Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Netserk]

He had the ability to do it in 2011, so there certainly isn't anything 'impossible' about it. If it wasn't for the CAS case (impossible to plan optimally) and the bad luck in the Tour (stage 1 time loss and numerous crashes) he would've been the most likely winner of that Tour imo.

 

[pigoonse]

I think the big question he needs to ask himself is this: "What if I enter both the Giro and Tour, and don't win either. Was it worth it?" I imagine he's already pondered that, and answered yes. As that's the risk he's facing. If he loses the Giro, but doesn't drop in time to prep for the Tour...

But I'm of the mindset that it's better to have at least tried, taken the chance, and gotten the real true answer, than be always left wondering. We saw that from him in the 2011 Tour. He attacked the stage in a way everyone is afraid to, and it almost paid off. Had he just sat behind would he have won? Probably not. But so many others just race for second, or third, or hoping someone else will wear out and they can hang on. Not Contador. His style is what makes him a great champion. Win or lose.

Well said - agree with your entire post, Alpe d'Huez. As to the bolded part, it was nice to read how a confident but realistic Contador addressed that question and let us know this much: "It's a risk, because maybe I'll win one, maybe two or maybe I'll win nothing but this is my calendar and we'll see how it turns out."

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features...ly-impossible-until-someone-makes-it-possible

Really helpful interview - especially for anyone, including myself who is/was comparing his 2011 Giro-Tour experience to the upcoming 2015 attempt. Contador points out and recalls some key facts and important differences.

 

[Jspear]

I agree with this point of view. I think it is possible and I want to see attempted, but not this year. He is picking a Giro that likely will be won by someone who is an amazing time trialist and climber. This is a combination Contador use to have but it has been a while and even then, we aren't talking about 60K time trials. Then you have a tour which fits him well, but you can't go to the tour directly after a Giro attempt in full strength. I don't believe a tired Contador can beat a fresh Froome,Quintana, etc.

Gonna make for a real fun race season though.

Sure thing. Man I REALLY hope no one crashes next year. The 2014 Tour was hyped like crazy and we know what happened. Next year has the potential to be great...fingers crossed...hoping nothing gets in the way.

 

[JohnNordin]

There could be another angle on this. I think that the only cyclist in history - the only one - to have 2 or more wins in all three grand tours is Hinault. Contador has two in the Tour and 3 in the Vuelta but only one Giro. If he wins that next year, regardless of his Tour results - he goes right to the top of the profession.

He has 6 GT wins - 7 puts him equal to Indurain and Coppi. Not bad company.

Of course, I have no idea what is really going on in his head, but 2 or more wins across all 3 GTs? Pretty impressive.

 

[42x16ss]

There could be another angle on this. I think that the only cyclist in history - the only one - to have 2 or more wins in all three grand tours is Hinault. Contador has two in the Tour and 3 in the Vuelta but only one Giro. If he wins that next year, regardless of his Tour results - he goes right to the top of the profession.

He has 6 GT wins - 7 puts him equal to Indurain and Coppi. Not bad company.

Of course, I have no idea what is really going on in his head, but 2 or more wins across all 3 GTs? Pretty impressive.

Yep, only Hinault and Contador (if you count the 2011 Giro) have done it...

 

[Eshnar]

I agree with this point of view. I think it is possible and I want to see attempted, but not this year. He is picking a Giro that likely will be won by someone who is an amazing time trialist and climber. This is a combination Contador use to have but it has been a while and even then, we aren't talking about 60K time trials. Then you have a tour which fits him well, but you can't go to the tour directly after a Giro attempt in full strength. I don't believe a tired Contador can beat a fresh Froome,Quintana, etc.

Gonna make for a real fun race season though.

if not Contador, who?

 

[Eshnar]

I think the big question he needs to ask himself is this: "What if I enter both the Giro and Tour, and don't win either. Was it worth it?" I imagine he's already pondered that, and answered yes. As that's the risk he's facing. If he loses the Giro, but doesn't drop in time to prep for the Tour...

But I'm of the mindset that it's better to have at least tried, taken the chance, and gotten the real true answer, than be always left wondering. We saw that from him in the 2011 Tour. He attacked the stage in a way everyone is afraid to, and it almost paid off. Had he just sat behind would he have won? Probably not. But so many others just race for second, or third, or hoping someone else will wear out and they can hang on. Not Contador. His style is what makes him a great champion. Win or lose.

Not even close to pay off. Agreed that it was brave and all positive adjectives
possible, and that it was his only real chance, but no, not even close to being effective.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

No it wasn't. But had he done what everyone else does - wait until the last 2-5km to see who runs out of gas - it was guaranteed he would have zero chance to win.

Plus, he rode a ride we'll always remember, and be cemented in Tour lore. I don't know about you, but I can hardly remember who did what in any of the past GT's half the time.

 

[Eshnar]

No it wasn't. But had he done what everyone else does - wait until the last 2-5km to see who runs out of gas - it was guaranteed he would have zero chance to win.

Plus, he rode a ride we'll always remember, and be cemented in Tour lore. I don't know about you, but I can hardly remember who did what in any of the past GT's half the time.

Probably the last one doing as AC did was Simoni in the Giro 2004.

 

[Miburo]

Probably the last one doing as AC did was Simoni in the Giro 2004.

What about De Gendt in 2012?

 

[LaFlorecita]

some gifts for the vuelta team

 

[Coat-O]

some gifts for the vuelta team

Do you have a picture of you and Alberto?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Do you have a picture of you and Alberto?

Nope

why are you asking?

 

[Dr. Juice]

Probably the last one doing as AC did was Simoni in the Giro 2004.

I think it was Basso in 2005. He was the strongest at the first mountain finish (Zoldo Aldo) then he had that stomach problem (nothing to do with form) then he went on and won the mountain stage to Limone Piemonte and the time trial. He would've won that Giro - not by 10 minutes like in 2006 but with 3-4 minutes for sure.
In the Tour, he was as strong as Armstrong after Courchevel. Even if the end result in the Giro was not according to the form he had ...we should count that attempt.

I don't believe you will be weaker in the 2nd GT without crashes and with a good preparation.
It's just a very tough mental challenge, that's why few have tried it in the last 10 year. But Alberto is ready for that challenge...he is ambitious and has a mind of steel.
Physically it's entirely possible to ride 2 GT's at 100 % or 98%. Otherwise Pantani and Indurain ( or Basso if you like) would not have been able to do it.
Doping shouldn' t be the deciding factor here. It's about the base condition...without that you can take as much as you want and won't succeed...or if your natural recovery is bad...and it's not like there isn't any doping anymore...but that'd be something for the other section here.

General message: Physically absolutely possible, mentally more difficult but possible if you are strong.

 

[contador977]

"So when I think about this year's Tour," he says before pausing. "I never trained as hard as when I did for this year's Tour de France. I've never been that skinny, that fit or that motivated "


My eyes got a touch watery here, I started day dreaming of what could have been. I was so excited to see him get that 2:30 back at the Tour. Contador doesnt exagerrate things in my opinion, something special would have happened at this Tour. It still eats at me. I hope we see the spectable in 2015. He will be 32 at the Tour and I am not looking forward to the day he retires. I love his heart, his fight, his tactics and the way he makes racing exciting. Thank u Alberto for giving me great moments to remember and inspire me when I climb little hills around Toronto, Ontario.

That quote above was probably why Alberto got back on his bike after the 77km crash. With all that hard work, its so hard to let go. Bone showing, a gaping wound, bleeding everywhere. He rides on for 20km and feels the need to apologize to his team-mate, in the fog for not being able to continue. This has to be one of the most courageous things to ever happen in any sport of all time.

Does anyone have that image of Contador and Roche(I think its Roche),one has thier arm around the other as Contador abandons the Tour? Its heartbreaking and powerful.

 

[LaFlorecita]

"So when I think about this year's Tour," he says before pausing. "I never trained as hard as when I did for this year's Tour de France. I've never been that skinny, that fit or that motivated "


My eyes got a touch watery here, I started day dreaming of what could have been. I was so excited to see him get that 2:30 back at the Tour. Contador doesnt exagerrate things in my opinion, something special would have happened at this Tour. It still eats at me. I hope we see the spectable in 2015. He will be 32 at the Tour and I am not looking forward to the day he retires. I love his heart, his fight, his tactics and the way he makes racing exciting. Thank u Alberto for giving me great moments to remember and inspire me when I climb little hills around Toronto, Ontario.

That quote above was probably why Alberto got back on his bike after the 77km crash. With all that hard work, its so hard to let go. Bone showing, a gaping wound, bleeding everywhere. He rides on for 20km and feels the need to apologize to his team-mate, in the fog for not being able to continue. This has to be one of the most courageous things to ever happen in any sport of all time.

very well said. I could not have said it better

I also thought this was a very good quote
"You don't know when you're going to crash but when I look at the speed of that crash, at 77kph, and realise that I only broke my tibia, I have to look at the balance."

I think it was Jens Keukeleire who saw what happened and later in an interview said that his first thought was "he's not going to get up anymore"

Also Benna immediately reported on the team radio that Alberto had crashed - and that it was bad

Does anyone have that image of Contador and Roche(I think its Roche),one has thier arm around the other as Contador abandons the Tour? Its heartbreaking and powerful.

It was Rogers.

Alberto apologized to Rogers, he said he couldn't continue, and Rogers said - you don't have to apologize, you've done nothing but make us proud.

 

[Eshnar]

What about De Gendt in 2012?

I think it was Basso in 2005.

I meant a gc guy attacking on the last stage from basically the starting line. Basso was not a gc guy anymore in that Giro and De Gendt attacked from 60 kms...

 

[Dr. Juice]

I meant a gc guy attacking on the last stage from basically the starting line. Basso was not a gc guy anymore in that Giro and De Gendt attacked from 60 kms...

I'm sorry, my head was not in place.

 

[contador977]

It was Rogers.

Alberto apologized to Rogers, he said he couldn't continue, and Rogers said - you don't have to apologize, you've done nothing but make us proud.

Thank you. I saved it. I want to make a poster of this, great inspiration of courage.

 

[ferryman]

"So when I think about this year's Tour," he says before pausing. "I never trained as hard as when I did for this year's Tour de France. I've never been that skinny, that fit or that motivated "


My eyes got a touch watery here, I started day dreaming of what could have been. I was so excited to see him get that 2:30 back at the Tour. Contador doesnt exagerrate things in my opinion, something special would have happened at this Tour. It still eats at me. I hope we see the spectable in 2015. He will be 32 at the Tour and I am not looking forward to the day he retires. I love his heart, his fight, his tactics and the way he makes racing exciting. Thank u Alberto for giving me great moments to remember and inspire me when I climb little hills around Toronto, Ontario.

That quote above was probably why Alberto got back on his bike after the 77km crash. With all that hard work, its so hard to let go. Bone showing, a gaping wound, bleeding everywhere. He rides on for 20km and feels the need to apologize to his team-mate, in the fog for not being able to continue. This has to be one of the most courageous things to ever happen in any sport of all time.

Does anyone have that image of Contador and Roche(I think its Roche),one has thier arm around the other as Contador abandons the Tour? Its heartbreaking and powerful.

Admirable work my friend. But don't get too misty eyed yet. You missed out the best bit. Surely the destruction of Froome in the Vuelta helped to dry your eyes a wee bit. I've got lots of images of that if you want so see them. Truly heartwarming and extremely powerful by our man Contador. PM me if you want to swap pics. I won't take offence if you don't. But it would be fun wouldn't it. Let me know.

 

[Erwin~]

Admirable work my friend. But don't get too misty eyed yet. You missed out the best bit. Surely the destruction of Froome in the Vuelta helped to dry your eyes a wee bit. I've got lots of images of that if you want so see them. Truly heartwarming and extremely powerful by our man Contador. PM me if you want to swap pics. I won't take offence if you don't. But it would be fun wouldn't it. Let me know.

Do not dramatise superfluously. One beats another one. Otherwise difficult to say what Froome did with Contador in the Tour the year before.

 

[BlurryVII]

Do not dramatise superfluously. One beats another one. Otherwise difficult to say what Froome did with Contador in the Tour the year before.

Even more difficult to say what Contador 09' would do with Froome 09'

 

[LaFlorecita]

Do not dramatise superfluously. One beats another one. Otherwise difficult to say what Froome did with Contador in the Tour the year before.

C'mon dude.

 

[contador977]

Admirable work my friend. But don't get too misty eyed yet. You missed out the best bit. Surely the destruction of Froome in the Vuelta helped to dry your eyes a wee bit. I've got lots of images of that if you want so see them. Truly heartwarming and extremely powerful by our man Contador. PM me if you want to swap pics. I won't take offence if you don't. But it would be fun wouldn't it. Let me know.

Im glad u wont take offense. I think your perspective on cycling is never interesting but usually annoying. I hope that answers all of your future questions.

 

[Cimber]

Probably the last one doing as AC did was Simoni in the Giro 2004.

I miss Simoni btw.