Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[alin.constantin89]

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.

He's already 31 and is really hard to be year after year at the same maximum level. You can do it with "vitamins" but then you will end being banned for doping. This year was to good for Contador to be able to repeat it next year, the human body has his limits.
He wasn't good in 2013, that's why he managed to be so high this year.

 

[LaFlorecita]

The best cyclist in the world taking a selfie with Alberto

 

[alin.constantin89]

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.

He's already 31 and is really hard to be year after year at the same maximum level. You can do it with "vitamins" but then you will end being banned for doping. This year was to good for Contador to be able to repeat it next year, the human body has his limits.
He wasn't good in 2013, that's why he managed to be so high this year.

 

[ILovecycling]

He's already 31 and is really hard to be year after year at the same maximum level. You can do it with "vitamins" but then you will end being banned for doping. This year was to good for Contador to be able to repeat it next year, the human body has his limits.
He wasn't good in 2013, that's why he managed to be so high this year.

Take it to the clinic,no place for this in AC thread.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

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.

I mostly agree, but it seems Valverde is already trying to secure co-leadership for next year's Tour and I think that's likely to happen, seeing how much influence he still has. I also don't think it's a bad thing to have both Quintana and Valverde on the same Tour team. It could be an issue in an echelon stage, but other than that... not really, as long as it's clear to everyone that Quintana is their main man.

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.

Yeah, and that won't happen, as he has a huge ego and a most impressive track record. There's close to zero chance that Contador will race the Giro ever again, IMO, unless he believes he can win the Giro and the Tour back to back. But I'm willing to bet that he has given up on that idea.

Anyway, he won't play second fiddle to an other (younger) GC rider on the same team and the TDF is the big prize, so yeah. Not gonna happen. No matter what he may say in interviews he's obsessed with the Tour. It's clear as day.

He may leave Tinkoff after the 2015 season, especially if his position as the team's #1 GC leader is under threat, not saying it will be, but it might. He'll then keep focusing on the Tour for maybe 2 more years. Then he'll quit. Okay, enough speculation for now.

 

[Netserk]

I mostly agree, but it seems Valverde is already trying to secure co-leadership for next year's Tour and I think that's likely to happen, seeing how much influence he still has. I also don't think it's a bad thing to have both Quintana and Valverde on the same Tour team. It could be an issue in an echelon stage, but other than that... not really, as long as it's clear to everyone that Quintana is their main man.

I think Valverde will realize that he can't do much in the Tour, but if he is fresh for the Vuelta and has post-Tour Quintana as über-dom, he could perhaps win the Vuelta again.

 

[ILovecycling]

I think Valverde will realize that he can't do much in the Tour, but if he is fresh for the Vuelta and has post-Tour Quintana as über-dom, he could perhaps win the Vuelta again.

I hope this will happen,cuz it would be ridiculous for Quintana not to be a leader at Tour.Especialy if he will ride good Vuelta against Dawg this fall.Valverde just doesnt have it,he has great year this year, but GT's are not his best playground.


As we are off-topic,I found interesting article about Alberto.
The last part is very interesting.
http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=73573

 

[richwagmn]

I think Valverde will realize that he can't do much in the Tour, but if he is fresh for the Vuelta and has post-Tour Quintana as über-dom, he could perhaps win the Vuelta again.

Valverde needs to move aside for Quintana. If they do ride together, it should be made clear to Valverde that he's plan B.

Of course what happens next year depends on the course profile too. If there are long flat TTs, Quintana will be at a serious disadvantage to Contador/Froome.

 

[LaFlorecita]

As we are off-topic,I found interesting article about Alberto.
The last part is very interesting.
http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=73573

thanks for posting

 

[murali]

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

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

Cancellara, Tony Martin.

another WC where AC has absolutely no chance.

 

[murali]

Valverde needs to move aside for Quintana. If they do ride together, it should be made clear to Valverde that he's plan B.

Of course what happens next year depends on the course profile too. If there are long flat TTs, Quintana will be at a serious disadvantage to Contador/Froome.

if there are TTs then the race in mountains is going to be very interesting.

it wud be wonderful to see AC and Quintana team up to drop Froome in the real mountains.

 

[Afrank]

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.

We'll never know how it would have worked out because he had some bad luck, which can happen to anyone. He was looking in great form and there's a good chance he could have won it had he not crashed. Crashes are part of cycling and are another thing a cyclist can not be afraid of.

BTW, is this the doom and gloom LaFlorecita returning? Try to have a little faith in your man.

Good point about getting older and winning potential going down though. If he really is finding it harder and harder to remain with guys like Froome due to getting older, then I would agree. That would be a justifiable reason to start targeting Giro-Vuelta instead.

 

[murali]

We'll never know how it would have worked out because he had some bad luck, which can happen to anyone. He was looking in great form and there's a good chance he could have won it had he not crashed. Crashes are part of cycling and are another thing a cyclist can not be afraid of.

BTW, is this the doom and gloom LaFlorecita returning? Try to have a little faith in your man.

Good point about getting older and winning potential going down though. If he really is finding it harder and harder to remain with guys like Froome due to getting older, then I would agree. That would be a justifiable reason to start targeting Giro-Vuelta instead.

he is in the right side of 35.
so age is not a factor here.

 

[LaFlorecita]

We'll never know how it would have worked out because he had some bad luck, which can happen to anyone. He was looking in great form and there's a good chance he could have won it had he not crashed.

What I meant was that he had a goal, he focussed on it, he fought for it, yet he didn't achieve it.

BTW, is this the doom and gloom LaFlorecita returning? Try to have a little faith in your man.

No, I just absolutely hate the Tour and absolutely hate seeing Alberto fail. And if we look at the statistics, there is a good chance he will fail and that next year's Tour will be another heartbreak for him. Can't have that. Screw the overhyped Tour.

Good point about getting older and winning potential going down though. If he really is finding it harder and harder to remain with guys like Froome due to getting older, then I would agree. That would be a justifiable reason to start targeting Giro-Vuelta instead.

Exactly.

 

[LaFlorecita]

he is in the right side of 35.
so age is not a factor here.

Most riders start their decline before the age of 35.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Cancellara, Tony Martin.

another WC where AC has absolutely no chance.

That is because Alberto is too much of a specialist. If the only thing you excel at is climbing, you'll have a chance to win only once in every 20 years or so. If he wants to win the worlds, he'll need to change as a rider.

 

[murali]

Most riders start their decline before the age of 35.

that's because they are not as talented as AC.

you can save my post, and we will come back to it after he turns 35.

 

[Afrank]

That is because Alberto is too much of a specialist. If the only thing you excel at is climbing, you'll have a chance to win only once in every 20 years or so. If he wants to win the worlds, he'll need to change as a rider.

He just needs to take and even Vino-ier (is that a word? it is now ) approach then he already does. Not just attack on climbs, attack everywhere! Flats, descents, ascents, around tight corners, small hills, and everywhere and everything in between. Just try to create a little chaos and hope he get's lucky and a move sticks.

Got to admit, although unlikly, it would be pretty cool if he could take the win this year.

 

[LaFlorecita]

that's because they are not as talented as AC.

you can save my post, and we will come back to it after he turns 35.

"The earlier and brighter the fire burns, the earlier it goes out."

CN forum poster Carol S

 

[Netserk]

That is because Alberto is too much of a specialist. If the only thing you excel at is climbing, you'll have a chance to win only once in every 20 years or so. If he wants to win the worlds, he'll need to change as a rider.

He had the chance last year. Unfortunately he was shiit last year. In his best shape he could've won that. IF he's still at his best, maybe he'll have a chance again in 2017.

 

[LaFlorecita]

He just needs to take and even Vino-ier (is that a word? it is now ) approach then he already does. Not just attack on climbs, attack everywhere! Flats, descents, ascents, around tight corners, small hills, and everywhere and everything in between. Just try to create a little chaos and hope he get's lucky and a move sticks.

Got to admit, although unlikly, it would be pretty cool if he could take the win this year.

He was asked on Spanish TV 2 days ago, which race he would still like to win, and he said the Worlds, but he also said that it's practically impossible.

 

[murali]

"The earlier and brighter the fire burns, the earlier it goes out."

CN forum poster Carol S

Wow!!


When a river's flow is broken mid-course, it will appear as if it is tamed for a while; but the dam will break. and when the flow resumes, there will be a deluge.


the 1212... this year is just a sign. he again got blocked due to a pot-hole. the pent up pressure will result in massive destruction of the peloton next year.

 

[LaFlorecita]

He had the chance last year. Unfortunately he was shiit last year. In his best shape he could've won that. IF he's still at his best, maybe he'll have a chance again in 2017.

Meh... don't think so. Only on a course with massive mountains he'd stand a chance, because on every other course he'll be used as a domestique.

 

[murali]

He had the chance last year. Unfortunately he was shiit last year. In his best shape he could've won that. IF he's still at his best, maybe he'll have a chance again in 2017.

why 2017?

Afrank is right though. he needs to be even more vino-ier than Vino himself(if tht is even possible) to win the worlds.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Wow!!


When a river's flow is broken mid-course, it will appear as if it is tamed for a while; but the dam will break. and when the flow resumes, there will be a deluge.


the 1212... this year is just a sign. he again got blocked due to a pot-hole. the pent up pressure will result in massive destruction of the peloton next year.

We'll see. I hope you're right, but personally I can't see Alberto still at the top when he's 35. He might even be retired by then.