Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[BlurryVII]

wow cool what is Klöden doing there

Alberto looks not too chubby

ps you can remove :large from the picture URL to make it smaller

I have no idea what's Klöden doing there, surrounded by saxo and specialized members
But still very glad to see him with Alberto as they are my favourite riders.

and thanks for the trick!

 

[contador977]

I have no idea what's Klöden doing there, surrounded by saxo and specialized members
But still very glad to see him with Alberto as they are my favourite riders.

and thanks for the trick!

In my opinion, Kloden was the 2006 Tour Winner. Periero was given 30 mins in a breakaway, not the way Id wanna win the Tour. U add in the Landis situation and the 2006 Tour is one to forget. I also really like Kloden and thought he held himself back during some years being content to not be Team leader.

 

[TANK91]

Very cool pic imagine Basso and Kloden in an ok shape lol, they can still do damage for a km or two on the early slopes they could probably rip it apart. Kloden is a very boring rider though he has so many fans aswell even on here.

 

[jens_attacks]

luv klodiiiiiiii

 

[trevim]

wow cool what is Klöden doing there

Alberto looks not too chubby

ps you can remove :large from the picture URL to make it smaller

Yeah Kloden what a rider! Lots of souplesse and low profile

 

[May0maniac]

Very cool pic imagine Basso and Kloden in an ok shape lol, they can still do damage for a km or two on the early slopes they could probably rip it apart. Kloden is a very boring rider though he has so many fans aswell even on here.

OMG, Basso and Klöden in the same team, that would be too much awesomeness

 

[LaFlorecita]

For BlurryVII, Jens and Trevim

still not a clue why Klodi was there

 

[Granville57]

In my opinion, Kloden was the 2006 Tour Winner.

Even Klöden doesn't agree with that.

 

[Angliru]

In my opinion, Kloden was the 2006 Tour Winner. Periero was given 30 mins in a breakaway, not the way Id wanna win the Tour. U add in the Landis situation and the 2006 Tour is one to forget. I also really like Kloden and thought he held himself back during some years being content to not be Team leader.

Wasn't his team capable of limiting the time gained by Periero? It wasn't like Oscar hadn't finished top 10 in the gc before. At the end of the 3 weeks whoever rolled into Paris and finished with the least amount of time spent on the road (atop the gc) is the winner. By default, Oscar is that guy. He earned it.

Kloden didn't hold himself back. He simply didn't not excel as team leader. Maybe the pressure effected his ability to relax, focus and be at his best but his best finishes were when he was riding as the second wheel/super domestique. I liked Kloden and I was always frustrated by his seeming lack of willingness to make the most of his opportunities when given the team leadership role at the Tour.

 

[Netserk]

Wasn't his team capable of limiting the time gained by Periero? It wasn't like Oscar hadn't finished top 10 in the gc before. At the end of the 3 weeks whoever rolled into Paris and finished with the least amount of time spent on the road (atop the gc) is the winner. By default, Oscar is that guy. He earned it.

Kloden didn't hold himself back. He simply didn't not excel as team leader. Maybe the pressure effected his ability to relax, focus and be at his best but his best finishes were when he was riding as the second wheel/super domestique. I liked Kloden and I was always frustrated by his seeming lack of willingness to make the most of his opportunities when given the team leadership role at the Tour.

-> By default, Floyd is that guy. He earned it.

 

[Netserk]

Even Klöden doesn't agree with that.

That is because he is/was one of the classiest riders around. I'm sure he also doesn't see himself as the 2004 winner.

 

[Granville57]

Kloden didn't hold himself back. He simply didn't not excel as team leader.

I freely admit that is straying far off the OP but...

It has to be remembered that in 2006, Jan was the undisputed team leader right up until he was forced to go home (along with Oscar Sevilla) [Puerto]. There was a period of adjustment within the team as a result. Chaos would probably describe the team's mental state for a short while.

Klödi had no intentions of being team leader for that Tour. By the time the team had reorganized themselves, it may have been too late to exert the enormous fire power they had brought to that race.

Jan said he left that race "in the best shape of his life." T-Mobile were fully prepared to dominate the entire peloton with Jan as their captain (and they most likely would have done just that). Even without Jan, and with only 7 riders, T-Mobile still won the Team GC (not that I personally care one bit about that award), and took first and second in the final TT with Serguei Gonchar, and Klöden, respectively. Mick Rogers was also in the Top 20 on that stage (19th).

Considering that they started the race in a certain amount of disarray, and under duress, their final GC placings were nothing to frown upon.

2 - Andréas Klöden *
9 - Michael Rogers
22 - Patrik Sinkewitz
25 - Giuseppe Guerini
26 - Eddy Mazzoleni
51 - Sergui Honchar
53 - Matthias Kessler

Just imagine if things had gone according to plan, and Ullrich had been at the helm.



* Or 3rd, depending on one's perspective.

 

[Granville57]

-> By default, Floyd is that guy. He earned it.

That was my point, exactly.

 

[May0maniac]

I freely admit that is straying far off the OP but...

It has to be remembered that in 2006, Jan was the undisputed team leader right up until he was forced to go home (along with Oscar Sevilla) [Puerto]. There was a period of adjustment within the team as a result. Chaos would probably describe the team's mental state for a short while.

Klödi had no intentions of being team leader for that Tour. By the time the team had reorganized themselves, it may have been too late to exert the enormous fire power they had brought to that race.

Jan said he left that race "in the best shape of his life." T-Mobile were fully prepared to dominate the entire peloton with Jan as their captain (and they most likely would have done just that). Even without Jan, and with only 7 riders, T-Mobile still won the Team GC (not that I personally care one bit about that award), and took first and second in the final TT with Serguei Gonchar, and Klöden, respectively. Mick Rogers was also in the Top 20 on that stage (19th).

Considering that they started the race in a certain amount of disarray, and under duress, their final GC placings were nothing to frown upon.

2 - Andréas Klöden *
9 - Michael Rogers
22 - Patrik Sinkewitz
25 - Giuseppe Guerini
26 - Eddy Mazzoleni
51 - Sergui Honchar
53 - Matthias Kessler

Just imagine if things had gone according to plan, and Ullrich had been at the helm.



* Or 3rd, depending on one's perspective.

Yes, but you could say the same about CSC it would have been a battle for the ages, Ullrich vs Robobasso.

 

[trevim]

For BlurryVII, Jens and Trevim
still not a clue why Klodi was there

Ahah thanks, very cool pics. I bet Klodi is there just for fun, he always seemed to get along great with Alberto. Even in 2010, after that Col du Romme tactical fail by Contador and Klodi moving to Armstrong's team.

I'm seriously considering a change in my avatar BTW

 

[peloton]

-> By default, Floyd is that guy. He earned it.

Absolutely.

Klödi looks very fit still. He played a big part for Contador winning the -08 Giro, nice to see they have remained friendly.

 

[Afrank]

For BlurryVII, Jens and Trevim

still not a clue why Klodi was there

Whoever took that needs to take the burn tool to it.

 

[peloton]

Whoever took that needs to take the burn tool to it.

heh, was wondering what happened there..

 

[TANK91]

Yes, but you could say the same about CSC it would have been a battle for the ages, Ullrich vs Robobasso.

Yeah that is the main TDF i regret, i was a huge Ullrich fan but i think it was Basso's era at the time. Basso was the man even Lance said would take over he was a far better climber than Ullrich was as he could stay with Armstrong now and then, Ullrich could never really stay with Lance could he.


As this is Contador thread ill bring him into it imagine no ban for Basso and Ullrich what a TDF we would have had in 07?. Not taking nothing away from Contador but isit a stretch to say Basso would have been his man rival for 07,08,09?. Basso's carear was took in his prime really he had a good 2010 but he was not the same, after 2010 he was like 32-32.

 

[Dr. Juice]

Yeah that is the main TDF i regret, i was a huge Ullrich fan but i think it was Basso's era at the time. Basso was the man even Lance said would take over he was a far better climber than Ullrich was as he could stay with Armstrong now and then, Ullrich could never really stay with Lance could he.


As this is Contador thread ill bring him into it imagine no ban for Basso and Ullrich what a TDF we would have had in 07?. Not taking nothing away from Contador but isit a stretch to say Basso would have been his man rival for 07,08,09?. Basso's carear was took in his prime really he had a good 2010 but he was not the same, after 2010 he was like 32-32.

Basso could stay with Armstrong in 2004 already, had a bad day in the Alpe MTT. However if Lance wanted, he might have dropped him 1-2 times.
In 2005 Basso improved again, both in TT and climbing. He was dropped in Courchevel and lost a minute - that was probably because he had to ride himself into form again after the Giro. Then he was on par with Lance on every mountain stage.
In 2006 the final development into RoboBasso
On par with the best version of Armstrong (regarding VAM etc) and 2nd best TTist after Ullrich. He had done the Giro - Tour double in 2005 so I don't think it would have affected much his form.
I got so mad when I heard Basso and Ullrich do not take part.

And Contador vs RoboBasso would have been great. 07-08 advantage Basso, 09 advantage Alberto.

 

[May0maniac]

Basso could stay with Armstrong in 2004 already, had a bad day in the Alpe MTT. However if Lance wanted, he might have dropped him 1-2 times.
In 2005 Basso improved again, both in TT and climbing. He was dropped in Courchevel and lost a minute - that was probably because he had to ride himself into form again after the Giro. Then he was on par with Lance on every mountain stage.
In 2006 the final development into RoboBasso
On par with the best version of Armstrong (regarding VAM etc) and 2nd best TTist after Ullrich. He had done the Giro - Tour double in 2005 so I don't think it would have affected much his form.
I got so mad when I heard Basso and Ullrich do not take part.

And Contador vs RoboBasso would have been great. 07-08 advantage Basso, 09 advantage Alberto.

I have to agree with you on that.

 

[Netserk]

I freely admit that is straying far off the OP but...

It has to be remembered that in 2006, Jan was the undisputed team leader right up until he was forced to go home (along with Oscar Sevilla) [Puerto]. There was a period of adjustment within the team as a result. Chaos would probably describe the team's mental state for a short while.

Klödi had no intentions of being team leader for that Tour. By the time the team had reorganized themselves, it may have been too late to exert the enormous fire power they had brought to that race.

Jan said he left that race "in the best shape of his life." T-Mobile were fully prepared to dominate the entire peloton with Jan as their captain (and they most likely would have done just that). Even without Jan, and with only 7 riders, T-Mobile still won the Team GC (not that I personally care one bit about that award), and took first and second in the final TT with Serguei Gonchar, and Klöden, respectively. Mick Rogers was also in the Top 20 on that stage (19th).

Considering that they started the race in a certain amount of disarray, and under duress, their final GC placings were nothing to frown upon.

2 - Andréas Klöden *
9 - Michael Rogers
22 - Patrik Sinkewitz
25 - Giuseppe Guerini
26 - Eddy Mazzoleni
51 - Sergui Honchar
53 - Matthias Kessler

Just imagine if things had gone according to plan, and Ullrich had been at the helm.



* Or 3rd, depending on one's perspective.

T-Mobile '06 has got to be one of the best teams ever to (almost) start the Tour. Everyone on that team was flying, just imagine if there had been a long TTT like the years before that edition

It'd probably have been the strongest Tour post-Festina

 

[Oktavi]

I don't think so, Froome only experienced for the first time what is it to face a decently on-form AC.
Peyresourde attacks from AC were much more impressive, +20 secs attacks on a steeper gradient. Launched 4 attacks.

Let's assume Froome beats Contador in a tough battle. Will you be brave enough to admit an on form Contador gets beaten or that's over the limits of 'real' fan?

 

[Netserk]

Let's assume Froome beats Contador in a tough battle. Will you be brave enough to admit an on form Contador gets beaten or that's over the limits of 'real' fan?

Surely that will depend on the context. If Contador is injured in the Tour after having won the Giro with ease and Froome then manages to narrowly beat him, then yes Contador was beaten (duh), but that hardly means Froome is better.

...

Will you be brave enough to retire together with Andy?

 

[TANK91]

T-Mobile '06 has got to be one of the best teams ever to (almost) start the Tour. Everyone on that team was flying, just imagine if there had been a long TTT like the years before that edition

It'd probably have been the strongest Tour post-Festina

What would you say was worst Basso vs Ullrich or this year missing Contador vs Froome vs Nibali? I would say it is close but i would rather have seen the 06 duel, Basso could have done the double and would been nice to see if Ullrich could win without Lance their.

Just imagine Basso no ban he could have had a double which is hard to do these days, Contador will try next year but Basso would have been known as a legend. Sad really as he missed surely his prime years. I agree with the posters above though i think 07 defo would been Basso as Contador was so young but if the 08 TDF was different Contador and Basso could been legendary.