Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[nepetalactone]

Re: Re:

Porte is overrated as a TTer, especially since he has lost weight. Porte won't take pink from Contador.

I really hope so. I know people are talking about Porte will take lots of time to Aru and Contador. And the way he rides so far looks like that he is confident to do so. But the ITT is almost at the end of second week, so everyone will be tired. Depending who still got the best reserve, the result might surprising. But on paper, Uran will be stronger than Porte. And Porte is stronger than Aru and Contador.

I'm not convinced... Has Porte ever performed well in a TT after two weeks in a GT? Contador surely has... Has Porte ever performed well in a 60km TT?

Has anyone? 60km TTs are rare.

Hence the reason I didn't say, "Contador surely has."

All I'm trying to get at is there isn't really any data supporting a strong TT from Porte at this length and at this point in a GT. So he won the Aus TT champs in Jan? Meh...

Contador is in pink and if he remains in pink will start last, he has performed well in (and won) TTs deep into GTs, including TTs at >50km.

Granted that was a long time ago, but at least there is a precedent. I'm not saying Contador will take considerable time in the TT, but I'd find it less surprising than Porte.

 

[rm7]

Based on this years TT form from Contador and Porte, they're actually very even. Porte was okay in the national championsships where he beat Rohan Dennis on a hard hilly course I think, and the mountain ITT in Paris-Nice. The flat ones he haven't been much better than Contador.

I think Porte will be around 30 seconds ahead after the flat part, and then Contador will gain maybe 10 seconds in the hilly part. Porte will beat Contador with 20-30 seconds at most, but it could be very close. It's 2 weeks in a GT where Porte might be more tired.

And Uran haven't been TT'ing very well this year either. Actually Contador beat him in TA 10 km flat ITT.

Aru only have one TT performance this year, at the mountain ITT in Paris-Nice, but i guess he wasn't in a very good shape there.

I think it'll be very close beetween the three, AC/Porte/Uran and Aru 1:30-2 minutes after them.

My guess would be:

Uran
Porte + 20 sec
Contador + 30 sec
Aru + 1:45 min

 

[movingtarget]

Yes Porte has an overrated TT next to Martin and Wiggins. There is nothing to indicate this year that Porte will do a mediocre TT. Aru will have to do his best TT just to stay in touch. I don't think there is much difference between Contador and Porte in the TT but Uran's TT could be the interesting one especially if he can hold it together in the mountains.

 

[veganrob]

Re:

Anyone who thinks Alberto wasn't hurting needs to see this picture. I've Never seen him look like that

http://www.cyclingquotes.com/news/contador_time_is_on_my_side/

Many of the quotes in the article have appeared elsewhere but I haven't seen this one anywhere else:

Today was a very important test for me. Today was crucial. I saved it without problems, and I'm happy. The Giro d'Italia has just started. I'm pretty confident. I'll go better on the bike tomorrow. Time is on my side.

As far as the ITT if his shoulder is good and he can maintain his position he should do quite well, IMO. It is still a week away, plenty of time for assessments of everyone's condition before the ITT.

I'm thinking that is not so much of a "my shoulder is killing me " look as a "watch out" look. Aru has an odd look on his face also.

 

[elfed68]

Re: Re:

Anyone who thinks Alberto wasn't hurting needs to see this picture. I've Never seen him look like that

http://www.cyclingquotes.com/news/contador_time_is_on_my_side/

Many of the quotes in the article have appeared elsewhere but I haven't seen this one anywhere else:

Today was a very important test for me. Today was crucial. I saved it without problems, and I'm happy. The Giro d'Italia has just started. I'm pretty confident. I'll go better on the bike tomorrow. Time is on my side.

As far as the ITT if his shoulder is good and he can maintain his position he should do quite well, IMO. It is still a week away, plenty of time for assessments of everyone's condition before the ITT.

I'm thinking that is not so much of a "my shoulder is killing me " look as a "watch out" look. Aru has an odd look on his face also.

Yes, he looks a bit odd

 

[Jancouver]

I think it helped Sagan today on Mt Baldy knowing Alberto is injured but still riding strong like a champ. And I think it will also help Alberto mentally to see what kind of performance his teammate is putting on. Its a win-win situation for both of them.

 

[No_Balls]

Re: Re:

Carols: You of all people should have learned to trust the man by now.

Does pain make cycling great? Contador was asked. And he replied that halfway through yesterday’s [Friday’s] interminably long stage, he had been wondering about a similar kind of question. “I’d done four hours on the bike, and there were around four hours left to ride. And I suddenly thought to myself, ‘this is what cycling is all about."

 

[Carols]

Re: Re:

Carols: You of all people should have learned to trust the man by now.

Does pain make cycling great? Contador was asked. And he replied that halfway through yesterday’s [Friday’s] interminably long stage, he had been wondering about a similar kind of question. “I’d done four hours on the bike, and there were around four hours left to ride. And I suddenly thought to myself, ‘this is what cycling is all about."

I trust he will win this race

 

[Sciocco]

Contador holding up well.

Pink until the end...

 

[Jspear]

Re:

Contador holding up well.

Pink until the end...

Nope...Porte will take it for a short while after the tt.

 

[Metabolol]

Re:

Anyone who thinks Alberto wasn't hurting needs to see this picture. I've Never seen him look like that

http://www.cyclingquotes.com/news/contador_time_is_on_my_side/

Many of the quotes in the article have appeared elsewhere but I haven't seen this one anywhere else:

Today was a very important test for me. Today was crucial. I saved it without problems, and I'm happy. The Giro d'Italia has just started. I'm pretty confident. I'll go better on the bike tomorrow. Time is on my side.

As far as the ITT if his shoulder is good and he can maintain his position he should do quite well, IMO. It is still a week away, plenty of time for assessments of everyone's condition before the ITT.

Alberto will do really well in the ITT if he recovers well. I think he will beat Porte by 30-45sec assuming he recovers. Aru will be a couple of minutes behind Contador.

 

[hfer07]

Re:

How I see ITT results

Uran winning
Porte 1'
Alberto 1'10''
Cataldo 1'20''
Konig 1'50''
Fabio 1'55''

Wishful thinking on your forecast- but unless Rigo somehow becomes Tony Martin, is very Unlikely to get those kinds of gaps against the likes of Contador & Porte-however -He may challenge the stage win- depending of course how good his legs are & his recovery from the cold...

 

[The Hitch]

Re: Re:

Porte is overrated as a TTer, especially since he has lost weight. Porte won't take pink from Contador.

I agree. Everbody talks about as he is Wiggins

Doesn't Porte have way more tt wins and podiums at this stage of his career than Wiggins did going into 2012?

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

Porte is overrated as a TTer, especially since he has lost weight. Porte won't take pink from Contador.

I agree. Everbody talks about as he is Wiggins

Doesn't Porte have way more tt wins and podiums at this stage of his career than Wiggins did going into 2012?

Nope, opposite. Did a quick count. Porte has 14 wins or podiums in tt's and prologues.
Wiggins has 17 tt and prologue wins or podiums before 2012.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Contador holding up well.

Pink until the end...

Nope...Porte will take it for a short while after the tt.

Nope.... it just won't happen. He will not lose that pink jersey.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

How I see ITT results

Uran winning
Porte 1'
Alberto 1'10''
Cataldo 1'20''
Konig 1'50''
Fabio 1'55''

Wishful thinking on your forecast- but unless Rigo somehow becomes Tony Martin, is very Unlikely to get those kinds of gaps against the likes of Contador & Porte-however -He may challenge the stage win- depending of course how good his legs are & his recovery from the cold...

It's 60km... if he is good he could take 1 min... Porte is a mystery to me.. I could see him anywhere from winning 30s on Berto to losing 30s...

 

[ILovecycling]

Re: Re:

How I see ITT results

Uran winning
Porte 1'
Alberto 1'10''
Cataldo 1'20''
Konig 1'50''
Fabio 1'55''

Wishful thinking on your forecast- but unless Rigo somehow becomes Tony Martin, is very Unlikely to get those kinds of gaps against the likes of Contador & Porte-however -He may challenge the stage win- depending of course how good his legs are & his recovery from the cold...

Just my opinion and I think its a good guess, mark my words



Alberto in an original interview:

“Hoy era un día complicado pero espero que el tiempo vaya a mi favor", ha cerrado. "No me sentía cómodo en mi bicicleta, ya se pudo ver, pero pude pasar el día y estoy feliz. Estoy durmiendo con mi brazo inmovilizado, y tengo que recordar que tengo la lesión, y no hacer ningún momento brusco. Espero estar bien para la contrarreloj que podría ser difícil para mí"

 

[Red Rick]

http://www.nu.nl/wielrennen/4050413/tinkov-sluit-niet-hij-wielersport-seizoen-verlaat.html

Tinkoff does not rule out that he'll leave the sport next year, saying it's a hobby, and he may not like it as much next year.

About Contador he says: "We've had our good and bad moments, we're no friends but we don't need to be"

 

[LaFlorecita]

I think Alberto is very easy to have a good relation with, I guess that says a lot about Tinkov.

 

[SeriousSam]

If hell freezes over, a monkey types Shakespeare and Contador does the double this year, he'll obviously retire at the end of the year.

 

[No_Balls]

Re:

Some very strange words by Oleg there given i thought they had a pretty good "relationship". But i can see him withdraw from cycling in a near future. He has on multiple occasions hinted that he is losing money and that doesnt necessary means in cycling.

The sacking of Bjarne and pointed pressure on Peter is all part of this.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

Re: Re:

Porte is overrated as a TTer, especially since he has lost weight. Porte won't take pink from Contador.

I really hope so. I know people are talking about Porte will take lots of time to Aru and Contador. And the way he rides so far looks like that he is confident to do so. But the ITT is almost at the end of second week, so everyone will be tired. Depending who still got the best reserve, the result might surprising. But on paper, Uran will be stronger than Porte. And Porte is stronger than Aru and Contador.

I'm not convinced... Has Porte ever performed well in a TT after two weeks in a GT? Contador surely has... Has Porte ever performed well in a 60km TT?

Has anyone? 60km TTs are rare.

2013 world champs was 58km, Porte finished 17th a long way back.

 

[Campervan man]

Re: Re:

Some very strange words by Oleg there given i thought they had a pretty good "relationship". But i can see him withdraw from cycling in a near future. He has on multiple occasions hinted that he is losing money and that doesnt necessary means in cycling.

The sacking of Bjarne and pointed pressure on Peter is all part of this.

It's enevitible that someone other than Riis will become damaged or thrown aside during Tinkoff's stranglehold on this team. If I were involved I'd exit as fast as possible and look to new horizons. Sagan and Contador can't be 100% happy with this guys ways. Contador wins double this year he may just end it right then, wouldn't blame him either.

 

[No_Balls]

Re: Re:

I'm afraid you are right and what shame that would be. The narrative would be retire on top but the story behind a bit different.

Oleg wont touch AC in this manner, after all he is his milk cow, but as you say someone else (some riders/staff) will get fired under sniping from Tinkov so that the pressure will be indirect on AC to deliver. Of course, the pressure are always there on riders like him but you can add this pressure without this cynical management by fear Tinkov applies nowadays.

This isnt cycling and both AC and Sagan knows it.

 

[Carols]

Re:

http://www.nu.nl/wielrennen/4050413/tinkov-sluit-niet-hij-wielersport-seizoen-verlaat.html

Tinkoff does not rule out that he'll leave the sport next year, saying it's a hobby, and he may not like it as much next year.

About Contador he says: "We've had our good and bad moments, we're no friends but we don't need to be"

And good riddance to him! Bring back Bjarne and get another sponsor