Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[xrayvision]

One of Sky goals as I see is obviusly not to let Contador any stage win prior the Tour at all. In their view the main enemy shouldn't feel full force.

According to SKY he´s not a threat at all. So what view are you talking about?

 

[notrolfsorensen]

According to SKY he´s not a threat at all. So what view are you talking about?

According to Sutton. Froome said just yesterday that he was sure Contador would be there for the tour.

 

[xrayvision]

According to Sutton. Froome said just yesterday that he was sure Contador would be there for the tour.

That´s what he have to say. Means nothing.

 

[BabylonFell]

That´s what he have to say. Means nothing.

Of course they consider Contador a threat. To say otherwise at this point is pretty much to declare that the tour is already won. It doesn't even make sense to debate this.

 

[airstream]

According to SKY he´s not a threat at all. So what view are you talking about?

Sky say one thing and think other one. That's very good for such big games. Yes, Sky season is ok so far. They think they reduce Contador factor with good reason.

Bertie having a bad day on the TT is like porn for Airstream....

If you have at least 1 drop of conscience in your head, you will never come to the forum in case Contador will lose the Tour. Given how many times you offended me personally.

 

[BabylonFell]

In the Vuelta he was pipped by Jrod (Steep gradients) (And Froome early on (Shallow gradients/flat/descents). His climb 'finishing' is not the best but he retained alot of strength the whole way through the 3 week tour and has the guts and balls to keep attacking throughout. I fully expect Froome to be pipping Contador even if he gets himself to top shape through most of the Tour De France. The question is will he gain enough time if/when he does a long range attack to make up his losses in the TT (Will not be as much as the Dauphine TT I think) and the various mountain 'pips' by Froome.
If Froome does a long one that sticks at any point the Tour is of course completely over.

In the Vuelta he made an incredibly beautiful and daring attack. I have nothing but respect for what i pulled out of the hat to win the Vuelta. It was a tactical masterpiece combined with a bit of luck (the entire Katusha team was remarkably ineffective that day), but other than that single stage, he wasn't able to shake his opponents on the climbs at all. He was the best by far on one stage, but he wasn't the best climber overall in La Vuelta 2012.

He will have to create something even more spectacular in the Tour, if he isn't able to beat Froome man vs. man on the climbs, cause it's highly unlikely that Sky will mess up the way Katusha did in last years Vuelta.

 

[Publicus]

In the Vuelta he made an incredibly beautiful and daring attack. I have nothing but respect for what i pulled out of the hat to win the Vuelta. It was a tactical masterpiece combined with a bit of luck (the entire Katusha team was remarkably ineffective that day), but other than that single stage, he wasn't able to shake his opponents on the climbs at all. He was the best by far on one stage, but he wasn't the best climber overall in La Vuelta 2012.

He will have to create something even more spectacular in the Tour, if he isn't able to beat Froome man vs. man on the climbs, cause it's highly unlikely that Sky will mess up the way Katusha did in last years Vuelta.

Wasn't Sky racing at last year's Vuelta?

 

[BabylonFell]

Wasn't Sky racing at last year's Vuelta?

So? I'm sure you get the point, so why the fuss?

 

[R0BL4MBT0N]

Well, if he loses time, then one can hardly conclude that he's the best climber on the day, right?

Well, he's still managed to win some, its just he concedes his advantage to others he's trying to put time into

 

[roundabout]

Wasn't Sky racing at last year's Vuelta?

Paulinho alone was pulling out time against 3 Sky riders in the valley

Obviously Froome should not bother showing up

 

[Taxus4a]

One of Sky goals as I see is obviusly not to let Contador any stage win prior the Tour at all. In their view the main enemy shouldn't feel full force.

It could be that way, yes.

Alberto is looking for a stage to get selfconfidence.

Froome has been always very competitive, very impulsive, anyway. He is similar to Alberto in that.

 

[Publicus]

So? I'm sure you get the point, so why the fuss?

So Sky screwed up that stage just like every other team in the race that was racing for the overall. It's not like Sky NEVER makes a mistake in a stage race, so why suggest they are immune to error?

 

[Publicus]

Paulinho alone was pulling out time against 3 Sky riders in the valley

Obviously Froome should not bother showing up

If only it were that easy

 

[Polza_]

So Sky screwed up that stage just like every other team in the race that was racing for the overall. It's not like Sky NEVER makes a mistake in a stage race, so why suggest they are immune to error?

Froome was cooked at that stage, if I remember at one point he was two groups behind Purito at one stage, it was more that there team leader no longer had to legs than a tactical mistake.
Also Henao was in the break up the road I think he finished 3rd or 4th in the end?

Although I am not suggesting that they never make a mistake they make plently off them especially in hilly stages but in this case was not much they could do tactically in my view!

 

[ThirdWorld]

Wasn't Sky racing at last year's Vuelta?

It makes me remember of the 2012 Paris-Roubaix... the sky train was not very effective!

 

[Angliru]

Right you are.

It just seems weird to me, that Saxo would even be interested in a significantly slower build up, given Contadors previous efforts, if Contador really is the same rider as he was two years ago. Especially given the importance of the point ranking system and the squads general lack of depth.

My point is that Contador isn't the same rider anymore, and that Saxo-Tinkoff of course knows that, so it is absolutely plausible that they would go for a slower build up.

But his season hasn't been one long build up. Just like all the other competitors, he has had a form-peak (probably not hitting absolute top form, but then again, the same could be said for the other competitors). I still can't see it as anything other than a sign of weakness that he hasn't been able to challenge Froome even once.

Maybe he has just had a bad spring. It happens.

I recall Contador saying that he went too hard at San Luis without having built up a proper base due to a later than normal start to his season's training preparation. Without the requisite base miles his hard efforts early in the season may have *** his later development.

In my experience, decades ago, of racing and proper base building, if I recall correctly the theory was/is that you need to get in a certain amount of miles/hours on the bike (the exact # changes depending on who you talk to) before actually putting in the intense efforts in order for the build up to your goals to be effective (or something like that).

 

[Publicus]

Froome was cooked at that stage, if I remember at one point he was two groups behind Purito at one stage, it was more that there team leader no longer had to legs than a tactical mistake.
Also Henao was in the break up the road I think he finished 3rd or 4th in the end?

Although I am not suggesting that they never make a mistake they make plently off them especially in hilly stages but in this case was not much they could do tactically in my view!

You weren't suggesting, the other person was... There are a myriad of factors that came into play to make Contador's attack successful (not the least of which was the timely assist from Tiralongo). Sky is a well conditioned team, but they make mistakes (Froome made a few tactical mistakes earlier in the race IIRC). I chafe at the notion that they are infallible. They aren't. No team is.

 

[Jelantik]

I recall Contador saying that he went too hard at San Luis without having built up a proper base due to a later than normal start to his season's training preparation. Without the requisite base miles his hard efforts early in the season may have *** his later development.

yes i remembered reading about that too. Contador's this year is more puzzling than his previous years. He used to be really stellar in the first part of the year. Not that he was bad this year, he is definitely consistent, then he went downhill in Paisco +classics. Didn't contador use to start his season in March or something in his previous years? I only can recall he started to show up in Argentina, when he went for the Giro 2011? Maybe he did change up his training schedule. Slower build up like schleck and we aren't used to see it. He has been saying that 3rd week TDF is very hard, maybe that's why he thinks that he need to prep this time around a little different? Yesterday's stage, he was probably at his max as far as form. But he wasn't that bad either and that's not the form that we saw even in the Vuelta last year.

 

[TANK91]

the good thing is that an almost 100% froome could put only 4 seconds on an almost dead Alberto Contador.

Ha ha lol that is 2 funny are you sure, Froome took 4 seconds on a flat finish in like 300 metres and he was higher in GC, so Froome did not need to attack. If Froome attacked earlier he would have cracked Contador that is obvious. All Froome done was show who is the BOSS uphill.

 

[Angliru]

Ha ha lol that is 2 funny are you sure, Froome took 4 seconds on a flat finish in like 300 metres and he was higher in GC, so Froome did not need to attack. If Froome attacked earlier he would have cracked Contador that is obvious. All Froome done was show who is the BOSS uphill.

....who is the boss at this point of the season. He still has to do it when it matters most. Not to say that he won't or will but many a rider has had stellar performances in the week long stage races prior to the Tour and came up short come July. Nothing is certain.

 

[hfer07]

I recall Contador saying that he went too hard at San Luis without having built up a proper base due to a later than normal start to his season's training preparation. Without the requisite base miles his hard efforts early in the season may have *** his later development.

In my experience, decades ago, of racing and proper base building, if I recall correctly the theory was/is that you need to get in a certain amount of miles/hours on the bike (the exact # changes depending on who you talk to) before actually putting in the intense efforts in order for the build up to your goals to be effective (or something like that).

I just hope you didn't get that theory from Chris Carmichael
but in all seriousness- I believe there is a master plan behind Contador's lack of racing prowess. If he states his form is currently at the level he wants it to be- then he may have done the calculations to "when" exactly he needs to be at 100% form-perhaps not the 1st week but 2nd & third where the key stages are placed-either way-he well knows who is the one he needs to battle against to conquer the TDF title...

 

[LaFlorecita]

Ha ha lol that is 2 funny are you sure, Froome took 4 seconds on a flat finish in like 300 metres and he was higher in GC, so Froome did not need to attack. If Froome attacked earlier he would have cracked Contador that is obvious. All Froome done was show who is the BOSS uphill.

Yes I agree, Alberto is awesome

Best climber in the world.

One of the best time trialists in the world.

This year an off-year I am sure.

Next year he will be back to kick some dawg ***.

 

[Cimber]

Ha ha lol that is 2 funny are you sure, Froome took 4 seconds on a flat finish in like 300 metres and he was higher in GC, so Froome did not need to attack. If Froome attacked earlier he would have cracked Contador that is obvious. All Froome done was show who is the BOSS uphill.

U realise you contradict youself,ye?

 

[ILovecycling]

Yes I agree, Alberto is awesome

Best climber in the world.

One of the best time trialists in the world.

This year an off-year I am sure.

But still,in July he will be back to kick some dawg ***.

Fixed that for you.
(I know you dont believe he will win it,but just a little bit of faith has to be in your heart)

 

[Miburo]

In 2009 he had his whole team against him. In 2010 he had a good part of the cycling world against him after chaingate. In 2011 despite facing suspension he destroyed the giro. In 2012 he won the vuelta despite not being the best with a crazy move.

How can i not have believe in this man? Crush the skyborgs in july, show them what it is to face a real climber.

Alien vs Predator, maybe his biggest challenge but isn't that what champions live for?