Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[rm7]

Re:

Do you guys think he will be dropped on Mûr-de-Bretagne as well?

It's a different climb than Huy. A little longer, but not as hard and steep and with a flat finish.

I think he should just try only to follow Froomes wheel, instead of trying going past him like he did on Huy. Froome will go all out, it's just his style.

He shall definitely not try to follow JRod's acceleration like on Huy - he's also far back in the GC, so he doesn't matter right now.

In the end I think he will maybe loose a few seconds to Froome, not more.

But if Contador is feeling well, i'm pretty sure he will attack to show he's ready.

 

[ad9898]

I'd ask Contador fans to stay calm at this time. As I've said there's little to be lost in the first week and so it's turned out. There is no way and it wouldn't be wise to peak in the first week of the Tour after winning the Giro, he'd almost certainly fade in the latter half. His build up is spot on. In my opinion Froome is too thin and is peaking at the wrong time in the Tour, he will fade in the final week. I expect Nibali who is coming strong to be Contador's main rival. Quintana I admit is an unknown quantity but if Alberto is on form and he will be.... Quintana needs almost 2 minutes...he's not going to get that.

 

[42x16ss]

The saying is, you can't win the TdF in the first week, but you can lose it. Contador certainly hasn't lost it. 36 seconds to Froome isn't anything to worry about.

Contador should be in better form than 2013 and I doubt that Froome is in the same form he was in for 2013.

 

[contador977]

Re: Re:

Do these small uphill finishes give us some indications on how the mountain stages are going be like?

I don't know if Contador's performance should be judged on the Huy and Le Havre stages.

They probably do give some indication, because while fans want to romanticise hills as being totally different from mountains, the reality is there is a massive overlap and both are ultimately about strength. 2009 Contador would have won that Huy stage, just like 2009 Andy Schleck, a far far far less diverse rider, won Liege Bastogne Liege.

Maybe Contador does recover over the next week, a hundred things could happen, but 2 days ago Contador was clearly lacking strenght.

Its not like Contador can't do short explosive efforts. He destroyed Piti on Muro de Gaintza which is 1 km longer. He was 3rd on Huy once and dropped the field sans Murito, Froome included on Mirador de Ezaro which is similar lenght though a bit steeper.

Actually he also dropped the field sans Murito on Manse.

In my opinion, there are signs he isnt at his best. Even at Rud he didnt look great on that final climb, Quintana looked better, imo. Im just hoping he has perfected the timing of his form to start peaking right around now. Stage 10 will have answers. I thought Contador was going to fade in Stage 15 of the Vuelta when Froome dropped him but he re juvenated and droped Froome for 2 stage wins later. Anything could happen. I still feel Quintana the way he rode away all year, won in the snow at Tirreno and imo looked better at Rud on the ascent, could possibly drop everyone on the climbs. Col du Soudet, Quintana will attack first, imo.

 

[rick james]

Re: Re:

Do you guys think he will be dropped on Mûr-de-Bretagne as well?

It's a different climb than Huy. A little longer, but not as hard and steep and with a flat finish.

I think he should just try only to follow Froomes wheel, instead of trying going past him like he did on Huy. Froome will go all out, it's just his style.

He shall definitely not try to follow JRod's acceleration like on Huy - he's also far back in the GC, so he doesn't matter right now.

In the end I think he will maybe loose a few seconds to Froome, not more.

But if Contador is feeling well, i'm pretty sure he will attack to show he's ready.

And when did he try and go past Froome on the Huy?? Really did you watch a different race to me? All I seen was contador struggling to follow Froomes wheel, at no time does contador try to go by Froome, he just didn't have the legs at this stage of the race.....contador was in pain on the Huy and was grimacing worse than a women giving birth to a 12lb monster baby.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

And when did he try and go past Froome on the Huy?? Really did you watch a different race to me? All I seen was contador struggling to follow Froomes wheel, at no time does contador try to go by Froome, he just didn't have the legs at this stage of the race.....contador was in pain on the Huy and was grimacing worse than a women giving birth to a 12lb monster baby.

 

[Kwibus]

Re: Re:

Do you guys think he will be dropped on Mûr-de-Bretagne as well?

It's a different climb than Huy. A little longer, but not as hard and steep and with a flat finish.

I think he should just try only to follow Froomes wheel, instead of trying going past him like he did on Huy. Froome will go all out, it's just his style.

He shall definitely not try to follow JRod's acceleration like on Huy - he's also far back in the GC, so he doesn't matter right now.

In the end I think he will maybe loose a few seconds to Froome, not more.

But if Contador is feeling well, i'm pretty sure he will attack to show he's ready.

And when did he try and go past Froome on the Huy?? Really did you watch a different race to me? All I seen was contador struggling to follow Froomes wheel, at no time does contador try to go by Froome, he just didn't have the legs at this stage of the race.....contador was in pain on the Huy and was grimacing worse than a women giving birth to a 12lb monster baby.

When Purito accelareted Contador left Froomes wheel and tried to follow Purito. Froome who also saw Purito go accelarated as well. Contador completely blew up trying to follow the accelaration.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re: Re:

Do you guys think he will be dropped on Mûr-de-Bretagne as well?

It's a different climb than Huy. A little longer, but not as hard and steep and with a flat finish.

I think he should just try only to follow Froomes wheel, instead of trying going past him like he did on Huy. Froome will go all out, it's just his style.

He shall definitely not try to follow JRod's acceleration like on Huy - he's also far back in the GC, so he doesn't matter right now.

In the end I think he will maybe loose a few seconds to Froome, not more.

But if Contador is feeling well, i'm pretty sure he will attack to show he's ready.

Contador didn't try and go past Froome at all, he was all out just following. When Purito went then Froome accelerated again and that's when Contador cracked.

 

[Matteo.]

Re: Re:

Do you guys think he will be dropped on Mûr-de-Bretagne as well?

It's a different climb than Huy. A little longer, but not as hard and steep and with a flat finish.

I think he should just try only to follow Froomes wheel, instead of trying going past him like he did on Huy. Froome will go all out, it's just his style.

He shall definitely not try to follow JRod's acceleration like on Huy - he's also far back in the GC, so he doesn't matter right now.

In the end I think he will maybe loose a few seconds to Froome, not more.

But if Contador is feeling well, i'm pretty sure he will attack to show he's ready.

And when did he try and go past Froome on the Huy?? Really did you watch a different race to me? All I seen was contador struggling to follow Froomes wheel, at no time does contador try to go by Froome, he just didn't have the legs at this stage of the race.....contador was in pain on the Huy and was grimacing worse than a women giving birth to a 12lb monster baby.

When Purito accelareted Contador left Froomes wheel and tried to follow Purito. Froome who also saw Purito go accelarated as well. Contador completely blew up trying to follow the accelaration.

true, but seeing as it's over, it would change nothing.
Froome or Purito, Alberto would break the same. He had to understand its limits and stay with Quintana and Nibali. And maybe in the last 150m he could attack and gain a few seconds

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Contador didn't try and go past Froome at all, he was all out just following. When Purito went then Froome accelerated again and that's when Contador cracked.

I think British TV showed a different race, because neither you nor rick james saw Contador switch to Rodriguez' wheel as Rodriguez went past Froome.

 

[Matteo.]

Re: Re:

Contador didn't try and go past Froome at all, he was all out just following. When Purito went then Froome accelerated again and that's when Contador cracked.

I think British TV showed a different race, because neither you nor rick james saw Contador switch to Rodriguez' wheel as Rodriguez went past Froome.

however, the result would not change unfortunately

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

however, the result would not change unfortunately

Indeed, just curious that every Sky fan apparently didn't see Contador change wheels while everyone else did. They must have been too busy staring at Froome

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re: Re:

however, the result would not change unfortunately

Indeed, just curious that every Sky fan apparently didn't see Contador change wheels while everyone else did. They must have been too busy staring at Froome

Contador changes wheels at the same time Froome accelerated to keep up with Purito, anyway as has been said it wouldn't have mattered. My point was that him changing lines wasn't the reason for the time loss.

 

[Velolover2]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2itSMsLvRo

Try to rewatch this edition of Fleche Wallonne, it's is quite clear that Contador was the strongest on the Mur. He was the first on top, but Evans and Rodriguez managed to outsprint him in the slighty downhill final. Something has to be wrong with him. If Contador is missing his "kick", he will have massive problems keeping up with the rest of the favorites.

I don't buy that he is saving energy, it has to be the lack of power. Under normal conditions, Contador has the third best kick after Valverde and Rodriguez.

 

[ray j willings]

Re: Re:

however, the result would not change unfortunately

Indeed, just curious that every Sky fan apparently didn't see Contador change wheels while everyone else did. They must have been too busy staring at Froome

Contador changes wheels at the same time Froome accelerated to keep up with Purito, anyway as has been said it wouldn't have mattered. My point was that him changing lines wasn't the reason for the time loss.

I think us Bertie fans have to take it on the chin sometimes. Froome and Purito were stronger at the end.
If Bertie was on top form then he could have matched Froome at the end or bettered, but then again he may have attacked earlier himself. I was more shocked to see Froome so strong on such a short steep climb rather than Berties failure to match Froome.

Purito is virtually unbeatable on such climbs.
Bertie himself said he just did not have it and felt a lot better on the cobbles the next day

Like I said on another post I think Froome is going for all the time he can get early on while he seems to be in top form. He has been moving up and down the peloton with ease. I think for Froome it's about gaining time now in case he has his usual bad day or 2 in the last week or so. He looks the strongest so far with TJ close behind.


I'm hoping Bertie gets his top form back and we will have some fierce racing between the big 4.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2itSMsLvRo

Try to rewatch this edition of Fleche Wallonne, it's is quite clear that Contador was the strongest on the Mur. He was the first on top, but Evans and Rodriguez managed to outsprint him in the slighty downhill final. Something has to be wrong with him. If Contador is missing his "kick", he will have massive problems keeping up with the rest of the favorites.

I don't buy that he is saving energy, it has to be the lack of power. Under normal conditions, Contador has the third best kick after Valverde and Rodriguez.

There we go again.
Just wait for Tuesday FFS. All this speculation is useless.

 

[Velolover2]

But you admit that Alberto is a underrated as a puncheur, right? I think he is one of the best on short, steep climbs. Very close to Bala and JRod.

Makes me worried that he can't even follow the non-explosive riders like Nibali.

 

[rick james]

So because contador switched wheels that means he tried to go around Froome??? He was nowhere near going around Froome and he was stupid following purito as he is better on these sort of finishes.. What's done is done now anyway,

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

So because contador switched wheels that means he tried to go around Froome??? He was nowhere near going around Froome and he was stupid following purito as he is better on these sort of finishes.. What's done is done now anyway,

Yes, Rodriguez was accelerating past Froome and Contador went to his wheel. It's not rocket science, you know.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

But you admit that Alberto is a underrated as a puncheur, right? I think he is one of the best on short, steep climbs. Very close to Bala and JRod.

Makes me worried that he can't even follow the non-explosive riders like Nibali.

I've always said if he's good he'll be top 5 on the Mur He couldn't follow Nibali because he blew up, don't make a big deal of it. It tells us almost nothing. Just wait till Tuesday and then you can decide if you want to panic or not.

 

[Velolover2]

Re: Re:

But you admit that Alberto is a underrated as a puncheur, right? I think he is one of the best on short, steep climbs. Very close to Bala and JRod.

Makes me worried that he can't even follow the non-explosive riders like Nibali.

I've always said if he's good he'll be top 5 on the Mur He couldn't follow Nibali because he blew up, don't make a big deal of it. It tells us almost nothing. Just wait till Tuesday and then you can decide if you want to panic or not.

Let's hope you're right! Do you think he will attack on the "lesser Mur" of Bretagne. It should be less selective than Huy with a group of 10 or something sprinting for the stage win.

 

[Miburo]

Re: Re:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2itSMsLvRo

Try to rewatch this edition of Fleche Wallonne, it's is quite clear that Contador was the strongest on the Mur. He was the first on top, but Evans and Rodriguez managed to outsprint him in the slighty downhill final. Something has to be wrong with him. If Contador is missing his "kick", he will have massive problems keeping up with the rest of the favorites.

I don't buy that he is saving energy, it has to be the lack of power. Under normal conditions, Contador has the third best kick after Valverde and Rodriguez.

There we go again.
Just wait for Tuesday FFS. All this speculation is useless.

You tell me that i can't say what people should do, well look at this

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Let's hope you're right! Do you think he will attack on the "lesser Mur" of Bretagne. It should be less selective than Huy with a group of 10 or something sprinting for the stage win.

No, I don't think he will attack, and he may lose another few seconds to Froome when he engages alien sprint mode.
Stage 10 is perfect for Alberto, single-climb stage, the day after the rest day, and he should have some more racing miles in his legs. I expect him to hang onto Froome a la 2014 Dauphine stage 2 or maybe drop a few seconds in the final few 100m. If he gets dropped with several km to go, after Froome's 1st acceleration, that would be a big issue. That is when I'll get worried

 

[Baldinger]

I take some comfort in the fact that he did good on the Mur-de-Bretagne in 2011 and then faded later on in the mountains. This year it's the other way around: Slow on the hills in the first part of the race, fast in the Alps.

 

[Miburo]

Re:

I take some comfort in the fact that he did good on the Mur-de-Bretagne in 2011 and then faded later on in the mountains. This year it's the other way around: Slow on the hills in the first part of the race, fast in the Alps.

Maybe he faded in the mountains cause of the multiple crashes.