Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Carols]

According to a Dutch website (nu.nl) AC has stated that he won't race Bejing due to further knee problems after his fall yesterday.

Good news that he won't go to Beijing. BAD news that the knee is an issue

 

[Red Rick]

He doesn't suck at long races btw, his greatest achievements all came in races that took over 3 goddamn weeks to finish

 

[Carols]

He doesn't suck at long races btw, his greatest achievements all came in races that took over 3 goddamn weeks to finish

I was going to say that yesterday. He performs best at ~3000km and still they complain .

 

[Jspear]

I was going to say that yesterday. He performs best at ~3000km and still they complain .

He doesn't suck at long races btw, his greatest achievements all came in races that took over 3 goddamn weeks to finish

To be fair, I think the people who said that meant long one day races. Don't agree with them, just figured I explain what I'm pretty sure they meant.

 

[Carols]

To be fair, I think the people who said that meant long one day races. Don't agree with them, just figured I explain what I'm pretty sure they meant.

I'm well aware of what they meant. Yesterday I resisted but since someone else brought it up I could resist no longer .

 

[Jagartrott]

Stage races and long one-day races (often in cold conditions) is something else entirely. Contador is a fantastic cyclist, but the notion that he could win or podium 'de Ronde' demonstrates a very poor knowledge of northern classics and what it takes to win.

 

[hfer07]

Stage races and long one-day races (often in cold conditions) is something else entirely. Contador is a fantastic cyclist, but the notion that he could win or podium 'de Ronde' demonstrates a very poor knowledge of northern classics and what it takes to win.

so how do you rate what a GC rider like Nibali did this year on the cobbles?

I'm so annoyed by the fetish called "GC riders can't ride classics" simply because isn't truth at all- they simply skip them because of the high risk of "injury" rather than the lack of ability to win them. I wish that mentality could be changed - I mean - At least Valverde tried E3 Harelbeke this year with a good performance- Why can't Contador do something similar?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Stage races and long one-day races (often in cold conditions) is something else entirely. Contador is a fantastic cyclist, but the notion that he could win or podium 'de Ronde' demonstrates a very poor knowledge of northern classics and what it takes to win.

who said that?

 

[BigMac]

who said that?

You forgot? You were arguing with that person about it.

 

[LaFlorecita]

You forgot? You were arguing with that person about it.

IIRC they did not state Alberto could win or finish podium.

Just that he could do well.

 

[Jagartrott]

so how do you rate what a GC rider like Nibali did this year on the cobbles?

I'm so annoyed by the fetish called "GC riders can't ride classics" simply because isn't truth at all- they simply skip them because of the high risk of "injury" rather than the lack of ability to win them. I wish that mentality could be changed - I mean - At least Valverde tried E3 Harelbeke this year with a good performance- Why can't Contador do something similar?

And I'm 'so annoyed' by the rolleyes smiley.
That you wish to directly compare a 155 km stage to the 260 km one-day race only reinforces my point that you simply do not know what it takes to perform in a northern classic - especially one as hectic as the Ronde. I'm quite sure Contador knows that too.

 

[SeriousSam]

So now that we've got the Giro stages, will Contador be able to conserve enough energy en route to a victory to be in top shape at the Tour, or will he be on the back foot when the Big 3 (Froome, Nibali, Quintana) take climbing to hitherto unknown levels?

The Giro doesn't look easy, and if emerging riders like Aru give it their all...

 

[Netserk]

The ITT will give him the buffer needed to just wheel-suck Aru the rest of the race.

 

[ILovecycling]

The ITT will give him the buffer needed to just wheel-suck Aru the rest of the race.

if aru will be his biggest opponent, then yes...(Giro-Tour mode ON at least I hope) otoh in the first week a lot can happen , I like those stages a lot

 

[LaFlorecita]

So now that we've got the Giro stages, will Contador be able to conserve enough energy en route to a victory to be in top shape at the Tour, or will he be on the back foot when the Big 3 (Froome, Nibali, Quintana) take climbing to hitherto unknown levels?

The Giro doesn't look easy, and if emerging riders like Aru give it their all...

pfffffff

 

[hfer07]

And I'm 'so annoyed' by the rolleyes smiley.
That you wish to directly compare a 155 km stage to the 260 km one-day race only reinforces my point that you simply do not know what it takes to perform in a northern classic - especially one as hectic as the Ronde. I'm quite sure Contador knows that too.

but did you read the part about Valverde riding E3 and not moaning about it like you do? and YES- its neither RVV nor PR, but its a cobble race

 

[LaFlorecita]

oleg at it again.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tinkov-offers-a-eur1-million-to-contador-and-his-grand-tour-rivals

 

[Publicus]

oleg at it again.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tinkov-offers-a-eur1-million-to-contador-and-his-grand-tour-rivals

It's actually a great course for all 3. Froome smashes the ITT. Nibali can go nuts on the medium mountain stages. Contador has to minimize his losses in the ITT and go bonkers in the mountains. Could be a very entertaining race. Too bad the other two have greater financial incentives at play for the TdF.

 

[Jspear]

oleg at it again.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tinkov-offers-a-eur1-million-to-contador-and-his-grand-tour-rivals

that's pretty funny....wonder if he really means it...even if he did I don't think it's enough to entice Froome - He is set on the Tour after this season. Tinkov probably knows this and so isn't afraid to put out that sort of offer....

 

[Miburo]

Aru is not a threat for Contador unless he suddenly gets way way better but even then it would just mean contador would have to go serious.

If nibali and froome aren't in the race it's an easy win for Contador unless crash.

 

[Miburo]

LOL @ Tinkov saying Contador was only at 75% in the vuelta.

Then again on that one hilly finish in the tour (he couldn't do that in the vuelta against valverde) he absolutely destroyed valverde which is a finish that should suit him. And contador wasn't even breathing.

 

[LaFlorecita]

that's pretty funny....wonder if he really means it...even if he did I don't think it's enough to entice Froome - He is set on the Tour after this season. Tinkov probably knows this and so isn't afraid to put out that sort of offer....

Oleg is worth 1.4 billion so 1 million is nothing... Contador would have gotten a 2 million euro bonus for a TDF win and 1 million for WT ranking

 

[thehook]

Oleg offering the bonus is awesome! This Mad Man is at it again, a bit of a pot stirrer! Make this sport a spectacle I say. You want to see the big guns ride ASO?. Get the teams some more $ Each rider gets $250,000 seems like a nice bonus. But could lead to bigger moneys for the teams later?Which intern leads to bigger $ for the riders in salary later.

 

[Jspear]

Oleg is worth 1.4 billion so 1 million is nothing... Contador would have gotten a 2 million euro bonus for a TDF win and 1 million for WT ranking

Oh I know he can handle it financially. I was just wondering if this was something similar to when he said he would get Rafal a certain nice car (forget which) after winning two stages of the Tour. He does have a habit of saying some ridiculous things.

 

[Dr. Juice]

LOL @ Tinkov saying Contador was only at 75% in the vuelta.

Then again on that one hilly finish in the tour (he couldn't do that in the vuelta against valverde) he absolutely destroyed valverde which is a finish that should suit him. And contador wasn't even breathing.

Probably he started the Vuelta at 75 %. Got better until he had 80-85 %.
Agree with the bolded part. Although his team rode the hill before really fast, but in Gerardmer Contador did not attack seriously, just upped the tempo and suddenly nobody except Nibali was there.

When Nibali is in the form of his life and objectively does really good climbing performances and concedes some seconds to Contador on a short little hill it means he really must have been in godlike form. Painfaces everywhere that day.
Dauphine should have been a hint. He did the exact same race program as in 2009. The same races. Same races and a long break following Pais Vasco with high intensity training before Dauphine. As in 2009, good form but not stellar (probably due to long break and high intensity workout).
Then peak for the Tour. He definitively was in 2009 form. Which makes me even more angry.

He should have the same form or almost the same next year at the Tour. The Giro allows him to start with 80-85 %. Gain time on the TT and do 1 decisive attack on the Mortirolo. Then control the race and rest after the Giro.