing. They're is no denying it. But it looks like he was clinic fuelled the whole time. The fact that he is a nice guy with an amazing palmares masks this fact.

Froome on the other looks likely to dethrone Contador and we are all hating him because we are so heavily invested in 'the great one'. If Froomes success is not clinic related then he should be sincerely applauded. He is a true and pure champion and will never be tainted if that is the case.

As sad as it is for a Contador fan to say Froome may be better than Contador ever was.

 

[skidmark]

Don't worry guys, I think they just haven't found, diagnosed and treated Contador's Bilharzia yet. Once they do, right around July, he'll be suddenly rocketing away from everyone. Imagine how good he'll be then if he's getting top 5s while stricken.

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

Don't worry guys, I think they just haven't found, diagnosed and treated Contador's Bilharzia yet. Once they do, right around July, he'll be suddenly rocketing away from everyone. Imagine how good he'll be then if he's getting top 5s while stricken.

Ha, bilharzia claim would be awesome

 

[Carols]

Just finished watching the coverage...Gogo (USA commentator) said he spoke with Saxo DS yesterday and when Bertie was down with the flu, couldn't train for a full week. They had no expectations from him this week except for him to find some form. Wish this had been said a week ago!!!

Meanwhile on that course in the brutal weather I don't think he ever found any form and ended 5th on pure natural talent and base level. But that is why he never attacked; No power, No rhythm. DS also said Saxo didn't counter on yesterday's stage when the break was caught because 'they just couldn't', everyone was frozen and 'just trying to stay on their bikes'.

Still things are looking pretty dim right now for both Berto and Saxo...I like the idea of a week training in a Warm, Sunny place for him

 

[The Hitch]

Just finished watching the coverage...Gogo (USA commentator) said he spoke with Saxo DS yesterday and when Bertie was down with the flu, couldn't train for a full week. They had no expectations from him this week except for him to find some form. Wish this had been said a week ago!!!

Meanwhile on that course in the brutal weather I don't think he ever found any form and ended 5th on pure natural talent and base level. But that is why he never attacked; No power, No rhythm. DS also said Saxo didn't counter on yesterday's stage when the break was caught because 'they just couldn't', everyone was frozen and 'just trying to stay on their bikes'.

Still things are looking pretty dim right now for both Berto and Saxo...I like the idea of a week training in a Warm, Sunny place for him

If Contador is telling the truth about his illness (and I'm cynical about these things) then it's good for him because pre 2010 tour he also had an illness and that was his worst gt (and sucked in the tt like today)

I'll believe it when I see it though.

 

[movingtarget]

Allow me to see the glass half full.
Contador was so bad that he couldn't even attack, totally against his nature. Nevertheless, he still made the top5 in one of the most brutal 1-week races of the calendar. So this means that once he gets through his problems, he'll be much stronger. And also means that he's not over it.
(Yes, I'm a fanboy Tropea, Col de Manse, Galibier, Kappelmuur and some other things really make us die hard fans of a cyclist that is a true bike rider.)

Yes. This was a very difficult comeback race for Contador, the conditions and the course. To say he has no chance in the Tour because of one week of racing is just silly. The TT confirmed that his form was not there and he has plenty of improvement in store. And yes I know Sky riders will also improve but apart from Wiggins, no Sky rider has won a grand tour. A one week race in Spain has nothing in common with a grand tour except for the fact many of the same riders will be there. Contador will keep working towards his aim for the year which is the Tour and it's three months away. Sky look strong but are not over the line yet. I don't remember many people picking Ryder to win the 2012 Giro or Cobo to win the 2011 Vuelta and not many expected Rodriguez to go so close in two GTs last year. Anything can happen. Just ask Schleck, Gesink or Evans.

 

[Big Doopie]

Contador never had the flu. They announce ten days after T-A is finished that contador caught the flu from that race. You don't come down with the flu ten days after...ridiculous.

I for one am thrilled we are not seeing the contador of 2007-2009. Would make everything a farce if we did.

I dread a sudden improvement in July however.

 

[Taxus4a]

Yes. This was a very difficult comeback race for Contador, the conditions and the course. To say he has no chance in the Tour because of one week of racing is just silly. The TT confirmed that his form was not there and he has plenty of improvement in store. And yes I know Sky riders will also improve but apart from Wiggins, no Sky rider has won a grand tour. A one week race in Spain has nothing in common with a grand tour except for the fact many of the same riders will be there. Contador will keep working towards his aim for the year which is the Tour and it's three months away. Sky look strong but are not over the line yet. I don't remember many people picking Ryder to win the 2012 Giro or Cobo to win the 2011 Vuelta and not many expected Rodriguez to go so close in two GTs last year. Anything can happen. Just ask Schleck, Gesink or Evans.

And ITT of San Luis, and ITT of Tirreno,... he was sick then as well? Contador, so many lies in his career, maybe the flu was true, he was a little bit worse as I expected, but...this year is no new

 

[Taxus4a]

deleted content

You are an honourabled and razonable person , and I really sorry about his current performance, I hope he ll recover, he is really talented, and he has a big competitive soul, but there are another talented riders as well. I think his level is better than this in Basque country. I am not fan becouse several factors, one of them he is used to lie, but he is a good rider anyway, and we are proud in Spain to have him.

 

[gooner]

Just finished watching the coverage...Gogo (USA commentator) said he spoke with Saxo DS yesterday and when Bertie was down with the flu, couldn't train for a full week. They had no expectations from him this week except for him to find some form. Wish this had been said a week ago!!!

Meanwhile on that course in the brutal weather I don't think he ever found any form and ended 5th on pure natural talent and base level. But that is why he never attacked; No power, No rhythm. DS also said Saxo didn't counter on yesterday's stage when the break was caught because 'they just couldn't', everyone was frozen and 'just trying to stay on their bikes'.

Still things are looking pretty dim right now for both Berto and Saxo...I like the idea of a week training in a Warm, Sunny place for him

Agree it's probably best if he went off for training in more appropriate conditions so it wouldn't hinder anymore preparation but he still can't leave off racing entirely until the Dauphine. I have said it before but Riis should have a serious rethink about shaking up his racing calendar. Romandie or Cali are obvious ones that should be under consideration. The Palm Springs finish(3.6mls at 9%) and the Mt.Diablo stage would be suit him greatly and the TT looks a great test as well and it would be a challenge for him to see if he can beat guys like TJVG and Zabriskie here. This is something he badly needs to perfect before anything else at the moment. Saxo are one of the 8 WT teams going so this would be a no brainer. One or two confidence boosting wins on the MTFs would do him no harm at all.