Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[cellardoor]

Re: Re:

Yeah, I'm a bit confused too, I guess he was just too proud not to start the Tour.
I feel sorry for him, I really do, he must feel terrible, but it's his own fault.. as you said he must have seen it coming.
I hope he quits, but he won't, as you said. He won't be allowed to go in a break by Sky, and there's no way he's going to win a stage on strength alone. His Tour is basically over. Call it a day and rest for next season (remember, Indurain said that even a year after his Giro-Tour double he still felt the fatigue)

Next year... he should do the Giro-Vuelta double and match Merckx's record, or at the very least reach double digits. I don't think he'll be able to beat Froome and a stronger Nairo in the Tour, unless he has a perfect preparation and reaches absolute top shape, but I cannot see that happening because he is getting older and is not motivated anymore.

If he hasn't got the motivation to train properly and he can't re-find that motivation then he should retire. Picking off easy GTs and matching Merckx;s record while only half-trying it sort of sad really. No, he should re-find his 2014 mojo and blast the Tour next year.

 

[BlurryVII]

Re: Re:

I agree about dropping out of the Tour but going to the Vuelta would be a big mistake. He will get humiliated there too.

Why's that? He has plenty of time to train properly and hit a peak and smash all those coming out of the Tour and going to the Vuelta.

He would reverse the roles basically.

 

[Metabolol]

He should go for one more monster peak next year and then quit. No more Giro's.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Yeah, I'm a bit confused too, I guess he was just too proud not to start the Tour.
I feel sorry for him, I really do, he must feel terrible, but it's his own fault.. as you said he must have seen it coming.
I hope he quits, but he won't, as you said. He won't be allowed to go in a break by Sky, and there's no way he's going to win a stage on strength alone. His Tour is basically over. Call it a day and rest for next season (remember, Indurain said that even a year after his Giro-Tour double he still felt the fatigue)

Next year... he should do the Giro-Vuelta double and match Merckx's record, or at the very least reach double digits. I don't think he'll be able to beat Froome and a stronger Nairo in the Tour, unless he has a perfect preparation and reaches absolute top shape, but I cannot see that happening because he is getting older and is not motivated anymore.

If he hasn't got the motivation to train properly and he can't re-find that motivation then he should retire. Picking off easy GTs and matching Merckx;s record while only half-trying it sort of sad really. No, he should re-find his 2014 mojo and blast the Tour next year.

Indeed, he should retire, and he realizes that, that's why he wants to retire next year. Easy to say he should find his 2014 mojo and "blast the Tour". It's not that simple. If it was that easy he would have done it this year.
I am sure he will retire a happy man if he manages to win next year's Giro and Vuelta. 11 victories in 10 years. 4 Giros, 4 Vueltas and 3 Tours. That is crazy.

 

[Red Rick]

He should aim for everything except podium. I want him to never podium a GT he didn't win. He's 9-0-0 for GT podiums. Rather 4th than 2nd if you ask me

 

[rhubroma]

Re:

Seriously, Contador KNOWS the wattage he has to develop to beat Froome, I read last year, De jongh and Contador knew the numbers it took to beat Froome, Contador was most likely above it when he came to the Tour 2014.

And here, he shows up in this Tour being a minute behind 3rd - 4rd tier climbers? The thing is, he hyped the Tour and the double, he was counting the days on twitter and instagram those hashtags all over the place exactly when he was in la Sierra Nevada. I seriously thought everything was going well, to plan.

Turns out De Jongh and Alberto don't know what they're doing, they must've realised he didn't have it, that's for sure. So did they hope for a miracle, or did they suddenly forget Froome's value?

I understand the plan was probably peaking for the 3rd week but for that you have to be GOOD at a bare minimum right now. Now he is just SO far off his peak, it's just impossible to get anything from this Tour, he ain't gaining 20 % power in performance in just a few days or else he goes down Lance route.

If I was his coach, I'd tell him to leave this Tour right away, rest, go on a SERIOUS altitude training camp, and win the Vuelta. Instead, he'll keep up and get dropped day after day just to say he didn't give up.

This is my point. I mean we're not (unfortunately) in the age of romantic cycling anymore, even if Contador did put some of the romance back into it (and precisely for going for the double). Swashbuckling audacity, however, evidently doesn't cut it anymore. And Sky has just made Team Oleg look like a bunch of amateurs. I mean Porte road ahead of Quintana today (who has only prepared for the Tour)! No, what's needed is a 1000% committment to a plan and as you say realizing the actual strenght of your biggest rival.

Again, as you say, it's as if Contador and co. didn't take seriously enough just what kind of form he needs to bring in to beat Froome. This is what peeves me. I mean it's like what the f where they thinking?

 

[Metabolol]

Re: Re:

I agree about dropping out of the Tour but going to the Vuelta would be a big mistake. He will get humiliated there too.

Why's that? He has plenty of time to train properly and hit a peak and smash all those coming out of the Tour and going to the Vuelta.

He would reverse the roles basically.

I don't see it happening this season. Too tired, it will just be too much. Hasn't shown any great form all season. I don't know exactly who will be in the Vuelta or what the course looks like but I know Landa will be there. I don't think he can beat Landa.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Well, I feel quite strongly that this is the essence of sport. I expect when many of us go and do our next race we'll finish in a 100th odd position or something, but do we give up? I really dislike it when people pull out simply because they're not going to win, especially when it smacks of wanting to not give the opposition to satisfaction of beating you (thereby claiming you were not truly beaten).

No, no, this is not about leaving because he won't win. It's leaving because he can't even fight for it, or put in any attack whatsoever.

He is in that kind of form (2013) when he can't even accelerate, would only try some rubbish stuff in a descent or two and get reeled in before getting dropped again.

He is in the kind of form when he can't even win a stage nor have any impact on the race whatsoever.

Do you know what he said today? " I was feeling so bad, that it cost me to be out of the saddle" That's when you know you have to pull out of the freaking race

Indeed. Something is wrong with him. For a rider like Pinot, or Bardet, there's plenty to fight for. They could still win a stage and that would be an okay result for them. For Contador, nothing except the win is good enough, and he won't be able to fight for it. In this shape, he will just get dropped over and over again like in 2013. At least in 2011 he could try some crazy things. He won't be able to this year. Hell, he won't even be able to force a stage win out of this race, and there's no way Froome will allow him to take one. When there's nothing left to fight for, why fight?

 

[Red Rick]

I think the crashes all year took something out of him. You can't win the double when you crash more during a year than any Dutch rider

 

[Matteo.]

Giro - Vuelta next year is a realistic target.
he is getting older , Froome is in his best years of career and Quinta at 26 y.o. is getting stronger.
it's quite simple.
if he targets Tour next year , i fear he will be destroy again

 

[TMP402]

Contador just tweeted:

Bad day in the Tour,now it's time to rest,to analize everything in cold and think on what is coming. @tinkoff_saxo

Which has me thinking - withdraw for Vuelta...

 

[cellardoor]

Re: Re:

Indeed, he should retire, and he realizes that, that's why he wants to retire next year. Easy to say he should find his 2014 mojo and "blast the Tour". It's not that simple. If it was that easy he would have done it this year.
I am sure he will retire a happy man if he manages to win next year's Giro and Vuelta. 11 victories in 10 years. 4 Giros, 4 Vueltas and 3 Tours. That is crazy.

Yeah, I know it's easy to say and difficult to do and perhaps next year will be one too many from an age perspective anyway. But defeat in 2013 seemed to stir something and perhaps the same will happen again.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Giro - Vuelta next year is a realistic target.
he is getting older , Froome is in his best years of career and Quinta at 26 y.o. is getting stronger.
it's quite simple.
if he targets Tour next year , i fear he will be destroy again

I don't think he would be destroyed, but I think he will have to be in 2014 shape or better, with the perfect preparation (no crashes, no illnesses) to win, and I simply don't think he has it in him any longer. He is tired, he doesn't want it anymore.
Giro-Vuelta seems like a great goal, and it would be perfect to retire on the Vuelta podium.

 

[damian13ster]

Re: Re:

Was saying that since mid-Giro. It was painfully obvious that Contador is weak this season. Unfortunately Tinkoff already wasted half of the Tour because they couldn't accept the truth even if it punched them in the face.
Hopefully TS boys are able to salvage this Tour and get couple of stage wins + green. Majka is also far enough in GC to try and win couple MTFs and maybe go for Polka dot (although I think Froome will get that one as well as yellow if he doesn't crash, and I was dissapointed to see Rafal drop quite early today).

Btw, thanks for laughing at me when I said that Tour will be over by stage 11 (barring crashes).....

Seriously, why do you hate Contador so much? Is it because he is in the way of Majka's success?

I dont hate the guy, but it was obvious he is not in shape this season.
Why do you think I hate him even though I was right about him all along?
And yes, he does stand in a way of Tinkoff's success in this Tour. How can you deny that?

 

[Metabolol]

Re:

Giro - Vuelta next year is a realistic target.
he is getting older , Froome is in his best years of career and Quinta at 26 y.o. is getting stronger.
it's quite simple.
if he targets Tour next year , i fear he will be destroy again

Is Quintana really getting stronger? I think we have seen what his peak level will be for the rest of his career. I wouldn't be surprised if both Zakarin and Landa outclimb him in the coming years.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Contador just tweeted:

Bad day in the Tour,now it's time to rest,to analize everything in cold and think on what is coming. @tinkoff_saxo

Which has me thinking - withdraw for Vuelta...

We can only hope.. or he will ride for Sagan which would be cool.

 

[Brod710]

Welly, welly well...what is on the table?

- The legacy of the Giro winner and the guy who tried the double is ruined because everybody got humiliated by Sky today.
- People acting like 2014 never happened.
- The guy who is loved by his fans because he is known for respecting every race should withdraw from the Tour de France.

Of course people will remember 2013 and this Tour, but there is no doubt that he will be remembered as one of the all time greats. And I'm sure he still has 1-3 good years in his legs.

 

[Matteo.]

Re: Re:

Giro - Vuelta next year is a realistic target.
he is getting older , Froome is in his best years of career and Quinta at 26 y.o. is getting stronger.
it's quite simple.
if he targets Tour next year , i fear he will be destroy again

I don't think he would be destroyed, but I think he will have to be in 2014 shape or better, with the perfect preparation (no crashes, no illnesses) to win, and I simply don't think he has it in him any longer. He is tired, he doesn't want it anymore.
Giro-Vuelta seems like a great goal, and it would be perfect to retire on the Vuelta podium.

Maybe not completely destroyed but it will br difficult win again a TdF.
True , with 2014's shape he could try but in 2016 he will have 2 years more on his back , and are we sure he can reach again a 2014?

i don't want be so pessimistic now , but i'm starting to think he isn't only tired for the Giro.
Except Monte Ologno , Alberto never gave the impression of being so strong

 

[BlurryVII]

No, he won't retire without winning the Tour one more time, he said it. He will only retire after winning the Tour, at the top of his game, so to speak at the top of the podium in Paris.

There's no way he will go to the Giro next year again. Plus we know very well, he has the physical ability to beat everyone at the Tour when focusing 100% for it, no double.

 

[cellardoor]

Re: Re:

Was saying that since mid-Giro. It was painfully obvious that Contador is weak this season. Unfortunately Tinkoff already wasted half of the Tour because they couldn't accept the truth even if it punched them in the face.
Hopefully TS boys are able to salvage this Tour and get couple of stage wins + green. Majka is also far enough in GC to try and win couple MTFs and maybe go for Polka dot (although I think Froome will get that one as well as yellow if he doesn't crash, and I was dissapointed to see Rafal drop quite early today).

Btw, thanks for laughing at me when I said that Tour will be over by stage 11 (barring crashes).....

Seriously, why do you hate Contador so much? Is it because he is in the way of Majka's success?

I dont hate the guy, but it was obvious he is not in shape this season.
Why do you think I hate him even though I was right about him all along?
And yes, he does stand in a way of Tinkoff's success in this Tour. How can you deny that?

It's true that he has stood in the way of Sagan getting stage wins and a yellow jersey but I don't see why he's standing in the way of that any longer. Pretty sure Sagan will now be given full support for green and Majka and Kreuziger will be allowed to go for stage wins. Today was never going to be a day for them to get a stage win anyway and Kreuziger did actually seem to be given a bit of a free role on Bretagne.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

No, he won't retire without winning the Tour one more time, he said it. He will only retire after winning the Tour, at the top of his game, so to speak at the top of the podium in Paris.

There's no way he will go to the Giro next year again. Plus we know very well, he has the physical ability to beat everyone at the Tour when focusing 100% for it, no double.

It is too risky.
There is no guarantee he will have a perfect preparation and will arrive in absolute top shape. Besides, he might crash out. And he is getting older.
Forget about the Tour, Alberto, please.

 

[Matteo.]

Re: Re:

Giro - Vuelta next year is a realistic target.
he is getting older , Froome is in his best years of career and Quinta at 26 y.o. is getting stronger.
it's quite simple.
if he targets Tour next year , i fear he will be destroy again

Is Quintana really getting stronger? I think we have seen what his peak level will be for the rest of his career. I wouldn't be surprised if both Zakarin and Landa outclimb him in the coming years.

Good , you also centered an important point.
It's true , in effect it's from 2013 that Quintana is not so impressive. Of course , in 2014 Giro i expected more but i want to wait last week of Tour to do some ratings 'cause i believe he will improve on Alpes

 

[casati]

Re: Re:

Was saying that since mid-Giro. It was painfully obvious that Contador is weak this season. Unfortunately Tinkoff already wasted half of the Tour because they couldn't accept the truth even if it punched them in the face.
Hopefully TS boys are able to salvage this Tour and get couple of stage wins + green. Majka is also far enough in GC to try and win couple MTFs and maybe go for Polka dot (although I think Froome will get that one as well as yellow if he doesn't crash, and I was dissapointed to see Rafal drop quite early today).

Btw, thanks for laughing at me when I said that Tour will be over by stage 11 (barring crashes).....

Seriously, why do you hate Contador so much? Is it because he is in the way of Majka's success?

I dont hate the guy, but it was obvious he is not in shape this season.
Why do you think I hate him even though I was right about him all along?
And yes, he does stand in a way of Tinkoff's success in this Tour. How can you deny that?

Sorry, idiot statement, standing in the way of tinkoff success, who else would you put up there after he has proven his worth, multiple grand tours etc.
Perhaps you should analyze this ridiculous stage and what Froome did, but you cannot keep it in this section of the forum. But I will it at that.

 

[Miburo]

Hey guys it's contador's fault that sagan is always 2nd and that majka can't follow the best.

LMAO

 

[No_Balls]

Re:

I think the crashes all year took something out of him. You can't win the double when you crash more during a year than any Dutch rider

Something is clearly missing and i fear it is in the head. I remember a interview before this Tour where he mentioned all the things he had to sacrifice for this double: dinners with friends, birthdays, partys and all this. I didnt want to read in too much about that but neither could i remember when he started to see and talk about racing and winning as "sacrifices".

If it is all in the head then there are simply not much you can do. Next thing you'll know you sit in the gruppetto, talks about "breathing problems" and gets even more demoralized.

I'm worried.