Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[LaFlorecita]

Sadly I dont think so. Would be good for the limeys to see a stylish cyclist win though. They are used to stylish freak shows.

Anyways, maybe Contador would have more success focusing on the Giro + Vuelta. Wont happen on Saxo though.

Come on, that Contador wasn't even near his best. I find it hard to believe he'll never reach that level again.

 

[Bexon30]

Come on, that Contador wasn't even near his best. I find it hard to believe he'll never reach that level again.

That may be true but he kept the attacks going all the way through. This years Tour he wasn't able to attack when it mattered because the ET powers of other/s.
What is needed now and IMO can be achieved is a FuenteDe type attack or a long range mountain stage attack. Try to turns things upside down early on. The Sky team seem to unable to cope with unplanned events. Alberto could prophet from that if he mixed up his attacks. Maybe it's more of a suicide mission but you have to adapt your attacks to maximise your skill set. Boxers and football players can change their game as they get older. So can Alberto.

 

[Carols]

Come on, that Contador wasn't even near his best. I find it hard to believe he'll never reach that level again.

Indeed that is why I put up a 2012 Vuelta vid. He was nowhere near the previous Condator but still gutted out a win using tactics.

It is possible we could see the 2012 Vuelta Alberto again. Soon enough we will know, the first few races of 2014 should tell the story. Is he relaxed and fluid, showing power and the ability to attack....or not? That is the question.

 

[Rollthedice]

Indeed that is why I put up a 2012 Vuelta vid. He was nowhere near the previous Condator but still gutted out a win using tactics.

It is possible we could see the 2012 Vuelta Alberto again. Soon enough we will know, the first few races of 2014 should tell the story. Is he relaxed and fluid, showing power and the ability to attack....or not? That is the question.

Unfortunately his ability to sustain an attack on the mountains has decreased progressively since he came back from suspension. It's not just a bad TdF, it's a pattern so I really don't see him getting back to his old self. Maybe I'm wrong, we'll see.

 

[Carols]

Unfortunately his ability to sustain an attack on the mountains has decreased progressively since he came back from suspension. It's not just a bad TdF, it's a pattern so I really don't see him getting back to his old self. Maybe I'm wrong, we'll see.

I also believe he will never be a true force again , but am reserving judgement (and hoping!) that the decline has been arrested. We will know soon enough as a couple of races will show if the decline is continuing or has been halted and some improvement is shown. He is still young enough that there may be some rejuvenation.

However in my soul I believe we saw the Fall of a Great Champion in the TdF last year A fall from which there will be no recovery. Trying to be optimistic though!!!

 

[Taxus4a]

He is starting training before even than SKY
He will be strong in 2014

 

[Bexon30]

He is starting training before even than SKY
He will be strong in 2014

He may start training before Sky but if Froome and Nairo reproduce this years Tour form he will need something else. Tactics are his best asset now and a hope that both the other 2 plus Nibali aren't all in the same starting line up. He is still a master tactician more so than those 3. If Froomes form dipped I wouldn't bet against Alberto. He needs to be completely focused on the task at hand. Not sure last year if he was slightly complacent, or undertrained or a bit of both. We will know soon enough if the fire is still there...

 

[the sceptic]

He is starting training before even than SKY
He will be strong in 2014

But does he have a swimming coach?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Alberto will start his season in the second or third week of February, most likely at the Volta ao Algarve. That means no Tour of Dubai, I thought he was supposed to be there perhaps they've traded him for the Dawg

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Alberto will start his season in the second or third week of February, most likely at the Volta ao Algarve. That means no Tour of Dubai, I thought he was supposed to be there perhaps they've traded him for the Dawg

In my opinion that is a good thing. earlier years, when he was at his peak he did not start racing before february either ,and it will give him some more time to work on his base form.

 

[Afrank]

Didn't he say that this year one mistake he made with his program was going to hard, too early in the season?

 

[BigMac]

It is confirmed, he will start in Algarve. Wise choise.

 

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[Pippo_San]

It is confirmed, he will start in Algarve. Wise choise.

Would've been wisest to retire.

 

[IndianCyclist]

In my opinion that is a good thing. earlier years, when he was at his peak he did not start racing before february either ,and it will give him some more time to work on his base form.

Does anyone have a comparison of Contador's training schedule for all his tdf wins.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Does anyone have a comparison of Contador's training schedule for all his tdf wins.

Uhmmm... as far as I know his training plans have never been made public

 

[LaFlorecita]

What is interesting to me is that in 2007 and 2008 he started in his season in the second week of February and from 2009 to 2011 in the third week of February. In 2012 and 2013 he started his season in the third week of January. Also, as he already indicated, he started his base training too late last winter. This time he'll start his training earlier than ever and he'll start racing in the third week of February. Hopefully he'll be a bit stronger this year.

 

[Christian]

Contador training in Gran Canaria this month

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_My6EecTKg

 

[maltiv]

If Contador improves his base fitness just a little whilst also losing 1-2 kgs compared to last year, then he's suddenly up there with the best again. The margins in cycling are very small.

He might not be able to defeat the alien, but I'm fairly certain that he'll be much closer.

 

[webbie146]

If Contador improves his base fitness just a little whilst also losing 1-2 kgs compared to last year, then he's suddenly up there with the best again. The margins in cycling are very small.

He might not be able to defeat the alien, but I'm fairly certain that he'll be much closer.

Yea 2kg would mean he would be 2/3 minutes faster on the long climbs. Huge difference. No getting dropped by Froome anymore then.

 

[Bexon30]

Yea 2kg would mean he would be 2/3 minutes faster on the long climbs. Huge difference. No getting dropped by Froome anymore then.

Do people honestly believe he could lose 2kg from last years Tour race weight? I'm not sure he could do that... But in this era of super skinny freak zooids who knows.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Do people honestly believe he could lose 2kg from last years Tour race weight? I'm not sure he could do that... But in this era of super skinny freak zooids who knows.

I do... he was pretty fat at last year's Tour

 

[Bexon30]

I do... he was pretty fat at last year's Tour

Fair play, I thought, and think he was at race weight but don't study his weight etc. just use my eyes as a guide. If I knew how to upload a photo on here I'd include one I took on ADH stage albeit that was toward the end of a 3 week tour!!

 

[LaFlorecita]

 

[webbie146]

Do people honestly believe he could lose 2kg from last years Tour race weight? I'm not sure he could do that... But in this era of super skinny freak zooids who knows.

His fat percentage was obviously not high by any means, but still could be a bit lower. Just look at pictures of him during the 2007 tdf. And like u said now that those new training and dieting methods are utilized just that 1% fat percentage lower could mean the difference between getting dropped and staying on the wheel. And these days being almost anorexia does not affect your TT performance either so he should focus on getting that weight down next season.