Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

Page 517 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
ILovecycling said:
Bolded) it was quintana's first serious race in a first serious season,he was 23 yo and in contrary to Porte he even didnt know how to prepare this good for such an early event ,he didnt have any experience,early season races are tough ones for such a young climber without being it a goal of the season(in contrary Porte had only 2 chances to win in 2013:pN and Vasco) .he actually rode pretty good race consider these conditions.In Vasco he had experience and confidence after his cataluna win too.

I understand the rest of your point but he had rode Andalucia/ Murcia before that, so ONE stage race. Porte in contrast had only rode the Tour of Oman and i know Quintana rode well at P-N on the climbs, but Porte was superb there.
 
Jul 19, 2010
5,361
0
0
saneguy said:
Contador has surely shown much better signs than 2013. But is it enough to beat the "anorexic". I have my doubts. Although I can say one thing - Quintana, Nibali, Valverde and Contador have started this year much better. Maybe not so much for Nbels but he will get there.

And as a joint force of 4 and maybe a few others - i think they can challenge Froome. Skyborg for me totally broke a couple of times last year at the tour most notably stage 9. Froome had to do a lot of work himself. Movistar let go of a chance there.

So a couple of such stages and Froome will eventually break down. All in all am glad all the other contendors are doing well this year incl Contador - great prospects for the tour...:)

I would like to still see if Contador can get back to his best. Then once in for all we can see who's the strongest: Froome or Contador. But I have to say, Contador starts his season better than last year. But Froome is even scarier than last year on his first race. (and he is not even as anorexic as last year yet). That's why I'm anxious to see how Contador performs at TA. I know Froome will come out gun blazing and will do his best to suffocate Contador from winning at all cost.
 
Aug 4, 2010
11,337
0
0
greenedge said:
I understand the rest of your point but he had rode Andalucia/ Murcia before that, so two stage races. Porte in contrast had only rode the Tour of Oman and i know Quintana rode well at P-N on the climbs, but Porte was superb there.

its no even comparable, Murcia was "1 day classic" and Andaluzia competion is rarely good
 
Jul 19, 2010
5,361
0
0
LaFlorecita said:
I read on twitter that Alberto's brother said in an interview with Spanish radio that Alberto will retire in 1 or 2 years. :eek: :(

so rumors about Alonso team is really just rumors then.

If it's true, I don't blame him to retire that early. I see him having a hard time to motivate himself these days. Wasn't he so devastated when he was handed his ban? (remember reading it somewhere that the hardest part for him was watching his mom cried all the time). Well, I don't blame him. I would too, same thing like working in a office, you are a rockstar and your career shoots up like a rocket and suddenly you're being demoted. That's hard for anyone to swallow.

Also, I notice that he is very busy with his cycling project these days. That's kinda a tell that his mind isn't even solely about racing and winning. I remembered on one of his interview when he got back, he said there is a life too outside cycling. So some where, some what he has changed mentally.

Well, I hope he will have a great year this year. Just one more time.
 
Jul 1, 2013
1,952
0
0
Jelantik said:
so rumors about Alonso team is really just rumors then.

If it's true, I don't blame him to retire that early. I see him having a hard time to motivate himself these days. Wasn't he so devastated when he was handed his ban? (remember reading it somewhere that the hardest part for him was watching his mom cried all the time). Well, I don't blame him. I would too, same thing like working in a office, you are a rockstar and your career shoots up like a rocket and suddenly you're being demoted. That's hard for anyone to swallow.

Also, I notice that he is very busy with his cycling project these days. That's kinda a tell that his mind isn't even solely about racing and winning. I remembered on one of his interview when he got back, he said there is a life too outside cycling. So some where, some what he has changed mentally.

Well, I hope he will have a great year this year. Just one more time.

Cycling projects and charity work are great smokescreens and great for PR after doping bans. He wants to win bad and will give 100% this year.
 
Jul 21, 2012
9,860
3
0
Netserk said:
Can't afford to lose 4 weeks. I need to be able to support Tommeke with an avatar from e3 to P-R.

How about just a week?

ok 1 week is no big deal, I dont need odds then.

bring it on :D

(in before he gets beaten by Ritchie and the thread goes into depression)
 
Jul 19, 2010
5,361
0
0
arvc40 said:
Cycling projects and charity work are great smokescreens and great for PR after doping bans. He wants to win bad and will give 100% this year.

well don't be too skeptical. Not everything is bad thing you know. None of us know how he felt after the ban. We all know bad experience can change a person.

nonetheless, next Wednesday, he got his chances to try to win T-A. Froomey isn't riding due to bad back. Quintana is leading moviestar. Porte and Wiggins team up for the sky. So should be interesting. If Berti can win it, it's a huge boost to his confidence.