Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[murali]

Paulinho and Hernandez would be on the tour team, my guess. Jesus wasn't so bad today. I guess my puzzle is always, (not just now or TDF but through out the season..) how come sky always has more riders on the last climb than TS. My guess is sky did a good job reading the numbers and signed them. They manage to string the amount of everyone max power output to put together a team. Maybe TS needs to start signing "rider with potential domestique" instead of spending too much money buying star riders.

AC's main guys, paulinho and hernandez were wonderful in this race. one of them was there when AC cud hav needed them. These guys will also be riding to be at their best in the Tour.


Regarding the "stringing up" theory, i dont really get the logic. Sky had 5 domestiques in front. To safegaurd domestiques, they let the gap fall to 7 min+. from the bottom of the climb till the final KM, they kept on burning their domestiques. But they still couldn't control an AC attack. They still couldn't protect the yellow jersey, and their team leader had to fend for himself in the final km. In short, i think that the sky train is a bit overrated now. There was a newness factor in the 2012 TdF. last year, AC was out of form and Quintana was not made the team leader. I mean, the circumstances led to Froome's win, not his team strength.

The current team in Dauphine is sufficient to protect AC's interests tomorrow. If Sky want to power, they will be forming a train and Berto can simply ride the wheels. AC just needs to ride behind whoever is in front. nothing more to do for him.

It also makes sense for him to let someone else get the stage win tomorrow. That's a good thing to build alliances for the tour.

 

[TANK91]

Murali the Sky train was fine, you cant expect Porte to be with Froome at finish lol, 1 km is fine that is actually perfect not many have that support. Froome for a start left too much to do he was nevr going to pull back more than 5 seconds in a km. He should have just reacted straight away and that way would have saved himself a few seconds.

Anyone else think Nieve should be last man tommorow?

 

[Cimber]

“I didn’t get the stage win today, since we had given the breakaway a big advantage. But I managed to take 20 seconds on Froome and even more time on some of my other rivals, which means that I’ll be in the yellow jersey with just one stage to go. Even more important, I saw that I am getting better every day and that I’m progressing ahead of the Tour”, explains a happy Contador

“After 8 weeks without racing, Alberto’s success so far in Dauphiné of course comes as a bit of a surprise, but at the same time we knew that he was strong and that the team was ready to support him. It’s an important result today due to two things; we are close to a big overall victory and Alberto was confirmed in that he’s on the right way in his preparations ahead of the Tour”, says Philippe Mauduit after the stage

http://www.tinkoffsaxo.com/news/alberto-attacks-lead-dauphine/

 

[webbie146]

One thing for sure in a fair fight neither can drop eachother. Contador needs 2 minutes in mountains in the TDF. Good luck with that. Froome ego is just fine Jelantik he stomped all over Contaodr past year, you think he is worried like you sound(im worried though). Froome cracked and the gap was 20 seconds a mighty 20 seconds, CF was putting minutes into him. If people are saying Alberto is best ever then it just proves how good Froome is don't it. It is taking Contador's very best to compete, where we have alot of doubts now about Froome. So all to play for, remember 18 seconds was when Porte was on front it is not like Alberto rode away from Froome mano mano isit.

He is not. He did 6.3 watts/kg for 30 minutes. At Verbier he did 6.7 watts/kg for 20 minutes. After 2 weeks of racing.

 

[jaylew]

Wel when he has the yellow he will want them. If not Froome will just play the wheelsuck game as Berto did on stage 2, and then strike when Berto has had to close Down other attacks. Hopefully Jesus will wake up tomorrow.

Nah, AC will only close down Froome's attacks. In Froome's case, there were several riders close enough to take the jersey and tomorrow there will likely be only one.

 

[The_Juan]

I don't get why people want CF to lose so bad. I'm a Contador fan + I'm a Spaniard and I think Chris is a down to earth humble person who does all the talking on the road.

He's given his heart and soul at the Vuelta and all he deserves, IMHO, is nothing but respect. If Alberto doesn't win I'd rather see Froome win than anybody else.

Him trying to close down the gap at the end of today's stage... even though he was obviously hurting from the fall the day before... if that doesn't make you a fan then you're into cycling for reasons other than cycling.

 

[webbie146]

I don't get why people want CF to lose so bad. I'm a Contador fan + I'm a Spaniard and I think Chris is a down to earth humble person who does all the talking on the road.

He's given his heart and soul at the Vuelta and all he deserves, IMHO, is nothing but respect. If Alberto doesn't win I'd rather see Froome win than anybody else.

Him trying to close down the gap at the end of today's stage... even though he was obviously hurting from the fall the day before... if that doesn't make you a fan then you're into cycling for reasons other than cycling.

I suggest you read his newly released book. He pretty much implies that Contador doesn't train hard, and sits around all day drinking coffee. That's a very big insult to make towards a athlete like Contador.

 

[pigoonse]

Froome is a tough one to like and I am not sure why. I liked him okay when I first noticed him and he made the podium with Wiggo in the Vuelta that Cobo won. But since then, I think I have just had enough of Sky domination and I cheer for Sky to get beat in general; it's not that I don't like Porte or Mikel Nieve and many of their riders. Really can't get excited about Froome even though I do like Wiggo. Wiggo having descending difficulty during the 2013 Giro made me start supporting him

Maybe if Froome has some bad luck I will start liking him. As it is, i don't like watching him ride a bike and it pains me to see him win.

 

[Jelantik]

Both Contador and Froome were on their limits. Even contador is already close to his limits when he attacked. I guess he gambled too. I guess tomorrow will be whose recovers well from today's stage.

“The truth is that I knew little about the final climb but I was told that the last five kilometers were very hard. I was well escorted by five of my team-mates. At 2km to go, I was close to my limit but I tried my luck with attacking.

http://www.cyclingquotes.com/news/contador_this_is_beyond_my_expectations/

 

[webbie146]

I keep wondering though what's up with Contador's cadence? He grinds a huge gear. Compare that to this cadence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=z2AiCVzx2L8#t=1404

especially when he comes out of the first corner after attacking.

His newly adopted cadence seems to do the trick though, just a bit painful to watch sometimes.

 

[The_Juan]

I suggest you read his newly released book. He pretty much implies that Contador doesn't train hard, and sits around all day drinking coffee. That's a very big insult to make towards a athlete like Contador.

That Contador is a lazy bästard is no news to everyone. Why is it a problem when Christopher Froome says it?

Look, I'm Alberto's #1 fan but... from this couch TdF domestique's perspective Contador's discipline is way behind his will to win. It's no secret.

He had Porte hand his behind back to him last year, PORTE for Christ sake! It took that deep of a bottom for Alberto to realize "holly crap, I better put down the cafés dobles and actually get on the bike otherwise the Portes of this world are going to blast past me!"

 

[ILovecycling]

Gracias The Great One
His dancing on the pedals looked a little bit rusty.Its not 2009 yet but we are getting close.
This July we'll witness maybe the best Tour in years (prob 2007?)

 

[bigcog]

That Contador is a lazy bästard is no news to everyone. Why is it a problem when Christopher Froome says it?

Look, I'm Alberto's #1 fan but... from this couch TdF domestique's perspective Contador's discipline is way behind his will to win. It's no secret.

He had Porte hand his behind back to him last year, PORTE for Christ sake! It took that deep of a bottom for Alberto to realize "holly crap, I better put down the cafés dobles and actually get on the bike otherwise the Portes of this world are going to blast past me!"

I like them both. I'd rather watch them dueling it out than some bore fest like 2012. If I was Froome I would have kept my mouth shut about it, the last thing he needs is Contador training more lol ...

 

[Jelantik]

I guess the questions is did Contador really slouch around and drinking latte instead of training last year? If he did, great. At least it explains why he sucks last year. (Instead of reading theory about how he is old and on the verge of declining path or needs to sign up for retirement home)

 

[webbie146]

That Contador is a lazy bästard is no news to everyone. Why is it a problem when Christopher Froome says it?

Look, I'm Alberto's #1 fan but... from this couch TdF domestique's perspective Contador's discipline is way behind his will to win. It's no secret.

He had Porte hand his behind back to him last year, PORTE for Christ sake! It took that deep of a bottom for Alberto to realize "holly crap, I better put down the cafés dobles and actually get on the bike otherwise the Portes of this world are going to blast past me!"

You don't become a multiple GT winner by being lazy. Good news though you get the troll of the day award. Congrats.

 

[Afrank]

That Contador is a lazy bästard is no news to everyone. Why is it a problem when Christopher Froome says it?

Look, I'm Alberto's #1 fan but... from this couch TdF domestique's perspective Contador's discipline is way behind his will to win. It's no secret.

He had Porte hand his behind back to him last year, PORTE for Christ sake! It took that deep of a bottom for Alberto to realize "holly crap, I better put down the cafés dobles and actually get on the bike otherwise the Portes of this world are going to blast past me!"

Did you only start watching the sport last year? Contador's not lazy at all. He just had one off year where nothing went right for him. You don't win 7 GT's being lazy.

And Froomes comments are nothing but insults, no other way to describe them.

 

[Publicus]

One thing for sure in a fair fight neither can drop eachother. Contador needs 2 minutes in mountains in the TDF. Good luck with that. Froome ego is just fine Jelantik he stomped all over Contaodr past year, you think he is worried like you sound(im worried though). Froome cracked and the gap was 20 seconds a mighty 20 seconds, CF was putting minutes into him. If people are saying Alberto is best ever then it just proves how good Froome is don't it. It is taking Contador's very best to compete, where we have alot of doubts now about Froome. So all to play for, remember 18 seconds was when Porte was on front it is not like Alberto rode away from Froome mano mano isit.

lol....pace yourself or you are going to run out of excuses by the first week of July

 

[ILovecycling]

I guess the questions is did Contador really slouch around and drinking latte instead of training last year? If he did, great. At least it explains why he sucks last year. (Instead of reading theory about how he is old and on the verge of declining path or needs to sign up for retirement home)

He accompanied Tinkoff all across europe as his new friend all winter long

 

[Jelantik]

One thing for sure in a fair fight neither can drop eachother. Contador needs 2 minutes in mountains in the TDF. Good luck with that. Froome ego is just fine Jelantik he stomped all over Contaodr past year, you think he is worried like you sound(im worried though). Froome cracked and the gap was 20 seconds a mighty 20 seconds, CF was putting minutes into him. If people are saying Alberto is best ever then it just proves how good Froome is don't it. It is taking Contador's very best to compete, where we have alot of doubts now about Froome. So all to play for, remember 18 seconds was when Porte was on front it is not like Alberto rode away from Froome mano mano isit.

lol....pace yourself or you are going to run out of excuses by the first week of July

lol... good one. you crack me up really hard. simple answer.. but ziiiinggg!!

 

[LaFlorecita]

That Contador is a lazy bästard is no news to everyone. Why is it a problem when Christopher Froome says it?

Look, I'm Alberto's #1 fan but... from this couch TdF domestique's perspective Contador's discipline is way behind his will to win. It's no secret.

He had Porte hand his behind back to him last year, PORTE for Christ sake! It took that deep of a bottom for Alberto to realize "holly crap, I better put down the cafés dobles and actually get on the bike otherwise the Portes of this world are going to blast past me!"

Are you sure you're his #1 fan because he isn't lazy at all

 

[MBotero]

That Contador is a lazy bästard is no news to everyone. Why is it a problem when Christopher Froome says it?

Look, I'm Alberto's #1 fan but... from this couch TdF domestique's perspective Contador's discipline is way behind his will to win. It's no secret.

He had Porte hand his behind back to him last year, PORTE for Christ sake! It took that deep of a bottom for Alberto to realize "holly crap, I better put down the cafés dobles and actually get on the bike otherwise the Portes of this world are going to blast past me!"

So a guy who won a few GT is lazy wtf you learn something new everyday.

 

[Cimber]

I don't get why people want CF to lose so bad. I'm a Contador fan + I'm a Spaniard and I think Chris is a down to earth humble person who does all the talking on the road.

He's given his heart and soul at the Vuelta and all he deserves, IMHO, is nothing but respect. If Alberto doesn't win I'd rather see Froome win than anybody else.

Him trying to close down the gap at the end of today's stage... even though he was obviously hurting from the fall the day before... if that doesn't make you a fan then you're into cycling for reasons other than cycling.

If this the twillight zone? This comes from a guy who wrote this:

My impression of Froome today is that he sandbagged big time.

I suspect the dummy has finally gotten the point that flying under the radar is a lot better than imposing your ego on the other riders.

Anyways, a lot of people always wanna see the "unbeatable" lose. Also a lot of people dislike the very Cold and calculated approach that Sky has and constantly seeind Froome staring as his power meter.

Also, his book hanst left a likeable image of him (and its not just about what he said about AC).

This is a nice blog about why Froome and Sky has become difficult to like (by a guy who has actually praised Sky alot in the past and has stood up for Froom regarding doping allegations in the past) its in Danish so you will need to use a translation tool:

http://veloropa.dk/problemet-med-team-sky/

 

[Cimber]

Are you sure you're his #1 fan because he isn't lazy at all

Of course he isnt. You are

 

[yespatterns]

Quick question: how can Froome even ride a bike with all the fanboys on his jock?

 

[T-Nielsen]

Quick question: how can Froome even ride a bike with all the fanboys on his jock?

On his what???