Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[movingtarget]

Re:

Contador himself has repeatedly warned of Porte's time trialling, indicating that's what makes him dangerous. And indeed, the reigning Col'eze and Australian Time Trial Champion is probably pretty good against the clock. Contador has many good results in time trials over the years as well but I just don't think this one suits him. It's very long and fairly flat. Although I can't really understand why it would suit Porte either. He's a climber these days. Does his peculiar head provide a super good aero coefficient or something?

I expect Porte, Contador and Uran to do well in the TT but Aru is the one that has to gain some time in the mountains. Uran is already behind and has been sick so it's not looking good for him but he rode some great TTs last year and the year before.

 

[Jelantik]

Re:

Later in the same article....

"I don't think it is too early to have the jersey. It would be a different story if we wanted to keep it all the way to Milan. We came to fight for victory on the last day. The jersey is a nice present for tomorrow, but then another rider can take it," he added.

now that I read again this article, seems that he can't help himself to get the taste of pink jersey . After all, orica keep the jersey and never actually defend it. TS has been doing the work anyway, might as well make it official. It does sound that he will let it go, but someone has to try to take it, dunno maybe breakaway needs to work harder to get it coz' he is not going to just throw it over the fence and let everyone grabs it.

btw what to make of his comment about Porte? On one hand, the media and people have been talking about how porte 2.0 is the new improved rider compare to what he used to be, maybe almost like as if he would be the next Froome? But contador seems to see it differently. Does that mean he has known Porte number sorta speak, and in his eyes, Porte isn't the level of Froome (whom he touted as his most tough rival to beat)? or maybe i read too much cycling news lately..

As for Porte and how he viewed his former Australian teammate after five days of having Porte as a direct rival, Contador argued “he’s not changed so much as a rider, but he’s a lot more experienced and a lot thinner. His strong point is going to be the time trial.”

 

[Taxus4a]

Re: Re:

Contador himself has repeatedly warned of Porte's time trialling, indicating that's what makes him dangerous. And indeed, the reigning Col'eze and Australian Time Trial Champion is probably pretty good against the clock. Contador has many good results in time trials over the years as well but I just don't think this one suits him. It's very long and fairly flat. Although I can't really understand why it would suit Porte either. He's a climber these days. Does his peculiar head provide a super good aero coefficient or something?

Contador's strength has always been his recovery--it's why he targets grand tours. I think given when the ITT is (stage 14) and how the stages have been raced to date (harder than expected going in), I think Contador won't be as disadvantage on the ITT as many of us contemplated at the start. that assumes he's not lost his recovery powers

I dont think it is his best strengh, he has showed himself proportionaly always stronger is one week tours than in a GT.

He has a good recovery, as he had a lot of strenghs, but the recovery, as another ones, could be improved for other riders.

What I must to say is that I like Contador each by day more. Now even is nice to read him, and of course as ever in the road he is clever and brave and has that strong attack of 5 km.

Anyway there are things that doent change, spanish speakers in TD saying he announced he was to attack and later he said his attacked wanst planned.

I think tomorrow or the day after tomorrow he will lose the maglia, or al least his team is not going to do anything to keep it.

 

[Electress]

Re: Re:

"Sometimes I get restless in a race" typical Velasco
Tactically it isn't that great to have pink at this point but hey it's Contador in pink so f**** tactics

Indeed

“I wasn’t thinking about attacking. I was there, looking at the other riders, and to tell the truth, I didn’t feel that great, but sometimes it’s hard for me to just stay in the group, and I went for it,” Contador said. “At the end of the day, it’s a good result. Urán lost a bit more time, as well as some other riders. Aru and Porte are very strong, but I think it’s a good situation after five days.”

He just can't help himself

And to think that the first day or so I was actually a little worried that we were going to see Sky-bot tactics taking over at Tinkoff!! Fat chance.

So good for cycling to have competitors with this mentality whatever team they race for.

 

[ILovecycling]

What do you think about team strenght in mountains so far?

I see a problem with Kreuziger and changes of pace, if somebody attacks he rarely changes the rhytm, he is like Basso imo.In case of Mick and Ivan I think they'll improve as Giro continues, but for now they look bad.
Also Im a bit surprised by Astana mountains domestiques, otoh it shouldnt affect AC too much, I expect Aru to lose a minute in that TT.

 

[Miburo]

You must be a new Contador fan that buys all the "contador sucks now at ITT" if you think aru will only lose 1 minute to Contador.

God sake.

 

[vavafroome]

Would astanta push the pace to force bertie to stay in pink?

2mins i can see him pulling on aru in the tt, can see him matching porte if not taking time out of him too.

 

[qwer]

Re:

You must be a new Contador fan that buys all the "contador sucks now at ITT" if you think aru will only lose 1 minute to Contador.

God sake.

aru will lose 3 minutes and be surpassed by contador

 

[Carols]

Re: Re:

Later in the same article....

As for Porte and how he viewed his former Australian teammate after five days of having Porte as a direct rival, Contador argued “he’s not changed so much as a rider, but he’s a lot more experienced and a lot thinner. His strong point is going to be the time trial.”

I hope he isn't underestimating Lil' Richie motorhome, as he looks like the next Sky Revelation! He needs to be taken seriously IMO.

 

[Carols]

Re:

What do you think about team strenght in mountains so far?

I see a problem with Kreuziger and changes of pace, if somebody attacks he rarely changes the rhytm, he is like Basso imo.In case of Mick and Ivan I think they'll improve as Giro continues, but for now they look bad.
Also Im a bit surprised by Astana mountains domestiques, otoh it shouldnt affect AC too much, I expect Aru to lose a minute in that TT.

We can only pray Basso improves. Mick looks much better than him IMO. I used to love Basso but he is as useful to Alberto as Lil' Richie was in the past....... Roman will still be around late I think.

Alberto will have to use the Astana guys I guess. Geez they are Strong!

 

[Electress]

Re: Re:

What do you think about team strenght in mountains so far?

I see a problem with Kreuziger and changes of pace, if somebody attacks he rarely changes the rhytm, he is like Basso imo.In case of Mick and Ivan I think they'll improve as Giro continues, but for now they look bad.
Also Im a bit surprised by Astana mountains domestiques, otoh it shouldnt affect AC too much, I expect Aru to lose a minute in that TT.

We can only pray Basso improves. Mick looks much better than him IMO. I used to love Basso but he is as useful to Alberto as Lil' Richie was in the past....... Roman will still be around late I think.

Alberto will have to use the Astana guys I guess. Geez they are Strong!

I'm not so worried for Bertie. He seems to have spent half a career being isolated by his team Sky have more to worry about, even if Porte did say it was 'going to plan'. Porte didn't look that cheery on the start line this morning, either.

Berto confirmed he's missing race days and not quite 100%…

Basso is so crap that I keep thinking that TS have to be playing some deep game - i.e. he's going to turn out to be hiding scintillating form and shock everyone.

Wish I believed it.

(Nice pink sunglasses, Alberto!)

 

[perico]

Roman looks better than I expected considering that time he missed to provisional suspension.

 

[The Hitch]

Well remember Majka in the tour last year? Wasn't very good first few weeks but towards the end he became the 2nd best rider in the race.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Best/worst color combo ever

 

[Carols]

Best/worst color combo ever

The helmet, glasses, band on his shorts and power meter look just grand. It's to early to go all pink.......

 

[Jelantik]

Best/worst color combo ever

don't forget his "black shoes"

 

[BlurryVII]

Best/worst color combo ever

don't forget his "black shoes"

 

[Red Rick]

Can't believe the double just got screwed by a mentally retarted spectator

 

[Netserk]

At first when he was on his bike, I thought he was fine, but clearly there is something wrong with his shoulder or collarbone.

 

[The Hitch]

7 weeks until start of the Tour.

If he pulls out today, is it doable?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Fuxking hell

 

[FCKAC]

Re:

Can't believe the double just got screwed by a mentally retarted spectator

already starting to look for possible excuses

 

[Red Rick]

Ohwell, Tour, Vuelta is at at least still unprecedented

 

[Red Rick]

Can't believe the double just got screwed by a mentally retarted spectator

already starting to look for possible excuses

Did you watch?

 

[No_Balls]

Re:

Lets hope Oleg sues the living crap of that *** ***.

This *** AGAIN.