Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Futuroscope]

I know one thing and that is that I am terribly sad and disappointed today

I understand but you almost sound like a spurned lover. That level of obsession is not healthy. Maybe I'm wrong, I don't visit these forums that often.

 

[LaFlorecita]

No one expects riders to sacrifice victory to provide entertainment (though Tommy V probably does). No one claimed Contador ought to deliberately try and lose some time to make things entertaining (that would be him not doing his best to win). Neutral fans hope for, and welcome, a situation where the Tour is an entertaining closely fought contest. Contador is an entertaining rider when he attacks, which is why neutral fans were hoping for a situation where he'd have a strong incentive to attack, and are glad that situation became reality.

But that is assuming Contador would have smashed Nibali anyway. Which I don't think he would have. Of course others will disagree, but Nibali looks in very good shape, Giro 2013 probably. In that case, he would have matched Contador if they started the mountains with no major time gap between them. Which would mean he will quite easily beat him now, not losing lots of time if any at all in the mountains.

 

[Liquigas]

Evans then Uran had the Giro sealed up this year, then came Quintanas terrain. If Alberto has the form he has displayed so far this year then he will beat Nibali.

Horner will be the Quintana of the Giro.

 

[indianfanboy]

Hey rhubroma, I know we disagreed a couple days ago about which colors look good on a jersey p) but now I fully agree with you.

Dont count out the 50km time trial..Contador came close to beating Martin in Basque..he should be able to take atleast 30 secs on Nibali there but i expect Contaor to take yellow on Hautacam

 

[LaFlorecita]

I understand but you almost sound like a spurned lover. That level of obsession is not healthy. Maybe I'm wrong, I don't visit these forums that often.

I know I sound obsessed, but I'm not. I sometimes get too emotionally involved and I shouldn't. But I can't help it.

 

[lenric]

Just because Contador lost time today doesn't mean that he's not in peak form.

There are many factors that should be attended to before saying such thing, such has if he ate in the right moment, or if he ate at all, his inabillity to ride under such extreme conditions, etc.

So pessimistic, geez

 

[LaFlorecita]

Dont count out the 50km time trial..Contador came close to beating Martin in Basque..he should be able to take atleast 30 secs on Nibali there but i expect Contaor to take yellow on Hautacam

Think you're underestimating Nibali's TT skills

 

[LaFlorecita]

Just because Contador lost time today doesn't mean that he's not in peak form.

There are many factors that should be attended to before saying such thing, such has if he ate in the right moment, or if he ate at all, his inabillity to ride under such extreme conditions, etc.

So pessimistic, geez

No one thinks he isn't in good form and that he'll lose even more time. The issue is that 3 minutes is a lot of time to make up and there is some disagreement as to whether he'll manage to do that or not.

 

[sulgpallur]

We just have to wait and see how the mountains go. No need to panic yet

 

[indianfanboy]

Think you're underestimating Nibali's TT skills

maybe when has he proven his time trialling skills in giro 2013 in the 50k timetrial he placed below Kangert and he was just 15 secs ahead of Cadel...the giro doesnt have a lineup like the tour

 

[Cimber]

We just have to wait and see how the mountains go. No need to panic yet

I am a Berto fan and I am exited about what happened today. Now he has to go out and attack on many stages. That said I am also a Nibali fan so

But unless Nibali improved his climbing A LOT since DL Berto should be able to pull back that on all those mountain stages the race has

 

[SeriousSam]

But that is assuming Contador would have smashed Nibali anyway.

Yes. We can't know that, of course, but that was a very reasonable assumption to make. Like that Froome would smash Contador last year.

Which I don't think he would have. Of course others will disagree, but Nibali looks in very good shape, Giro 2013 probably. In that case, he would have matched Contador if they started the mountains with no major time gap between them. Which would mean he will quite easily beat him now, not losing lots of time if any at all in the mountains.

Fair enough. What I said doesn't apply if you really believe this (it's a a minority position though, contrary to what the bookmaker odds imply. perhaps you're not assessing contador's chances as objectively as people who have no emotional stake in the outcome.).

My cound comment was a bit uncalled for. apologies.

 

[indianfanboy]

Nibali's 2013 giro form is nothing compared to Froome Dawg's tour form last year and Contador is on Froome's level right now

 

[No_Balls]

I didn't, I had a feeling he'd lose a lot of time. Which he did.

You better go check the race threads.

But if you knew he would lose time why are you whining then? I think we all knew the possibility was there but one could argue about how much time. I think after two mechanicals and distanced with 50 k´s left against a supreme bike handler as Nibali, who went ballistic for it, the time lost is not the entire world.

I don't know about that in today's cycling to take back a couple of minutes, rather than gaining that time, on a super in form contender (i.e. that's clearly Nibali), unless he cracks, is really, really difficult. Even for a top AC. His Tour is not lost, but it was seriously comprimised today.

We can speak about "form" when we hit the mountains. Was Nibalis move today the result of being "in-form" or that he was willing to take risks others didnt? In doing what he did today he not only awoken AC´s mountain wrath but the others too. He alone needs to defend this jersey and over a longer period. Because although he might have the form it is not like he have a good track record in follow AC´s afterburner.

Why GC aspirants doesnt want to wear the yellow to early is there for a reason.

 

[LaFlorecita]

You better go check the race threads.

But if you knew he would lose time why are you whining then? I think we all knew the possibility was there but one could argue about how much time. I think after two mechanicals and distanced with 50 k´s left against a supreme bike handler as Nibali, who went ballistic for it, the time lost is not the entire world.

Two mechanicals? Where the hell did you get that from?

 

[No_Balls]

Two mechanicals? Where the hell did you get that from?

Wrong of me. De Jongh cleared that up. I took for granted that the first loss was due to a mechanical (as was the first impression) but it wasnt.

The point still stands though.

 

[lenric]

No one thinks he isn't in good form and that he'll lose even more time. The issue is that 3 minutes is a lot of time to make up and there is some disagreement as to whether he'll manage to do that or not.

3 minutes isn't that much of a time to recover, mainly because Contador will be assisted by VandenBroeck, Garderen, Valverde and Roche, at least. Anyway, we'll get an answer in the next mountain stage.

 

[RobbieCanuck]

We can speak about "form" when we hit the mountains. Was Nibalis move today the result of being "in-form" or that he was willing to take risks others didnt? In doing what he did today he not only awoken AC´s mountain wrath but the others too. He alone needs to defend this jersey and over a longer period. Because although he might have the form it is not like he have a good track record in follow AC´s afterburner.

Why GC aspirants doesnt want to wear the yellow to early is there for a reason.

I agree. Now Contador has firmly fixed in his head on the goal. It is Nibali who will be on the defensive because for AC every waking moment will force him to focus on reducing the time difference. It will be a lot easier for AC than Nibali who will constantly be worrying not just about Contador but all the other GC contenders. This is not just a physical race but a mental race as well.

 

[CrazyCanuck]

2:37 down on Nibali shouldn't be an issue once they head to the mountains. Watching Nibali climbing in all of his previous races has proved that Contador and Froome are miles ahead once the roads goes up.

With Froome out, this only makes the race more interesting as we will see more attacks from Contador.

No one really want to see Contador with a lead now because everyone will just be playing it safe and riding for podium.

 

[maxmartin]

2:37 down on Nibali shouldn't be an issue once they head to the mountains. Watching Nibali climbing in all of his previous races has proved that Contador and Froome are miles ahead once the roads goes up.

With Froome out, this only makes the race more interesting as we will see more attacks from Contador.

No one really want to see Contador with a lead now because everyone will just be playing it safe and riding for podium.

lol said a guy with only 10 posts

 

[Cimber]

lol said a guy with only 10 posts

and that matters why? I agree with him to be honest

 

[CrazyCanuck]

lol said a guy with only 10 posts

I guess a guy with 2548 posts is the all expert on cycling or maybe he lives on the forum?

If you have an issue with what I wrote then fine. It's my evaluation, rightly or wrongly.

Making comments about other people's post count is good way to increase your post count to 2548

 

[rhubroma]

You better go check the race threads.

But if you knew he would lose time why are you whining then? I think we all knew the possibility was there but one could argue about how much time. I think after two mechanicals and distanced with 50 k´s left against a supreme bike handler as Nibali, who went ballistic for it, the time lost is not the entire world.



We can speak about "form" when we hit the mountains. Was Nibalis move today the result of being "in-form" or that he was willing to take risks others didnt? In doing what he did today he not only awoken AC´s mountain wrath but the others too. He alone needs to defend this jersey and over a longer period. Because although he might have the form it is not like he have a good track record in follow AC´s afterburner.

Why GC aspirants doesnt want to wear the yellow to early is there for a reason.

I think it's clear Nibali has really good form right now. So a combination of both.

In the mountains I expect him to fare much better than at the Dauphine. This will not be easy for Contador.

 

[Franklin]

People here are shortselling Nibali. The guy won The Giro and finished second in the Vuelta in 2013. Getting 2 minutes back isn't that easy as you guys think. Also, looks can decieve, but Nibali certainly looks to be in his best form ever. It's not the mountains yet, but it's an indication.

 

[Alcanelo]

Yeah definitely not the best day for Bertie but hey at least Froom is out now which is great news...and tbh only Nibali can rival Bertie now and Nibbles is a great great cyclist and I wouldn't be disappointed if he won...but yeah hate to be miserable but I'm delighted Froome is out, good riddance