Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[murali]

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.

i hope he does a Tour-Vuelta double this yr and tries a giro-vuelta double next yr.

by going for giro-vuelta, he should be able to nail TdS

 

[LaFlorecita]

i hope he does a Tour-Vuelta double this yr and tries a giro-vuelta double next yr.

by going for giro-vuelta, he should be able to nail TdS

Surely he'd have a better chance to win Dauphiné with his Giro form.

 

[Netserk]

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.

Tour-Vuelta this year and Giro-Tour next year = 3xGiro 5xTour and 3xVuelta = 11 GTs. He'd also then have all three different GT doubles.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Tour-Vuelta this year and Giro-Tour next year = 3xGiro 5xTour and 3xVuelta = 11 GTs. He'd also then have all three different GT doubles.

You can believe whatever you want, it won't be in the history books that way.

 

[bigcog]

Underestimate Froome at your own peril. I expect Froome in alien shape at the Tour. Contador better be prepared.

Don't worry Contador now "owns" Froome mentally. TDF is Contadors to lose.

 

[luckyboy]

Who will be on the Tour team from CAS, Kreuziger, Roche, Rogers and Majka? Everyone except Majka I guess?

 

[Pippo_San]

I'm gonna make a prediction.
AlDIRTo will never ever win a TdF again.

Definitely not this year.
You'll see.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Who will be on the Tour team from CAS, Kreuziger, Roche, Rogers and Majka?

Kreuziger, Roche and Rogers definitely, though I'd prefer them to leave Roche at home. CAS definitely not. Apparently Contador asked for Majka on the Tour team but Majka has not decided yet.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I'm gonna make a prediction.
AlDIRTo will never ever win a TdF again.

Definitely not this year.
You'll see.

Go to the clinic if you want to call him such names.

 

[luckyboy]

Kreuziger, Roche and Rogers definitely, though I'd prefer them to leave Roche at home. CAS definitely not. Apparently Contador asked for Majka on the Tour team but Majka has not decided yet.

Thanks. .....

 

[Pentacycle]

I'm gonna make a prediction.
AlDIRTo will never ever win a TdF again.

Definitely not this year.
You'll see.

And Quintana wasn't going to win the Giro...

 

[LaFlorecita]

"Very happy" he says.....

 

[Cimber]

http://inrng.tumblr.com/post/88876545998

Think he is VERY disappointed with the team. And rightfully so. The team was inexcuseably bad

 

[Publicus]

I think he's happy with HIS performance. He should be extremely disappointed in the team. They failed him ALL week frankly. No one demonstrated that they deserved to (or COULD) assist him at the Tour. Tinkov should spend some money to get Contador some better domestiques.

 

[jens_attacks]

when you came with such a team, you don't have to be mad afterwards

i'm absolutely 100% sure, the guys gave their best. but man, just look who was in that breakaway and the caliber of those teams.

that's why i totally believe that just like in other years,alberto didn't target the dauphine. he says the truth. but also being so close to the win and being a warrior, he is a bit sad that he did lose the yellow jersey.
but you can't blame the team, no way. expecting now every rider to hold 400 watts for hours is a little bit wrong. the start of the stage was brutal and the speed of 40 km/h average out of common.

maybe when he will be in his 40's he will target once for all , the dauphine anyway

 

[LaFlorecita]

God I hope he'll be long retired in his 40s Jens

 

[deValtos]

Kreuziger, Roche and Rogers definitely, though I'd prefer them to leave Roche at home. CAS definitely not. Apparently Contador asked for Majka on the Tour team but Majka has not decided yet.

Add to that Jesús Hernández who's best buds with Contador and the only other Spanish rider on Tinkoff-Saxo. Hasn't looked that good this year but he's been in every team that Contador has started a GT in since 2010 and I don't see a big reason why he wouldn't be picked again.

I'd also say Daniele Bennati is a 95% + chance to be in the squad. Will be a very useful rouleur and has the experience to keep Contador safe on the flatter stages.

Certain riders (in my mind) are:

Contador
Roche
Kreuziger
Rogers
Hernandez
Bennati

That would leave 3 more from Tossato,Breschel,Paulinho,Morkov,Pires(?),Zaugg,Rovny(?) and both Sorensens, oh and Majka which it seems is his choice.

Supposing Majka does say yes (I think he might be inclined to do so considering Contador is looking like he's a got a real shot and riders love to be part of a Tour winning team) you then have:

Tossato, Breschel, Morkov, N.Sorenson competing for the same role as another rouleur and Paulinho, Zaugg, CAS fighting for the other spot. Tough choices ...

 

[LaFlorecita]

People keep forgetting about Rory. He's supported Contador at the Volta a Catalunya, Vuelta al Pais Vasco and also this week at the Dauphiné.

 

[Netserk]

People keep forgetting about Rory. He's supported Contador at the Volta a Catalunya, Vuelta al Pais Vasco and also this week at the Dauphiné.

Very impressive today...

 

[Delicato]

Kreuziger, Roche and Rogers definitely, though I'd prefer them to leave Roche at home. CAS definitely not. Apparently Contador asked for Majka on the Tour team but Majka has not decided yet.

I would say Contador Rogers Kreuziger Roche Paulinho Hernandez Breschel Bennati Majka (Morkov) should be Saxo's optimal TDF lineup. Though I am not sure, how Giro guys (Roche and Majka) are recovering.

On paper this team looks like the one which should prevent situation like on today's stage from happening, though definitely weaker than Skyborg armada.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Anyway, I don't think Majka will be very helpful after the Giro. The best possible team would probably be:

Contador
Kreuziger
Rogers
Bennati
Tosatto
Breschel
Sutherland
Hernandez because Alberto needs him personally
And someone else, Mørkøv I guess.

Very light on the climbing side, yes. But if Rogers and Kreuziger show up in great form that should suffice.

 

[deValtos]

Yeah I did consider Rory briefly but I don't think he's shown enough ... it'd be a surprise for me if he's picked over the other riders I listed.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Very impressive today...

Rory is not a great climber (hell, he's 75+ kg), he is a guy for the flat stages and easier mountain stages, and early on in the big mountain stages (when things don't go to hell from the start like today).

Besides, he crashed earlier this week and has a big hematoma on his wrist that certainly is very sore.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Yeah I did consider Rory briefly but I don't think he's shown enough ... it'd be a surprise for me if he's picked over the other riders I listed.

I think he has a bigger chance than Rovny, Zaugg, CAS and Pores for sure.

 

[hfer07]

http://inrng.tumblr.com/post/88876545998

Think he is VERY disappointed with the team. And rightfully so. The team was inexcuseably bad

Indeed.

regardless of whether or not Contador came here to win it- the fact is that the overall win was within his grasp had he had the proper team to back him.....
Riis should be ashamed...