Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Franklin]

He says not:

He wishes Porte well, but we all know he and Michelle will go nuclear as soon as Porte threatens Froome. His words and actions show he's extremely egoistiic with a problem with reality as soon as it's not centered on him.

His spat with Wiggins is part delusions and part extreme fear for his own position.

He will not accept anyone at the same level, he will do anything underhanded to get him out of his team.

 

[murali]

I think this is just part of the war of words.

I think Sky is still afraid that Contador will beat Froome easily in the mountains.

They are just trying to say that Porte can be used as a decoy. when the time comes, i think AC will just follow Porte, and when Froome tries to launch from behind, AC will just ride away from Porte.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

He wishes Porte well, but we all know he and Michelle will go nuclear as soon as Porte threatens Froome. His words and actions show he's extremely egoistiic with a problem with reality as soon as it's not centered on him.

Porte and Froome are friends and Porte is not himself a threat to Froome (unless something weird happens like Porte attacking and no other team chases).

 

[murali]

This is TdF. there are no friends, only DS. if DS says midway thru TdF tht Porte is the new leader, then it will be so. if Porte gets more than 2 min from Froome before the TT, then he becomes the leader as per the Sky Logic.


But froome being froome. he will ensure tht porte loses a few min so that he wont challenge dawg's spot.

 

[Miburo]

I alreayd know what's gonna happen in the second stage.

Contador can't get the yellow jersey in that stage, that might set him back from doing something but not if he has an ally who will take the jersey

Which rider is pretty much confirmed to be on Contador's team next year and has the ability to follow him sunday?

 

[ILovecycling]

Lol Richie to threaten Alberto ,this improved my mood significantly after that france debacle

 

[Poursuivant]

This is TdF. there are no friends, only DS. if DS says midway thru TdF tht Porte is the new leader, then it will be so. if Porte gets more than 2 min from Froome before the TT, then he becomes the leader as per the Sky Logic.


But froome being froome. he will ensure tht porte loses a few min so that he wont challenge dawg's spot.

Yer just like when Froome ensured Wiggins lost time in 2012.

 

[The_Juan]

Correct.. Both of you

Methinks Porte does not like Alberto (based on what he says). He would do his season a lot more justice if he did all the talking on the road and not in front of a gossip-seeking reporter.

As far as I'm concerned, cycling takes a step backwards when wannabes call out champions in public. Brailsford should have told him to STFU.

 

[thehook]

Richie has come off as an arrogant fellow before. This is not anything new. Berto can read a race just as well as anyone in cycling. And Riis is a great DS. So no worries there. TS will be gunning for the win no doubt. But there is some payback due IMHO. Rewatch Stage 20. Froome pulling with Jrod & Nairo until the gap is over 50 seconds. Just enough to drop Berto off the podium. Richie sitting on AC's wheel until 500m then attack him and AT for a few seconds? You/SKY know you are going to win at that point. Ride with some class? They chose to be the ******.

Now with all the recent shady stuff going down. Don't be surprised when payback come there way. AKA Belkin attacking Valverde in the crosswinds on his mechanical. That was payback and Valverde knew it. Bit his lip and should have learned from it. Froome goes down in Dauphine AC backs off and waits = class.

I know here it comes......Chaingate!!!! Do not forget Andy attacked...Then dropped his chain......The race is on u attacked....All bets are off. How quickly we forget the cobbled stage....AC has an issue Andy attacks. Andy drops the chain on his attack = Now it is payback time. Lesson Issued.

 

[Angliru]

So he's saying his form right now is nothing compared to the form he had earlier, oh **** lol

Then again he said something similar last year but now he has the results though.

You can't seem to get over last year.

I interpreted it as his form is better now than any other part of the season although it has been good throughout.

 

[Angliru]

Porte says Contador will have to worry about him for GC as well:

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jul/04/australian-cyclist-richie-porte-ready-mark

One of the keys for Porte's personal goals will be how the duel plays out between Froome and his main rival, two-time Tour champion Alberto Contador.

"Tactically, it can also work out for me – I might have my own opportunities in this race if I don't lose time," Porte said.

"Alberto showed in Dauphine (last month's Criterium du Dauphine race) he's happy to follow Chris around. If that's the case, come the third week then that's going to play into my hands. I do have some ambitions going into this race of riding for a good finish."

That is a pretty simplistic view Porte has. Contador wasn't following when he attacked on stage 7. Where was Porte then? Can we judge Porte's potential performance on the major minutes he lost on the Dauphine's 2nd stage? What we can do is surmise that until he shows us different we can't really take him serious until he performs consistently throughout the 3 week's of a grand tour. This year's Tour could be that time but he hasn't proven capable up to now.

 

[ILovecycling]

Tinkoff blog puts pressure on sky
http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/ol...y-for-a-fight-with-team-sky-at-tour-de-france

 

[Jspear]

That is a pretty simplistic view Porte has. Contador wasn't following when he attacked on stage 7. Where was Porte then? Can we judge Porte's potential performance on the major minutes he lost on the Dauphine's 2nd stage? What we can do is surmise that until he shows us different we can't really take him serious until he performs consistently throughout the 3 week's of a grand tour. This year's Tour could be that time but he hasn't proven capable up to now.

I agree completely, Porte still has to prove himself over 3 weeks. But lets say Porte was strong over 3 weeks: The thing I don't think Porte is thinking about is the fact that Froome has a couple of stronger rivals this year and there are a couple of stronger teams competing. Team Sky won't be able to have the luxury of keeping Porte "fresh." He'll be pouring himself all out trying to drop the other contenders. It will take everything team Sky has to break Moviestar, Astana, and Saxo. Their hands will be very full just trying to get Froome on the top step of the podium let alone helping Porte place high.

 

[Forunculo]

Tinkoff blog puts pressure on sky
http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/ol...y-for-a-fight-with-team-sky-at-tour-de-france

Oleg Tinkov does his job perfectly.

He brings a fresh opinion about many things not tarnished with political correctness.


His narrative bring a nice controversy to the sport. Cycling needs rivalries.

 

[inthepink]

Velonews stating SKY may not try to control every race in the mountains but instead stay with rivals and then beat them in final TT ???

 

[Pricey_sky]

Velonews stating SKY may not try to control every race in the mountains but instead stay with rivals and then beat them in final TT ???

I've said this for a long time, Froome doesn't need to drop anyone in the mountains, he will gain time in the TT so it's up to Saxo, Movistar and Astana to force time out of him. I've doubted whether Sky could actually do this as they love to force the pace but it really is the best strategy. If Froome loses time in the first week they can always go back to what they know best.

 

[rhubroma]

Porte says Contador will have to worry about him for GC as well:

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jul/04/australian-cyclist-richie-porte-ready-mark

One of the keys for Porte's personal goals will be how the duel plays out between Froome and his main rival, two-time Tour champion Alberto Contador.

"Tactically, it can also work out for me – I might have my own opportunities in this race if I don't lose time," Porte said.

"Alberto showed in Dauphine (last month's Criterium du Dauphine race) he's happy to follow Chris around. If that's the case, come the third week then that's going to play into my hands. I do have some ambitions going into this race of riding for a good finish."

Porte = lameness.

Play into "my own hands?" Porte will be lucky if he can smell the fumes of Alberto's exhaust.

 

[dduff442]

All the same, Sky have woken up at last to the tactical opportunities a plausible 2nd GC candidate might give them.

 

[murali]

I've said this for a long time, Froome doesn't need to drop anyone in the mountains, he will gain time in the TT so it's up to Saxo, Movistar and Astana to force time out of him. I've doubted whether Sky could actually do this as they love to force the pace but it really is the best strategy. If Froome loses time in the first week they can always go back to what they know best.

Tactically, the team is dumb. If they stay back, hoping for gaining in TT, then they will fall into the hands of the other contenders. they will easily crush Froome.
Valv, Nibbles wud be happy to work with AC to drop dawg in a stage.

If they do the train thingy, then the others will simply follow them and attack anyway to gain a few seconds on every other stage.

Projecting Porte as an alternative is a tactic that was used by many teams in the past. So everyone knows how to handle this.

By claiming that Froome is the fav and not himself, AC has ensured that all the cameras will focus on sky. The pressure is on Sky as Tinkov said. so AC will win.

 

[Cimber]

The war on words is really on:

Riis: "Froome is shi tting himself"
(Google translated):

- When you look at Froome giving interviews, you can see that he is resoundingly uncertain. You can see that. He's shi ttting himself. It is perhaps not the right word, but see him - he's not fuc king sure of himself. He is under immense pressure. He tries course also runs from the pressure by saying that Alberto's favorite. But hey - there's only one topfavorit. He is the defending champion, and it belongs to. It is hell. A hell, but that is how it is, says Bjarne Riis.

https://translate.google.com/transl...-froome-er-ved-at-skide-i-bukserne&edit-text=

 

[jens_attacks]

that is obvious. both him and brailsford

 

[dduff442]

Who'd have thought that mercenary behaviour could ever come back to haunt them?

The chickens have returned to their habitual domicile.

 

[SeriousSam]

Bold words from Riis. Saxo seem to be unduly confident. I'd only be that confident when going up against the Alien if I could ride up Hautacam like Bjarne.

 

[ILovecycling]

Velonews stating SKY may not try to control every race in the mountains but instead stay with rivals and then beat them in final TT ???

I have to say that this is very interesting thought,the race shou be more entertaining like this,but I dont think Dave has balls to try this

Bold words from Riis. Saxo seem to be unduly confident. I'd only be that confident when going up against the Alien if I could ride up Hautacam like Bjarne.

there are lot of 'If's' and nobody can be sure of anything,and this is what will make Froome and Sky vulnerable,they are strong in W/kg with all his team,but its not 2012 and 2013 anymore.
Two big players stepped up - Contador and Nibbs,and it will make hell of a difference,Im 100% sure,they are two riders with almost biggest cojones in peloton,thats the problem for Sky.Im not saying they will lose for sure,but I think it will be the mental breakdown what will smash them into pieces (of course AC has a chance to win even without tht meltdown)

 

[Carols]

First shots from the neutral zone have one Alberto Contador leading the peloton Looking resplendent in highly visible new kit Froome cruises up to join him. The crowds are enormous!