Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[infeXio]

Riis on Monday
"We talked in the morning and we felt that the best scenario would be if Froome attacked early and Alberto went with him, that way, we only had to follow the wheel." He believes that Froome has superseded Valverde and Rodriguez as the biggest threat to Contador’s overall lead.

So what was good tactic on Monday was no longer valid on Thursday?

"Asked by Spanish tv reporter why he had not followed Froome rather than Valverde, he argued “because you don’t know how Froome will race on a climb as explosive as today’s.

“Sometimes he’s had a problem with changes of pace. He had just attacked before and I was catching my breath when he went again. I thought I’d go with Alejandro because he was defending his second place overall. I thought he had more responsibility [to work] than me."

 

[cineteq]

"Asked by Spanish tv reporter why he had not followed Froome rather than Valverde, he argued “because you don’t know how Froome will race on a climb as explosive as today’s.

“Sometimes he’s had a problem with changes of pace. He had just attacked before and I was catching my breath when he went again. I thought I’d go with Alejandro because he was defending his second place overall. I thought he had more responsibility [to work] than me."

Yeah we all saw that. The thing was stick to the plan regardless.

 

[Dr. Juice]

I also think AC is incredibly confident of his abilities. Let's assume he fears Froome and isn't sure of his own strenght. What does someone do in this situation? Try to go after the opponent at all costs.

I think Monday gave him a lot of confidence.

 

[Flamin]

I don't think it's that simple... Alberto didn't even try. He followed every attack at the start and seemed to be freewheeling. Then he just sat on Valverde's wheel

So he covered multiple attacks from other riders, but when his main competitor attacks, he doesn't even bother trying to follow him? Yeah

That was litterally the ****tiest attack . Even Barguil and Purito accelarated better than Froome & AC jumped to both attacks from Purito, and didn't move an inch when Froome attacked. It just doesn't make sense. He wanted to settle scores with Valverde and Purito .

He attacked right after Purito put down the hammer, but yeah, what a silly attack

 

[LaFlorecita]

Most likely explanation:

Contador wasn't feeling well and when Froome attacked, rather than having to face not being able to hold his wheel and drop back, which would lift Froome's spririts tremendously and constitute an unbearable loss of face, he didn't even try to go with him.

Yeah, not really, imo.

 

[LaFlorecita]

So he covered multiple attacks from other riders, but when his main competitor attacks, he doesn't even bother trying to follow him? Yeah

Exactly. This is why it doesn't make any sense. He would try, at least.

 

[BlurryVII]

Most likely explanation:

Contador wasn't feeling well and when Froome attacked, rather than having to face not being able to hold his wheel and drop back, which would lift Froome's spririts tremendously and constitute an unbearable loss of face, he didn't even try to go with him.

Yep that totally makes sense, he followed Froome in the queen stage, and left him in the dust on a much harder & longer climb, 3 days later, on reasonably easy short climb, he is afraid to follow his little acceleration and drop back. Sure.

Enough of the bull****?

 

[SeriousSam]

Yep that totally makes sense, he followed Froome in the queen stage, and left him in the dust on a much harder & longer climb, 3 days later, on reasonably easy short climb, he is afraid to follow his little acceleration and drop back. Sure.

Enough of the bull****?

“Sometimes he’s had a problem with changes of pace. He had just attacked before and I was catching my breath when he went again. I thought I’d go with Alejandro because he was defending his second place overall. I thought he had more responsibility [to work] than me.

That supports my theory. "I was catching my breath because he just attacked, so looked at Alejandro to do the work" certainly doesn't support the theory that he is secretly super strong and capable of dropping everyone at will but decided to just **** around with Puirto and Valverde and lose all the advantage he gained on Monday.

Also, perhaps Contador is actually right when he says

I think Saturday’s stage [at Ancares, the Vuelta’s eight summit finishes – ed.] is very different to today’s. It’s one which is more suited to me because it’s about straightforward physical condition

His advantage over Froome diminishes when the climb is shorter.

 

[Red Rick]

What sort of a eijit does that?!

The thing is not that it was illogical to think that. Froome wasn't that strong and if Valverde had closed the gap Contador could've saved some energy. The dumb thing was that it was completely unnecessary for Contador to try and save energy.

 

[LaFlorecita]

That supports my theory. "I was catching my breath because he just attacked, so looked at Alejandro to do the work" certainly doesn't support the theory that he is secretly super strong and capable of dropping everyone at will but decided to just **** around with Puirto and Valverde and lose all the advantage he gained on Monday.

Also, perhaps Contador is actually right when he says


His advantage over Froome diminishes when the climb is shorter.

Rule #1, don't just believe whatever Contador says in interviews regarding form and races

 

[McLovin]

Some of you need to see this again now. HE doesn't seems so relaxed IMO and all this paying back to Valverde thing ( paying what and for what? Froome is just a flat tire in TT behind) falls when you see him taking turns and attacking. Anyway, we'll see Saturday. Excellent Vuelta so far!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iISvW3wU0Fw

 

[BlurryVII]

That supports my theory. "I was catching my breath because he just attacked, so looked at Alejandro to do the work" certainly doesn't support the theory that he is secretly super strong and capable of dropping everyone at will but decided to just **** around with Puirto and Valverde and lose all the advantage he gained on Monday.

Also, perhaps Contador is actually right when he says


His advantage over Froome diminishes when the climb is shorter.

You can also see it from this point of view :
"“I knew the time differences would be minimal because the last part of the climb wasn’t that hard, and independently of whatever the time loss has been, I hope it's not a problem"

No need to waste energy & jump on Froome's wheel given the easy and short climb.
if it was a longer climb, he would have never let him go especially given the initial weak acceleration.

 

[Netbalp]

Contador couldn't follow Froome. It can never be unnecessary to say to the other one 'you couldn't do anything against me once again'. Both are weak and long way out of their peak form though.

 

[SeriousSam]

Rule #1, don't just believe whatever Contador says in interviews regarding form and races

True, he misled everyone about the severity of his injury but even Contador's statements occasionally contain a grain of truth.


If you don't believe he struggled, what do you think happened today?

 

[No_Balls]

That supports my theory. "I was catching my breath because he just attacked, so looked at Alejandro to do the work" certainly doesn't support the theory that he is secretly super strong and capable of dropping everyone at will but decided to just **** around with Puirto and Valverde and lose all the advantage he gained on Monday.

Somehow you missed the last sentence (about the responsibility-part) which makes our theories highly plausible. I can understand that from a mind circulating around Froome 24/7 AC:s own effort is actually something that Froome could be held responsible for.

Tomorrow, at this time, you'll be proven wrong, very much like the last three
week.

 

[LaFlorecita]

True, he misled everyone about the severity of his injury but even Contador's statements occasionally contain a grain of truth.

Funny

If you don't believe he struggled, what do you think happened today?

Stupidity happened

 

[BlurryVII]

Saturday is gonna be fun.

 

[Jack_89]

Funny



Stupidity happened

I agree.
He simply paid a small sleep

I hope that on Saturday proves, once again, who is the strongest with a nice
stage victory ( finally making the team work to keep closed the race )

 

[pigoonse]

Wondering why the Froome discussion thread is not lit up with pages of posts congratulating Froome on his wonderful performance today?

Oh, yeah, what fun would that be when there are aspersions to cast over on the Contador thread

 

[bigcog]

https://twitter.com/olegtinkov

 

[No_Balls]

“Sometimes he’s had a problem with changes of pace. He had just attacked before and I was catching my breath when he went again. I thought I’d go with Alejandro because he was defending his second place overall. I thought he had more responsibility [to work] than me.

Enough said.

Lets pretend Contador didn't have the legs to go with Dawgs thermonuclear Alien ultra attack. He would still have to at least tried to ride within his limits because he just the other day stated him as his fiercest rivals, to limit his losses. This didn't happen because he at the moment thought about Valverdes overall ambitions. He says: "i thought he had the responsibilities to pull".

The only reason why he wouldnt pull (or rather couldnt) where if he was on his limits or was about to bonk. That didn't happen.

It cant be any clearer.

There is something about Alejandro Valverde.

 

[kingjr]

There is nothing in this at all, Purito made an attack, Contador followed, was catching his breath as he said and didn't feel like immediately jumping on the next wheel, Froome's in that case. So he was looking at Valverde to do the pace only it wasn't fast enough to keep Froome in check. When he realized that he accelerated himself for a couple of seconds, didn't manage to drop either Purito and Valverde and after that made no further efforts to get away from the group, despite having had a great opportunity to jump up to Froome/Aru after the big turn Purito made, most likely because he had to catch his breath again. After that he did a turn of steady pacemaking under the last km banner and at the line was outsprinted by Valverde and Purito.
To me that looks like on this particular day on this particular climb, Aru was the strongest, Froome second strongest, and Contador third along with Valverde and Purito.

 

[cineteq]

Contador let Froome go: "Had I been alone, I would've gone with him"
Contador dejó ir a Froome: "Si hubiera estado solo, habría ido con él"

 

[Alcanelo]

Mark my words Alberto could have followed and passed Froome if he was more aggressive. He's waiting for Saturday.

 

[Jspear]

Mark my words Alberto could have followed and passed Froome if he was more aggressive. He's waiting for Saturday.

Don't think he would have beaten Froome. He ain't that fast on a finish like today's - And he certainly wouldn't have gotten away from Froome on a stage like today's. He said yesterday that today was not a day that suits him. He said Saturday was more in his favor. I agree with you on your last point...I think he'll shine a lot brighter on Sat.