Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Poursuivant]

Re: Re:

]

Yes I think he wasn't in great shape at Giro, well at least compared to 2014.

Didn't he say he wasn't returning to Giro next year, which would surely mean Tour next year?

Yes, he did, and he also said he would fully focus on the Tour in his final year. I just don't think it is a good idea - although it would allow him to win some more 1-week stage races. I think the chance of him getting everything right, and having all the luck in world to win the race, is very small. I don't want him to leave the sport after a defeat.

I know what you're saying but I can't help but think back to last years Dauphine and how evenly matched they both were. I am sure Contador has that in mind too, yes he beat them in the Vuelta but I think Froome isn't as good a recoverer as AC. Contrary to what the clinic says, Froome's numbers today really weren't as spectacular as the destruction he wreaked; it was similar to Nibali last year. Peak Contador could match that, and I know he plays it down, but he must really want to win a TDF after so long.

 

[damian13ster]

To be fair, Froome was stronger that Dauphine. He was leading pretty much entire climb, yet still won the stage. And it is very possible that Chris was aiming to peak in week 2-3 for a Tour, same as in 2015. If Contador is not able to reach higher level than Dauphine stage 1-2 then he is unlikely to win the Tour. It is possible he can get bit better though since he didn't target that race either.

Oh well, we will never find out. As is right now, Froome is by far the best GT cyclist, and noone comes close

 

[BlurryVII]

Re:

To be fair, Froome was stronger that Dauphine. He was leading pretty much entire climb, yet still won the stage. And it is very possible that Chris was aiming to peak in week 2-3 for a Tour, same as in 2015. If Contador is not able to reach higher level than Dauphine stage 1-2 then he is unlikely to win the Tour. It is possible he can get bit better though since he didn't target that race either.

Oh well, we will never find out. As is right now, Froome is by far the best GT cyclist, and noone comes close

Contador was obviously gonna be much better at the Tour than he was at the Dauphiné, as he usually is.

But who cares, he beat him at the Vuelta then, so.

Last time Froome did GTs back to back, he finished 10 minutes off Contador in GC in 2012. Contador is trying an even harder double, so not much you can do about it. Froome can win as much as he wants here, Contador is at a disatavantage and not on equal ground.

 

[Poursuivant]

Re:

To be fair, Froome was stronger that Dauphine. He was leading pretty much entire climb, yet still won the stage. And it is very possible that Chris was aiming to peak in week 2-3 for a Tour, same as in 2015. If Contador is not able to reach higher level than Dauphine stage 1-2 then he is unlikely to win the Tour. It is possible he can get bit better though since he didn't target that race either.

Oh well, we will never find out. As is right now, Froome is by far the best GT cyclist, and noone comes close

I thik Froome was stronger too and I think the way he grew stronger in Vuelta 2014 was a big part in his planning for thi years TDF, as he didn't seem as strong at this years Dauphine, yet now looks in complete command.

 

[Pantani Attacks]

Re:

To the next days , i hope to see a remake of Alpe 2011. All alone in the last 100km of the stage . It will be great !

Just might have been the best individual feat of climbing in the history of cycling. One of the most moving stage races I have ever watched live.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

Contador is obviously struggling from having ridden the Giro but whether he would have been able to match Froome anyway is questionable. Contador is going a long way to prove that the double is impossible.

 

[damian13ster]

Re:

Contador is obviously struggling from having ridden the Giro but whether he would have been able to match Froome anyway is questionable. Contador is going a long way to prove that the double is impossible.

He was in bad shape in the Giro already. Astana just refused to take advantage of it because they were inflexible with their tactics.
I think that double is very much possible, just not by a rider past his prime (pre-ban for Contador) and in bad shape

 

[HelloDolly]

I can't believe some of the s**t people are saying on here . Contador should retire from the Tour becuse Froome is better . Yeah like that is the attitude of a champion , run away because you are being beaten!!!

Or Contador is too fat and hasn't trained after we heard yesterday that he spent 120 of the last 180 days with Ivan Basso What were they doing ...Blueberry farming ?

You guys are not fans of Contador you only want the 'kill' and if he can't deliver it then you throw him to the wolves
You are not worried about his humiliation only your own ...you have invested energy in knocking his opponents and biging him up and if he is not delivering then he must leave the race so you don't have to look upon your own 'humiliation'

You are not fans of cycling you are fans of combat but only if winning

A true champion never runs from a fight even if he loses

Today before the stage Yates said the stage didn't suit Contador and we saw that by the riders who were up there like Gallopin , Adam Yates , etc

And the first 9 stages and a rest day and then into such a brutal climb at the end was a shock to nearly everyone. Some top climbers were dropped before climbing began at all
SKY were surprised a how easy they had it ...but I'd be surprised if Quintana & Contador don't pull time back in the Alps

 

[Sciocco]

If he drops out to rest up for next year... cool.
If he drops out for the this year's Vuelta... cool.
If he sticks around and tries to win stages... cool.
If he sticks around and tries to go for GC... cool.
If he sticks around and helps his teammates accomplish things... cool.

If he retires... NOT cool.

I believe Contador has at least a few more crazy attacks left and I don't want to see him hang it up gets a chance to do so. I don't care what he races so much, though I do not want to see him in the Vuelta some more. Next year peak for Tour then head to the Vuelta. Stay for one more after that and do Giro-Vuelta in 2017. 100th edition of the Giro, possibly be going for a 5th Vuelta by then. The Tour isn't everything, actually it is one of the worst races in the sport. I would be more than happy to see him skip the Tour after this year.

I would also like to see Majka get a legit chance at a GT that is not the Giro.

And he could beat Landa in the Vuelta if he drops out now.

 

[damian13ster]

I liked and agreed with the post until you mentioned the climb suiting Gallopin more, and Contador pulling time back in 3rd week.

 

[BlurryVII]

Re:

Today before the stage Yates said the stage didn't suit Contador and we saw that by the riders who were up there like Gallopin , Adam Yates , etc

One of the worst and most ridiculous statement I've ever seen on this forum. Chapeau.

 

[warmfuzzies]

It's been 6 years since Contador last won the Tour. He's simply too far past his peak to win the most prestigious (and competitive) Grand Tour. Less competitive Tours, like the Giro, yes, he can still win for another year (maybe 2). Vuelta, the annual 'last chance dance' for super domestiques and GT challenges having an off-year? Sure, he can still win that, maybe for up to another 5 years.

 

[fantomas]

Let's face it. When Froome's domestiques toy with the other contenders, not even Contador can beat him, and certainly not an aging Contador. It's a shame his palmares, great as they are, won't even come close to showing what a great rider he was. But he will be remebered as one of the great nevertheless due to hos panache and natural talent.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

It's been 6 years since Contador last won the Tour. He's simply too far past his peak to win the most prestigious (and competitive) Grand Tour. Less competitive Tours, like the Giro, yes, he can still win for another year (maybe 2). Vuelta, the annual 'last chance dance' for super domestiques and GT challenges having an off-year? Sure, he can still win that, maybe for up to another 5 years.

It's been 5 years since he won a Tour. Regardless I get your point. Don't you think though that he was in very good form going into the Tour? If you don't think so, I'll let you know....he was in AMAZING form. Of course he didn't finish the Tour, but my point is; It hasn't been 5-6 years since he was in tip top form. His Tour palmares (lack there of) don't completely reflect the form he has had in the last 5 years.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Let's face it. When Froome's domestiques toy with the other contenders, not even Contador can beat him, and certainly not an aging Contador. It's a shame his palmares, great as they are, won't even come close to showing what a great rider he was. But he will be remebered as one of the great nevertheless due to hos panache and natural talent.

Good post.

 

[HelloDolly]

Re: Re:

Today before the stage Yates said the stage didn't suit Contador and we saw that by the riders who were up there like Gallopin , Adam Yates , etc

One of the worst and most ridiculous statement I've ever seen on this forum. Chapeau.

And you are Einstein ? as exampled by your Macbeth type posts of irrational doom and gloom
Yates said the stage didn't suit Contador on cycling podcast ...go see
You don't like the truth so you insult people... very mature

 

[moi123]

Really don't know what some are so depressed about. Contador is a legend and 3 , 2 or 6 tours doesn't matter much to him. Cycling isn't everything in life. He seems pretty relaxed about it. There are obviously a lot of things we don't know which could explain the current situation. Sky seems to have a good connection with the UCI and a lot of big interests there.

Contador is getting more and more tired of this whole circus. Doesn't like the sacrifices he has to make. It began after his 'positive' in the Tour, no matter how you look at it, he got back stabbed badly there. He wanted to retire right there. Still he managed to continue and comeback in a poetic way in the Vuelta. After that he has been pretty much directionless, looking for motivation. He finished it off by going for the double twice, something nobody in the current age dares to even think about.

 

[rm7]

I dont want to make excuses for Contador, but Riis is constantly talking about his allergies that are hampering him very much in this hot weather in france.

I dont know where people in this forum are from, but in north europe (north france, germany, denmark), allergies are REALLY bad right now. Anyone with allergy can tell you that, and the medication can make you feel totally dizzy and lost for energy. There's no way you can perform at your best level, if you have one of those days where you can hardly breathe or you're nose is stopped. Cold weather and rain is simply the best for him, and that could be a reason why he also looked so good last year.

Some people have problem even going to work. So I can see problem if you're going to ride the Tour De France to win.

Not saying he's in great shape or anything, but he looked even worse than the Giro today. In the Giro and Vuelta he never have the allergy problem, because of the time of the year.

 

[jilbiker]

Re:

I can't believe some of the s**t people are saying on here . Contador should retire from the Tour becuse Froome is better . Yeah like that is the attitude of a champion , run away because you are being beaten!!!

Or Contador is too fat and hasn't trained after we heard yesterday that he spent 120 of the last 180 days with Ivan Basso What were they doing ...Blueberry farming ?

You guys are not fans of Contador you only want the 'kill' and if he can't deliver it then you throw him to the wolves
You are not worried about his humiliation only your own ...you have invested energy in knocking his opponents and biging him up and if he is not delivering then he must leave the race so you don't have to look upon your own 'humiliation'

You are not fans of cycling you are fans of combat but only if winning

A true champion never runs from a fight even if he loses

Today before the stage Yates said the stage didn't suit Contador and we saw that by the riders who were up there like Gallopin , Adam Yates , etc

And the first 9 stages and a rest day and then into such a brutal climb at the end was a shock to nearly everyone. Some top climbers were dropped before climbing began at all
SKY were surprised a how easy they had it ...but I'd be surprised if Quintana & Contador don't pull time back in the Alps

+1 - I was about to write the very same thing. It is clear that the majority of folks here are not Bertie's fans but folks who like an exciting rider when he excites them who ever that rider may be. These will be the same folks who will sing Bertie's praise when he rides into Paris 7/26 with the title in hand.

Yes as bizarre as it may seem to many, I still think this title is very much up for grabs and until it is mathematically impossible for Bertie to win, will continue to cheer him on because like a true champion that he is, he has not given up and will continue to fight. So many times in his career, many lesser men or women would have packed it up but not Bertie.

The fight is still on Bertie, keep your eyes on the title, don't hope for best, believe you have the best and fire on, it has all clicked together.

 

[fantomas]

Re:

I dont want to make excuses for Contador, but Riis is constantly talking about his allergies that are hampering him very much in this hot weather in france.

I dont know where people in this forum are from, but in north europe (north france, germany, denmark), allergies are REALLY bad right now. Anyone with allergy can tell you that, and the medication can make you feel totally dizzy and lost for energy. There's no way you can perform at your best level, if you have one of those days where you can hardly breathe or you're nose is stopped. Cold weather and rain is simply the best for him, and that could be a reason why he also looked so good last year.

Some people have problem even going to work. So I can see problem if you're going to ride the Tour De France to win.

Not saying he's in great shape or anything, but he looked even worse than the Giro today. In the Giro and Vuelta he never have the allergy problem, because of the time of the year.

I do believe allergies may have impaired him today, but I am quite certain they did not make him lose 3 minutes, and most certainly they did nok set him back on Mur de Huy. Of course Contador in his best years would never have lost 3 minutes onm Froome today, but let's be realistic. Contador was very strong at a very early age, and thus, it is normal he will fade at a fairly early age, especially in the face of crazy performances like those of Sky. Without Sky he'd still be contending, but Sky is here, and miracles like Froome, Wiggo and Thomas are the new black.
Aaaaand, I'm off to The Clinic.

 

[Metabolol]

Re:

Even in route du sud, he was decent actually, out of the saddle, not full out and such. Which makes me think his form is actually sinking.

I don't know what the hell he has done since then, taking itasy in Livigno all the way to Route du sud was a good choice IMO, he obviously needed to rest.
But from that point, De Jongh and Alberto completely lost their gamble by playing the recovery card all the way to the Tour, it was too much, you can see he's all messed up since the start of the Tour while he was looking relatively good in Route du sud.

He should've worked he ass off from the momentum that race gave him, with some intense training. They just let off wayyy too much, at his age it's not good. He needs intense training to keep himself in form.

If it was stilll young AC, he would probably be able to be good without training too much but it doesn't work here. His body is gonna take forever before getting back up in form.

Route du sud was nothing, it was just a training ride and Alberto took more risks on the descent than Nairo. It's now clear that if Nairo wanted to he could have dropped Alberto. The shape isn't there and he is fatigued. No tricks, no tactics, no nothing will help him. He does not have the legs.

If Alberto wants to beat a top shape Froome at the Tour then he needs to make it his singular goal of the season. I believe he could have done it in 2014 but I get the sense now that it's not just a question of preparation, his peak capacity is fading.

I also want to add that Froome's performance is made to look better than it was due to Contador's and Nibali's poor performances. Nibali from last year would have been closer than Nairo was today and several versions of Contador could have matched what Froome did today.

 

[Metabolol]

Re: Re:

Even in route du sud, he was decent actually, out of the saddle, not full out and such. Which makes me think his form is actually sinking.

I don't know what the hell he has done since then, taking itasy in Livigno all the way to Route du sud was a good choice IMO, he obviously needed to rest.
But from that point, De Jongh and Alberto completely lost their gamble by playing the recovery card all the way to the Tour, it was too much, you can see he's all messed up since the start of the Tour while he was looking relatively good in Route du sud.

He should've worked he ass off from the momentum that race gave him, with some intense training. They just let off wayyy too much, at his age it's not good. He needs intense training to keep himself in form.

If it was stilll young AC, he would probably be able to be good without training too much but it doesn't work here. His body is gonna take forever before getting back up in form.

Route du sud was nothing, it was just a training ride and Alberto took more risks on the descent than Nairo. It's now clear that if Nairo wanted to he could have dropped Alberto. The shape isn't there and he is fatigued. No tricks, no tactics, no nothing will help him. He does not have the legs.

If Alberto (at this stage of his career) wants to beat a top shape Froome at the Tour then he needs to make it his singular goal of the season. I believe he could have done it in 2014 but I get the sense now that it's not just a question of preparation, his peak capacity is fading.

I also want to add that Froome's performance is made to look better than it was due to Contador's and Nibali's poor performances. Nibali from last year would have been closer than Nairo was today and several versions of Contador could have matched what Froome did today.

 

[Ataraxus]

Re:

Contador is obviously struggling from having ridden the Giro but whether he would have been able to match Froome anyway is questionable. Contador is going a long way to prove that the double is impossible.

Contador is going a long way to prove he is any good to play it out with the big guns this year. Hope he shows something in the third week.

 

[TMP402]

Re:

I think some of you are being hard on him. There's no way likes of Gallopin would easily outclimb AC usually, simply the only reason he is this bad, is because of the Giro. And it was such a tough Giro for him, with an absolutely pisspoor team, remember how isolated he was on Stage 20? He had far too many days like that, for it to not make an impact.

Talking of Gallopin, did anyone notice when Contador was initally "dropped" he seemed to be reacting to Gallopin veering into him?

 

[warmfuzzies]

Mechanicals, crashes, illness. That's just about all that can prevent Froome from winning this year's Tour. Still could be good battles for 2nd and 3rd.