Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Red Rick]

Remember what happened on this stage in 2009? That'd be pretty badass no matter what

 

[Hugo Koblet]

How do you all assess Contador's performance yesterday? Initially, I was a little disappointed and felt like he certainly wasn't in topform yet. However, it wasn't a finish that suited Contador that much and with his problems with his derailleur I think it's hard to judge. Any thoughts?

I hope for a good show today. I don't really expect him to drop Thomas, but one can always hope.

 

[Le Blaireau_13]

Re:

How do you all assess Contador's performance yesterday? Initially, I was a little disappointed and felt like he certainly wasn't in topform yet. However, it wasn't a finish that suited Contador that much and with his problems with his derailleur I think it's hard to judge. Any thoughts?

I hope for a good show today. I don't really expect him to drop Thomas, but one can always hope.

Well, i don't know really.
I think I still am a bit disappointed, because I'm afraid Contador is just getting older, which means it just gets harder for him to defeat riders he would have defeated years ago.

Of course, the climb didn't really suit him - especially against the likes of Thomas en Zakarin. But, all the rest is just hypothetical: "Íf the climb was steeper, he would've taken minutes..." That just isn't the case. He prepared to win Paris-Nice, but it seems like this will be difficult. I think that's the most disappointing (altough he could well attack and win today). It's not only yesterday's stage, it's also the prologue, the loss of seconds on stage 3.

Volta a Catalunya and Pais Vasco will give us more information really, especially Pais Vasco, I think. In that Tour there are many tough climbs and many opponents, with hard battles everyday, including a time trial that should suit Contador. I'm very curious about Contador in that race.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

How do you all assess Contador's performance yesterday? Initially, I was a little disappointed and felt like he certainly wasn't in topform yet. However, it wasn't a finish that suited Contador that much and with his problems with his derailleur I think it's hard to judge. Any thoughts?

I hope for a good show today. I don't really expect him to drop Thomas, but one can always hope.

I thought it was a good performance. He put in some very hard attacks. The climb just wasn't hard enough to make a difference.
I rewatched the final and it's a shame he didn't have just a little bit more left in the tank. He attacked at the right time, then fell flat right away, before the last corner.
For today, he will try for sure. I don't think he can get any time but with him, you never know. He might go crazy on the descent as well.

 

[BlurryVII]

He really is as good as in 2014, he was even better on Algarve.

Unfortunately, massive difference in the route between Tirreno 14' and this shitty PN. They really need to step it up, no wonder the favorites have been mainly going to Tirreno the last few years.

Even today's stage is bullcrap.

 

[Kwibus]

Re: Re:

How do you all assess Contador's performance yesterday? Initially, I was a little disappointed and felt like he certainly wasn't in topform yet. However, it wasn't a finish that suited Contador that much and with his problems with his derailleur I think it's hard to judge. Any thoughts?

I hope for a good show today. I don't really expect him to drop Thomas, but one can always hope.

Well, i don't know really.
I think I still am a bit disappointed, because I'm afraid Contador is just getting older, which means it just gets harder for him to defeat riders he would have defeated years ago.

Of course, the climb didn't really suit him - especially against the likes of Thomas en Zakarin. But, all the rest is just hypothetical: "Íf the climb was steeper, he would've taken minutes..." That just isn't the case. He prepared to win Paris-Nice, but it seems like this will be difficult. I think that's the most disappointing (altough he could well attack and win today). It's not only yesterday's stage, it's also the prologue, the loss of seconds on stage 3.

Volta a Catalunya and Pais Vasco will give us more information really, especially Pais Vasco, I think. In that Tour there are many tough climbs and many opponents, with hard battles everyday, including a time trial that should suit Contador. I'm very curious about Contador in that race.

Good post and I totally agree with you. There are still too many unknowns to really know where Contador is at.

 

[ILovecycling]

Funny old game Cycling. If Contador raced like the others, watching on wheels he'd of possibly finished ahead of Thomas. The Climb was also pretty damn soft. Then you have to factor in when Contador does that to you day after day on harder climbs. This race has been Piano all week, and on a climb lime that Im not suprised at a non dominant result. Thomas wasn't impressive, he just marks.

Of course he wasn't. Alberto is going to drop him tomorrow, but I'm afraid not permanently..

not being able to drop 2 Sky Domestiques one of whom's wheel he rode for quite some time doesn't look good.

You use a word 'domestique' in very interesting meaning...

 

[Red Rick]

I just saw the stage profile and is better than I thought to try to do something. Cote de Peille is a good climb to make tough race, isolating as much as possible Thomas. The best thing would be to leave him only with Henao. Then arriving at the foot of Col d'Eze and lauch a big attack on the second km without looking back and we'll see how it ends-

I start to suspect that you're on to something

 

[gregrowlerson]

Re:

He really is as good as in 2014, he was even better on Algarve.

Unfortunately, massive difference in the route between Tirreno 14' and this shitty PN. They really need to step it up, no wonder the favorites have been mainly going to Tirreno the last few years.

Even today's stage is bullcrap.

We might get the answer on that on Eze.

At least we already know that his belief and racing style is just as strong as ever, even as much as 2012: This final stage is a little reminiscent of Fuente De

 

[contador_attacks]

As always, he had the balls to try something! I'm happy with the performance.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Omg he lost 4 seconds? Damn yea, it's pretty much over now.

Might aswell abandon this race and quickly fly to italy for the T-A

Well well..

 

[Gloin22]

Hate him or love him, everyone should appreciate for what he is, bit of excitement that 99% of modern stage racers lack nowdays, bit of panache. Thanks for making cycling remotely interesting at times.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Re: Re:

Omg he lost 4 seconds? Damn yea, it's pretty much over now.

Might aswell abandon this race and quickly fly to italy for the T-A

Well well..

rofl

 

[Miburo]

Re: Re:

Omg he lost 4 seconds? Damn yea, it's pretty much over now.

Might aswell abandon this race and quickly fly to italy for the T-A

Well well..

Yea fleur cause at point i knew the stage on wednesday was gonna get cancelled.

Lacking context as always my dear

 

[Miburo]

Now fleur should i bring up all your quotes of saying how majka rides for himself?

Maybe it's wise to not do that heh xD

 

[BlurryVII]

Well, confirmation that Contador is as strong as 2014. He was by far the strongest in this PN and would've won hands down if Mont brouilly wasn't cancelled.

As usual, attacking isn't rewarded. Pretty confident he'll win Catalunya and Pais Vasco, he just needs a decent route.

 

[Matteo.]

We cannot be not happy for his climbing , the best of all.
With the Mont Broully , we would have another GC but the most important thing is the good shape show in the last days

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Now fleur should i bring up all your quotes of saying how majka rides for himself?

Maybe it's wise to not do that heh xD

Lol, I've always defended Majka against such claims.

 

[Red Rick]

Majka is the only domestique who already does half the attacking the team leader needs to do. He's awesome

 

[TheYouyou7]

Majka has been tremendous, as some said, pity that stage 3 was cancelled.

 

[Miburo]

Shape is more important than winning a race like PN.

He rode the entire peloton on 50 sec, on a climb of nothing. And he was still the best on eze attacking close to 10 times.

He's good, really good.

 

[portugal11]

*** weather's protocol, contador would had put a minute on mont brouilly to thomas

 

[buchanan]

Watching the presentation and he certainly looks unhappy on the 2nd step of the podium.

 

[TheYouyou7]

Yes he doesnt give a *** about this 2nd place. See you in Catalunya

 

[Gloin22]

Re:

Watching the presentation and he certainly looks unhappy on the 2nd step of the podium.

Well it was his last ever Paris Nice, it's gotta be emotional.