Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[LaFlorecita]

Well...at least he has the Vuelta. Wait, Henao is leader there, nevermind. Time to transition to break away/KOM rider?

Nibali will be there as well.

Alberto needs to figure out his priorities and I don't mean jist cycling. He already said cycling is not as important to him anymore, his life isn't all about cycling anymore.

 

[jilbiker]

Nibali will be there as well.

Alberto needs to figure out his priorities and I don't mean jist cycling. He already said cycling is not as important to him anymore, his life isn't all about cycling anymore.

After today's performance, Alberto should seriously consider retiring at the end of year. You are right, it isn't age its just that the drive is not there. I have said that all season this year, he doesn't seem motivated.

 

[jilbiker]

yes, it scares me.
And it's always so strange with cycling that we never know what's behind things.

Btw. Roman Kreuziger on his site:
"the first thing: I stay calm, because it was only the first uphill finish. Alberto had a weeker day, but this could happen to everyone."

"we expected Frrome to attack in the first hard stage. He managed to get some advantage but it's not a tragedy.. Tour is a puzzle of all days. That's why we're still relaxed although we could have been better today."

"I felt good and I was helping Alberto till the end. When I saw he was losing his strength, it was clear to me what to do. No-one from our team had to tell me anything through the radio. I'm on Tour for Alberto and I'm sure that he will ride very well on the last - critical - week."

"tommorow there's another hard stage. A lot of people expect some long attacks but since Sky has yellow jersey no-one knows!"

a bit dumb english - sorry I'm on skype talkign simultaneously...

We must remember this is a 3wk stage race. One that Froome has no winning experience, VERY different from your 1wk stage races. If there is anytime to have a bad day, its in the first week.

 

[Hayabusa]

Alberto may be experiencing a decline/injuries over his career taking their toll.

He emerged as a top contender very early into his career and if you look at other sports, it's often the case that these type of early bloomers tend to have a few amazing years and then just drop off at a young age as well.

I hope not though, I don't like him as a rider and want to see him lose but he's exceptionally entertaining to watch and it's good to have a rival that will actually cause me much annoyance when he does well, as Schumacher did for me for all those years!

He won a GT last year so don't count him out just yet, but in the here and now he's not at Froome's level.

 

[Gugashwill]

Any sound from Contador/Tinkoff?

 

[LaFlorecita]

After today's performance, Alberto should seriously consider retiring at the end of year. You are right, it isn't age its just that the drive is not there. I have said that all season this year, he doesn't seem motivated.

Agreed. During the races he does seem motivated, but I get the feeling he just couldn't care less about training.

 

[Donkey]

I don't like him as a rider and want to see him lose but he's exceptionally entertaining to watch and it's good to have a rival that will actually cause me much annoyance when he does well, as Schumacher did for me for all those years!
.

Are you sure you are a relaxed person?

 

[LaFlorecita]

After today's performance, Alberto should seriously consider retiring at the end of year. You are right, it isn't age its just that the drive is not there. I have said that all season this year, he doesn't seem motivated.

Agreed. During the races he does seem motivated, but I get the feeling he just couldn't care less about training.

And indeed, if he's not motivated he should retire. He still has two years of his contract left though so that might become a problem. On the other hand I don't think Riis would mind cancelling the contract to sign some other more useful riders.

 

[Donkey]

Agreed. During the races he does seem motivated, but I get the feeling he just couldn't care less about training.

yes, this might be the case. Mabye in a few years he will say this himself...

 

[Taxus4a]

Another bad day for Albertito.

Is he going always to say the same?

The year he was looking Andy and let the others go, they did the same climbing time that Porte today pushing always at his best.

Now he was a minute worse.. yes, really a bad day

And yes, you were right all this time, he was taking easy the season looking at the Tour...

Kreuziger was superb. In the TTT as well

I am sorry for his fans.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Wow taxus.

I so wish Alberto beats the crap out of froome so I can smack it into the faces of smug people like you.

Stop being a complete jerk.

 

[goggalor]

After today's performance, Alberto should seriously consider retiring at the end of year. You are right, it isn't age its just that the drive is not there. I have said that all season this year, he doesn't seem motivated.

Calm down. Alberto's not at his best right now but he still has GT wins in him. If he can limit his losses tomorrow and in the TT he'll definitely set some stages alight later in the race.

 

[Gugashwill]

Finally a sound from Contador/Tinkoff/Riis
It's bonk!

 

[SiAp1984]

I really hoped for it to happen and still could not beliebe how badly he cracked... I almost feel sorry, but rather for Kreuziger (who had to wait for AC) than for AC. When we consider that even a dead tired Froome managed to counter the attacks of a top-form-AC in last years Vueltas first mountain stage (and to drop him in the end) it is hard to see AC getting back into this Tour. Plus, even if Froome suffered, there are plenty of riders still in front of AC. Had anybody told me in 2009 that that years Tour would be ACs last Tour win, I would have laughed- but it apparently will happen. Good thing for cycling.

 

[Forunculo]

I didn't read all the topic since the stage finished. Sorry if something was discussed. But I want to give my pure opinion.

What happened today was long hinted during season. There were optimistics and excuses for any occasion but the facts are there


Anyway it's seems he had a hunger knock, he was dead on the bike, paralyzed. A bad day and tried to follow SKY wheel, a good habit that turn to be double-edged at times.


If he would had forgotten he is A.C. and give up soon on Porte rhythm I think he could have stayed with Valverde IHMO.


Tomorrow we will see his mental response and at the ITT how is his form.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Calm down. Alberto's not at his best right now but he still has GT wins in him. If he can limit his losses tomorrow and in the TT he'll definitely set some stages alight later in the race.

Come on he's only a shadow of his former self. I haven't seen the real Alberto since giro 2011. He'll never win a stage race again let alone a gt.

 

[Netserk]

It was obvious already on Pailhères that Contador was bad.

 

[Forunculo]

It was obvious already on Pailhères that Contador was bad.

+1

Also having 4 or 5 mates at his side and doing nothing letting SKY enter in the last 8 km with Porte and Froome fresh was another good hint.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I really hoped for it to happen and still could not beliebe how badly he cracked... I almost feel sorry, but rather for Kreuziger (who had to wait for AC) than for AC. When we consider that even a dead tired Froome managed to counter the attacks of a top-form-AC in last years Vueltas first mountain stage (and to drop him in the end) it is hard to see AC getting back into this Tour. Plus, even if Froome suffered, there are plenty of riders still in front of AC. Had anybody told me in 2009 that that years Tour would be ACs last Tour win, I would have laughed- but it apparently will happen. Good thing for cycling.

You did not deserv to post here, get out.

That's all.

 

[goggalor]

Come on he's only a shadow of his former self. I haven't seen the real Alberto since giro 2011. He'll never win a stage race again let alone a gt.

He just has to put more effort and thought into his wins. The way he won the Vuelta last year was epic. Besides, I don't think Froome will stay at this level for too long.

 

[LaFlorecita]

He just has to put more effort and thought into his wins. The way he won the Vuelta last year was epic. Besides, I don't think Froome will stay at this level for too long.

Its not just Froome. He is getting beaten left and right. I don't see a future for Alberto in the sport. He'll end up like Cunego.

 

[arvc40]

Was not a good day for Contador but the legs can change a great deal in a short time. He will fight to the bitter end. Sit back and enjoy the next 2 weeks.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

He just has to put more effort and thought into his wins. The way he won the Vuelta last year was epic. Besides, I don't think Froome will stay at this level for too long.

Why not? Froome is at this level the whole year already. What makes you believe he will suddenly lose that form in the next 2 weeks? People said the same last year. Wiggins didn't slow down at all during the Tour back then either. I highly doubt Froome will.

 

[Jelantik]

Come on he's only a shadow of his former self. I haven't seen the real Alberto since giro 2011. He'll never win a stage race again let alone a gt.

La Flo, you got your wish. Your boy will have an uphill battle, if not it's impossible battle

quote from his DS:
Moreover, Mauduit admitted that the distance between Contador and Froome is now significant: "Losing 1m45s almost two much, but there are still things to do along the way."

All along you keep saying contador sucks and won't win TDF, I guess you got your wish now. Where do you go from here? start rooting for andy?

I, on the other hand, still want to see him fight. So what he lost a lot of time today? And yes, Froome and Porte are in a different planet now. But as I said again and again, contador champion's character will again be tested with adversary. True champion never gives up. He might not win, but he won't certainly throw a towel after the first mountain stage. Van Impe predicted that contador will struggle in the first two weeks, except he didn't predict that contador will loose so much time

 

[Gugashwill]

Contador really looked bad.
Suffered a lot.