Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[LaFlorecita]

I'm mystified by the speculation. Oleg and the team will have him do the Tour next year as long as he is healthy. It doesn't matter what we wish for folks!

Yes and we all know that. We are just posting what we would prefer.

 

[LaFlorecita]

What a terrible mentality fleur.

What I meant is, if he loses, is that proof that he isn't as great anymore? Proof that since his ban, he hasn't been the same? What I was trying to illustrate, is that the consequences for Alberto are not guaranteed to be positive. If he doesn't win, it will only be more fuel for the doubters who've been claiming he'll never reach 2011 form again.

Be confident.Like Alberto

Winning the Tour isn't a given, and Alberto knows that too.

 

[ILovecycling]

Winning the Tour isn't a given, and Alberto knows that too.

I know,there are these 10-15% chance to crash or illness,but he still believes he will do it.I dont think he is asking himself,'what if I lose? should I do Giro-Vuelta instead cuz its a risk put everything on Tour?'

actually from the trend,he should abandon a next race in 2022,and he won't race anymore then ,so its cool

 

[Jelantik]

Contador is a great champion. To suggest he should do Giro next year, is a little underestimating his ability. I think Contador needs to do the tour next year. Not to proof anything to anyone. He was dominating in the past generation. Now we have the new reign of strong contender in the shape of Froome, Quintana and the new Nibali. I thought it would appropriate if he wants to measure himself against the best of the best on this current generation of cycling. It's not about whether he can win or not, or about he shouldn't be obsessed with the Tour. If he were you, don't you want to beat th best of the best? Well at least, if I were him, I would like to measure myself against the top dog of the current cycling generation.

Maybe after next year, when he finally win his 3/4 TDF, he can say that I did beat the best of the best. And try to do the Giro. But god knows, it's Alberto. Once he wins his 3/4 TDF, he'll come back the next year.

So I disagree with some of the poster. To me, Alberto should do TDF again next year regardless the parcour. Great champion should battle against the best of the best, not battling a second rate wanna be GT contender. Maybe it's not just about adding a GT win to his palmares, but it's more about who he beats on the road to the glory.

 

[Jelantik]

Damn he is fit. Just check out his face

can't you see his body? it was a shoulder shot. You could see he is skinny.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I know,there are these 10-15% chance to crash or illness,but he still believes he will do it.I dont think he is asking himself,'what if I lose? should I do Giro-Vuelta instead cuz its a risk put everything on Tour?'

actually from the trend,he should abandon a next race in 2022,and he won't race anymore then ,so its cool

There is also he chance he simply isn't good enough to win.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Contador is a great champion. To suggest he should do Giro next year, is a little underestimating his ability. I think Contador needs to do the tour next year. Not to proof anything to anyone. He was dominating in the past generation. Now we have the new reign of strong contender in the shape of Froome, Quintana and the new Nibali. I thought it would appropriate if he wants to measure himself against the best of the best on this current generation of cycling. It's not about whether he can win or not, or about he shouldn't be obsessed with the Tour. If he were you, don't you want to beat th best of the best? Well at least, if I were him, I would like to measure myself against the top dog of the current cycling generation.

Maybe after next year, when he finally win his 3/4 TDF, he can say that I did beat the best of the best. And try to do the Giro. But god knows, it's Alberto. Once he wins his 3/4 TDF, he'll come back the next year.

So I disagree with some of the poster. To me, Alberto should do TDF again next year regardless the parcour. Great champion should battle against the best of the best, not battling a second rate wanna be GT contender. Maybe it's not just about adding a GT win to his palmares, but it's more about who he beats on the road to the glory.

Exactly. He says he loves the Giro, and would rather race it than the Tour. But the truth is he's only ever raced it when he couldn't race the Tour. He's obsessed with the Tour. He'll never come back to the Giro unless he is forced to, like in 2008 and 2011. It's very, very sad and it hurts me to say it, but that is one of the things about Alberto that I extremely dislike. I wish he'd at least stop lying about it and just say it as it is.

 

[Jelantik]

But it also means more stress, more sacrifices and a bigger chance of failure. And the last thing Alberto needs right now, after the last few years, is another failure.

La Flo, I think that's part of the risk that Alberto is willing to sacrifice. He is a great champion. And he is most likely willing to take that risk. It's like when you want to invest your money buying a stock. You take a calculated risk because the stock could crash or going up. I guess the reward outweighs the risk

It's true, after his ban, he hasn't gotten to win any other GT other than La Vuelta. But that's why we love Contador. He is not Andy (waiting for Andy to resurrect is like watching a paint dry). Contador will bounce back like no body business. And when he is back, he is better and stronger. The proof is in front of us. He was below his standard last year, and even got his head stomped by Froome at TDF and Nibali at TA. This year, he has been flying.

Stress, sacrifice and bigger chances to a failure is what a great champion thrive on. If he can't handle that, he wouldn't have won so many GT.

btw, you aren't off either, Contador himself said that the tour is the race that gives him more grieve.

 

[LaFlorecita]

La Flo, I think that's part of the risk that Alberto is willing to sacrifice. He is a great champion. And he is most likely willing to take that risk. It's like when you want to invest your money buying a stock. You take a calculated risk because the stock could crash or going up. I guess the reward outweighs the risk

It's true, after his ban, he hasn't gotten to win any other GT other than La Vuelta. But that's why we love Contador. He is not Andy (waiting for Andy to resurrect is like watching a paint dry). Contador will bounce back like no body business. And when he is back, he is better and stronger. The proof is in front of us. He was below his standard last year, and even got his head stomped by Froome at TDF and Nibali at TA. This year, he has been flying.

Stress, sacrifice and bigger chances to a failure is what a great champion thrive on. If he can't handle that, he wouldn't have won so many GT.

btw, you aren't off either, Contador himself said that the tour is the race that gives him more grieve.

Sadly, you're right. I would love to see him at the Giro, but the truth is that won't happen.

With another Giro win he could join the Badger as a double triple winner. And if he aimed for the Giro, he could win Dauphiné too. IMO that would add more to his palmares than another Tour win.

 

[Dedelou]

La Flo, I think that's part of the risk that Alberto is willing to sacrifice. He is a great champion. And he is most likely willing to take that risk. It's like when you want to invest your money buying a stock. You take a calculated risk because the stock could crash or going up. I guess the reward outweighs the risk

It's true, after his ban, he hasn't gotten to win any other GT other than La Vuelta. But that's why we love Contador. He is not Andy (waiting for Andy to resurrect is like watching a paint dry). Contador will bounce back like no body business. And when he is back, he is better and stronger. The proof is in front of us. He was below his standard last year, and even got his head stomped by Froome at TDF and Nibali at TA. This year, he has been flying.

Stress, sacrifice and bigger chances to a failure is what a great champion thrive on. If he can't handle that, he wouldn't have won so many GT.

btw, you aren't off either, Contador himself said that the tour is the race that gives him more grieve.

This is true . among all the grat champions who have tackled the none, IMO, have faced the externals hardships that Alberto has encountered in the TDF. Even if we minimize the painful loss of one tour taken away, he still had to deal with Astana being refused participation one year and having to fight his entire team on one other. A bad year last season after his suspension and now this terrible crash. That he is willing to return is something above expectation but also the stuff that separates him from you average winner

 

[ILovecycling]

There is also he chance he simply isn't good enough to win.

Not 2014,and hopefuly not in 2015 if he will train the same (and not decline) this winter.

 

[LaFlorecita]

TDF 2004 - Was going to start but couldn't because of his illness
TDF 2005 - 31st
TDF 2006 - Team banned from TDF
TDF 2007 - 1st
TDF 2008 - Team not invited
TDF 2009 - 1st but entire team racing against him
TDF 2010 - 1st but win got taken away
TDF 2011 - 5th, but could've potentially won had he not crashed hard several times and injured his knee.
TDF 2012 - Banned
TDF 2013 - 4th but humiliated by Froome and others
TDF 2014 - Chrashed out

There's a reason Alberto says the TDF is the race that has given him most grief.

 

[ILovecycling]

TDF 2004 - Was going to start but couldn't because of his illness
TDF 2005 - 31st
TDF 2006 - Team banned from TDF
TDF 2007 - 1st
TDF 2008 - Team not invited
TDF 2009 - 1st but entire team racing against him
TDF 2010 - 1st but win got taken away
TDF 2011 - 5th, but could've potentially won had he not crashed hard several times and injured his knee.
TDF 2012 - Banned
TDF 2013 - 4th but humiliated by Froome and others
TDF 2014 - Chrashed out

There's a reason Alberto says the TDF is the race that has given him most grief.

Yeah,I dont like tour.

edit: 3x DNS, 2x DSQ, 1x DNF, 5x Finished
Lol that means 6 vs 5, ridiculous,no Mr Il Felice like nibali

 

[peloton]

I wanted to avoid this place in fear of a jinx
I'm still devastated he crashed out

What coulda woulda been with that strong team, argh.

Oh well, hope he takes time to fully recover, no point to rush it.

Nothing away from Nibali tho, he's been by far the best rider and deserve the triple, he is my second fav rider

 

[Afrank]

But it also means more stress, more sacrifices and a bigger chance of failure. And the last thing Alberto needs right now, after the last few years, is another failure.

If a cyclist doesn't want failure to the point they let it stop them from competing in the biggest races, they should find a new career. One should never be afraid of failure or let it get in their way. One should embrace it, learn from it, and come back stronger to ensure it doesn't happen again.

Sure he'll feel stressed at times and he'll have to make sacrifices. But the awards of all that stress and sacrifice have the potential to be great. If I was Contador, I wouldn't let stress, sacrifice, and a potential of failure get in my way. Or to quote the man himself...

Tough day with a big leg pain,but with one thought: if you have a goal,focus on it,fight for it and it will be yours.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Or to quote the man himself...

Yeah, how did that work out this year

TDF is a stupid, overhyped race IMO and he should just give up on it. 2/11 times the Tour has worked out for him, I bet he'll fail next year too, and with 2 or 3 years to go in his career he can't afford another failure, he's not getting any younger either, his winning potential might be gone this time next year. He's won the Giro and the Vuelta every time he's started them, and he likes them better (or so he says). Screw the Tour.

And yes I know that'll never happen.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Yeah,I dont like tour.

edit: 3x DNS, 2x DSQ, 1x DNF, 5x Finished
Lol that means 6 vs 5, ridiculous,no Mr Il Felice like nibali

Yeah I wish he could just be lucky for once but it is just not meant to be, him and the Tour is not a good match. That's why I say go for il Giro.

 

[murali]

i think he shud try for giro-tour.

he needs one GT where he doesnt get the pressure of TdF. as fleur said, TDF is not really meant for him.


having said tht, i dont think tht we shud interpret Giro as running away.

totally disagree with an earlier poster who said tht he shud ride tour without looking at the course. I think he is big enough to choose the races he wants to do. i mean, if froome(with just 1 GT win) can do it, then why cant Bertie?

 

[ILovecycling]

Yeah,I think he should go for Giro-Tour double next year,but..
Conditions:
1.No 2011 Giro parcours
2.No ofensive style in Maglia Rosa (if he has more than 2min adv)
3.No Quintana,Nibali and Froome
4.No Ardeness or other classics
5.No dauphine
6.No mountain stage in 1st week of Tour


With this he should be able to win Giro with energy reserve,then rest and then riding slowly into form at TdF. He should be able to fight for podium at Tour.Victory is almost impossible if Nairo,Dawg and Nibbs are on top form.That was possible with Andy and Evans,not now.

 

[Jack_89]

Yeah,I think he should go for Giro-Tour double next year,but..
Conditions:
1.No 2011 Giro parcours
2.No ofensive style in Maglia Rosa (if he has more than 2min adv)
3.No Quintana,Nibali and Froome
4.No Ardeness or other classics
5.No dauphine
6.No mountain stage in 1st week of Tour


With this he should be able to win Giro with energy reserve,then rest and then riding slowly into form at TdF. He should be able to fight for podium at Tour.Victory is almost impossible if Nairo,Dawg and Nibbs are on top form.That was possible with Andy and Evans,not now.

Nibali will ride Giro-Tour next year!!

 

[ILovecycling]

Nibali will ride Giro-Tour next year!!

M-A-Y-B-E
Same for Quintana and Alberto,only one who we know will focus on Tour is Dawg.
You know,in this period of season I dont trust them at all.Those talks in december are more trustful.

 

[SeriousSam]

I get the impression Contador really, really wants to win the Tour at least one more time. He's got something to prove. Jeopardizing his chances to win the Tour by doing the lesser GTs against worse competition would be an admission of inferiority that I don't think Contador is ready to make just yet. Not while he believes himself to be capable of winning the Tour against a 2013 strength Froome.

If Contador ends up doing the Giro next year it's a sign he has given up trying to be the best.

 

[Netserk]

I think Nibali is the one of the big four with the biggest chance of riding the Giro next year, but I still think it's more likely he won't (also remember that next year's WCRR doesn't suit any GC contenders). I think Movistar will stage hunt in the Giro, Quintana sole leader for the Tour and Valverde aiming for Ardennes and Vuelta. Froome will do like the last two years, and I think Alberto will have the same schedule as this year. Nibali I'm less certain of, but I think there's 60-70% chance he won't ride the Giro and concentrate on defending his Tour victory. I think Purito should do like Valverde, but instead he'll probably do the same as was planned this year.

 

[ILovecycling]

I think Nibali is the one of the big four with the biggest chance of riding the Giro next year, but I still think it's more likely he won't (also remember that next year's WCRR doesn't suit any GC contenders). I think Movistar will stage hunt in the Giro, Quintana sole leader for the Tour and Valverde aiming for Ardennes and Vuelta. Froome will do like the last two years, and I think Alberto will have the same schedule as this year. Nibali I'm less certain of, but I think there's 60-70% chance he won't ride the Giro and concentrate on defending his Tour victory. I think Purito should do like Valverde, but instead he'll probably do the same as was planned this year.

can you please post a profile?

 

[Netserk]

can you please post a profile?

Cobbles and (very) short hills. Kristoff, Boonen, Sagan, Degenkolb & Canc as main favourites.

http://richmond2015.com/about/courses/road-circuit/