Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

I dunno. My guess he might be not taking his winter training seriously. When he left to serve his doping sentences, he was still the best stage racer, and no one can touch him. Even if he wasn't 100%, he still could win. Came july, came the sky with superhuman team. Things changes. When he was back for Vuelta, he didn't win it because he was strong. He won because of pure tactic and smart ride plus lady luck was with him. When he started his campaign in Argentina, he wasn't at his top shape or even on a good base. He probably thought that he would improve and in the past he was still able to smoke his opponent. But to his surprise, the sky superborg was a lot more ready than what his opponent used to be. I have never heard from Alberto's interview about how he worked over the winter last year. I saw him flying all over the world promoting his team (maybe that's the reason). On the other hand, all I hear from Froome and his DS that Froome did the winter training exactly what he was supposed to. Maybe that's the difference between Froome/wiggin and Alberto. Alberto's result is declining, while the superskyborg results is increasing (even their domestique are as good as Alberto). If I see sky team, certainly their 'training method' are working because you see the progression of everyone across the board. And look at saxo?.. none of them are progressing. except roman probably. Mic Rogers? where is he?

So in the past, I remembered that he used to be having a hard time finding challenge because he achieved so much in a young age. Maybe because everything is so easy to achieve. To the point of whenever I watched him racing, I have this air of confidence that he would win it. Now,... I don't see that anymore. So my hope is he might just underestimate his training and hoping that he could improve along the way. (His ex DS Sean Yates said that Alberto can come to the training camp out of shape and he can easily get himself in shape as the training camp moves along) Or he just realized that he needs to be seriously back to the drawing board. Only time can tell how he actually is. If in Dauphene, he can't do much to Froome, then we'll know what happen came in July.

This exactly. They are at different stages of their respective careers. Froome has come so close to a GT twice, and he is hungry. That determination is evident and he looks totally focused. Alberto conversely has seen it and done it all before. He doesn't have the raw drive that Froome has.

Froomes reign will be short lived however because Andy Schleck will train like never before (when he has Frank back in his arms)

 

[hfer07]

I must say - it's been quite "disappointing" to witness the way Contador is "under performing" so far in the season- I do however give him the benefit of the doubt on many of his current "explanations" for his shape & results.. WHY?

He's a Champion-He Know's how to "prepare" for races & "how" to get results.. so I have this feeling that behind this current situation- there is a "master plan" already in place by the time of the Tour-that might work-or perhaps he'll fall short, but I cannot foresee him just "showing up" in France to "fulfill" his contract-ala ASchleck....

 

[GJB123]

Taking another look in this, the AC-depression Club, it made me wonder whether people's memories have been playing tricks on them. It is not as if AC just used to turn up and completely smoke any field or any opposition in the past. He has lost before and still came back and it is not as if he hasn't been there or thereabouts this season, usually at the sharp end of things.

 

[LaFlorecita]

To be honest GJB, I have never seen him this bad, this consistently before. Sure he's lost races before but when was the last time he lost 7 races in a row? I think we'd have to go back to 2006.

 

[GJB123]

To be honest GJB, I have never seen him this bad, this consistently before. Sure he's lost races before but when was the last time he lost 7 races in a row? I think we'd have to go back to 2006.

Please do go back to 2006 and check all years. You'ld be surprised. And "this bad"? Really? You would call his results "bad"? Okay, granted they could have been better but they are a far cry from bad. If you think AC is bad now, 3/4 of the peloton should be crying themselves to sleep or be downright suicidal by now. Think of poor Andy when you make bold, sweeping statements like that.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Hey not sure what you're trying to say but looking at the results it seems to me that I was right. Last time he lost 7 races in a row was in 2006. And yes I call his results bad and he looks even worse. Right now he is half the rider he used to be. He tts as if he's back in his neo pro days and uphill he gets dropped by riders he used to crush.

 

[Afrank]

Please do go back to 2006 and check all years. You'ld be surprised. And "this bad"? Really? You would call his results "bad"? Okay, granted they could have been better but they are a far cry from bad. If you think AC is bad now, 3/4 of the peloton should be crying themselves to sleep or be downright suicidal by now. Think of poor Andy when you make bold, sweeping statements like that.

If you just looked as his results without knowing who the rider was, then yes they wouldn't look that bad. For Contador though, the results he's been getting have most definitely not been good for his level and for what he and everybody else has come to expect from him.

 

[GJB123]

If you just looked as his results without knowing who the rider was, then yes they wouldn't look that bad. For Contador though, the results he's been getting have most definitely not been good for his level and for what he and everybody else has come to expect from him.

Granted (as I already did) The results could have been better and yes, expectations are justifiably high for someone of his talent.

But going by the kind of severely depressed comments in this thread one would assume he hadn't finished any of those races and hadn't featured in determining the outcome of those races. The opposite is quite true. The amount negativity from people who call themselves AC-fans is, quite frankly, baffling to a more neutral spectator like myself. This read reads like a friggin' obituary or eulogy instead of fan-thread.

And to LaFlo, the idea of my reply is to knock some sense of reality into the heads of the hyper negative AC-fans in this thread. There is no certainty that AC will whoop everybody's butts come July and he may will be handed hiss @rse on a platter by Froome and his skyborgs, but if I would have to bet on anyone doing the exact opposite and making a real fight of it win or lose, it would be AC. So lighten up.

 

[Angliru]

Granted (as I already did) The results could have been better and yes, expectations are justifiably high for someone of his talent.

But going by the kind of severely depressed comments in this thread one would assume he hadn't finished any of those races and hadn't featured in determining the outcome of those races. The opposite is quite true. The amount negativity from people who call themselves AC-fans is, quite frankly, baffling to a more neutral spectator like myself. This read reads like a friggin' obituary or eulogy instead of fan-thread.

And to LaFlo, the idea of my reply is to knock some sense of reality into the heads of the hyper negative AC-fans in this thread. There is no certainty that AC will whoop everybody's butts come July and he may will be handed hiss @rse on a platter by Froome and his skyborgs, but if I would have to bet anyone doing the exact opposite and making a real fight of it win or lose, it would be AC. So lighten up.

Contador has spoiled his fans with his long string of success and now that he's hit a rough patch many are quite ready to toss him in the trash heap and latch their little wagons to their next chosen rider to obsess over. While I'm a bit troubled by Contador's recent inability to regain his beyond elite level of performance, I'm still confident that he will find his way. He's shown that he's always motivated to compete against the best in the sport all I can resulting from this momentary period of strife is that he will work that much harder to regain his spot on the top step of podium.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Granted (as I already did) The results could have been better and yes, expectations are justifiably high for someone of his talent.

But going by the kind of severely depressed comments in this thread one would assume he hadn't finished any of those races and hadn't featured in determining the outcome of those races. The opposite is quite true. The amount negativity from people who call themselves AC-fans is, quite frankly, baffling to a more neutral spectator like myself. This read reads like a friggin' obituary or eulogy instead of fan-thread.

And to LaFlo, the idea of my reply is to knock some sense of reality into the heads of the hyper negative AC-fans in this thread. There is no certainty that AC will whoop everybody's butts come July and he may will be handed hiss @rse on a platter by Froome and his skyborgs, but if I would have to bet anyone doing the exact opposite and making a real fight of it win or lose, it would be AC. So lighten up.

Lol, love that your signature is from Bing Hitler

 

[Carols]

Contador has spoiled his fans with his long string of success and now that he's hit a rough patch many are quite ready to toss him in the trash heap and latch their little wagons to their next chosen rider to obsess over. While I'm a bit troubled by Contador's recent inability to regain his beyond elite level of performance, I'm still confident that he will find his way. He's shown that he's always motivated to compete against the best in the sport all I can resulting from this momentary period of strife is that he will work that much harder to regain his spot on the top step of podium.

It's not just the results it's the words...'can't find rhythm', 'didn't have the legs', 'harder to find form', 'rode at my own pace' etc. He is getting the current results on pure class and talent.....but without an explanation why he can't find his form it is becoming more and more worrisome

Yes it could just be a bad patch, all riders have them....but I'm worried none the less!!

 

[Miburo]

Contador is ready for tomorrow

I really think he'll do great. The man is pure greatness after all

 

[Afrank]

Granted (as I already did) The results could have been better and yes, expectations are justifiably high for someone of his talent.

But going by the kind of severely depressed comments in this thread one would assume he hadn't finished any of those races and hadn't featured in determining the outcome of those races. The opposite is quite true. The amount negativity from people who call themselves AC-fans is, quite frankly, baffling to a more neutral spectator like myself. This read reads like a friggin' obituary or eulogy instead of fan-thread.

And to LaFlo, the idea of my reply is to knock some sense of reality into the heads of the hyper negative AC-fans in this thread. There is no certainty that AC will whoop everybody's butts come July and he may will be handed hiss @rse on a platter by Froome and his skyborgs, but if I would have to bet on anyone doing the exact opposite and making a real fight of it win or lose, it would be AC. So lighten up.

Agree with you on the bolded. The AC fans do tend to overreact a little too much when Contador doesn't perform up to their expectations of him. Contador's is getting older and it's natural that he won't be dominating like he did in the past anymore. Although, his current form should be a cause for some concern I think, but people should also lower their expectations of him.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Contador has spoiled his fans with his long string of success and now that he's hit a rough patch many are quite ready to toss him in the trash heap and latch their little wagons to their next chosen rider to obsess over. While I'm a bit troubled by Contador's recent inability to regain his beyond elite level of performance, I'm still confident that he will find his way. He's shown that he's always motivated to compete against the best in the sport all I can resulting from this momentary period of strife is that he will work that much harder to regain his spot on the top step of podium.

Toss him in the trash heap? What? Who's doing that?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Granted (as I already did) The results could have been better and yes, expectations are justifiably high for someone of his talent.

But going by the kind of severely depressed comments in this thread one would assume he hadn't finished any of those races and hadn't featured in determining the outcome of those races. The opposite is quite true. The amount negativity from people who call themselves AC-fans is, quite frankly, baffling to a more neutral spectator like myself. This read reads like a friggin' obituary or eulogy instead of fan-thread.

And to LaFlo, the idea of my reply is to knock some sense of reality into the heads of the hyper negative AC-fans in this thread. There is no certainty that AC will whoop everybody's butts come July and he may will be handed hiss @rse on a platter by Froome and his skyborgs, but if I would have to bet on anyone doing the exact opposite and making a real fight of it win or lose, it would be AC. So lighten up.

Hyper negative? Depressed? Not at all, we're just wondering what's going on because obviously he's not himself right now. And we're worried because if he doesn't improve a whole lot in the next 2 months, he's never going to win the TDF. By the way this is not a fan thread.

 

[GJB123]

Hyper negative? Depressed? Not at all, we're just wondering what's going on because obviously he's not himself right now. And we're worried because if he doesn't improve a whole lot in the next 2 months, he's never going to win the TDF. By the way this is not a fan thread.

This thread represents you only being worried? Be sure to remind that I need to stay well clear of you when you are depressed and hyper negative if this is not it.

 

[GJB123]

Toss him in the trash heap? What? Who's doing that?

Eeehmmm ..... newsflash .... YOU are! You are totally writing the man off, he is over the hill, he won't win anything anymore, now way he can beat the skyborgs, super fast decline, do I need to continue?

You no what, I think AC needs to retire from cycling now when he still has a shred of dignity left. Come on, get a grip of yourself, this is pathetic!

 

[LaFlorecita]

This thread represents you only being worried? Be sure to remind that I need to stay well clear of you when you are depressed and hyper negative if this is not it.

You really take this way too seriously

 

[LaFlorecita]

Eeehmmm ..... newsflash .... YOU are! You are totally writing the man off, he is over the hill, he won't win anything anymore, now way he can beat the skyborgs, super fast decline, do I need to continue?

You no what, I think AC needs to retire from cycling now when he still has a shred of dignity left. Come on, get a grip of yourself, this is pathetic!

Yes I am writing him off and I don't think he will win the tour this year. But I am not "tossing him in the trash heap"

 

[Miburo]

Yes I am writing him off and I don't think he will win the tour this year. But I am not "tossing him in the trash heap"

That's preserved for after the tour, right?

Be positivo, LBL is a goal, you'll see

 

[LaFlorecita]

That's preserved for after the tour, right?

Be positivo, LBL is a goal, you'll see

I will never toss him in the trash

 

[Angliru]

Toss him in the trash heap? What? Who's doing that?

Coming from some supposed fans, saying that he "sucks" and worse is my definition of abandoning a rider when he's down...fairweather fans. The "toss him on a trash heap" statement is just my summarizing the level of disrespect he's lately been shown by some supposed fans.

 

[Carols]

Can we just stick with Alberto please? This thread is about him, not fans/detractors!

 

[Carols]

I hope he doesn't have one of those Thor or Cadel viruses


"As the season has progressed, I've been feeling more and more tired. The body feels a bit weak but Liège is the last day of competition before a break and then I'll initiate the preparation for the Tour,” he said, speaking after riding the final eighty kilometres of Sunday’s route. “But of course, I'm here to focus on this race and do the best I can.”

Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...looking-forward-to-a-break.aspx#ixzz2Qvzvrp89

 

[LaFlorecita]

Can we just stick with Alberto please? This thread is about him, not fans/detractors!

Exactly!

Real fans will always love him, even though things are not looking good atm.