Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[BRCYC11]

Riis says Contador maybe has best form since joining the team, and that his TT performance in Pais Vasco was maybe the best part of 2014 until now. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/riis-this-is-the-best-contador-since-he-joined-the-team

 

[Miburo]

Whoever wrote that article should be ashamed.

Stating that Contador's ITT level is inconsistent since his case in 2010 is completely false.

First of all Contador's ITT wasn't that good in 2010 before the clenbuterol case to begin with.

Second of all Contador's ITT skill were superb in 2011 and not inconsistent at all.

Which can mean 2 things: Or the journalist didn't do proper research or he ignored it for the sake of accusing Contador of doping.

Oh well, cyclist journalists usually suck and lack any research skills.

 

[Red Rick]

Also, his 2013 tt's were also consistent. They all sucked except for 1

 

[Butterhead]

Also, his 2013 tt's were also consistent. They all sucked except for 1

But it´s still consistent

 

[_nm___]

Riis says : i think this is the best i've seen him since he joined the team :

why does he say : i think :?
is it not easily measurable (with numbers)?

 

[Jelantik]

Riis says : i think this is the best i've seen him since he joined the team :

why does he say : i think :?
is it not easily measurable (with numbers)?

It's just a comment i guess. Either he is trying to play down contador (hint: for something more to come) and keep the hype on Froome or he just cautiously optimistic with what he saw so far. Either way, I'm curious to see how Froome is doing in Romandie. We have seen how contador already.

 

[ILovecycling]

He is playing down Alberto.Fortunately Froome is coming into form,so Tour will be a carnage!

 

[Butterhead]

The more pictures I see of AC this year, the more I would get worried if I were SKY, here´s the newest one, the "ROCKY" look Froomey, be afraid, be very afraid!!

 

[Nilsson]

The more pictures I see of AC this year, the more I would get worried if I were SKY, here´s the newest one, the "ROCKY" look Froomey, be afraid, be very afraid!!

Trying out the new Tarmac (SL5) I see.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Me thinks Bertie really needs to up his game compared to last year. Froome seems as dangerous as last year. Dauphine will tell us a lot.

 

[Fzotrlool]

How to you guys think the year will end up in terms of rating?

Contador, Froome (Let the battle begin). *****
Valverde (Better than ever? Might podium both Tour and Vuelta.) ****
Quintana **** (Not as superior start as the last year, but I he is going to dominate in both the Giro and the Vuelta. I'm pretty sure he will get his first GT victory this year.)
Purito *** (Strong start in Catalunya, the only one Contador has not been able to drop, but the crash has made his fate more uncertain, usually one of the best riders in the high mountains, so I don't think we have to worry. The only man who can challenge Quintana.)
Nibali ** (Will be up there, but not as great as last year. Has had a difficult start to the season but the man has courage and determination, he will not give up.)
And then the rest at * : Kreuziger, Evans, Tejay,, Horner (?), Porte (?), Spilak, Peraud, Costa, Fuglsang, Bentancur, Mollema, Uran, Majka (?), Pozzovivo.

I don't consider the kiwi a mountain rider.

 

[Rollthedice]

Me thinks Bertie really needs to up his game compared to last year. Froome seems as dangerous as last year. Dauphine will tell us a lot.

He upped his game from last year. Question: is it enough to beat the dawg?
I still don't think so. But, Sky looks much weaker than last year, Richie is nowhere to be seen, that might be a chance.

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

He upped his game from last year. Question: is it enough to beat the dawg?
I still don't think so. But, Sky looks much weaker than last year, Richie is nowhere to be seen, that might be a chance.

It's looking incredibly close just now. Should be exciting July!

 

[the sceptic]

He upped his game from last year. Question: is it enough to beat the dawg?
I still don't think so. But, Sky looks much weaker than last year, Richie is nowhere to be seen, that might be a chance.

The time trial is what worries me the most. Even in the best case scenario I think Contador would lose 1 minute. And of course if he time trials like last year he will lose 3-4.

There is no doubt he is closer to the Dawg on the climbing though.

 

[JRanton]

I will follow Dr Ferrari's advice. It will be close but Contador will take it. I think he'll have better recovery in the final stages which will prove decisive

 

[Fzotrlool]

On a scale of one to a hundred where do you think the various GC/GT riders will be placed this year? The strongest rider is automatically "a 100" to put it in perspective.

I hope that we will have them all for the Vuelta.

 

[Red Rick]

In all GT's except for the 2012 Tour Froome weakened a bit towards the end. If that happens this year he's unlikely to win, as he won't put as much time into Contador and because Contador will attack like a madman at the slightest signs of weakness

 

[qwerty16]

He upped his game from last year. Question: is it enough to beat the dawg?
I still don't think so. But, Sky looks much weaker than last year, Richie is nowhere to be seen, that might be a chance.

Despite being very strong before the Tour last year, they were pretty weak overall in the Tour last year though. Porte was strong and Kennaugh showed glimpses, but that was about it. Froome didn't really need them to take the win. Will be different this year.

Lots of question marks this year for the climbing domestiques (Porte, Henao, Wiggins, Kiryienka, Nieve). Thomas and Lopez will be their decent self I think. They might end up quite a bit stronger overall than last year, but it can be the opposite too.

 

[Jspear]

As has been stated, I too think the final tt of the Tour is where Contador will lose the most time....Still I'm holding out hope that he'll improve there. Sky as a team seems even worse then last year (at least right now), this could be good for Tinkov. With Rogers as their road captain, I'm hoping they are able to make the most out Sky's weakness. Even last year Contador tried like crazy (personally I think this is why he lost 2nd place), he just didn't have the form. This year he looks even better, and I'm sure he'll try as hard as ever....Looking to be a great tour!

 

[Jelantik]

I agree wih Jspear. I'm more worried with the ITT. As far as mountain, they are closed. Either way, one thing we can be sure that it won't be walk in the park scenario again for Froome like last year. Contador is going to give Froome the run for his money. Guarantee.

if people ask will it be enough for Contador to beat Froome? i would say there's a possibility of yes. (tactics, form, strength of the team). Last year, they got tactic, strength of the team, but no good form for Contador. If people ask, whether Nibali can challenge Froome? with his rate right now, I don't think so. He couldn't even beat Quintana last year.

As far as report card, Froome looks like to be on track with his form. Contador? on track. Nibali? more. <that is more practice..by a mile>

 

[Jelantik]

How to you guys think the year will end up in terms of rating?

Contador, Froome (Let the battle begin). *****
Valverde (Better than ever? Might podium both Tour and Vuelta.) ****
Quintana **** (Not as superior start as the last year, but I he is going to dominate in both the Giro and the Vuelta. I'm pretty sure he will get his first GT victory this year.)
Purito *** (Strong start in Catalunya, the only one Contador has not been able to drop, but the crash has made his fate more uncertain, usually one of the best riders in the high mountains, so I don't think we have to worry. The only man who can challenge Quintana.)
Nibali ** (Will be up there, but not as great as last year. Has had a difficult start to the season but the man has courage and determination, he will not give up.)
And then the rest at * : Kreuziger, Evans, Tejay,, Horner (?), Porte (?), Spilak, Peraud, Costa, Fuglsang, Bentancur, Mollema, Uran, Majka (?), Pozzovivo.

I don't consider the kiwi a mountain rider.

I would think kwiat will be like 'molema' last year. Tough as a nail to get ride off.

 

[The Hitch]

The time trial is what worries me the most. Even in the best case scenario I think Contador would lose 1 minute. And of course if he time trials like last year he will lose 3-4.

There is no doubt he is closer to the Dawg on the climbing though.

Didn't he only lose like 2 last year?

In all GT's except for the 2012 Tour Froome weakened a bit towards the end. If that happens this year he's unlikely to win, as he won't put as much time into Contador and because Contador will attack like a madman at the slightest signs of weakness

I'm surprised to hear that from you red rick, and Idk what you are basing it on 2011 vuelta he won the last gc stage. 2012 tour like you said he didn't get weaker (2nd on final mountain (behind break) and final tt).
2012 vuelta, can't read into someone losing form if it's the second of back to back gts.
2013 tour is the only one. But remember he had the gc wrapped up by 5 minutes and still won a stage in the final week.

 

[Pricey_sky]

2013 tour is the only one. But remember he had the gc wrapped up by 5 minutes and still won a stage in the final week.

He only had the one bad day on Alpe d'Huez. In the final mountain stage I believe he could have followed Purito and Nairo if he had to, even with a few hundred metres to go he was smiling on the bike as he knew he had done it.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Didn't he only lose like 2 last year?

Last year's TTs suited him much better, though. The second one was perfect for him, the other not that long.

A 54 km long non-technical flat TT, though? Not Contador's speciality at all. He stands to lose a bunch of time, assuming Froome is still on some good form by then.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Very cool jersey made especially for Berto. I hope they start selling it in the future.