Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Red Rick]

Re:

Contador didnt look very strong today skipping some turns towards the end

Rogers looked monstrous

Closing a gap after Basso screwed up a little probably had a hand in that

 

[LaFlorecita]

Good start. Alberto had to close a gap when some riders dropped and that cost them a few seconds

 

[Jelantik]

Great ride by TS boys. At least, now Contador starts his GT on a driving seat. Not much time gap, but good to start ahead of everyone. Surprise Astana was the fastest until Orica beat them. Puff.. I was just imagining, Boaro wearing the maglia rosa, too bad they are a little slower by 7 seconds. Overall, good start for Contador.

 

[indianfanboy]

Tinkoff Saxo DS said Basso dropping was the reason for not winning today

 

[No_Balls]

Very, very good start. The team looks solid and they've even got a nice cushion to Sky. Promising!

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

contador was pretty terrible today, but his team and especially rogers, were amazing

 

[Electress]

Re: Re:

Funny how the perspective changes when not coming from a douche bag.

From la Gazzetta dello Sport.


When he speaks of Italy he always warms up. It is always just so. "We were trying out the TTT course, Matteo Boaro and myself - Contador explains - when all of a sudden I heard a tifoso shout 'Go Alberto! Destroy them all!!!' - 'Thanks!' We both had a good laugh."

In this 98th Giro d'Italia, he is the shining star. He say's he is ready "to attack, after which the strategy might change, but in the beginning I'll go on the move." With elegance and diplomacy he then adroitly deals with a question about Oleg Tinkov's decision to fire Byarne Riis: "The boss wants to win the Giro? Well he certainly doesn't want to win it more than me. As far as Riis is concerend, if he thought the team without Byarne was better, then he made the right decision. As for me, I'm completely confident in the people I have working with me."

On the Giro-Tour double Contador said: "It's gotten to a point where if I win another Tour or Giro it doesn't change anything. Whereas focusing exclusively on the French race, doesn't motivate me anymore. But if you are talking about winning both in the same season, well, that does change things. It is the type of goal people say is impossible, but precisely for that reason I find it so motivating. Last year I crashed in the Tour, when I was at my maximum level and then, even without ideal preparation before, I won the Vuelta and this has made me believe that I can win the Giro and Tour in one year. Of course it's more risky, but if we have planned everything well and bar incidents or illness, it is doable. If I didn't believe that, I wouldn't be attempting it. Right now, though, it's all the Giro. I have not come here thinking I need to be any less focussed than at the Tour, or will only ride on calculated efforts to try and save myself for the Tour. No, I will give 100% to win the Giro and I won't start thinking about the Tour until afterward."

Nice. Thanks for posting.

Tinkoff seem strong, though Eurosport seemed to think Alberto not quite on form - a bit tense, which isn't surprising. (Hell, I'm a bit tense sitting here on my sofa!).

Bit disappointed in Basso, but I'd have thought this is a pretty good beginning. Plus I like it when things don't go Sky's way...

 

[Squirbos_19]

What's the deal with Basso's sister. I seem to have missed something, she's been mentioned around a forums a Few times now.
Nice 20sec lead on Porte though, he looked good today.

 

[Carols]

Can anyone tell me of what use Basso has been since he came to the team? One time he actually launched Alberto, but other than that nothing I have seen. Today he was a anchor around Berto's neck

Oleg said yesterday that they should win today, I wonder what he is saying now Not likely it is uplifting. I'd hate to be Basso right now.

Meanwhile they did a monster ride and Berto has time on all the other GC guys

 

[Electress]

So glad I've cleared my calendar of work during all the GTs this year…Going to have to work like a dog the rest of the time, mind.

 

[arvc40]

Re:

Can anyone tell me of what use Basso has been since he came to the team? One time he actually launched Alberto, but other than that nothing I have seen. Today he was a anchor around Berto's neck

Reckon Tinkoff and Contador will be pretty pleased with there performance today !

Oleg said yesterday that they should win today, I wonder what he is saying now Not likely it is uplifting. I'd hate to be Basso right now.

Meanwhile they did a monster ride and Berto has time on all the other GC guys

 

[arvc40]

Re:

Can anyone tell me of what use Basso has been since he came to the team? One time he actually launched Alberto, but other than that nothing I have seen. Today he was a anchor around Berto's neck


Oleg said yesterday that they should win today, I wonder what he is saying now Not likely it is uplifting. I'd hate to be Basso right now.

Meanwhile they did a monster ride and Berto has time on all the other GC guys

Reckon Tinkoff and the whole Team will be happy with today

 

[Miburo]

Re:

contador was pretty terrible today, but his team and especially rogers, were amazing

Last time you said he was a coward and he attacked from 40km 2 sec later.

I'm feeling good with your comment.

 

[Carols]

Re: Re:

Can anyone tell me of what use Basso has been since he came to the team? One time he actually launched Alberto, but other than that nothing I have seen. Today he was a anchor around Berto's neck


Oleg said yesterday that they should win today, I wonder what he is saying now Not likely it is uplifting. I'd hate to be Basso right now.

Meanwhile they did a monster ride and Berto has time on all the other GC guys

Reckon Tinkoff and the whole Team will be happy with today

Like I said Monster Ride. But will it be good enough for Oleg after he predicted a win? I so Dislike that man.....

 

[Jelantik]

Re:

Tinkoff Saxo DS said Basso dropping was the reason for not winning today

maybe juul-jensen and boaro pull too fast for the old lad..

 

[Jelantik]

Re:

Oleg said yesterday that they should win today, I wonder what he is saying now Not likely it is uplifting. I'd hate to be Basso right now.

i hate oleg for his big mouth. I guess if the team wins, he will credit it to himself being in the car.. and putting pressure.. What a load of c*rap!

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

contador was pretty terrible today, but his team and especially rogers, were amazing

Last time you said he was a coward and he attacked from 40km 2 sec later.

I'm feeling good with your comment.

 

[Jelantik]

I stumbled this video made by Saxo Bank about Ivan Basso. There's also Rogers and Sagan. Alberto piece comes in May. (so sometime this month, stay tune). It's very well done and directed.

http://www.saxobank.com/sponsorships/cycling#stop

 

[bajbar]

I re-watched the moment when Alberto and Basso were momentarily dropped and it is much clearer to me what happened. Contador just finished his turn, while Paulinho in front of him didn't do a turn anymore and just rolled back so the two of them were going to the back, wih Contador the second of the two riders in the duo. Contador then looked back, as Basso was the last one in the line and slowed down a fraction to slot in behind him. But at the very same time Basso let go and Contador found himself next to Basoo, a few meters behind the team. As soon as he realised what was happening he started sprinting while at the same time he hand gestured Basso to grab his wheel, as they were clearly planning to put Basso in pink (in case of a win that was very likely at that moment). Then Contador dragged Basso back to the group, only for Basso to do nothing later and drop two kilometers to go.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

I re-watched the moment when Alberto and Basso were momentarily dropped and it is much clearer to me what happened. Contador just finished his turn, while Paulinho in front of him didn't do a turn anymore and just rolled back so the two of them were going to the back, wih Contador the second of the two riders in the duo. Contador then looked back, as Basso was the last one in the line and slowed down a fraction to slot in behind him. But at the very same time Basso let go and Contador found himself next to Basoo, a few meters behind the team. As soon as he realised what was happening he started sprinting while at the same time he hand gestured Basso to grab his wheel, as they were clearly planning to put Basso in pink (in case of a win that was very likely at that moment). Then Contador dragged Basso back to the group, only for Basso to do nothing later and drop two kilometers to go.

Great analysis

 

[Red Rick]

Last time people were worrying about his shape in the Giro was on Montevergine when he got gapped in the uphill sprint. 2 days later he erupted on the flanks of the Etna

It's too early for any conclusionns

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Last time people were worrying about his shape in the Giro was on Montevergine when he got gapped in the uphill sprint. 2 days later he erupted on the flanks of the Etna

It's too early for any conclusionns

Yes and when he attacked on the stage to Tropea people said he was desperate for bonus seconds

 

[Electress]

Re:

I re-watched the moment when Alberto and Basso were momentarily dropped and it is much clearer to me what happened. Contador just finished his turn, while Paulinho in front of him didn't do a turn anymore and just rolled back so the two of them were going to the back, wih Contador the second of the two riders in the duo. Contador then looked back, as Basso was the last one in the line and slowed down a fraction to slot in behind him. But at the very same time Basso let go and Contador found himself next to Basoo, a few meters behind the team. As soon as he realised what was happening he started sprinting while at the same time he hand gestured Basso to grab his wheel, as they were clearly planning to put Basso in pink (in case of a win that was very likely at that moment). Then Contador dragged Basso back to the group, only for Basso to do nothing later and drop two kilometers to go.

Thanks so much for this. I only glimpsed it myself and haven't been able to watch since, and the one liners here and there really didn't help much.

 

[Mozart92]

I'm curious to see if Basso has still something to offer, he's becoming a bit old now and during the last seasons he showed nothing interesting. Perhaps it's time to retire. Anyway AC got the best result he could ask for. Gained time over rivals and has not the duty of defending the pink so early.

 

[Miburo]

Re:

I'm curious to see if Basso has still something to offer, he's becoming a bit old now and during the last seasons he showed nothing interesting. Perhaps it's time to retire. Anyway AC got the best result he could ask for. Gained time over rivals and has not the duty of defending the pink so early.

Yea pathetic, last years rider of the year but so bad, showed nothing at all.