Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[LaFlorecita]

To expect contador to win ITT over Froome, it's just unrealistic.

Contador used to be a prologue specialist though. so it's not entirely unrealistic. I expected them to be about even.

 

[Nilsson]

Contador used to be a prologue specialist though. so it's not entirely unrealistic. I expected them to be about even.

And he still seems to be. Froome's just stronger. But it's not problematic per se. It's less than a second per kilometer, which makes everything possible, and also Froome's condition might be a tat better than Contador's. Froome built his form pretty much directly after on his win in Romandie, whereas Contador came to Tenerife from a little break after his win Basque Country - weeks earlier. Contador should be happy with the result.

 

[Cimber]

Really great performance to only lose 8 secs in 10 km to Froome. Had expected about 20 secs. I know you cant compare a 10 km TT to a 50 km TT, but if he manage to limit his time loss/km to what he did today he will only lose about 40 secs in the Tour. I know the length will make it different but its profile of the TT in the Tour, on the other hand, is better for AC.

I think he is thrilled with todays' performance.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I know the length will make it different but its profile of the TT in the Tour, on the other hand, is better for AC.

I think he is thrilled with todays' performance.

It's pretty much pan flat?

 

[rhubroma]

Really great performance to only lose 8 secs in 10 km to Froome. Had expected about 20 secs. I know you cant compare a 10 km TT to a 50 km TT, but if he manage to limit his time loss/km to what he did today he will only lose about 40 secs in the Tour. I know the length will make it different but its profile of the TT in the Tour, on the other hand, is better for AC.

I think he is thrilled with todays' performance.

Let's not forget as well that AC has been out of competition longer than Froome, who also had the benefit of the Romandie TT.

If Contador looks better in the mountains, Froome may not be good enough to win in July.

 

[Cimber]

Contador used to be a prologue specialist though. so it's not entirely unrealistic. I expected them to be about even.

This one was longer than a prologue though. Only 8secs in over 10 km is a great result for AC. If he can limit his losses like that in the Tour the TT loss will be really small. It will really boil down to the mountains, so tomorrow will be interesting, but I will expect AC to be a little more rusty than Froome since his race break has been longer than Froome's

 

[Cimber]

It's pretty much pan flat?

Nope (10 char)

 

[Jelantik]

Let's not forget as well that AC has been out of competition longer than Froome, who also had the benefit of the Romandie TT.

If Contador looks better in the mountains, Froome may not be good enough to win in July.

^this^, I would hope to see it too. *roll in jeopardy music: suspense continues*

 

[LaFlorecita]

Nope (10 char)

Sorry man,

but except for that last 1.4k climb all the "hills" you see on the profile are at most a 2% incline.

 

[Cimber]

Sorry man,

but except for that last 1.4k climb all the "hills" you see on the profile are at most a 2% incline.

That is definately not a pan cake flat TT. While the gradients arent huge its a lot of up and down and twisty roads. A huge different compared to a pan cake flat TT on big open roads. AC should be happy with that profile

 

[Jelantik]

Contador used to be a prologue specialist though. so it's not entirely unrealistic. I expected them to be about even.

I don't argue that he 'used' to be a specialist. But we have to be realistic looking at his recent performance. That's what I'm looking at. I mean, it's unrealistic to expect Contador to win ITT today. Froome up until now, is still better and more powerful. But, is it possible that Contador can improve comes TDF? I think so. By how much? I don't know. But certainly, it can't be in a short period of time. If he is showing an up trajectory starting from now through TDF and Vuelta, then we might be able to predict he could be back to his best next year?

 

[LaFlorecita]

That is definately not a pan cake flat TT. While the gradients arent huge its a lot of up and down and twisty roads. A huge different compared to a pan cake flat TT on big open roads. AC should be happy with that profile

2% is not something Contador should be happy with. Froome on the other hand.... it's for people with a big engine, not for the more explosive climbers.

 

[Cimber]

2% is not something Contador should be happy with. Froome on the other hand.... it's for people with a big engine, not for the more explosive climbers.

Dont get greedy. When you know that there will be a 54 km "flat" TT in the Tour this is almost as good as it gets for a guy like AC. The nightmare would be 54 km on totally flat and straight roads. But the most important thing is not that its a bit up and down, but that it is tecnical, as far as I have been told anyways.

 

[Netserk]

Dont get greedy. When you know that there will be a 54 km "flat" TT in the Tour this is almost as good as it gets for a guy like AC. The nightmare would be 54 km on totally flat and straight roads. But the most important thing is not that its a bit up and down, but that it is tecnical, as far as I have been told anyways.

You can zoom in on the map of the ITT here.

 

[Rollthedice]

It's obvious we see the best Contador since coming back from suspension but I think it's not enough to beat Froome. He is up against a guy who beats Armstrong's climbing times and finishes a few seconds behind or in front of the best TT specialists.

 

[Publicus]

2% is not something Contador should be happy with. Froome on the other hand.... it's for people with a big engine, not for the more explosive climbers.

The ITT will be more about recovery than anything else.

 

[LaFlorecita]

The ITT will be more about recovery than anything else.

Very true.

In other news: surely Matti has earned himself a spot on the Tour team?

 

[Cimber]

You can zoom in on the map of the ITT here.

There seems to be several twisty sections but how tecnical is really is is hard to judge from a map. Alot also depends on hos broad or narrow the roads are

 

[Jack_89]

It 's a good news, the profile of ITT isn't totally and that can help him to limit a bit losses

 

[Cimber]

The ITT will be more about recovery than anything else.

Indeed. It would problably be worse for AC if it was in the first week

 

[Netserk]

There seems to be several twisty sections but how tecnical is really is is hard to judge from a map. Alot also depends on hos broad or narrow the roads are

The last descent

 

[arvc40]

Result I expected today. Level pegging at split. Also Froome started behind so no doubt had an idea of Contadors pace.

 

[Cimber]

The last descent

Cheers. Will need to check that when I am on my computer. Its more than my phone can handle (-:

 

[murali]

Result I expected today. Level pegging at split. Also Froome started behind so no doubt had an idea of Contadors pace.

i think Froome made it only because he started after AC.
if he had started earlier, he might not hav done as well as he did.

 

[Jelantik]

I don't know if everyone notice. Looks like, the rest of TS boys start producing good results starting this second part of the season. Start with Rogers 2 stages win and Majka 6th in the Giro. Now, Matti with overall, 2 stages win and morkov 3rd overall, Team classification at Tour Luxembourg. Looks like everyone coming to a good form. I would love to see Contador win one of the mountain stage in Dauphene. (since I know he doesn't really target winning overall)