Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Ryaguas]

Even if contador is really strong, this is just madness.

How can he beat froome and quintana after doing the giro where he'll have a tough one with nibali? That's just crazy. He must realise that himself, i guess he really wasn't bluffing about his tour form.

He was doing better numbers than Froome this year comparing his data with De Jongh's, He knows he can do it and knows how to do it. in 2011 after winning one of the hardest Giros in history He went to the Tour and finished 5th after 2 crashes and 1min lost due to the comissaries. He was fading at the end of the Tour but Froome does the same.

One thing is sure... Alberto can do it

"Alejandro, hombre, how do you do it every year?"
"What Alberto, do what every year?"
"Be better in your second GT of the year."
"Simple, just be average in the first one."
"Alejandro, I don't do average, 2nd place is not good."
"No Alberto, you can win while being average, I can only wheelsuck to 4th place"
"You're right Alejandro, I'm gonna do the double. You should ride the Giro too, I love gifting Giro stages, you only have to do what you always do, wheelsuck and sprint for the line"
"Alberto, hombre, that's a good plan"

hahahahah that was a good one.

 

[ILovecycling]

Contador wants to do the tripple I think

this

lol

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Why is that an embarassment? I Thought you'd think being beaten by the Astana's glorious leader would be an honour.

being beaten one time is an honor, being stubborn and going back in the ring for a second time is just plain stupid

 

[Jelantik]

Even if contador is really strong, this is just madness.

How can he beat froome and quintana after doing the giro where he'll have a tough one with nibali? That's just crazy. He must realise that himself, i guess he really wasn't bluffing about his tour form.

True, true... I think if you look at from his point of view.. Contador has won Giro, TDF, Vuelta in more than once. So if he only target one GT like Froome or Quintana, there isn't much of a challenge for him anymore. Sure, he come to win no doubt. But from his motivation, .. he won more than multiple occasions, and most of them is because he targeted one GT a year. (except on 2008 and 2011 - but fail).

so it sounded to me, trying to achieve Giro-Tour double would be a good challenge for him. He might not win it, but that's beside the point. It looks to me that he is looking to challenge himself rather than prepare his whole season for just one TDF. I thought that's good. But I don't disagree with you, with Froome only targets TDF, it will hard to beat him.

From the fans stand point, is a bad idea. Because we are all thinking about how can he challenge froome with his giro leg. But from his point of view, is another intriguing challenge that helps motivate his train even harder than this year, because it's a tall order now. For that I applaud him, even though I don't like it because his chance of winning will reduce significantly compare to a fresh Froome and Quitana.

 

[ILovecycling]

Apparently, he'll do the Giro 100% certain, the Tour 100% certain, and after that he might even do the Vuelta.

That man is insane.

I love it

yes,this!

The Great One

 

[Jelantik]

I've been off line all day...log in to find out Alberto plans the Giro-Tour double. Good For Him!!! That man has always gone for broke and if anyone can pull it off it is Alberto. What a Road Warrior!!!!

Darn I hope the routes for both make it possible to accomplish. Still it will be Very, Very Difficult.

Much can happen between now and next May, hopefully all of it good

I hope giro race organizer hears this. They already salivating.. hearing Nibali vs Contador next year. And i hope they will make their route possible for both to attempt Giro Tour double. As far as, TDF organizer.. they are a bit idiot. So not sure if they will try to help so doing double will be feasible. They might make another two long flat ITT just to make sure Froome win again. Out of the 3 GT organizer, I consider TDF organizer is the least one who got a vision to make the racing interesting.

 

[Jelantik]

Dont hold your breath. Dawgs eye will be even more fixed now on July probably in the belief that a win would be somehow easier. He will do his early spring+Dauphine routine as always.

Besides one really gets the impression he is as obsessed with Tour de France as Andy or Lance. Hope i'm wrong of course but im not.

No, i don't think you are wrong. I read his interview last year, he said that he wanted to win as many as TDF. - as many as 7 times... So you aren't off at all. Possibility to do Giro or Vuelta would be slim. But who knows, if Alberto successfully triumph in Giro + TDF 2015 and continue to Vuelta.. and become a legend, Froome might think about his target. Because winning TDF all in a row isn't a feast anymore.

 

[Carols]

I hope giro race organizer hears this. They already salivating.. hearing Nibali vs Contador next year. And i hope they will make their route possible for both to attempt Giro Tour double.

Oh it's to late to do Giro route changes now....the route is being announced shortly. All the deals for start/finish have to have been done ages ago.....

As far as, TDF organizer.. they are a bit idiot. So not sure if they will try to help so doing double will be feasible. They might make another two long flat ITT just to make sure Froome win again. Out of the 3 GT organizer, I consider TDF organizer is the least one who got a vision to make the racing interesting.

ASO does as they please, always have
.

 

[trevim]

I'm looking forward to Alberto being awesome in pink

 

[Ryaguas]

I hope giro race organizer hears this. They already salivating.. hearing Nibali vs Contador next year. And i hope they will make their route possible for both to attempt Giro Tour double. As far as, TDF organizer.. they are a bit idiot. So not sure if they will try to help so doing double will be feasible. They might make another two long flat ITT just to make sure Froome win again. Out of the 3 GT organizer, I consider TDF organizer is the least one who got a vision to make the racing interesting.

They could think in Quintana and try to include him in the equation and dont have a loooong ITT... but is a big IF. But what history has taught us is that ASO is lead by brainless monkeys.

 

[peacefultribe]

The triple......

 

[Forunculo]

Different scenario than the one in 2011. Then the CAS was menacing a ban at any time and he rode everything he could at max.

Algarve 4th
Murcia 1st
Catalunya 1st
Castilla y Leon 24th (the famous day Froome explained in his book)
La Fleche 11th
Giro 1st
Tour 5th

He started in February and barely took a rest, improvising the programme, every time court was delayed. It's easy to assume a different aproach next year. Starting later and slowly, perhaps late in March, early April.

With de Jongh, Yates, Julich and Riis on the staff team we can expect something competent from them .

 

[ILovecycling]

"The definition for Triple Crown of Cycling can also mean winning all three Grand Tours in the same year. As of 2014, this has never been achieved]

ten characters

 

[Rollthedice]

Different scenario than the one in 2011. Then the CAS was menacing a ban at any time and he rode everything he could at max.

Algarve 4th
Murcia 1st
Catalunya 1st
Castilla y Leon 24th (the famous day Froome explained in his book)
La Fleche 11th
Giro 1st
Tour 5th

He started in February and barely took a rest, improvising the programme, every time court was delayed. It's easy to assume a different aproach next year. Starting later and slowly, perhaps late in March, early April.

With de Jongh, Yates, Julich and Riis on the staff team we can expact something competent from them .

Let's not forget Basso.

 

[Red Rick]

Different scenario than the one in 2011. Then the CAS was menacing a ban at any time and he rode everything he could at max.

Algarve 4th
Murcia 1st
Catalunya 1st
Castilla y Leon 24th (the famous day Froome explained in his book)
La Fleche 11th
Giro 1st
Tour 5th

He started in February and barely took a rest, improvising the programme, every time court was delayed. It's easy to assume a different aproach next year. Starting later and slowly, perhaps late in March, early April.

With de Jongh, Yates, Julich and Riis on the staff team we can expect something competent from them .

Wasn't that the day where he flatted 3 times on the final climb, finished 3 minutes down not giving a damn and won the tt a day later?

 

[trevim]

Wasn't that the day where he flatted 3 times on the final climb, finished 3 minutes down not giving a damn and won the tt a day later?

No. It's the one where Froome dropped one of the climbers in the world for the first time showing he had an history of great mountain results.

 

[Ryaguas]

Let's not forget Basso.

What's up with him? sorry I dont get it. is not like Alberto needs a sherpa for the Italian Mountains.

 

[greenedge]

So happy to see Contador riding the Giro and then attempt the double, I'm sure out of all the riders in the current peleton he can manage it the best, followed by Nibali.
Froome with a skinny frame I doubt he can and currently Quintana is too young and needs perfect form to win the TDF.

 

[greenedge]

Who likes Valverde as a person? A guy who prefers to lose a podium place in favor of making Contador lose a race. It has to be the main reason Alberto declined to be at the Worlds.

He still beat JROD so he didn't lose the overall podium. And at the time there still existed the chance he could beat Contador. Also he has no obligation to help Contador, in that race they were rivals.

 

[greenedge]

"Alejandro, hombre, how do you do it every year?"
"What Alberto, do what every year?"
"Be better in your second GT of the year."
"Simple, just be average in the first one."
"Alejandro, I don't do average, 2nd place is not good."
"No Alberto, you can win while being average, I can only wheelsuck to 4th place"
"You're right Alejandro, I'm gonna do the double. You should ride the Giro too, I love gifting Giro stages, you only have to do what you always do, wheelsuck and sprint for the line"
"Alberto, hombre, that's a good plan"

Very nice!

 

[Dr. Juice]

If he manages the double - which is within his capabilities - he'll do the triple. He recently said it would be a dream to ride all 3 GT's in the same year and we all know if The Great One starts he rides for the win.

Next year is perfect. Still in his best years and a lot of confidence taken from the Vuelta ( beating everyone despite a fracture) and the data he had before the Tour.
He knew he was in the best form of his life and will work as hard as he possibly can over the winter.

I hope he hasn't got a crash or an illness during those 42 days. Performance wise he should clearly beat Nibali at the Giro.
In the Tour...even at 90-95 % Contador beats Quintana IMO. Only a 2013 Pyrenees Froome could beat a 90-95 % Contador.

But I think it's possible to peak for both GT's. Basso has done it successfully. Valverde is doing it almost every year.
Alberto was riding many races in 2011 before the Giro and did not plan to start at the Tour.
Last moment decison + no specific preparation + hardest Giro in history + crashes in the first week. I think people forget that too often and underestimate his capabilities to peak for 2 GT's.

Why do people think it's not possible ? Apart from Basso no one tried to do both GT's because they are scared to lose. Nibali doubles cause he is italian. The others always want to win the Tour and don't want to take any risks at all. Alberto has appreciation for racing. He knows the essence of cycling. What it used to be.

F*** all those 98% mainstream cowardish ( " Not possible to win Giro-Tour ... the Tour is the ulimate goal and I want to win it 7 times in a row because I want the fame and publicity and I'll never do the Giro + Vuelta only if the Tour goes wrong " ) riders who just don't know what cycling or cycling history is about. That attitude kills the sport. It became the rule in the Armstrong era.
Kudos to Contador and also Nibali who is another rider providing spectacle. They are the ones who like to animate the races or try different tactics and invent something. Those racing traits seem to reflect the mindset of a rider regarding cycling ( here: Giro - tour)

On the opposite:
Froome will never do the Giro under normal circumstances. He'll focus on the Tour every year like Armstrong and although his team is weak compared to US Postal, he likes to ride everything down with a boring train until the last 5 km. Andy Schleck was the same. Never did the Giro after 2007. But I don't think he would have done the Giro and defend his Tour title if he had won.

If someone can do it , Alberto is the one. The only one.

 

[TANK91]

Huh im sorry you do know Froome has rode the Vuelta three times? Not bad going that in four years. If LA or Andy Schleck crashed out the TDF they would not do the Vuelta after. So what if Froome does not do the Giro he as only been a GT leader for 2 years. And lol i love your faith if Froome is even as good as last year he could still win the TDF even if Contador done just the TDF. Contador was not the easy favourite for the TDF this year ceck his pain face on that climb when Froome drove the whole climb, go and watch the Dauphinee before Froome's crash. Froome won the opening 2 stages he could actually accelerate unlike his yo yo style at the Vuelta.

Contador is not invincible to Froome you said it yourself mentioning the 2013 pyrenees, that was as as good as most TDF winner's of recent years. Froome was in a another world do check the climbing times. Im not counting him out why would i but don't tell me Contador is suddenly going to be taking time out of Froome all of a sudden "if" both have a good preperation. They will very even with the edge in flat ITT clearly in Froome's favour.

 

[Ryaguas]

Huh im sorry you do know Froome has rode the Vuelta three times? Not bad going that in four years. If LA or Andy Schleck crashed out the TDF they would not do the Vuelta after. So what if Froome does not do the Giro he as only been a GT leader for 2 years. And lol i love your faith if Froome is even as good as last year he could still win the TDF even if Contador done just the TDF. Contador was not the easy favourite for the TDF this year ceck his pain face on that climb when Froome drove the whole climb, go and watch the Dauphinee before Froome's crash. Froome won the opening 2 stages he could actually accelerate unlike his yo yo style at the Vuelta.

Contador is not invincible to Froome you said it yourself mentioning the 2013 pyrenees, that was as as good as most TDF winner's of recent years. Froome was in a another world do check the climbing times. Im not counting him out why would i but don't tell me Contador is suddenly going to be taking time out of Froome all of a sudden "if" both have a good preperation. They will very even with the edge in flat ITT clearly in Froome's favour.

Just to remind you that Alberto had 2 month without any racing and Froome had been racing for like 1 or 2 months. He was plenty ahead in his form preparation. That was why AC was grimacing, etc, etc. But you already knew that.

 

[Ryaguas]

A video from MARCA

Is really interesting when He talks about le tour. He said that is the race most important for the sponsor, the most important in the world, etc, but he never said that is the most important for him or that is the one that he likes the most. I'm pretty sure that his favorite GT is Il Giro.

He said that it was a decision that was taken with Riis and the sponsor, He is clearly talking about doing the double but no the triple, He said that is too hard and stuff but I have the feeling that if He does the double He will go for the triple. The motivation is there, you can see it when He is talking about those topics.

He could start the season really late maybe doing some of the classics going into Il Giro with a really good base form and not too much racing days try to win it a 80% not going too deep in the form, then some rest before going into TdS instead Dauphine, then maybe National Championship and then Tour. I dont know I just want him to go for the double like a boss!

 

[bicifan]

He still beat JROD so he didn't lose the overall podium. And at the time there still existed the chance he could beat Contador. Also he has no obligation to help Contador, in that race they were rivals.

Amigo, he had no chance to beat Contador, he never thought long term. The Worlds.