Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[cineteq]

Contador won't be competitive at the Tour whatever approach he takes.
He was nowhere near wheelsucker Evans and pathetic whiner Schleck last time he did the double. It's hard to believe that 4 years older Contador will do better against the bloodthirsty predators of the current era.

Contador's only chance to win the Tour, if any, is NOT to ride the Giro.

 

[Red Rick]

Contador won't be competitive at the Tour whatever approach he takes.
He was nowhere near wheelsucker Evans and pathetic whiner Schleck last time he did the double. It's hard to believe that 4 years older Contador will do better against the bloodthirsty predators of the current era.

In 2011 the stars alligned against him. The Giro was insanely tough with pretty bad weather throughout, he had all the stress of the CAS case, then he proceeded to crash multiple times, lose a minute+ due that. He wasted truckloads of energy fighting for every second he could get back. It all got back to him on the Galibier stage. Next day he attacked with 90km to go, and did it again at the foot of the Alpe, dropping everyone bar Samu.

There's actually a lot of factors that benefit him in that regard. He might miss the final edge in the Tour, but he's not gonna be worse than in 2011, when he was still very competitive.

 

[sir fly]

Contador's only chance to win the Tour, if any, is NOT to ride the Giro.

That's why I'm convinced he'll skip it at the end, even though it could be his easiest GT victory.

 

[cineteq]

That's why I'm convinced he'll skip it at the end, even though it could be his easiest GT victory.

I think he's doing it just for Tinkov. I hope he skips it. Majka should be able to handle the Giro - he earned it.

 

[sir fly]

I think he's doing it just for Tinkov. I hope he skips it. Majka should be able to handle the Giro - he earned it.

The Tour is priority, no matter what Tinkov's talking at the moment.
He's (Tinkov) just filling the off season time.

 

[thehook]

Total Pie in the sky thoughts here. But I think you will see Majka go for the Vuelta.

Now here is the issue. If and only if AC does get the double. He will face HUGE pressure to ride the Vuelta! Not only from the cycling media. But massive pressure from the entire spanish media. And Political leaders in Spain.

That is the huge question?

Have at it peeps.

 

[Sciocco]

Total Pie in the sky thoughts here. But I think you will see Majka go for the Vuelta.

Now here is the issue. If and only if AC does get the double. He will face HUGE pressure to ride the Vuelta! Not only from the cycling media. But massive pressure from the entire spanish media. And Political leaders in Spain.

That is the huge question?

Have at it peeps.

Yes he will, it will be crazy. He should go for it if he somehow gets the double. Triple = Beyond Legendary, retire while standing on the final podium.

I don't think it will happen, but I do think he'll be in the mix during the last mountain stages of the TdF attempting to achieve the double.

I also wouldn't mind a Tinkoff GT 2015 sweep: Contador - Contador - Majka.

 

[Jspear]

Contador won't be competitive at the Tour whatever approach he takes.
He was nowhere near wheelsucker Evans and pathetic whiner Schleck last time he did the double. It's hard to believe that 4 years older Contador will do better against the bloodthirsty predators of the current era.

Want to do an avatar bet? IF AC finishes the Tour, I bet he'll be on the final podium. Loser has an avatar of the winners choosing till the Vuelta....

 

[damian13ster]

Contador won't be competitive at the Tour whatever approach he takes.
He was nowhere near wheelsucker Evans and pathetic whiner Schleck last time he did the double. It's hard to believe that 4 years older Contador will do better against the bloodthirsty predators of the current era.

And I believe comments like that should cause a ban. Both of those guys (and pretty much everyone we discuss here) have achieved much more than you ever did or ever will. This commands some respect, and that's without even starting on basic manners and decency that each human should possess.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Yes he will, it will be crazy. He should go for it if he somehow gets the double. Triple = Beyond Legendary, retire while standing on the final podium.

I don't think it will happen, but I do think he'll be in the mix during the last mountain stages of the TdF attempting to achieve the double.

I also wouldn't mind a Tinkoff GT 2015 sweep: Contador - Contador - Majka.

I think if he gets the double, he won't think for a moment about not starting la Vuelta. Even if he seems to have only a very slight chance to win at the start, you never know what happens.

 

[Swifty's Cakes]

Contador won't be competitive at the Tour whatever approach he takes.
He was nowhere near wheelsucker Evans and pathetic whiner Schleck last time he did the double. It's hard to believe that 4 years older Contador will do better against the bloodthirsty predators of the current era.

Is there an ignore user feature in this forum? I can't be doing with nonsense like this.

 

[Red Rick]

Is there an ignore user feature in this forum? I can't be doing with nonsense like this.

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=5443

Not sure if serious, though i do get the point

 

[sir fly]

Want to do an avatar bet? IF AC finishes the Tour, I bet he'll be on the final podium. Loser has an avatar of the winners choosing till the Vuelta....

We already have an ongoing bet, if I remember correctly.
Is Contador's participation in the Giro included in this bet?

 

[Oktavi]

Froome was slightly stronger, but was also near his 100% . He can't do better than what he did on Col du Beal .

that's hope, not a fact

AC has never lost being in a decent form.

because a fan cannot convince his form decent if he loses. it works this way. a different logic destroys illusion of global advantage. even the vuelta, pretty even battle, you endue with 'getting crushed' epithets. who of us is wrong in our lies?

AC just beat him in equal terms end of story. There's absolutely nothing which would indicate Froome's form was worse.
And if anything, it's in favor of Contador since he had a worse injury and less time to prepare.

In short, if someone (not Contador) wins, his form is better than Contador's form. Is that fundamental truth?

 

[Mellow Velo]

I too lean towards Contador back tracking out of the Giro commitment and into a Tour/Vuelta schedule. Although given he rode the Giro in 2008 and 2011, I'm far from certain.

And with that 2008 Giro in mind, a word of caution to those fans talking of him riding the Giro at 80%.
He came very close to losing that edition, carrying less than full conditioning and it was not a "pretty" win, in any shape or form. Quite the opposite in fact, with a very clever, yet defensive performance.
If he does intend to race in a similar vein, I would prefer to see the Giro contested by just the undercard hopefuls.

 

[Flamin]

In 2011 the stars alligned against him. The Giro was insanely tough with pretty bad weather throughout, he had all the stress of the CAS case, then he proceeded to crash multiple times, lose a minute+ due that. He wasted truckloads of energy fighting for every second he could get back. It all got back to him on the Galibier stage. Next day he attacked with 90km to go, and did it again at the foot of the Alpe, dropping everyone bar Samu.

There's actually a lot of factors that benefit him in that regard. He might miss the final edge in the Tour, but he's not gonna be worse than in 2011, when he was still very competitive.

One word: overhyped.

 

[LaFlorecita]

One word: overhyped.

A lot tougher than the 2015 edition at least

 

[Flamin]

A lot tougher than the 2015 edition at least

Well yeah obviously, 2015 is pretty soft in Giro terms.

 

[Netserk]

One word: overhyped.

It was insanely tough, though.

And it's not like he was holding himself back either.

 

[Flamin]

It was insanely tough, though.

And it's not like he was holding himself back either.

It was similar to other recent editions, yes.

 

[LaFlorecita]

http://www.tinkoffsaxo.com/news/tinkoff-saxo-conquers-kilimanjaro-full-story-photos/

 

[Miburo]

I too lean towards Contador back tracking out of the Giro commitment and into a Tour/Vuelta schedule. Although given he rode the Giro in 2008 and 2011, I'm far from certain.

Stop it, just stop. Contador himself confirmed multiple times he'll do the giro. He has never done that before. Now giving up on the giro would be foolish.

Besides the giro is an easy win anyways.

 

[Miburo]

You can't compare 2011 with 2015.

Unlike then Contador collected experience from doing the giro-tour double. He also has now more help from trainers. I don't know if that will help but most of them come from sky so i can imagine it'll

Giro 2011 was way harder than 2015 and the competition was way stronger assuming no one else of the big 4 will participate. Menchov, nibali, scarponi, purito, kreuziger. At that time those were legit contenders, for sure scarponi who was in his prime so Contador was forced to be 100%. I think he can be a bit less and with them sky guys it should work out.

His performance in the tour 2011 was also impressive. Without bad luck he could have won that race. Of course competition is stronger now but that's also an advantage for Contador. In the tour 2011 all of them looked at Contador, all the time. Now you've nibali, froome and quintana. This will make it easier for Contador.

In conclusion, he can do the double, with some luck

 

[pigoonse]

More thanks for the links to Tinkoff-Saxo team building adventure, LaFlorecita. Enjoyed the story very much.

I don't care what anyone says, I like Tinkoff-Saxo team and kudos to them helping out an orphanage and local cycling team in Tanzania.

 

[Netserk]

It was similar to other recent editions, yes.

If by "recent editions" you mean other editions since that one, then no they weren't similar in toughness.

Other than the memorial stage, there were only 3/4 flat stages, the last one being on stage 12. Now please compare that to the editions since that...

Why do you think all the riders who did the Giro flopped in the Vuelta that year?