Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[LaFlorecita]

Interview with the man of the hour:

http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/...ana-2014/contador-para-como-victoria/2731080/

Nice video! Makes me happy

 

[peloton]

When people post videos that are in Spanish, could you please do a short translation of what's being said, for those of us who don't understand Spanish.
Thanks

Very promising ride today, brilliant!

 

[Carols]

Nice video! Makes me happy

I'm glad you're happy, that is a good sign. But what did he say????? Spanish challenged here

 

[Carols]

It seems like it's getting harder to find new ones
At this point, there has been 3 different leaders (Castroviejo - Valverde - Rodriguez in 2012) and Castroviejo - Valverde - Mathews this year.
Also Valverde has won the first mountain top finish (he won at arrate in 2012 which was the 1st MTF) .
That's all I have for today

Also the 4th and last rider who wore the leader's jersey in 2012 was AC, my prediction is that the next rider who'll take the red jersey will win the Vuelta.

Also there are other common points, extremely high temperatures in the first week which was not the case in 2013.
And just take a look at the GC field, purito, bala, ac, froome, quintana, gesink... they were all here in 2012

That is some good sleuthing, thanks . It remains possible!

 

[Jack_89]

I said it. He never participated to make up the numbers or settle for a stage win. You must be joking, if that were the case would not be Alberto Contador .

Next week i want to hear :" Cambio de ritmo del madrileno, cambia ritrmo Contador !!"

Always the Best

 

[Jspear]

Grande Alberto!!! He has passed the initial test with flying colors . He just needs that knee to hold up, gain more fitness, recover well and get some high end explosiveness. He can possibly win this thing!

He was grinding more than dancing but did it with square shoulders. No favoring that I could see. He is such a road warrior and so talented that even without proper preparation he still rises to the top like cream. The top 10 is already the cream of this race!

Phew Impressive Ride Alberto!

BTW as far as putting people on ignore. Well I'm in my golden years and frankly have no time left to waste . If someone quotes a post of someone I have on ignore I'll skim and if it seems useful I'll go back and View Post. Best of both worlds actually at least for me.

This. No one went alien speed today - we don't know how he would have responded to that yet.....I really hope that the next couple of mountains stages are raced like they did today so he can get a little more form, and then hopefully he'll be ready for the crazy accelerations. Still today was very good.

 

[ILovecycling]

I said it. He never participated to make up the numbers or settle for a stage win. You must be joking, if that were the case would not be Alberto Contador .

Next week i want to hear :" Cambio de ritmo del madrileno, cambia ritrmo Contador !!"

Always the Best

Yeah!!!!



Later I'll do translation of that video,if there is enough time (or some spanish (taxus)/latino member can do it)

 

[LaFlorecita]

I'm glad you're happy, that is a good sign. But what did he say????? Spanish challenged here

This felt like a victory for him. He did not expect to finish among the first, so he's very happy. He feels occasional shots of pain in his knee but nothing too bad. He hopes to get better every day. He again says it's a surprise for him, and also says he feels no pressure. When asked if he can win the race, he says that he'll take it day by day, and will see what happens.

I think

 

[Hugo87]

Yeah!!!!



Later I'll do translation of that video,if there is enough time (or some spanish (taxus)/latino member can do it)

First minute and half +- of the video translated ( it's the most important part), it isn't perfect because i'm Portuguese, but i can speak and understand castellano.

"Alberto, how is gonna your body and knee respond after this stage?"

- For me it was excellent, Valverde got a huge win, I couldn't image being in the top-10 today, neither fighting for the win.
- I have some stingers in my knee sometimes, but they didn't stop me from pedaling, I have my fingers crossed to avoid getting worse and I hope my form will improve steady over the next days.

"Do you think those stingers come from the fracture or the wound?"

- They come inside from tendons and the impact of the activity, what worries me it's the stretching in the quadriceps at the muscular level, but I can't complain.

 

[Jspear]

This felt like a victory for him. He did not expect to finish among the first, so he's very happy. He feels occasional shots of pain in his knee but nothing too bad. He hopes to get better every day. He again says it's a surprise for him, and also says he feels no pressure. When asked if he can win the race, he says that he'll take it day by day, and will see what happens.

I think

First minute and half +- of the video translated ( it's the most important part), it isn't perfect because i'm Portuguese, but i can speak and understand castellano.

Thanks a bunch ya'll.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

hehehe, I think me picking AC for the winner of the gc in Foxxys game wasn't such a stupid move after all

 

[Carols]

Thanks for the translations!!!

He is happy to have done so well . The only concern is those 'stingers' or 'shots of pain' in his knee; that doesn't sound good .

 

[Jspear]

hehehe, I think me picking AC for the winner of the gc in Foxxys game wasn't such a stupid move after all

Even though I don't have him for the overall win, I would much rather have him win this Vuelta than have him 6th (where I have him) and gain an extra point.

 

[LaFlorecita]

 

[murali]

It seems like it's getting harder to find new ones
At this point, there has been 3 different leaders (Castroviejo - Valverde - Rodriguez in 2012) and Castroviejo - Valverde - Mathews this year.
Also Valverde has won the first mountain top finish (he won at arrate in 2012 which was the 1st MTF) .
That's all I have for today

Also the 4th and last rider who wore the leader's jersey in 2012 was AC, my prediction is that the next rider who'll take the red jersey will win the Vuelta.

Also there are other common points, extremely high temperatures in the first week which was not the case in 2013.
And just take a look at the GC field, purito, bala, ac, froome, quintana, gesink... they were all here in 2012

hahaha... you are taking this 2012 thing a bit too far.


just saw the last climb clipping. I think AC is ok. He wasn't in his explosive best.
But this is just first week of racing. No one can win the race here, though ppl can lose the GC race. there are about 31 riders within 5 minutes of the leader. Good start, but i still say: wait for stage 13.


@Carols: he managed to loose a massive 6 seconds.

 

[Hugo87]

Thanks a bunch ya'll.

Thanks for the translations!!!

He is happy to have done so well . The only concern is those 'stingers' or 'shots of pain' in his knee; that doesn't sound good .

You're welcome.

Tomorrow could be a hard day for him, but there's time till Sunday to recover.

Great pic Florecita.

 

[No_Balls]

I agree. A fantastic picture and i have no doubt the love and support he's got on the road, villages, outside his teambus will only add more strenght to what already looks like an imperishable iron will. It will be most difficult to drop him this Vuelta.

Today was one of those day one was back to the point where i'd remember why i love the sport. The uncertainity of things. I believed in AC but was also a bit nervous of it: would he hold out? When will the attacks come and could he cope with it? With 1.1 km he was a bit too far down for my liking. Eyes started wandering across the peloton looking desperately after a swagging Tinkoff-shirt. With Alberto things are often certain in the mountains but this was a day of questions and hope. But this is a beauty with the sport imo: the uncertainty and the hope of survival and then the relief when its over and "your" guy has survived. The beauty of cycling. Or just a dairy of a fanboy.

Anyway, it felt like a victory today.

 

[gregrowlerson]

I agree. A fantastic picture and i have no doubt the love and support he's got on the road, villages, outside his teambus will only add more strenght to what already looks like an imperishable iron will. It will be most difficult to drop him this Vuelta.

Today was one of those day one was back to the point where i'd remember why i love the sport. The uncertainity of things. I believed in AC but was also a bit nervous of it: would he hold out? When will the attacks come and could he cope with it? With 1.1 km he was a bit too far down for my liking. Eyes started wandering across the peloton looking desperately after a swagging Tinkoff-shirt. With Alberto things are often certain in the mountains but this was a day of questions and hope. But this is a beauty with the sport imo: the uncertainty and the hope of survival and then the relief when its over and "your" guy has survived. The beauty of cycling. Or just a dairy of a fanboy.

Anyway, it felt like a victory today.

3rd! And no time loss!



The impossible may still be possible

 

[SeriousSam]

What elegant climbing styles some of those top climbers have. From left to right: Burning Angel Style (slightly suffering); Praying Mantis Style with stem focus; Dancing on the Pedals Style

 

[contador977]

Thanks for the translations!!!

He is happy to have done so well . The only concern is those 'stingers' or 'shots of pain' in his knee; that doesn't sound good .

I am not sure why people or fans are putting stock into this. He is at the Vuelta and is fine. He always down plays his chances.

" I never expected to be this good today"

I dont believe it. None of his rivals believe what he is saying either.

As far as Contador Tour form, who knows. Its impossible to say what he would have done, sure he has been good this year but the searing attacks of Verbier and those battles with Rasmussen are attacks that no one in the peloton could even come close to following. Since the ban, attacks are not sustained by Contador usually, its a gap and then he is caught. This year he was staying away but the explosion is not the same from my perspective.

 

[peloton]

I am not sure why people or fans are putting stock into this. He is at the Vuelta and is fine. He always down plays his chances.

" I never expected to be this good today"

I dont believe it. None of his rivals believe what he is saying either.

As far as Contador Tour form, who knows. Its impossible to say what he would have done, sure he has been good this year but the searing attacks of Verbier and those battles with Rasmussen are attacks that no one in the peloton could even come close to following. Since the ban, attacks are not sustained by Contador usually, its a gap and then he is caught. This year he was staying away but the explosion is not the same from my perspective.

You kidding? The way he won Tirreno, dropping Quintana and bridging the break alone, that was something we haven't seen for awhile. Epic.

 

[BlurryVII]

I am not sure why people or fans are putting stock into this. He is at the Vuelta and is fine. He always down plays his chances.

" I never expected to be this good today"

I dont believe it. None of his rivals believe what he is saying either.

As far as Contador Tour form, who knows. Its impossible to say what he would have done, sure he has been good this year but the searing attacks of Verbier and those battles with Rasmussen are attacks that no one in the peloton could even come close to following. Since the ban, attacks are not sustained by Contador usually, its a gap and then he is caught. This year he was staying away but the explosion is not the same from my perspective.

Did you Pais Vasco Stage 1? Did you see Passo Lanciano at Tirreno Adriatico this year? Did you see his Côte de montagny performance at the dauphiné? If those are not sustained attacks, then I don't know what you mean by "sustain"

This was his best spring season since 2009, why are you talking about Verbier, and battle with Rassmussen? You don't compare a first half of the season form with the Tour form, this year he planned to peak for the Tour as well, but we couldn't see the carnage unfortunately.

"As far as Contador Tour form, who knows.

Just look at his face

He mentioned the Tour again after the stage in interview today "I trained harder than ever for the Tour, I had an incredible form, here I'm not at the same form, nor the same weight but I'm already happy to be here"

You sure you're a Contador fan?
From what you said, I don't think so.

 

[RedFury]

This felt like a victory for him. He did not expect to finish among the first, so he's very happy. He feels occasional shots of pain in his knee but nothing too bad. He hopes to get better every day. He again says it's a surprise for him, and also says he feels no pressure. When asked if he can win the race, he says that he'll take it day by day, and will see what happens.

I think

Good enough overall translation. I'll add that he also said that as always he'll go for the win as long as his body allows it. In short what he implied and we already know, is that he isn't riding for second place. He was also very thankful for all the support he gets from fans.

Has he ever? Ridden for second that is.

ETA: I'd think "a pinch every now and then" is a more accurate description of what he feels on the knee.

 

[Jelantik]

Contador with one leg.... already third. I hope the trend keeps continuing. Stage 13 means that he got almost 3 weeks at least? racing leg..

broken leg, broken wrist vs. no injury valverde, quintana and purito .. Vuelta is the best GT ever.. (TDF is overrated)

 

[ILovecycling]

I agree. A fantastic picture and i have no doubt the love and support he's got on the road, villages, outside his teambus will only add more strenght to what already looks like an imperishable iron will. It will be most difficult to drop him this Vuelta.

Today was one of those day one was back to the point where i'd remember why i love the sport. The uncertainity of things. I believed in AC but was also a bit nervous of it: would he hold out? When will the attacks come and could he cope with it? With 1.1 km he was a bit too far down for my liking. Eyes started wandering across the peloton looking desperately after a swagging Tinkoff-shirt. With Alberto things are often certain in the mountains but this was a day of questions and hope. But this is a beauty with the sport imo: the uncertainty and the hope of survival and then the relief when its over and "your" guy has survived. The beauty of cycling. Or just a dairy of a fanboy.

Anyway, it felt like a victory today.

Very nice post , I had same type of story yesterday. I was sitting with my laptop in agony watching those last 4km, like you say worse than usual because of that uncertainity. (plus for me Bala vs Nairo) My heart beat like 160 and after the finish, whole evening I had a terrible headache and fever ,but it was worth it!

Good enough overall translation. I'll add that he also said that as always he'll go for the win as long as his body allows it. In short what he implied and we already know, is that he isn't riding for second place. He was also very thankful for all the support he gets from fans.

Has he ever? Ridden for second that is.

ETA: I'd think "a pinch every now and then" is a more accurate description of what he feels on the knee.

yep,I searched for the right word,and this is it.

btw why dou dont post more often,I remember you are ac fan.