Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[SeriousSam]

He should have better recovery between climbs.

A dangerous assumption to make. Remember, yesterday, Valverde lost about 20 seconds. Today, he gained 5. A linear extrapolation yields a prediction of Contador losing 25 seconds tomorrow.

 

[LaFlorecita]

A dangerous assumption to make. Remember, yesterday, Valverde lost about 20 seconds. Today, he gained 5. A linear extrapolation yields a prediction of Contador losing 25 seconds tomorrow.

Yeah

 

[Dr. Juice]

I can't wait for next year when Alberto will be back in top shape, blasting away even on shorter climbs from the likes of Valverde, and do 6.5 w/kg on Alpe d'Huez.
Those who think he will decline before age 34 are in for a big disappointment. We can safely say last year was a bad year, this year he was back to his 2011 level at the very least. Next year he'll win 80% of the races he enters including Tour de France.
He has a determination like nobody. Tibia fracture and still better than every other GT rider - at 80 - 85 %.

 

[Carols]

“At the same time, I was watching Valverde and Rodriguez, they’re very fast in the sprints. But Froome is, for me, the strongest rider I’ve ever come across in my career. Between here and Santiago we’ll see how big an opportunity it was that we’ve lost.”

Wow very strong words, not that I'm surprised as Froome is the the only guy that has ever taken it to him multiple times and come out on top.

Bala and Purito he knows he can beat, it's Froome that gives him nightmares. That fear is what cost him the Dauphine!

 

[Miburo]

Of course froome is the strongest ride he has ever seen and i completely understand contador's mindset.

Froome has the potential to ride contador on a minute, piti and purito just don't.

 

[The fridge in the blue trees]

From the Nibali thread:

No need for sarcasm. I am on your side. Just don't like complaining.

Good thing Contador never complains.

 

[Futuroscope]

I think Alberto should save his energy as long as Froome is behind on a climb. Froome is always dangerous but if Contador can't drop Valverde and Rodriguez he has to conserve his energy in order to minimize time gaps in the at this point boring late Valverde and Rodriguez sprints. Tinkoff/saxo should also try to neutralize time bonuses (as much as possible).

Let Froome do his thing as long as he is behind on the road (on a climb) and then mark Rodriguez and Valverde.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Good thing Contador never complains.

Indeed, he barely ever complains, that's part of the reason I like him so much

 

[Jelantik]

I think Alberto should save his energy as long as Froome is behind on a climb. Froome is always dangerous but if Contador can't drop Valverde and Rodriguez he has to conserve his energy in order to minimize time gaps in the at this point boring late Valverde and Rodriguez sprints. Tinkoff/saxo should also try to neutralize time bonuses (as much as possible).

Let Froome do his thing as long as he is behind on the road (on a climb) and then mark Rodriguez and Valverde.

I even think contador should just stick with froome and let froome comes back. Clearly purito and valverde have no interest of distancing Froome, but more about chasing bonus point. If contador sticks with them, and let them sweat it out when Froome comes back, contador can just follow wheel and conserve energy to fend off the sprint at the end. He clearly has more in the bank with the fact that he had accelerated to drop froome several times. While purito tried, valverde pretty much did nothing.

If Purito wants to win, he has to distance Froome. And If Valverde wants to win he has to distance froome. But valverde never shot for the star. He is a podium chaser. And his tac tic is very clear. Wheelsuck to the gill and sprint for bonus. If contador keeps Froome close, he should be able to handle valverde.

Of course it's easier said than done. But today, it's clear the intention of valverde and purito. Froome is dangerous man. But contador seems to be too concern for Froome and not seeing valverde is closing in. Reminds me of Andy. Worrying about Contador and not paying attention to Cadel.

 

[kingjr]

And If Valverde wants to win he has to distance froome.

Why?


_________

 

[Jelantik]

“At the same time, I was watching Valverde and Rodriguez, they’re very fast in the sprints. But Froome is, for me, the strongest rider I’ve ever come across in my career. Between here and Santiago we’ll see how big an opportunity it was that we’ve lost.”

Wow very strong words, not that I'm surprised as Froome is the the only guy that has ever taken it to him multiple times and come out on top.

Bala and Purito he knows he can beat, it's Froome that gives him nightmares. That fear is what cost him the Dauphine!

No wonder he is so fixated to drop froome. What a dilemma. Valverde is the opportunist, he knows, to have a chance to win, he needs to get bonus point. Purito is still farther away. Tomorrow if he has a good leg.. he should do one big attack and finish it off. If he got caught, he will loose time.

 

[leon993]

Am I the only one thinking that AC's decision to pull a higher gear is a bad one?
He seems to be struggling up the mountains. The rythm is lost. Today we saw the "magnificient armada" go, halt, go, halt, go. And to me it seems like AC loose out. Also Zaugg complained he needed a lower gear at end of previous stage. Is it team thinking their riders are supermen?

 

[Futuroscope]

I even think contador should just stick with froome and let froome comes back. Clearly purito and valverde have no interest of distancing Froome, but more about chasing bonus point. If contador sticks with them, and let them sweat it out when Froome comes back, contador can just follow wheel and conserve energy to fend off the sprint at the end. He clearly has more in the bank with the fact that he had accelerated to drop froome several times. While purito tried, valverde pretty much did nothing.

If Purito wants to win, he has to distance Froome. And If Valverde wants to win he has to distance froome. But valverde never shot for the star. He is a podium chaser. And his tac tic is very clear. Wheelsuck to the gill and sprint for bonus. If contador keeps Froome close, he should be able to handle valverde.

Of course it's easier said than done. But today, it's clear the intention of valverde and purito. Froome is dangerous man. But contador seems to be too concern for Froome and not seeing valverde is closing in. Reminds me of Andy. Worrying about Contador and not paying attention to Cadel.

Alberto can't stick with Froome he has to control Valverde and Rodriguez as long as Froome is with them or behind them. If Froome attacks then of course you have to mark him. But so far the trend is that Contador, Valverde and Rodriguez are slightly stronger than Froome as long as they don't waste too much energy attacking each other.

Rodriguez and Valverde aren't worried about Froome, they are gambling and letting Alberto worry about him.

 

[Narce_]

His form reminds me of 2012 Vuelta. Thank goodness he is the one with the 30 second lead this time though. It's up to one of the others to do a Fuenta De and that won't happen

That 30 seconds lead is what worrying me. We've seen him in 'bad' form before, still pulling a Fuente de and win. Now, he's on the defending side, which means he has to do a constant work rather than one brilliant move, and this is more tiring I think. He really can't do a surprise attack while wearing red, and we've seen several times that this is his joker card.

 

[Futuroscope]

Am I the only one thinking that AC's decision to pull a higher gear is a bad one?
He seems to be struggling up the mountains. The rythm is lost. Today we saw the "magnificient armada" go, halt, go, halt, go. And to me it seems like AC loose out. Also Zaugg complained he needed a lower gear at end of previous stage. Is it team thinking their riders are supermen?

I think the issue is simply that Alberto is not in top shape. When he is in top shape he can put in sustained attacks that Valverde and Rodriguez can't follow. If he isn't in top shape then the racing tends to look like this, he can still win but it's close and he wins by being very consistent in the climbs and by being better at TTs compared to Valverde and Rodriguez.

 

[mrhender]

To me, he is clearly the strongest rider there..

What was it today, 3-5 serious attacks, and 5-10 heavy accelerations...

That is just too much, even for him..

He needs a long talk with Riis, cause if he does the same tomorrow he will burn out in my opinion..

He has to be patient, and throw aboard the Froome obsession, hard as it may be..

Just let Barguil and the likes go, no problem.
And if J-rod/Valverde goes at the 8-5 km mark the take it easy and increase pace more steady. I know it's not his style, but it may be a must to win this..

Wait untill the 3km mark and then go all-in in one great attack..

 

[Futuroscope]

Valverde is the big danger for Contador. I think Alberto has enough of a time gap on Froome and Rodriguez to control them and neither look strong enough to take back 1.20 on Alberto assuming it comes down to the final climbs (who knows maybe Froome or Rodriguez will try something different). But Valverde can claw back 30 seconds via sprints and time bonuses. Alberto needs to conserve as much energy as possible for Valverde's late surges. Valverde is always dangerous on vuelta courses.

 

[Jelantik]

here it is.

Purito didn't know what contador is trying to do?

http://www.cyclingquotes.com/news/rodriguez_i_dont_know_what_contador_was_doing/

and Valverde didn't trust purito and contador.

http://www.cyclingquotes.com/news/valverde_i_didnt_trust_contador_and_rodriguez/

maybe tomorrow Purito and Contador should work together to ditch valverde. And contador can let purito win the bonus point. 30 seconds to the opportunist like valverde is dangerous. Valverde is going to continue to wheelsuck and sprint for bonus point, if contador keeps fixating of dropping froome by himself. Purito seems to have the same common goal as contador because he wants to leapfrog froome. So hopefully the duo works together to distance froome and along the way drop valverde.

 

[Jelantik]

Why?


_________

ITT? if froome keeps riding within himself, it's not impossible he got more reserve coming at the 3rd week. If Froome can leapfrog contador, he can eat valverde alive.

 

[kingjr]

ITT? if froome keeps riding within himself, it's not impossible he got more reserve coming at the 3rd week. If Froome can leapfrog contador, he can eat valverde alive.

The TT is less than 10k, with a couple of corners. I don't think Valverde has to be afraid of Froome there.

 

[doperhopper]

Obviously, Rijs & Bertie know Piti will crack one day under enough attacking - Purito won't but he's not the major threat, maybe they are still more worried they could not provoke Vroomie to join the chasing game (that costs too much wrt. steady pace).

 

[doperhopper]

Am I the only one thinking that AC's decision to pull a higher gear is a bad one?
He seems to be struggling up the mountains. The rythm is lost. Today we saw the "magnificient armada" go, halt, go, halt, go. And to me it seems like AC loose out. Also Zaugg complained he needed a lower gear at end of previous stage. Is it team thinking their riders are supermen?

overgeared? impossibiru!

 

[Jelantik]

The TT is less than 10k, with a couple of corners. I don't think Valverde has to be afraid of Froome there.

Hmm, you can't underestimate Froome on a flat course. The point too, that if contador is fixated to distance froome today, even though he is 1.20 down, Valverde should be a little more than concern. Apparently Valverde didn't. He is more concern of getting the bonus in which probably useless if Froome finds his form.

 

[kingjr]

Hmm, you can't underestimate Froome on a flat course.

No, but the nature of the course should suit Valverde. I would be surprised if Froome gains much, if any time on him there. Unless Valverde becomes visibly weaker in the mountain stages before that. (and Froome stronger)

 

[SeriousSam]