Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[murali]

Sure Garmin might have offered some small assistance in the TDF if Saxo had let Talansky win this Dauphine ... problem is Saxo didn't let Talansky win ?

my conspiracy theory is that they allowed the talansky group to peel off in that climb.

of course, it is a conspiracy theory. nothing more to it/

 

[TANK91]

Of course they won't, it's not like Contador gifted it to Talansky.

What happend i did not watch, someone uploaded when Contador attacked Froome, so im assuming did Contador think Froome was on an ok day before it was too late?

So if he uses Thomas and Froome he maybe thought they can help. Bad to lose the dauphinee when you no you're better than Froome and Talansky. Not bad as in he should be annoyed but i mean, Talansky winning it just makes me LOL.

 

[TANK91]

I doubt their is any truth init but who know's was'nt Garmin who isolated Froome intially in the Pyrenes.

 

[LaFlorecita]

What happend i did not watch, someone uploaded when Contador attacked Froome, so im assuming did Contador think Froome was on an ok day before it was too late?

Exactly.

So if he uses Thomas and Froome he maybe thought they can help. Bad to lose the dauphinee when you no you're better than Froome and Talansky. Not bad as in he should be annoyed but i mean, Talansky winning it just makes me LOL.

Yeah I agree

 

[Publicus]

He never won Dauphiné so no.

I'm afraid he'll never come this close to winning the Dauphiné again, and as TANK91 said it would be great for his palmarès.

Meh. I disagree. The Dauphine is what it is: a warm up race for the TdF. Nothing more, nothing less. His palmares won't be considered lacking because he never won this race--especially if goes on to win the Tour de France AND the Vuelta this year.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Meh. I disagree. The Dauphine is what it is: a warm up race for the TdF. Nothing more, nothing less. His palmares won't be considered lacking because he never won this race--especially if goes on to win the Tour de France AND the Vuelta this year.

It is one of the few big stage races he misses on his palmarès.... Tour de Suisse, Tour de Romandie and Volta a Catalunya being the others.

And if he'd won Dauphiné this year he could have tried to win Suisse next year

And of course it's highly unlikely he'll win the Vuelta

 

[Netserk]

Meh. I disagree. The Dauphine is what it is: a warm up race for the TdF. Nothing more, nothing less. His palmares won't be considered lacking because he never won this race--especially if goes on to win the Tour de France AND the Vuelta this year.

Of course it's important. Especially with the season he's having. Tirreno/Vasco/Dauphiné would be a dream combo, and that's even without counting the Tour and Vuelta. Ugh

He still misses Romandie, Dauphiné and Suisse in his palmarès (and Giro-Tour double). With that he could be considered the best stage racer ever (Okay that would probably need a third GT double or at least as many GT wins as Merckx). So dream scenario would be if he had won today, done the Tour-Vuelta double, and then next year Giro-Tour and in the future Romandie and Suisse. That would give him all important stage race wins, the three different GT doubles and 11 GT in total.

 

[Publicus]

It is one of the few big stage races he misses on his palmarès.... Tour de Suisse, Tour de Romandie and Volta a Catalunya being the others.

And if he'd won Dauphiné this year he could have tried to win Suisse next year

I figure he will get Catalunya next year. I'd rather he win Fleche or Liege over Romandie, Suisse or Dauphine.

 

[ILovecycling]

No Dauphiné win for Alberto. Not even a stage. While he was clearly the strongest.

Be happy this is coming...

...The Look

 

[Jelantik]

AC doesn't have a case of the sads:

I better hope he is disappointed. In his team, his friends. I'm going back to excluding Hernandez and Paulinho from the Tour team. They have no place in it.

He might not be disappointed if he looks at a bigger pie. But nonetheless, his team is pathetic. They left him alone to fend off 20 riders with GC contenders among them + sky team and Froome + Nibali and his team. That is just unacceptable. He could have won Dauphene (even if he didn't target it), but his team let him down today. BIG TIME. That what I'm disappointed and that's what I think Contador should have been disappointed. He has no support whatsoever from his teammate. Training or no training, that was just unacceptable. He lost the jersey because he got no support from his team when he needed it.

I don't believe that team's strength isn't not important comes TDF. I agree tactic will play crucial aspect. But having a strong team will allow TS a lot more options to play tactically than having a weak team like today's stage. He didn't loose because poor tactic, the TS team lost it for him too.

 

[indianfanboy]

Contador seems to have increased his core strength and his legs are more muscular now so pedalling a big gear seems to be paying dividends

 

[The_Juan]

Nibali was the last train out of the station and Alberto did not get on that train.

As simple as that.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I figure he will get Catalunya next year. I'd rather he win Fleche or Liege over Romandie, Suisse or Dauphine.

Fleche is irrelevant, Liege I agree with.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Of course it's important. Especially with the season he's having. Tirreno/Vasco/Dauphiné would be a dream combo, and that's even without counting the Tour and Vuelta. Ugh

He still misses Romandie, Dauphiné and Suisse in his palmarès (and Giro-Tour double). With that he could be considered the best stage racer ever (Okay that would probably need a third GT double or at least as many GT wins as Merckx). So dream scenario would be if he had won today, done the Tour-Vuelta double, and then next year Giro-Tour and in the future Romandie and Suisse. That would give him all important stage race wins, the three different GT doubles and 11 GT in total.

Very true Netserk, I completely agree. A missed opportunity.

 

[ILovecycling]

Little bit sad that he lost yellow,it would be great for his palmares.:-/ Like Flo said,next year he would try Suisse e.g.
But for Talansky it is a huge achievement,maybe he won't be that competetive at Tour,so Im happy for him.

Contador won mental war,the most important thing in battle with this mental fragile opponent like Froome.
IMO Alberto did massive chunk of hard (hard,hard) work over winter and early spring after disastrous last year,and he wants to win races again,which is really important! He will be around his 2009 form in July imo.And Froome (any year,any form) just is not good enough to beat Contador in this form.

I think Froome will be a lot better in July than this week (this is what most of people scares,e.g.Florecita) of course,but Contador will be simply better.He had probably best preparation in years,and we would never doubt he will beat anyone (including Alien) when in real top form before 2013.
I think most people here,including me, are scared of last year,and we 'forgot' how great Alberto was in top form.But Froome is not that crazy good how we think from 2013, we are idealizing him.He barely beat Purito and Quintana (almost neo-pro,but rare talent) in mountains last year.You really think Alberto would have had problem with them in 2009?I dont think so.Still there is a TT,I know,but again mental state in 54k tt in stage 20! is very important.

So be positive,this will be a great fight,two options 1. slight lose (esp due TT,but I dont think so hehe) or 2. fourth TdF crown

 

[TANK91]

What do you lot think he needs to be the best ever GT rider?And can he still have time for more than say 3 GT's. I personally think we should nt judge him on Merckx imo 8-9 GT would put him above Merckx. Call me crazy but 11 GT's in that era is not as impressive as 8 or 9 in this era. Course overall Merckx would be better but in terms of GC. Contador also never is on podium when he gets beat so you can look at it in many diff ways.


He already is best on PCM for me lol just won 6 GT's on trot he now has 11.

 

[TANK91]

Little bit sad that he lost yellow,it would be great for his palmares.:-/ Like Flo said,next year he would try Suisse e.g.
But for Talansky it is a huge achievement,maybe he won't be that competetive at Tour,so Im happy for him.

Contador won mental war,the most important thing in battle with this mental fragile opponent like Froome.
IMO Alberto did massive chunk of hard (hard,hard) work over winter and early spring after disastrous last year,and he wants to win races again,which is really important! He will be around his 2009 form in July imo.And Froome (any year,any form) just is not good enough to beat Contador in this form.

I think Froome will be a lot better in July than this week (this is what most of people scares,e.g.Florecita) of course,but Contador will be simply better.He had probably best preparation in years,and we would never doubt he will beat anyone (including Alien) when in real top form before 2013.
I think most people here,including me, are scared of last year,and we 'forgot' how great Alberto was in top form.But Froome is not that crazy good how we think from 2013, we are idealizing him.He barely beat Purito and Quintana (almost neo-pro,but rare talent) in mountains last year.You really think Alberto would have had problem with them in 2009?I dont think so.Still there is a TT,I know,but again mental state in 54k tt in stage 20! is very important.

So be positive,this will be a great fight,two options 1. slight lose (esp due TT,but I dont think so hehe) or 2. fourth TdF crown

Last year's Froome goes close vs any Contador great year. the numbers support that. Contador is not even at his best imho. He is aot better than last year but i think Froome last year vs Contador this year, Froome wins. We have seen evidence, check stage 1 and 2. Contador best climbing was 09 imo.

 

[Jelantik]

I think Froome will be a lot better in July than this week (this is what most of people scares,e.g.Florecita) of course,but Contador will be simply better.He had probably best preparation in years,and we would never doubt he will beat anyone (including Alien) when in real top form before 2013.
I think most people here,including me, are scared of last year,and we 'forgot' how great Alberto was in top form.But Froome is not that crazy good how we think from 2013, we are idealizing him.He barely beat Purito and Quintana (almost neo-pro,but rare talent) in mountains last year.You really think Alberto would have had problem with them in 2009?I dont think so.Still there is a TT,I know,but again mental state in 54k tt in stage 20! is very important.

That's true. Froome will be better than now. But the great things is contador will be better than now too. The only dilemma is still ITT. If Contador looses minutes, it would be hard to gain time in the mountain. Until his crash, Contador and Froome kinda match in the mountain, IMHO. However not to be discounted is the mental edge. Today, Froome is crumbling when things doesn't go as his plan, while contador, even though he forgot to latch on nibali's train, shows his great form to launch a long chase. So I think the tactic and with the support of a strong team will compensate his ITT weakness.

 

[LaFlorecita]

What do you lot think he needs to be the best ever GT rider?And can he still have time for more than say 3 GT's. I personally think we should nt judge him on Merckx imo 8-9 GT would put him above Merckx. Call me crazy but 11 GT's in that era is not as impressive as 8 or 9 in this era. Course overall Merckx would be better but in terms of GC. Contador also never is on podium when he gets beat so you can look at it in many diff ways.


He already is best on PCM for me lol just won 6 GT's on trot he now has 11.

I would say about 10 which is almost impossible. Can't see him win another 5 GTs. 2-3 max.

He would also have to win Dauphiné and Tour de Suisse (and preferable also Volta a Catalunya and Tour de Romandie) to be a true stage racing legend.

 

[murali]

---snip----
I think most people here,including me, are scared of last year,and we 'forgot' how great Alberto was in top form.But Froome is not that crazy good how we think from 2013, we are idealizing him.He barely beat Purito and Quintana (almost neo-pro,but rare talent) in mountains last year.You really think Alberto would have had problem with them in 2009?I dont think so.Still there is a TT,I know,but again mental state in 54k tt in stage 20! is very important.

So be positive,this will be a great fight,two options 1. slight lose (esp due TT,but I dont think so hehe) or 2. fourth TdF crown

to be fair, Quintana was working for Valverde. If he was the designated team leader, then things wud have been totally different.

i dont understand the option 1 at all. a late TT after mountain stages sound v good to me. This tour is at least not hand-crafted for "TT specialists". The only thing tht registers is:
Contador is having an amazing year. He is still training in Dauphine. He is better than other Tour riders right now.He still will improve in the next training camp.

btw, is he using pizza as a sort of treat for doing a good race?

 

[Cimber]

@albertocontador: Finally we couldn't win,but I have rarely enjoyed on the bike like today.Thanks to everyone,you are GREAT! http://t.co/xRlHu2Ggvq

Haha one of those few times where he doesnt thank the team specificically, but instead "everyone" (-: cant blame him. But great that e enjoyed the epic stage even though he lost. Must have been a great feeling to drop Froome like that

 

[Red Rick]

I would say about 10 which is almost impossible. Can't see him win another 5 GTs. 2-3 max.

He would also have to win Dauphiné and Tour de Suisse (and preferable also Volta a Catalunya and Tour de Romandie) to be a true stage racing legend.

I think if he wins the Tour de France after coming back from a 2 year suspension, while he won the Tour de France before that (and that weren't stripped) would make him a legend already.

If you discount the suspension, he has won every GT twice already, something only Hinault has before him if I remember correctly

 

[murali]

Why is AC getting compared with Merckx? He is from a different era.

If both riders were born in the same decade, then comparisons would have made sense, imho.

 

[orangerider]

It's over for Froome, he's cracked for the rest of the year. Contador now enters into stage 2 of his pre-Tour ascension: size up the real opponents.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I think if he wins the Tour de France after coming back from a 2 year suspension, while he won the Tour de France before that (and that weren't stripped) would make him a legend already.

If you discount the suspension, he has won every GT twice already, something only Hinault has before him if I remember correctly

Yes, but you can't just discount the suspension he has won the Tour and Vuelta twice and the Giro once. Of course not in our minds, but officially he has.