Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Futuroscope]

Broke their leg??

He has a cut that afected in some extensión to a bone, but not broke any leg. To stop three weeks after top form, is better than to ride all the Tour to prepare for the Vuelta.

Injury will bring down your form. It's not just time off the bike.

He won't be riding the vuelta, I don't see him riding unless he thinks he can win.

 

[Taxus4a]

Injury will bring down your form. It's not just time off the bike.

He won't be riding the vuelta, I don't see him riding unless he thinks he can win.

He can win, becouse he would be in good condition. And he can lose, becouse sport is like this.

I think that an injury like this is just time out of bike. An injury like this dont bring your form down...it is a problem ig you are in a race with a cut or a hit, becouse the body waste energy in recovery that you need, and as well becouse sometimes you dont sleep well. But out of race, this is not a problem for that, a cold, yes, would be a little problem, becouse you are ill, but a cut it is not important... the problem is that three weeks out of the bike is not very good, but just two weeks would be good, so, it is not the perfect way, but the initial plan to ride Tour and Vuelta neither.

We talk about Alberto, another riders need more training for this.

 

[Futuroscope]

He can win, becouse he would be in good condition. And he can lose, becouse sport is like this.

I think that an injury like this is just time out of bike. An injury like this dont bring your form down...it is a problem ig you are in a race with a cut or a hit, becouse the body waste energy in recovery that you need, and as well becouse sometimes you dont sleep well. But out of race, this is not a problem for that, a cold, yes, would be a little problem, becouse you are ill, but a cut it is not important... the problem is that three weeks out of the bike is not very good, but just two weeks would be good, so, it is not the perfect way, but the initial plan to ride Tour and Vuelta neither.

We talk about Alberto, another riders need more training for this.

I want Alberto to ride and crush his enemies, I simply don't think it's realistic even if he is recovering faster than is being reported officially.

edit: I very much like that Tinkoff/Saxo are spreading disinformation, that's how these type of situations should be handled. Nobody on the outside should know what is going on.

 

[fantomas]

From what Riis said in an interview with Danish TV, Contador seems to be training on his bike and that any cyclinst seeing an injured Contador training would think he is going really, really fast.

 

[ILovecycling]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7rvKOBd_p0
Just to prove Contador is the most crazy man of the team, excluding Tinkov himself ofcourse

Legend.

Another thing I find very strange, Alberto doesn't update at ALL on his condition and recovery anymore, even today he spoke about Sagan's transfert in the TCS news and he STILL didn't say a thing about his recovery, not a word.

Either he & TCS are downplaying his game, so the favourites don't take him seriously when he actually looks good (goes back to what I said a few days ago) or he really is hesitating still to go because he can't train properly.

hehe
Everybody will take him seriously in every race,he is freakin Contador,winner of 7 GT's,best rider of his generation.

Broke their leg??

He has a cut that afected in some extensión to a bone, but not broke any leg. To stop three weeks after top form, is better than to ride all the Tour to prepare for the Vuelta.

Lol you havent seen those x-rays
And he cant be in shape at start of Vuelta.Its impossible with 2 weeks training.

 

[Taxus4a]

Legend.

hehe
Everybody will take him seriously in every race,he is freakin Contador,winner of 7 GT's,best rider of his generation.

Lol you havent seen those x-rays
And he cant be in shape at start of Vuelta.Its impossible with 2 weeks training.

He has been training all the year...

If it is true he is already training, it is more than two weeks. Reality it is that we must speculate, becouse it difficult to know his real condicion. No, I didnt see his X-rays, I will look for it.

 

[Miburo]

It's not really confirmed (not 100% sure but many are saying it right now on twitter), Contador has already been training since july 30th apperently.

The guy on twitter thus wasn't lying when he said that he saw Contador training. Contador is crazy man, how the hell can he ride in 2 weeks with that injury lol

Edit: it could be that these guys are just quoting the original one on twitter who said it. I don't know...I should stop looking into this...

 

[Publicus]

It's confirmed on twitter. Contador has already been training since july 30th!

The guy on twitter wasn't lying when he said that he saw Contador training. Contador is crazy man, how the hell can he ride in 2 weeks with that injury lol

Confirmed on twitter how?

 

[Miburo]

Confirmed on twitter how?

I edited my post since i'm really not sure, i just saw more people saying it on twitter. I jumped the gun a bit but even if it's true doesn't mean he'll ride the vuelta.

I think he'll only ride it if he can win it. No point riding it when froome is gonna crush you. That's at least how i think Contador's mindset is.

 

[Miburo]

Well they say it.

Selon la Gazetta Dello Sport ; Alberto s'entraine secrètement pour la Vuelta !

 

[ILovecycling]

I edited my post since i'm really not sure, i just saw more people saying it on twitter. I jumped the gun a bit but even if it's true doesn't mean he'll ride the vuelta.

I think he'll only ride it if he can win it. No point riding it when froome is gonna crush you. That's at least how i think Contador's mindset is.

Who is that?





btw I agree with you

 

[Miburo]

I haven't seen many dominate the giro and the vuelta in the same year besides i still rate froome higher than quintana.

 

[ILovecycling]

Well they say it.

Can you post more tweets here?
Im not really good in searching twitter

 

[Red Rick]

The evening after his crash, Contador said he'd certainly ride the Vuelta if the doctors allowed it. This means he doesn't care about his form when deciding to ride it or not. If he's not good enough, go for grupetto cause #YOLO on the first mtf's so he can go for some stages and build form towards the rest of the season. If he's good enough to put up a fight, he'll certainly do, he's put in the effort before the Tour, he's got a better base than in July 2013

 

[Kwibus]

I haven't seen many dominate the giro and the vuelta in the same year besides i still rate froome higher than quintana.

Agree and Froome will be on a mission. No doubt he will be highly motivated to add the Vuelta to his palmares.

I'm not able to follow all the latest news/rumours anymore because I'm lacking time, but reading this thread somehow gave me hope of Contador riding the Vuelta again. While I was allready 100% sure it wouldn't happen.
I just hope that if he rides the Vuelta he will be ready. Don't let yourself get humiliated because you weren't ready Alberto!

 

[Red Rick]

Agree and Froome will be on a mission. No doubt he will be highly motivated to add the Vuelta to his palmares.

I'm not able to follow all the latest news/rumours anymore because I'm lacking time, but reading this thread somehow gave me hope of Contador riding the Vuelta again. While I was allready 100% sure it wouldn't happen.
I just hope that if he rides the Vuelta he will be ready. Don't let yourself get humiliated because you weren't ready Alberto!

Yeah, mission Impossible 4

 

[gunara]

Agree and Froome will be on a mission. No doubt he will be highly motivated to add the Vuelta to his palmares.

I'm not able to follow all the latest news/rumours anymore because I'm lacking time, but reading this thread somehow gave me hope of Contador riding the Vuelta again. While I was allready 100% sure it wouldn't happen.
I just hope that if he rides the Vuelta he will be ready. Don't let yourself get humiliated because you weren't ready Alberto!

Why can't we be more relaxed this year? To me, it's different than last year when everything seemed to be at stakes everytime he raced against Froome. At that time, he hadn't proved anything since the emergence of Froome, we were forced to wait (2012 Vuelta didn't indicate much), then when they clashed again, our belief were shattered. But this year, we had some great showing earlier, maybe none were big or clear enough to think he's back and bettering Froome, but to me it's enough to put back some belief, and anyway Alberto will have some good excuse if beaten in the Vuelta
Maybe I'll be more worried about humiliation when he face Nibali in big race next year, but at least I can share it with Froome's fans.

 

[BlurryVII]

Why can't we be more relaxed this year? To me, it's different than last year when everything seemed to be at stakes everytime he raced against Froome. At that time, he hadn't proved anything since the emergence of Froome, we were forced to wait (2012 Vuelta didn't indicate much), then when they clashed again, our belief were shattered. But this year, we had some great showing earlier, maybe none were big or clear enough to think he's back and bettering Froome, but to me it's enough to put back some belief, and anyway Alberto will have some good excuse if beaten in the Vuelta
Maybe I'll be more worried about humiliation when he face Nibali in big race next year, but at least I can share it with Froome's fans.

Wonder which humiliation against Nibali you talking about? Alberto is not going to lose to him anytime soon, except if he is back to 2013 levels.

This year Contador proved he was back, real good. He is even stronger than Froome last year comparing the first half of season.
He is just unbeatable on the mountains this season, and if he gets dropped at la Vuelta it's only because of poor form/injury.

 

[inthepink]

If Contador is injury free I see no reason not to ride the Vuelta ...most climbing is in the 3rd week and he can ride into fitness and use it as many do to prepare for the Worlds ....who knows maybe by the 3rd week he will be flying

 

[Jelantik]

Why can't we be more relaxed this year? To me, it's different than last year when everything seemed to be at stakes everytime he raced against Froome. At that time, he hadn't proved anything since the emergence of Froome, we were forced to wait (2012 Vuelta didn't indicate much), then when they clashed again, our belief were shattered. But this year, we had some great showing earlier, maybe none were big or clear enough to think he's back and bettering Froome, but to me it's enough to put back some belief, and anyway Alberto will have some good excuse if beaten in the Vuelta
Maybe I'll be more worried about humiliation when he face Nibali in big race next year, but at least I can share it with Froome's fans.

Noooooooooo..... Great champion doesn't look for an excuse when he got beaten fair and square. I know everyone wants to see Contador riding Vuelta. Me on the other hand. NO. I CAN'T let myself seeing Contador got beaten by Quintana and Froome like 2013 especially with a stellar season he got so far. It doesn't matter whether he was injured or not. If he comes to Vuelta, tell the world that he won't chase GC but instead of stage win, maybe I'll be okay. Even that I won't like it either. It's like Purito at TDF. Kinda trying, being mention here and there but most of the time is invisible. (no one talks about it since he wasn't that important). i don't think Contador will be okay with that. And I'm done seeing him like that last year.

As far as facing nibali, I think this year is the only time Nibs can TDF . I see him more like Evans and wiggins (one timer TDF winner. Btw nothing wrong with that) as Contador, Froome and Quintana are among the contenders. (aka they don't crashed out)

So I would rather him going to other race, and be the favorite to win it then win it.

As far Froome, I rated Quintana above Froome because Vuelta mountains are steep and harder than TDF mountains.

 

[paperbackwriter]

I think that people who say "Contador shouldn't start unless he's good enough to win" somewhat simplify Contador's mindset and the mindset of a champion in general. There were at least few situations in the past when he would back off if he was going by that rule.

One of the races that seemingly earned AC a lot of fans was the Tour 2011, wasn't it? Had he been afraid of the fresher, better prepared guys (who on top of that didn't have doping case hanging above their heads), he wouldn't have started. Yet he did and even when he realised he won't be able to win, he went 100% and animated the race.
And my point isn't that he should do what satisfies the fans... just that sometimes the win isn't the only satisfying option. I don't think Contador was devastated in Paris in 2011. He gave it his all and tried everything in order to win - it just didn't work but I doubt he has regrets, those belong to losing like, I don't know, Andy Schleck.

And if he loses to Froome and Quintana because the injury messed his preparation, I'm sure he's sensible enough to not draw the conclusion that they're superior riders. And you shouldn't be like "it will be unbearable to watch" - that's a bit childish.

Having a winner attitude is contradictory to missing an opportunity to compete because of the fear of defeat.

So, if his full recovery is at stake - sure, he shouldn't start. But that's it.

 

[Red Rick]

Contador is a man who wins like a hero and loses like a legend. Bring on La Vuelta

 

[BlurryVII]

And you shouldn't be like "it will be unbearable to watch" - that's a bit childish.


So, if his full recovery is at stake - sure, he shouldn't start. But that's it.

It will. Now for sure, if he gets beaten, it will not mean anything for next year we know that, but it will still be ****ing unbearable to watch if gets dropped by NQ & CF.

Contador isn't going to play the clown and entertain people, at some point, he has to freaking prove he is the best barring crashes and bad luck because he is.

So I'm for: he goes to the Vuelta only if he is in enough good form to WIN IT. Not necessarily crush everyone.
And we know that's how he will make up his mind. If tomorrow or later we learn that he isn't going for it, it won't mean that the injury is still serious but that he doesn't have great "sensations" and therefore doesn't feel he can win the thing.

 

[Jelantik]

And you shouldn't be like "it will be unbearable to watch" - that's a bit childish.

So, if his full recovery is at stake - sure, he shouldn't start. But that's it.

that's just a matter of opinion. Maybe some of the fans don't care if you see Contador like last year. Last year most of the poster here felt like Contador was dead. Yeah, it's unbearable to see Froome walked all over Contador's head last year. Since Contador is back from his ban, he hasn't showed any glimpse of his used glorious form before, not until this year. So yeah, I would like to see him again on the top. (maybe to finally be able to say to the non Contador fans that the man still has it in him).

Every fans has different emotional reaction to see their favorite rider who used to be dominated, got tossed around like a toy. Some people calls it childish, some call it esprit de' corps.

I'm not Contador, so I don't read his mind. Every time contador lines up on the race, he intends to win it. 2011 tour, I'm sure Contador believed he can win it. If I'm not mistaken he went to the Giro, because he wasn't so sure if he would be able to ride the Tour. And then he could ride the tour. With the form like that from the Giro, why not? He got every chance to win TDF. So to me being injured and being not fresh are totally different thing. But that's just my opinion..

 

[ILovecycling]

Noooooooooo..... Great champion doesn't look for an excuse when he got beaten fair and square. I know everyone wants to see Contador riding Vuelta. Me on the other hand. NO. I CAN'T let myself seeing Contador got beaten by Quintana and Froome like 2013 especially with a stellar season he got so far. It doesn't matter whether he was injured or not. If he comes to Vuelta, tell the world that he won't chase GC but instead of stage win, maybe I'll be okay. Even that I won't like it either. It's like Purito at TDF. Kinda trying, being mention here and there but most of the time is invisible. (no one talks about it since he wasn't that important). i don't think Contador will be okay with that. And I'm done seeing him like that last year.

As far as facing nibali, I think this year is the only time Nibs can TDF . I see him more like Evans and wiggins (one timer TDF winner. Btw nothing wrong with that) as Contador, Froome and Quintana are among the contenders. (aka they don't crashed out)

So I would rather him going to other race, and be the favorite to win it then win it.

As far Froome, I rated Quintana above Froome because Vuelta mountains are steep and harder than TDF mountains.

Couple of 'mistakes' imo.
1st You are very harsh to Nibali here.He is the second best GT rider as for palmares behind Contador,he is clearly better than Evans and freakin Wiggo

2nd Thats wrong.Quintana is not explosive rider at all and Vuelta 5-12km mountains (up to 1500m above sea) doesnt suit him.Froome otoh is very explosive as you could see at Cabarga.Hill sprinting finishes are not his speciality either (piti and murito will take time) but still he should be better on these than Nairo.
Vuelta is clearly the worst GT for Quintana (for Froome Giro it is)



As for Alberto participating at Vuelta.Call it childish or whatever but I want him to race only in form to conted overall or at least smash stage wins.