Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Helvellyn]

Also you said "Nibali last year at the Vuelta was evidence that peaking for a second time is normally slightly off the first peak"

I'll give another example later but I don't see where you guys saw Nibali stronger at the Giro than at the vuelta? A bit of a low average power output (5.64), which perhaps is normal due to extreme conditions, not much of a tough competition Uran 2nd, old evans 3rd (as usual with Nibali), when he had to face Horner who delivered much more wattage at the Vuelta.

I was basing it on the fact that Nibali was beaten by a 41yo at the Vuelta, whereas I consider Uran quite a strong up and coming GT rider.

But anyway, you can disagree with that, what about Rodriguez 2012? Much, much stronger at the Vuelta. Smoking everyone on steep parts, AND responding most of AC attacks when he struggled beating Hesjedal at the Giro, he didn't even have to repond any attack and couldn't gain serious time on him on the Stelvio.

Fair point...it is certainly possible and there have been examples of riders being equally strong at the Giro and Vuelta as you mention. I personally feel that the location of the Vuelta on the calendar has historically meant that many participants are not as strong as they might be on paper because the Vuelta is often an after-thought on a rider's calendar, having already raced the Giro or the Tour. Typically, those specifically basing their whole season around the Vuelta tend to be the 2nd tier GC guys like Dan Martin or Nico Roche. It's not that I'm trying to add weight to Contador's shoulders, but I'm trying to look for positives - if he does turn out to have reasonable allbeit, not top form, then he may still be in with a chance due to the reason I mentioned.

 

[Dr. Juice]

One off year - which happens to every great champion - and some people say "far too often not at his best". Apart from 2013, he was never off his best. Vuelta 2012 was great without having raced, before that he dominated every GT and after 2013 - which means 2014 - he is back to kick a**, has done so in the spring out-climbing Quintana & co, then he was denied of showing his return to godlike level in the TdF.
Now he is coming off a broken tibia , far from 100% which is just destiny but detractors will use a possible defeat as "another" example that he is not the best anymore.

Today's stage: The climb is like in Pais Vasco where he outclimbed Bala, if not for his crash he could have won this one. He has always been explosive enough for this type of climbs when in top form. If he now has the form of 2012 he won't lose more than 5 or 10 sec to the winner, which would be great. Hopefully the form gradient is steep and he returns to 95 % from the TT onwards - which would put him in the fight with Nairo and Froome.
100 % is impossible though.

 

[Taxus4a]

@Taxus4a Are you serious? you wrote so much bull****, I can't even reply to everything

- Quintana is having the ideal preparation for this Vuelta, no crash, Burgos in the legs, training since June for this only goal, and you're saying he is "a little bit Contador way"
and "Everybody is a little contador way" Are you actually serious?

- Froome resumed training much earlier than Contador, he just had little injury in wrist and hand, not a deep incision to the bone in his right leg.

- "He is at his very best" Nope he isn't, if he is then he'll just trash all the GC guys today.
If he struggles and gets dropped, then he is in average shape or bad shape depends on how much time he loses, as simple as that, is it difficult to understand?

Maybe is for my english.
Quintana had the ideal preparation... well, the ideal is horner last year, really fresh with an altitude race as Utah before.
Quintana had the normal preparation anyway and he is not saying: i am really good and ready to win, he is that way a little contador way, with excuses.
Contador is not the ideal, but i am serious, who is not serious is Contador when say he is here to look for an stage and his behaviour and his team behaviour is totally to win the Vuelta andn they know before today stage that Contador is ready.
I consider Quintana and Uran normal preparation for the Vuelta.
Purito, not normal, but very good, he did the Tour in a relaxing mode, He show in San Sebastian he was building up, and he is ready.
I consider Froome and Contador not normal, but not bad, a litthe better for Contador, with more competition days in le Tour.
Valverde, Pinot,...and the initial plans for Contador. Too tired. Anyway with hot Valverde can be very strong.

Contador tried to get this with all his lies about Vuelta and knee: he has not pressure now and all his fans are going to say: if he win he is an hero, and he dont win it is normal, when he is as ready as the rest...But you must understand that a lot of people are not in your thoughts, that way I am writting here. I know well contador, and I wrotte here just after le Tour he will ride the Vuelta to win. and I say, just if he is not in the top 20 today stage, he wasnt lying. and Contador today is for sure top ten, similar time than Froome or Quintana.
But what I mean is: Acording to his words to get better at the end of La Vuelta, if he today is 7th, 15 second back of Purito, in the last week WHAT WE MUST EXPECT FOR HIM IF HE IS SUPPOSED TO IMPROVE?
Today is a better climb for Purito, but Los Lagos, Farrapona,... is a better climb for Contador.
If Contador dont improve during the Vuelta, it is becouse his Knee as well??
if he improve, it is becouse he was "short of shape" at the begining of the Vuelta, becouse, officially, he just train 1 week...

I am sure that if Contador get a similar result today than at the end of la Vuelta your are going to say: it is not the best preparation, so he couldn do his best at any tome of the Vuelta

when he said always that he expect to improve through the race.

 

[Taxus4a]

Now he is coming off a broken tibia , far from 100% .

Broken tibia? it is depends what you mean with that

He stopped just a little for that injury, and he has been trained at least a month before, with all the work for the Tour done previously, so:

Why far from 100%?

Why worse that his previous plans to rode Tour at Vuelta as Valverde? I think he is better that he would have been that way. And he thought about to win.

 

[Taxus4a]

http://www.elperiodico.com/es/notic...tador-madrid-descartan-fractura-tibia-3382366

Translate this

you read this and you see:

NO BROKEN TIBIA, STOP LYING.

JUST 2 WEEK TO STOP BIKE.

CONTADOR SAID: MAYBE I WILL HAVE JUST 2 WEEKS OF TRAINING AND THAT IS A LITTLE. Well, I think that according the shape of The Tour, two weeks is enough to be at a good level, but well, yes, it is not enoght to GC with people as Quintana, Froome, Purito,...

Well, but he has 1 mont training well, SO, IT IS A GOOD PREPARATION, AND HE IS SHOWING THAT, I CANT SEE THE DIFFERENCE of PAST DAY WITH the stage in england.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Oh dear lord.

 

[ILovecycling]

oh shiit,you've got good posts other days...but please abandon this thread,your comments on AC are unbearable

 

[paperbackwriter]

I actually kind of agree that in a way, everyone's situation is a bit like Contador's.

As for Froome, it's true that he had a better preparation (or we can assume that he had) but Froome has yet to prove that he can "make something out of nothing". For now he's a guy who can win or do very well when everything goes according to Sky's plan - which isn't too versatile. And the scheme is already ruined because he crashed out of the Tour. Not sure if he can adjust (it may well turn out he can but while Contador proved it many times, Froome hasn't yet). I sort of have a feeling that he won't have it in him to improvise if he finds out he's off his best - going for 2 secs bonus won't cut it.

Quintana on the other hand is kind of testing what his limits are. Sure his huge advantage is that at least he could plan his preparation beforehand and execute it. But he doesn't have Contador's, Froome's or even Nibali's experience of riding two GTs as a leader so it's not as pretty as it may look. It's of course unlikely that he'll fail spectacularly but there's a difference between that and lacking just this little bit that decides who wins (I guess you could ask Nibali).
I still see him as a big favourite because it's a minor disadvantage compared to Contador's. But I saw Contador overcoming major disadvantages already and as for Nairo, again, I have yet to know (and he himself has yet to know, I guess).

Purito's plans were also destroyed this season and I doubt he can reach his best. I guess this Vuelta is not bad for him but he's inferior to AC, CF and NQ when they're at 100% so it may simply not be enough.

To sum up, being perfectly prepared for the Vuelta is a rare case and it's normal that you have to take into consideration some extra factors. It's a game of who lacks how much and how can he cope with it (and will it be enough when someone fresher shows up - see Cobo or Horner). Sure if Contador is much worse compared to the rest, the 2nd part won't matter. But if not, his experience in such situations may prove to be a fairly valuable advantage.

 

[Carols]

oh shiit,you've got good posts other days...but please abandon this thread,your comments on AC are unbearable

Just put him on ignore if it bothers you. I haven't read his blather in months .

 

[ILovecycling]

Just put him on ignore if it bothers you. I haven't read his blather in months .

the thing is,and I have to admit it,I had taxus on ignore maybe more than a year,but in recent months some of his posts were good,so I removed him.I mean those posts werent about berto,cuz when he posts smth about him,its always bs.


edit: btw Im already nervous,vamos Alberto!

 

[Alcanelo]

Putting people on ignore really? It's like a kid that covers his eyes and says "you can't see me".

 

[ILovecycling]

Putting people on ignore really? It's like a kid that covers his eyes and says "you can't see me".

Thats your opinion.Mine is the opposite.

 

[Alcanelo]

It's the internet, it's not supposed to be serious. You're bound to come across people who will not like you and will think differently to you, that's what makes forum boards interesting and successful. Even trolls have their place. Putting people on ignore is just like

 

[ILovecycling]

It's the internet, it's not supposed to be serious. You're bound to come across people who will not like you and will think differently to you, that's what makes forum boards interesting and successful. Even trolls have their place. Putting people on ignore is just like

I do understand you.
but like I said,your opinion.

 

[Colonel]

He is at his very best of his life. Or if he is not right now, according his words before the Vuelta, he would be better at the end. So, if he attack in the small climb finish and put time on other favourites, if he try to cut the race with the wind, if he is always in the front and if he was part of a team that got a good result in the initial TTT (exactly the same than Purito in the Tour, who didnt lied about go for stages ), at the end of the Vuelta he could put 5 minutes to his rivals in Pan do Zarco.

He is not the best and he has his chances becouse the rest are not at his best, at least Froome and Valverde didnt have the best preparation for the race.

Contador is better than his previous plan to ride Tour an Vuelta full gas.
This is of course better.

if you want to believe anything of his previous words about problems with knee, he was out of the Vuelta, etc, is your problem.

Reallity is that after to be in big form he rode a week in the Tour, he got out from the Tour fresh but with some competition (Froome was just a little), he stopped just 3 weeks (or even less, who knows), and he has been one month training hard for the Vuelta.

It is a preparation to be at his best or to get his best in the next week.
but Quintana said he is not at his best when he has rode Burgos...

So, except Uran, everybody is a little Contador way...

Purito has a good preparation as well.

Where do you make the stuff up that you do? Do you know cycling at all? I ask that with respect.

 

[ILovecycling]

Where do you make the stuff up that you do? Do you know cycling at all? I ask that with respect.

He knows,he just have 'slightly' different opinions on Alberto.

 

[Donkey]

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees

 

[Red Rick]

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees

You forgot a few

 

[Alcanelo]

Oh it is on my friends, it is on like Donkey Kong

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Well done AC. favourite with Froome right now I guess

 

[Hugo87]

I believe he can win it, don't have any rational facts to base my opinion, but he will do anything possible to take this Vuelta home and revenge his crash that destroyed his Tour hopes.

I'm gonna quote myself, just to say I'm more confident than ever now.

Great stage

 

[LaFlorecita]

Que grande eres Alberto!!!!!! What a Champ!!

 

[Red Rick]

Well done AC. favourite with Froome right now I guess

Don't forget Quintana, this is too short for him. Valverde might again find a way to screw up, but this was the best i've ever seen him climb.

 

[grampy]

Could not believe my eyes! Vamos campeon!

 

[Miburo]

This ****er already trained hard after 2 weeks lol

As big as Contador his talent is, this is otherwise not possible. Anyway great performance, he can definitely win this now. Just needs to hold on now sunday.