Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

One has to wonder how smart Tinkoff tactics are at times. They seem to regularly burn themselves out doing a lot of work, when it's perhaps not always necessary. I recall them doing that a lot in last year's Giro. Then Contador is usually left isolated too early. Sounds like that happened yesterday. Plus it sounds like he then also hit the front for much too long on the penultimate climb and sorta burnt himself out. Agree with the people saying he really ought to just be following wheels, conserving energy and sussing out the opposition at this stage. And also not making the team overwork.

Assuming It's Yates calling the shots. never been impressed with him
Cavendish and Froome don't think to highly of him

It's De Jongh.

 

[BlurryVII]

Re: Re:

Alright, take it as reassuring or not, here's a good comparison with Alberto's current performance: Algarve 2011.

In 2011, he also started the season skinnier than he usually looks like (look up pictures), he finished behind Cummings and Van Garderen on Malhao and disappointing 15th place (!!) in the ITT, 45 seconds off Tony Martin.
Finished 4th overall.

He was then imperial in Tour de Murcia, uphill and crushed the TT with an impressive performance. And the rest is history.

Was a different story though cause he got cleared only 24 hours before the start of Algarve. So didn't have time to prepare.

He obviously prepared in the winter regardless. He wasn't doing nothing while waiting for the decision.

But also good to notice how he progressed onwards after Algarve

 

[LaFlorecita]

 

[LaFlorecita]

Comments:
The sensations weren't bad but logically not excellent either.
He says his watts were pretty good but it was hard with the wind.
He also says he thinks he'll go much better on Sunday and could perhaps even win the stage.

 

[bajbar]

Re:

Comments:
The sensations weren't bad but logically not excellent either.
He says his watts were pretty good but it was hard with the wind.
He also says he thinks he'll go much better on Sunday and could perhaps even win the stage.

I would prefer that he would say: "I don't see myself as a favourite for Malhao, there are others much more suited to the climb." That would be classic Bertie.

Pumping up his chances by himself never is the best thing (aka. my numbers are better than ever, just before the 2013 Tour). But maybe it's just reverse psychology

 

[May0maniac]

After the ITT I'm not too worried, if the real Contador doesn't show up for Paris-Nice, then it's time to be worried.
In 2014 I knew that the old Contador was back when I saw him on the Guardiagrele stage, that was like watching Alberto at the height of his reign of terror (2007 Tour-2011 Giro).

 

[Angliru]

Re:

After the ITT I'm not too worried, if the real Contador doesn't show up for Paris-Nice, then it's time to be worried.
In 2014 I knew that the old Contador was back when I saw him on the Guardiagrele stage, that was like watching Alberto at the height of his reign of terror (2007 Tour-2011 Giro).

"Reign of terror"! I love it!

 

[May0maniac]

I respect Alberto and he's awesome to watch, but I've never cheered for him in a GT (I did't watch the 2008 Vuelta, but back then I would have cheered for Sastre, I'm pretty sure of that).
I probably shouldn't start cheering for him now, me backing someone against Contador in a GT is a bad omen, the guy never wins the gc.

 

[Poursuivant]

Too early to panic, I wouldn't be surprised to see him put on a beat down on Sunday. Either way, the Tour is FIVE months away.

 

[Carols]

"The sensations I had from today weren't bad but, obviously, they weren't excellent either," summed up Contador. "I recovered well from yesterday and I reckon I will ride quite better in the final stage than yesterday. Sunday's stage is straightforward, it will be quite explosive and we have see how we perform tomorrow and the form we have on Sunday. We don't have any chances at the GC, so we'll see whether we can aim at a stage win.”

A conservative enough approach to set expectations. I think the legs just haven't responded as expected!

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re:

After the ITT I'm not too worried, if the real Contador doesn't show up for Paris-Nice, then it's time to be worried.
In 2014 I knew that the old Contador was back when I saw him on the Guardiagrele stage, that was like watching Alberto at the height of his reign of terror (2007 Tour-2011 Giro).

This actually brought tears to my eyes. I so hope that Contador will be able to match Froome this year!

 

[Sciocco]

Contador will win one of PN, Catalunya, and Pais Vasco, plus a stage in another. The TdF. And some random late season race too.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

Contador will win one of PN, Catalunya, and Pais Vasco, plus a stage in another. The TdF. And some random late season race too.

Rio of course

 

[Sciocco]

Re: Re:

Contador will win one of PN, Catalunya, and Pais Vasco, plus a stage in another. The TdF. And some random late season race too.

Rio of course

Yes, Contador, Purito, and Valverde will form the winning break, just the three of them on the penultimate ascent. Contador will go on the final climb, to gold!

 

[Scarponi]

Re: Re:

Contador will win one of PN, Catalunya, and Pais Vasco, plus a stage in another. The TdF. And some random late season race too.

Rio of course

Yes, Contador, Purito, and Valverde will form the winning break, just the three of them on the penultimate ascent. Contador will go on the final climb, to gold!

I could see them letting an iranian rider back into the group and losing a 4 man sprint

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

you guys shouldn't worry about his shape. Just like the previous couple of years I've now had a dream predicting future cycling results. It involes Vino doing a comeback and winning the tour, with AC as a clear 2nd. Since the Vino thing is unlikely to happen, since he is too nice of a guy, and don't want to steal the glory from the youngsters, AC is now the clear avourite to win the tour

 

[jyhjyh]

Re:

One has to wonder how smart Tinkoff tactics are at times. They seem to regularly burn themselves out doing a lot of work, when it's perhaps not always necessary. I recall them doing that a lot in last year's Giro. Then Contador is usually left isolated too early. Sounds like that happened yesterday. Plus it sounds like he then also hit the front for much too long on the penultimate climb and sorta burnt himself out. Agree with the people saying he really ought to just be following wheels, conserving energy and sussing out the opposition at this stage. And also not making the team overwork.

Could not agree more.
I believe it is Contador himself that wants it this way.

But I wonder why they don't get smarter.

 

[Poursuivant]

Stage 2 highlights

http://youtu.be/TxhWI6oT67I

 

[Jakub]

Re:

Stage 2 highlights

http://youtu.be/TxhWI6oT67I

Thanks, suddenly it doesn't look so bad,does it? It's still beyond me, however, what did he do so much in the front when Katusha guys chased the break.Too hungry?

 

[bajbar]

Re: Re:

Stage 2 highlights

http://youtu.be/TxhWI6oT67I

Thanks, suddenly it doesn't look so bad,does it? It's still beyond me, however, what did he do so much in the front when Katusha guys chased the break.Too hungry?

Yeah, he tried to answer every attack by himself, he was always on the front. The only time you could see Thomas and Sanchez is 500 m to the finish when they attacked. Alberto attacked on the penultimate climb, dropped all his teammates, isolated himself and then tried to do everything against the wind. No wonder he was dead by the end...

 

[Carols]

Well he certainly was animated very early and quite often. I think he thought he was in better shape than he was and just ran out of gas late. There is hope if he manages to restrain himself I think.

 

[LaFlorecita]

That doesn't look bad at all! Thomas etc were already ahead, he just got outsprinted by everyone I wonder what happened to Rosa, he was with the first group till very late but lost 7.30 minutes?

 

[Kwibus]

Re:

That doesn't look bad at all! Thomas etc were already ahead, he just got outsprinted by everyone I wonder what happened to Rosa, he was with the first group till very late but lost 7.30 minutes?

Probably amond the crashed riders on the descent.

 

[Kwibus]

Re: Re:

Stage 2 highlights

http://youtu.be/TxhWI6oT67I

Thanks, suddenly it doesn't look so bad,does it? It's still beyond me, however, what did he do so much in the front when Katusha guys chased the break.Too hungry?

Yeah, he tried to answer every attack by himself, he was always on the front. The only time you could see Thomas and Sanchez is 500 m to the finish when they attacked. Alberto attacked on the penultimate climb, dropped all his teammates, isolated himself and then tried to do everything against the wind. No wonder he was dead by the end...

He got some proper training I guess. Good to read he did a lot of work, kind of explains he was wasted at the end.

 

[Jelantik]

Re: Re:

Stage 2 highlights

http://youtu.be/TxhWI6oT67I

Thanks, suddenly it doesn't look so bad,does it? It's still beyond me, however, what did he do so much in the front when Katusha guys chased the break.Too hungry?

at least put into perspective. Even though I was hoping for something better. Froome, Quintana, Nibali, all have some kind of win on their first race. So the last mountain stage, hopefully he times his attack right and he got enough form. *finger crossed*