Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[jens_attacks]

I doubt very few fans could tell us who won the 50th Tour for that matter. At least not without doing a bit of internet research beforehand.

bobet's first one?


50th then...fail for me but well who cares about that


1953 and 2003 are the years for me

wars are no good

 

[Angliru]

bobet's first one?

I have no idea.

Edit: I looked it up. It was Anquetil with Bahamontes second. So del1962 got it right.

 

[LaFlorecita]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aP5LdqpBV9M&desktop_uri=/watch?v=aP5LdqpBV9M

Hope we see this guy again in 2014!

I can't remember, was Niballi injured or unwell during this race? The time gap suggests so

Great video

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

I think next season we will learn more about Contador's form though, whether his illness effected his preperation last year or not.

Didn't he claim he broke a training record, or was that last year?

It's probably reasonable to expect some improvement, regardless. Anything beyond that, though...

 

[Gloin22]

Didn't he claim he broke a training record, or was that last year?

It's probably reasonable to expect some improvement, regardless. Anything beyond that, though...

Wiggins had his best numbers ever before Giro started too btw

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Wiggins had his best numbers ever before Giro started too btw

Yeah, I suppose Wiggo and Berto mistimed their peaks.

 

[arvc40]

Problem is that's the attitude we all took into this year's tour. Oh it has to be interesting cos Contador is going to do everything to win. Even after froome had a huge gap contador and Riis said that he will go for it in the alpes.

In the end he did nothing. He followed Romans wheel to a 4th place.

As a result contador saying "I have to win, I no longer care about 2nd" no longer has as much resonance, as if once may have had.

Words are cheap. But even if he does bring it It could still all seem a bit-after the lord mayors show.

The 100th edition was the one to win. That's the one that will go down in history. 101, that's just another number.

100th 101,102, whatever. I dont care what Edition it is. On to the next !.

 

[LaFlorecita]

http://www.ciclo21.com/contador-y-saxo-visitan-una-residencia-de-discapacitados/

 

[TANK91]

Hitch is right course the 100 edition is better, not by much but its better, compare it to winning a Gold in olympics in London for Wiggins or Brazil im sure you would rather it be at home, and if you asked Contador last year to pick his 1 and only remaining GT win, it would be "100" Editon of the TDF.



Do you lot think if he does not win it next year and say comes 2nd at Vuelta(which would mean we would say imagine if he did not do the Tour he would have won) he will then think hey may aswell do Giro/Vuelta for 3 years see what that brings? I personally think he should do that next year i honestly think he will always be known as a great weather he wins another TDF, i believe if he is in Vuelta a Espana 2012 shape(which was not vintage AC by any means) than that would win him another 2 Vuelta's he should go or the legend that is Robert Heras record of 4 it would be better to see the Vuelta have a 5xChanpion instead of just 4 it would help move the Vuelta up alittle bit aswell as its always looked at as the neglected GT.

Can he still contend with say Quintana and Froome uphill in your opinions?, i no it may sound a silly Q as were still in 2013 but its weather or not he can still stay with the top guys, next year in early races like Paris Nice will tell me all i need to know if Oman and P-N are like Oman and T-A last year and he keeps gradually losing time, we know its not a case of his shape its the face he does not have the real big GC men ability at this stage of his carear(not that its bad he had alot of top 5's)

 

[webbie146]

Hitch is right course the 100 edition is better, not by much but its better, compare it to winning a Gold in olympics in London for Wiggins or Brazil im sure you would rather it be at home, and if you asked Contador last year to pick his 1 and only remaining GT win, it would be "100" Editon of the TDF.



Do you lot think if he does not win it next year and say comes 2nd at Vuelta(which would mean we would say imagine if he did not do the Tour he would have won) he will then think hey may aswell do Giro/Vuelta for 3 years see what that brings? I personally think he should do that next year i honestly think he will always be known as a great weather he wins another TDF, i believe if he is in Vuelta a Espana 2012 shape(which was not vintage AC by any means) than that would win him another 2 Vuelta's he should go or the legend that is Robert Heras record of 4 it would be better to see the Vuelta have a 5xChanpion instead of just 4 it would help move the Vuelta up alittle bit aswell as its always looked at as the neglected GT.

Can he still contend with say Quintana and Froome uphill in your opinions?, i no it may sound a silly Q as were still in 2013 but its weather or not he can still stay with the top guys, next year in early races like Paris Nice will tell me all i need to know if Oman and P-N are like Oman and T-A last year and he keeps gradually losing time, we know its not a case of his shape its the face he does not have the real big GC men ability at this stage of his carear(not that its bad he had alot of top 5's)

In cycling these kind of questions are so hard to answer because a lot of the stuff that's happening in the background we just don't know about. If Contador searches around in his house and finds his 2009 training-plans it won't be a problem at all. Andy has to go search his old training-plans too lol...

 

[personal]

...

The 100th edition was the one to win. That's the one that will go down in history. 101, that's just another number.

I think 100 is also jus a number as I really don't see any significance in it and I believe it is the same with riders.

 

[TANK91]

No way your silly if u thin that it had no significance.

 

[Angliru]

No way your silly if u thin that it had no significance.

I can't recall an actual quote where a Tour contender actually said it 's their goal to win the 100th Tour.

 

[Afrank]

100 is really just a nice even number to commemorate a race surviving long enough to make it into the triple digits zone. And it being the 100th edition is just a perk of winning that Tour. Meaning, I doubt Froome would care that much whether it was the 99th or 100th Tour he won (a Tour is a Tour for the pro's). Winning the 100th just adds that little perk of having won the first of the races triple digit editions.

 

[LaFlorecita]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC3ENR2I5-I&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[LaFlorecita]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-to-follow-cyclical-build-up-to-tour-de-france

 

[hayzer114]

So what do people think the team is going to be? I think saxo should send there strongest team possible to the tour and then split the team between the Giro/Vuelta. I would go along the lines of Contador, Kreuziger, Roche, Rogers, Majka, Tossato, Bennati, Hernandez, Morkov. He has plenty of strength in the mountains and strong guys to blow the race apart on the flat. With Roche doing the Giro and if last season is a good indicator going by the Vuelta he should hopefully be in peak form come the Tour while Majka has showed in the Giro/Vuelta this year hes as strong as anyone in the mountains.

 

[LaFlorecita]

So what do people think the team is going to be? I think saxo should send there strongest team possible to the tour and then split the team between the Giro/Vuelta. I would go along the lines of Contador, Kreuziger, Roche, Rogers, Majka, Tossato, Bennati, Hernandez, Morkov. He has plenty of strength in the mountains and strong guys to blow the race apart on the flat. With Roche doing the Giro and if last season is a good indicator going by the Vuelta he should hopefully be in peak form come the Tour while Majka has showed in the Giro/Vuelta this year hes as strong as anyone in the mountains.

Hernandez--> Breschel

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Would be cool seing that team blow the peloton apart in the giro, but oh well.

 

[TANK91]

Is RK gonna be a big help though, im just thinking only way Kreuziger should ride is if Contador knows he is not as strong as Froome, as proved last year Kreuziger cant help him to WIN, may stop him losing time but no win. I really think Kreuziger deserves to ride the Giro/Vuelta, im sure if he had choice he'd do that aswell, before anyone thinks im having a pop at Alberto im not i just dont get what he gains, if AC is strong he does not need Kreuziger? And i think RK deserves his own chance not ahead of Contador but he should atlest get 1 GT as leader, Kreuziger was stronger last year, would have got 3rd without helping.

 

[Gloin22]

Hernandez--> Breschel

While good point, Saxo doesn't need a stellar all mountain squad, they have enough. Its on flat windy stages ( probably only type of stage Conta can gain time n 9.5/ 10 cases nowdays on Froome.. ) they can gain most time on Froome, and Breschel will be millions times better at forcing such split than Hernandez.

 

[LaFlorecita]

While good point, Saxo doesn't need a stellar all mountain squad, they have enough. Its on flat windy stages ( probably only type of stage Conta can gain time n 9.5/ 10 cases nowdays on Froome.. ) they can gain most time on Froome, and Breschel will be millions times better at forcing such split than Hernandez.

That was my point

 

[LaFlorecita]

http://velovoices.com/2013/11/29/velovoices-awards-2013-sartorial-elegance-award/

Please vote for Alberto?

 

[Gloin22]

That was my point

Ohh, the arrow led me to think otherwise. ;D
Nice contest, the winner should be between Kittel or Phinney though imho.

 

[LaFlorecita]

@jasenthorpe: Dear @albertocontador, it's ok, buddy. Better to attract bat****-crazy team directors and owners than bat****-crazy chicks. #tranquilo