Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[BlurryVII]

Re: Re:

What a strange thread - Read that Contador has been out of form since 2013, yet he won a GT in both 2014 an 2015.

You can't deny that post 2013 Contador is nowhere compared to 2009 or 2011 Contador, who would be capable of challenging any rider in history at their peak

For posts like that, I regret the Tour 14'

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

What a strange thread - Read that Contador has been out of form since 2013, yet he won a GT in both 2014 an 2015.

You can't deny that post 2013 Contador is nowhere compared to 2009 or 2011 Contador, who would be capable of challenging any rider in history at their peak

2014 was very close to 2009 Contador and at the very least on par with his 2011 version.

 

[Publicus]

Re: Re:

Wanting to stay on topic, I'm trying to find an explanation (or hope) so that he still has time to improve and come back as the 2014. You all know that I never find excuses, but this time I did some thinking.
If I remember well in 2014 after dominating the TA Alberto raced a Catalunya below expectations. A bit like this time.
Also in the week off after the PN, he probably had a slight cold and has trained very little. He just spent the time to recover.
So in view of PV, despite the obvious disappointment of Port Aine ', we can look with moderate optimism

No, he raced Catalunya perfect in 2014, only the parcours were far better for pathetic mountain sprinter Rodriguez. Still he managed to get a second back with a very aggressive riding. In 2014 he was never dropped the way he was dropped by Quintana two days ago.

Anyway - he needs to find a bit more form, I still hope it is possible.

I agree to a certain extent, but I also think Quintana is a better climber now than he was in 2014. Comparisons between an ageing Alberto and an improving Quintana is hard to draw.

I also don't think you can discount the impact of Contador getting sick post-PN (hard to say how sick he was/is of course). But I do agree Quintana is a much better climber than he was in 2014. I just wish he rode with a wee bit more panache

 

[Publicus]

Re: Re:

What a strange thread - Read that Contador has been out of form since 2013, yet he won a GT in both 2014 an 2015.

You can't deny that post 2013 Contador is nowhere compared to 2009 or 2011 Contador, who would be capable of challenging any rider in history at their peak

No one, no matter how earnest they may try, can step into the same river twice. As much as we like to discuss riders form in relation to prior year's performance, it's an exercise in futility. There are far too many variables for us to account for why rider 'x' performed at level '1' in 2011 and only performed at level '3' in 2013. Competition, fitness, course, personal issues, clinical, etc.... I know it's a fun exercise, but's it is a pretty meaningless discussion all things being considered.

 

[dacooley]

Re: Re:

What a strange thread - Read that Contador has been out of form since 2013, yet he won a GT in both 2014 an 2015.

You can't deny that post 2013 Contador is nowhere compared to 2009 or 2011 Contador, who would be capable of challenging any rider in history at their peak

No one, no matter how earnest they may try, can step into the same river twice. As much as we like to discuss riders form in relation to prior year's performance, it's an exercise in futility. There are far too many variables for us to account for why rider 'x' performed at level '1' in 2011 and only performed at level '3' in 2013. Competition, fitness, course, personal issues, clinical, etc.... I know it's a fun exercise, but's it is a pretty meaningless discussion all things being considered.

you hit the nail. in addition, cycling is fighting for a very little advantage what makes any attempts to draw parallels and make comparisons through the years futile.

 

[BlurryVII]

When even riders compare their form through the years, I don't think the comparisons are futile. At least Contador does so.

Publicus is refering more to the 'why' they're in such form at any given point.

 

[BlurryVII]

Contador said today "Estoy muy contento con mi condición, y gane o no gane aquí, mi preparación para el Tour está siendo perfecta""

"I'm very happy with my condition, whether I win or not here, my preperation for the Tour is going perfect".

 

[Matteo.]

Re:

Contador said today "Estoy muy contento con mi condición, y gane o no gane aquí, mi preparación para el Tour está siendo perfecta""

"I'm very happy with my condition, whether I win or not here, my preperation for the Tour is going perfect".

He is right in effect. At least the podium at the Tour is reach after his last performances

 

[ILovecycling]

Re: Re:

Wanting to stay on topic, I'm trying to find an explanation (or hope) so that he still has time to improve and come back as the 2014. You all know that I never find excuses, but this time I did some thinking.
If I remember well in 2014 after dominating the TA Alberto raced a Catalunya below expectations. A bit like this time.
Also in the week off after the PN, he probably had a slight cold and has trained very little. He just spent the time to recover.
So in view of PV, despite the obvious disappointment of Port Aine ', we can look with moderate optimism

No, he raced Catalunya perfect in 2014, only the parcours were far better for pathetic mountain sprinter Rodriguez. Still he managed to get a second back with a very aggressive riding. In 2014 he was never dropped the way he was dropped by Quintana two days ago.

Anyway - he needs to find a bit more form, I still hope it is possible.

I agree to a certain extent, but I also think Quintana is a better climber now than he was in 2014. Comparisons between an ageing Alberto and an improving Quintana is hard to draw.

I also don't think you can discount the impact of Contador getting sick post-PN (hard to say how sick he was/is of course). But I do agree Quintana is a much better climber than he was in 2014. I just wish he rode with a wee bit more panache

I dont know if Nairo is better, but he certainly has better form as he has an early spring peak not like in 2014

 

[rhubroma]

Re: Re:

What a strange thread - Read that Contador has been out of form since 2013, yet he won a GT in both 2014 an 2015.

You can't deny that post 2013 Contador is nowhere compared to 2009 or 2011 Contador, who would be capable of challenging any rider in history at their peak

2014 was very close to 2009 Contador and at the very least on par with his 2011 version.

Well, in Contador's own words, he was never in better form than for the 2014 Tour. The competition was tougher though. Still I'll take 2014 July AC over anything else. Too bad he broke his leg.

Though Nairo is a beast, plain and simple, but he isn't the TTer that Alberto can be when he is on fire. Nairo, for example, apart from a mountain TT, won't ever win one in the Tour. He's too much of a pure climber.

 

[portugal11]

The problem is that contador doesn't see quintana as a real threat, he only cares about froome. Stage 3 and stage 4 proved that. In stage 3, contador was very cautious because he didn't know froome's shape. In stage 4, he knew that froome wasn't in great shape and he decided to respond everybody and quintana took advantage of it.
Anyone rebember lagos de covadonga in vuelta 2014? Purito and valverde sucking contador's wheel and contador was more worried to distance froome than loosing some seconds to purito and valverde

 

[peloton]

From stage 5:

I expected Contador to try to make up time. You can't let him out of your sight for a moment, and we saw that at the intermediate sprint. Contador and the other pretenders are not going to make it easy for us to win this Volta, although fortunately the time he gained was not enough to take the lead.
Read more at http://www.cyclingquotes.com/news/reactions_from_the_fifth_stage_of_volta_a_catalunya/#wMEZFkz7r0OpMDs5.99

Final stage will be interesting, we know someone, if he has the legs, will go out guns blazing

 

[rhubroma]

Re:

The problem is that contador doesn't see quintana as a real threat, he only cares about froome. Stage 3 and stage 4 proved that. In stage 3, contador was very cautious because he didn't know froome's shape. In stage 4, he knew that froome wasn't in great shape and he decided to respond everybody and quintana took advantage of it.
Anyone rebember lagos de covadonga in vuelta 2014? Purito and valverde sucking contador's wheel and contador was more worried to distance froome than loosing some seconds to purito and valverde

Ahh, but can we say with Nairo's stomping performance at TA last year and his clearly better climbing throughout the Tour too, he wasn't even on Contador's radar?

While it's true Froome has been the main rival - it could not be otherwise - but Quintana also lost time on the previous day's stage. Contador, as you implay, probably came out of it with slight over-confidence, but his imprudence in going after each attack cost him something against Quintana, who was nonetheless stronger IMO. Then Nairo had a teammate ahead, whereas Alberto didn't even have a teammate at his side.

It's important for his Tour aspirations that Alberto has a sufficient margin for improvement, though equally so that he is accompanied by a team worthy of the task. So far it's questionable.

 

[bajbar]

Contador really needs Rogers to get over his heart issues soon. I remember in 2014 Rogers only started racing in LBL due to his clenbuterol case, but then he was in monster shape in the Giro and the Tour. Bennati will also be crucial in the Tour, and I hope he can start racing as soon as possible. Then we have Majka, who is usually better in the second GT he rides (Tour in 2014, Vuelta in 2015), and Kreuziger, who seems to be getting back to his best shape. Plus, there is always Sagan if things get tough. So if the team is on song he shouldn't have to much problems. He just has to find his own form.

 

[CheckMyPecs]

Re:

Contador really needs Rogers to get over his heart issues soon.

This ain't the kind of things you can just hurry.

 

[Matteo.]

I was not expecting anything and so it was . however the PN , I had the impression that Alberto has gone worse day after day until today ( where almost was dropped at the end)

 

[Simurgh]

Re:

I was not expecting anything and so it was . however the PN , I had the impression that Alberto has gone worse day after day until today ( where almost was dropped at the end)

Indeed, it looked like he was dropped for a moment on the last hill, when Martin (I think it was) was upping the tempo.
I hope that he will sparkle in Pais Vasco, and more importantly, the Tour!

 

[LaFlorecita]

Close but no cigar again
He must win in Pais Vasco, come on Berto! Sparkle! (I like that, thanks Simurgh )

 

[rm7]

LOL in what world would he be dropped on such a climb, when he was the 2nd strongest climber in the race? People exaggeriate too much on this forum Just because he wasn't near the front at that moment or the first one to respond.. nobody was going to get away anyway, and he realised it, so why bother stay at the front

 

[Matteo.]

Re:

LOL in what world would he be dropped on such a climb, when he was the 2nd strongest climber in the race? People exaggeriate too much on this forum Just because he wasn't near the front at that moment or the first one to respond.. nobody was going to get away anyway, and he realised it, so why bother stay at the front

Dropped or not , it's enough clear is gone worse day by day by PN. It's not a sacrilege admit it

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

[quote="
Dropped or not , it's enough clear is gone worse day by day by PN. It's not a sacrilege admit it

I didn't see the stage, but that would be a very bad sign.

 

[rm7]

Re: Re:

LOL in what world would he be dropped on such a climb, when he was the 2nd strongest climber in the race? People exaggeriate too much on this forum Just because he wasn't near the front at that moment or the first one to respond.. nobody was going to get away anyway, and he realised it, so why bother stay at the front

Dropped or not , it's enough clear is gone worse day by day by PN. It's not a sacrilege admit it

It is really clear that he's getting worse and worse?

In P-N his competition was G. Thomas, Porte and Zakarin which he looked good against.

In Catalunya he competeted against those last two again, but with Quintana etc in the mix too. He beat all those riders again, expect Quintana, where it was 1-1. He dropped him the day before, remember?

And there was no way he was going to drop anyone today.

I'm not sure I follow the argument "he's getting worse since P-N".

 

[ray j willings]

Berti is not looking awesome but he did drop Quintana the other day and he did way more chasing when he got dropped by Quintana and the gap was not getting bigger at the end so there is no real problem there. If Bertie had sat on Quintana's wheel and let someone else chase then he would not have got dropped but Bertie likes to race and tactically that turned out not to be the smartest move but it is a short stage race.
Froome ,Aru etc are in worse shape and Nibs looks good but will he be riding the tour.
So early days and Bertie is looking better than his main rivals.
If he reaches the tour and his equal to his 2014 then he will be favourite to win. I still feel Aru will be a big big
Danger. He won the Vuelta with style and aggression and unlike Quintana last year he will make riders suffer if they are having a bad day.

 

[Matteo.]

Re: Re:

LOL in what world would he be dropped on such a climb, when he was the 2nd strongest climber in the race? People exaggeriate too much on this forum Just because he wasn't near the front at that moment or the first one to respond.. nobody was going to get away anyway, and he realised it, so why bother stay at the front

Dropped or not , it's enough clear is gone worse day by day by PN. It's not a sacrilege admit it

It is really clear that he's getting worse and worse?

In P-N his competition was G. Thomas, Porte and Zakarin which he looked good against.

In Catalunya he competeted against those last two again, but with Quintana etc in the mix too. He beat all those riders again, expect Quintana, where it was 1-1. He dropped him the day before, remember?

And there was no way he was going to drop anyone today.

I'm not sure I follow the argument "he's getting worse since P-N".

After what he did in PN ....starting from la molina , passing port aine and ending today. Do you have the feeling he remained on the same level?
I saw him less brilliant , especially today despite the feeble attempt done. He seems tired

 

[Matteo.]

http://www.mundodeportivo.com/cicli...r-estoy-muy-contento-con-las-sensaciones.html

Barcelona, ​​March 27 (EFE) .- Despite finishing second in the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, just seven seconds Colombian Nairo Quintana (Movistar), winner of the race, the Spanish Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) has been " very pleased "with the sensations experienced in the Catalan round.

"The preparation that made this winter has been very good and the truth is a pity that in Paris-Nice, for four seconds, and here (Catalunya), seven, I have missed off. But on the other hand, if I had to choose among the feelings that I have and getting the victory with a worst feelings I prefer to stay with the first, "said the pinteño.

The Volta a Catalunya, whose 96th edition ended today in Barcelona, ​​was decided by a Nairo Quintana attack the queen of Port Aine, where the Colombian left behind the Spaniard in the last 800 meters of the ascent to the finish stage.

"If the stage of Port Aine be repeated would have played my actions differently. It would have made more responsibility in the hands of Nairo Quintana. Maybe I sinned trying to control everything, but the tactic was the one that was. He had a spark that I and no I could follow, "he lamented.

In any case, he insisted that ends very happy Catalan round physical sensations overlooking the Tour de France, the great goal of the season.

"I'm happy because I'm finishing the first block runs perfectly and found myself wanting more. We have recovered what about me this week and see how it goes in the Tour of the Basque Country", he added.

Contador has tried today in the last stage in the circuit by the mountain of Montjuïc, where Quintana has been very solid fending off attacks from his rivals.

"It was a complicated circuit, for victory was difficult. There were many people with interests in protecting their positions and it was difficult to break," he concluded.