Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[ray j willings]

Re:

Those quotes suggest a pretty non-committal attitude toward the Giro IMO. I have no problem with people suggesting that Froome wanted to avoid Contador, but I do have a problem with people repeatedly claiming that opinion as a fact. Prior to 2015, Froome had squared off against Contador in the last 4 GTs that he had ridden. I don't understand why losing the Vuelta by 70 seconds would all of a sudden elicit fear in Froome, but YMMV. Until someone can post a quote that actually confirms Froome's appearance at the Giro, I am not buying this argument.

He[ Froome] has just seen the tour route for 2015, those were his exact words. He obviously did not fancy riding the tour when he saw the route or he would not have made those comments. He also said exact words
" Contador would be the favourite" So at that point Bertie had not decided on his plans.
Once Bertie decided to go for the double , Sky/Froome then announced they would ride the tour which is going against all the statements that Froome made above. The fact he stated that Contador would be favourite is quite telling. Contador beat Froome all 2014 and IMO once Froome/ Sky knew Contador was riding the giro then they realised their best option/chance for a GT victory would be at the tour against a tired Contador.
Obviously you can opt to believe what you want but IMO it looks very much like Sky/ Froome wanted to avoid Contador.

 

[djpbaltimore]

Re: Re:

He[ Froome] has just seen the tour route for 2015, those were his exact words. He obviously did not fancy riding the tour when he saw the route or he would not have made those comments. He also said exact words
" Contador would be the favourite" So at that point Bertie had not decided on his plans.
Once Bertie decided to go for the double , Sky/Froome then announced they would ride the tour which is going against all the statements that Froome made above. The fact he stated that Contador would be favourite is quite telling. Contador beat Froome all 2014 and IMO once Froome/ Sky knew Contador was riding the giro then they realised their best option/chance for a GT victory would be at the tour against a tired Contador.
Obviously you can opt to believe what you want but IMO it looks very much like Sky/ Froome wanted to avoid Contador.

I really can't put much stock in what someone says in a knee-jerk reaction just after seeing a route. It is the equivalent of a football coach speaking right after a game. As I've stated before, your correlation does not equal causation when discussing the temporal chain of events. I think it is 90% likely that Froome would've been forced to ride the Tour due to sponsors even if he disliked the route (...that he eventually won anyway). That is why he was so circumspect with his comments, because he knew that it was not strictly his decision. Based on 2014, Contador should've been called the favorite.

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

Don't be so mean, he is a little chubby but not a pig this is a pic of a couple days ago:

That pic is much more flattering than the race ones....phew he's not that thick . Pics can be so deceiving.

I've always thought it hilarious what we consider "fat" when talking about pro cyclist. I'd love to be as fit as he is right now!

 

[ray j willings]

Re: Re:

He[ Froome] has just seen the tour route for 2015, those were his exact words. He obviously did not fancy riding the tour when he saw the route or he would not have made those comments. He also said exact words
" Contador would be the favourite" So at that point Bertie had not decided on his plans.
Once Bertie decided to go for the double , Sky/Froome then announced they would ride the tour which is going against all the statements that Froome made above. The fact he stated that Contador would be favourite is quite telling. Contador beat Froome all 2014 and IMO once Froome/ Sky knew Contador was riding the giro then they realised their best option/chance for a GT victory would be at the tour against a tired Contador.
Obviously you can opt to believe what you want but IMO it looks very much like Sky/ Froome wanted to avoid Contador.

I really can't put much stock in what someone says in a knee-jerk reaction just after seeing a route. It is the equivalent of a football coach speaking right after a game. As I've stated before, your correlation does not equal causation when discussing the temporal chain of events. I think it is 90% likely that Froome would've been forced to ride the Tour due to sponsors even if he disliked the route (...that he eventually won anyway). That is why he was so circumspect with his comments, because he knew that it was not strictly his decision. Based on 2014, Contador should've been called the favorite.

fair enough

 

[LaFlorecita]

Hardly surprising but Berto will not be at the Worlds :
http://ciclismo.as.com/ciclismo/2015/09/08/mas_ciclismo/1441731877_160462.html

and a little video of the criterium Alberto raced this Sunday
http://www.focus-wtv.be/video/preben-van-hecke-wint-criterium-bavikhove-0

I hope it is not geo-restricted, I don't think it is, I can access it.

 

[Red Rick]

Is that even newsworthy? I was amazed that Froome not riding the worlds due to his injury was news. It wasn't even true. He was never going to do the worlds, cause it doesn't suit climbers, he sucks at 1 day and he most likely didn't care. His injury just makes sure he's not gonna do any other races this year

 

[No_Balls]

Re:

That chin.

 

[Carols]

Re: Re:

That chin.

The accompanying text on FB .

Seguimos con Sergio Paulinho de baja tras la caida en La Vuelta a España, recuperate ya!!! que te queremos en la grupeta!!!
wink emoticon

We continue with Paulinho out after his crash in the Vuelta. You must recover that we want you back in the grupeta!!!

 

[LaFlorecita]

Give him a break

 

[Red Rick]

What's up with Jesus, he also quitting together with his compadre, or does he still have plans to start his own palmares?

 

[Matteo.]

It's a shame he won't ride il Lombardia. This edition suits him quite well

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

What's up with Jesus, he also quitting together with his compadre, or does he still have plans to start his own palmares?

I am sure he will quit, he doesn't seem to have any ambitions

 

[LaFlorecita]

Today, ahead of tomorrow's cyclotourist ride in Italy, Alberto spoke at a press conference: he revealed the two new main sponsors of his U23 team (rh+ and Polartec) and he also said his ambition is to bring this team up to WT level in the future

 

[Carols]

Today, ahead of tomorrow's cyclotourist ride in Italy, Alberto spoke at a press conference: he revealed the two new main sponsors of his U23 team (rh+ and Polartec) and he also said his ambition is to bring this team up to WT level in the future

Wow so now we know his plans for the future!!! I hope he hires Bjarne to run it for him .

 

[Red Rick]

Contador would be a great DS.

"You have bad legs? You must attack, they'll hurt anyway"
"You have good legs? Then you must attack, take time on your rivals"
"You have no legs? Go handbiking, then attack"
"There's wind, attack in echelons"
"I know you're 21, but 2nd place in GC is not good, better attack 50km out"

 

[portugal11]

Today, ahead of tomorrow's cyclotourist ride in Italy, Alberto spoke at a press conference: he revealed the two new main sponsors of his U23 team (rh+ and Polartec) and he also said his ambition is to bring this team up to WT level in the future

bad news he is already thinking a lot in his future job and this shows that he will retire in 2016

 

[Arredondo]

Re:

It's a shame he won't ride il Lombardia. This edition suits him quite well

A downhill edition will suit him better atm

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

It's a shame he won't ride il Lombardia. This edition suits him quite well

A downhill edition will suit him better atm

 

[LaFlorecita]

Today, ahead of tomorrow's cyclotourist ride in Italy, Alberto spoke at a press conference: he revealed the two new main sponsors of his U23 team (rh+ and Polartec) and he also said his ambition is to bring this team up to WT level in the future

bad news he is already thinking a lot in his future job and this shows that he will retire in 2016

Yes it is sad

 

[Velolover2]

Which races do you think Alberto will ride in his final season?

Only the Tour as a GT?

 

[Carols]

Re:

Contador would be a great DS.

"You have bad legs? You must attack, they'll hurt anyway"
"You have good legs? Then you must attack, take time on your rivals"
"You have no legs? Go handbiking, then attack"
"There's wind, attack in echelons"
"I know you're 21, but 2nd place in GC is not good, better attack 50km out"

And So True

 

[Arredondo]

Re:

Which races do you think Alberto will ride in his final season?

Only the Tour as a GT?

Definitely Rio.

I would love to see him do the classics, with a peak in Liege. He has won enough stage races.

 

[Carols]

Today, ahead of tomorrow's cyclotourist ride in Italy, Alberto spoke at a press conference: he revealed the two new main sponsors of his U23 team (rh+ and Polartec) and he also said his ambition is to bring this team up to WT level in the future

bad news he is already thinking a lot in his future job and this shows that he will retire in 2016

Yes it is sad

It is not sad. He is a Great Champion and should retire as one, not hang on like some guys do.

He will stay closely involved in the sport so we will see him at races with his team . LOL he will get chubby!!!

 

[portugal11]

he will do algarve, tirreno, pais vasco, dauphiné, tour and rio

 

[LaFlorecita]

It is not sad. He is a Great Champion and should retire as one, not hang on like some guys do.

He will stay closely involved in the sport so we will see him at races with his team . LOL he will get chubby!!!

NO he will not get "chubby" We are too harsh - he is skinnier than most of us