Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

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Electress

Aug 26, 2014
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Netserk said:
Being confident and humble (and polite/pleasant/approachable) isn't opposites. I do think that Contador is very confident, especially after last season.
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Oh, I agree. Nothing wrong with quiet confidence. I dislike false modesty even more than arrogance, and I don't think A.C. suffers from either. He knows his talent and, on the whole, treats it as a responsibility.

I also like people who have the courage to set out their stall to one and all then live up to it, as he's done with the double. I just wish that the article had used 'matter of a fact' rather than 'abrupt' at the beginning. They have different connotations, and the former is less negative IMO. That's nothing to do with A.C., its just the way it's written.

But I'm perfectly willing to accept I'm a little biased !

On another topic, just donated £40 to Cerebra on behalf of this thread, and courtesy of Ferryman have a very nice t shirt! It's not subtle, it's true, but actually, it fits rather well, so no more having to explain I'm not a TeamSky groupie…

If you see a lady in a black t shirt with a fluo yellow cyclist, 'Alberto Contador' written all over it (and probably dark glasses) hanging about on some col in May or July, that may well be me. :cool:

(Ah, the 'cool' smilie is soooooooo inappropriate in this context! More like :eek: TBH ! But might as well nail my colours to the mast! )
 
pigoonse

pigoonse

Apr 16, 2014
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Electress said:
I'm pretty impressed with Contador's English. He's rather articulate, IMO. Yes, he's got an accent, but it's more intelligible to me than some native born reality TV stars! I also happen to think he's pretty straightforward in interviews, though I don't really like the article, to be honest. The way it is set up makes him sounds rather brusque and even overconfident from the outset. I've obviously not met him, but I've always had the impression that (whilst well aware of how good he is) he's remarkably polite, pleasant, approachable and pretty humble, considering.

Can't help wondering how he'd come over to a casual reader, I suppose. Especially since they didn't actually state what the CAS decision was. Whatever you think of the validity of that decision, IMO, its omission is unnecessary and even misleading in the context of the article. It's to be expected, of course, but I do find it tiresome.
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Cary is awful, imo. I have to be starved for cycling news to read something from the Telegraph sport, anyway. The article is set up for the audience. And in that regard, i understand: promote cycling in the UK. He really doesn't write about Contador in a flattering way - lots of reference to doping, while i feel the inference is ofc, Froome and Sky pure. the other irritating thing about the article was of course, Cary's reference to the win-win situation heading into TdF and a ready-made excuse for Contador, should he lose. Uhg...

also agree with you about false modesty being worse than arrogance - at least for sure in a professional athlete. Nadal, for example, the humble Rafa act is way over the top into false modesty. but Contador is nothing like it. i like Berto's of modest confidence. and one of the reasons i am a fan - he's charming! :p
 
Carols

Carols

Mar 20, 2010
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Red Rick said:
Damn, may quit after this season already:eek:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-froome-will-be-my-most-dangerous-tour-de-france-rival

I was kinda hoping that he'd do 2 years of winning as many GT's as possible and then go on a last year where he'd just cause absolute mayhem in every race just as goodbye:D
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If he takes down the Double it is possible.

"Pressed on whether he might retire at the end of this year if he achieves the Giro-Tour double, Contador explained: “It’s complicated to say yes to that today. I believe that I still could do another year. But it’s only: ‘I believe.’ The weeks and months to come will tell me what decision to take at the end of the season. What is sure is that that I can’t see myself remaining a professional rider for more than three more seasons.”

Geez I hope he gives us at least those 3 more seasons! I guess it depends on the body and spirit.

On the positive side when he retires I may be able to ease my watching habits just a bit :).
 
Miburo

Miburo

Jul 29, 2012
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He's right Froome is above Nibali and Quintana, they haven't proved otherwise after all.

I personally think quintana is slightly overrated and Nibali doesn't have the same talent as the other 3 guys in terms of climbing at least.

I still don't know who is the better climber when both in topform; contador or froome? (disregarding clinic) It's very hard to call, if quintana improves this year then he's in the discussion too of course.

I believe though that quintana is a very fragile rider and i wonder how such a rider will react faced with certain situations.

Rain, wind, cobbles, downhill attacks. I don't know how quintana is mentally too, i hope for his case that piti will actually ride for him next year.

Mental strength is at least as important as talent, especially when you face guys like nibali and Contador who will attack from 100km if necessary. I seriously hope for quintana he won't end up in the yellow jersey early, cause he'll be screwed. Nibali and Contador will eventually go mental if such a situation would occur, idk about froome. Many interesting scenarios can play out in july.

Then again 3 of them might crash in the 1st week...
 
Flamin

Flamin

Jan 4, 2011
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Miburo said:
He's right Froome is above Nibali and Quintana, they haven't proved otherwise after all.

I personally think quintana is slightly overrated and Nibali doesn't have the same talent as the other 3 guys in terms of climbing at least.

I still don't know who is the better climber when both in topform; contador or froome? (disregarding clinic) It's very hard to call, if quintana improves this year then he's in the discussion too of course.

I believe though that quintana is a very fragile rider and i wonder how such a rider will react faced with certain situations.

Rain, wind, cobbles, downhill attacks. I don't know how quintana is mentally too, i hope for his case that piti will actually ride for him next year.

Mental strength is at least as important as talent, especially when you face guys like nibali and Contador who will attack from 100km if necessary. I seriously hope for quintana he won't end up in the yellow jersey early, cause he'll be screwed. Nibali and Contador will eventually go mental if such a situation would occur, idk about froome. Many interesting scenarios can play out in july.

Then again 3 of them might crash in the 1st week...
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Everyone from Movistar says Nairito is mentally super strong.

And how is he a fragile rider? Based on what?
 
BlurryVII

BlurryVII

Feb 21, 2014
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I don't believe him, it's way too early, he is only 32 ffs and he loves his job. Even if he pulls off the double , he'll keep up remember he already said not so long ago "whatever happens this season, it's almost certain I'll still be in the peloton in 2016. "
The question is more about 2017.

That being said, I think only if he does the triple then it might be over this year but that won't happen.
 
indianfanboy

indianfanboy

Jun 9, 2014
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Porte seems to have got back his form.I know its still a long way to the Giro but that Time Trial is gonna be interesting.Porte looks strong in TT but can he gain on Contador in it
 
Miburo

Miburo

Jul 29, 2012
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Flamin said:
Everyone from Movistar says Nairito is mentally super strong.

And how is he a fragile rider? Based on what?
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This is just an opinion of me, i might be wrong, we'll see.
 
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Dr. Juice

Jun 5, 2014
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indianfanboy said:
Porte seems to have got back his form.I know its still a long way to the Giro but that Time Trial is gonna be interesting.Porte looks strong in TT but can he gain on Contador in it
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Both in the same form, he would hardly gain anything. Maybe 30 seconds if his form is really good.

They should be nearly equal in a flat TT.
 
LaFlorecita

LaFlorecita

May 15, 2011
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Mayomaniac said:
It's nearly 60km long, so I'd say 30-50sec if he's in top shape.
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I agree, in 2011 when Porte was **** he almost matched Alberto in the TTs they rode together (Vuelta a Castilla y Leon, Giro, TDF) so naturally he'll take some time. But not much imo. I've always said Alberto in top form can limit his losses in a long ITT to 1-1.5s/km to the very best TTers (Tony, Sir Bradley etc). So 30-50s seems like a fair number to me.
 
May0maniac

May0maniac

Jun 30, 2014
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Uran will be the bigger problem in the ITT but he shouldn't be a huge problem for Contador in the mountain stages.
 
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Dr. Juice

Jun 5, 2014
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Mayomaniac said:
Uran will be the bigger problem in the ITT but he shouldn't be a huge problem for Contador in the mountain stages.
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Yeah...Uran rivals with Froome half a step behind Tony and Wiggins. Then another half a step behind Porte/Contador.
 
Red Rick

Red Rick

Feb 20, 2012
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Wait we're talking 100% Velasco on a hilly TT?

Portes tt'ing does vary so much as his climbing, you can kick him out of his bed on his worst day and he'll still put in a decent TT, whereas he'll climb with the gruppetto and his only use would be catching his team leader would he fall off the mountain
 
May0maniac

May0maniac

Jun 30, 2014
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Red Rick said:
Wait we're talking 100% Velasco on a hilly TT?

Portes tt'ing does vary so much as his climbing, you can kick him out of his bed on his worst day and he'll still put in a decent TT, whereas he'll climb with the gruppetto and his only use would be catching his team leader would he fall off the mountain
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Yes, but todays Contador isn't the ITT rider that he used to be in 2009.
The ITT isn't that hilly.
tappa_dettagli_tecnici_altimetria_14.jpg

As far as i know the first climb is 5km at 3,6% and the second only has a steep final ramp, they shouldn't be a big factor.
 
D

Dr. Juice

Jun 5, 2014
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Mayomaniac said:
Yes, but todays Contador isn't the ITT rider that he used to be in 2009.
The ITT isn't that hilly.

As far as i know the first climb is 5km at 3,6% and the second only has a steep final ramp, they shouldn't be a big factor.
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But on 2011 level I suppose. A shame he couldn't do the 54 km Bergerac TT.
 
Miburo

Miburo

Jul 29, 2012
11,703
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Mayomaniac said:
Yes, but todays Contador isn't the ITT rider that he used to be in 2009.
The ITT isn't that hilly.
tappa_dettagli_tecnici_altimetria_14.jpg

As far as i know the first climb is 5km at 3,6% and the second only has a steep final ramp, they shouldn't be a big factor.
Click to expand...

I don't think it's fair to use 2013 as a reference since he clearly was in terrible shape.

He performed pretty well in all the ITT of 2011,2012 and 2014.

It isn't extremely hilly but not flat, it suits Contador rather well.
 
Publicus

Publicus

Mar 17, 2009
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I don't know about AC losing 30" to 1'+ to anyone on ITT that happens on stage 14. He recovers better than most GC riders (as best I can tell from his performance over the years). Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if he was the best of the GC guys.
 
May0maniac

May0maniac

Jun 30, 2014
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Publicus said:
I don't know about AC losing 30" to 1'+ to anyone on ITT that happens on stage 14. He recovers better than most GC riders (as best I can tell from his performance over the years). Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if he was the best of the GC guys.
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Uran should be the best GC guy in the ITT.
 
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