Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Irondan]

Re: Re:

and everyone hated Leipheimer

No change there, then

Thats Tour de Suisse champion Leipheimer to you.

Wouldn't that be former Tour de Suisse champion?

Alberto looked very good today! Very strong opposition from Henao but tomorrow's hilly ITT should seal the deal. I don't think Pinot can pull back any time on AC but Pinot's TT has been greatly improved this season, I've been impressed.

 

[rhubroma]

Verily Alberto has been the most consitent of the GT Bigs during the opening campaign of this season. That shows class. Unfortunately he doesn't have the knockout punch he did during the golden years, which last time was 2014. Surely being on everybody's radar and being everybody's priority over such a sustained period in this, the twilight of his career, means that the others have upped the game, have established fierce new rivals to the old fierce ones and this makes winning just damn complicated. But hats off to a Contador who has been showing a resiliency and a tenacity that under such circumstances should be applauded.

 

[arvc40]

Re:

Verily Alberto has been the most consitent of the GT Bigs during the opening campaign of this season. That shows class. Unfortunately he doesn't have the knockout punch he did during the golden years, which last time was 2014. Surely being on everybody's radar and being everybody's priority over such a sustained period in this, the twilight of his career, means that the others have upped the game, have established fierce new rivals to the old fierce ones and this makes winning just damn complicated. But hats off to a Contador who has been showing a resiliency and a tenacity that under such circumstances should be applauded.

Despite the strength of any rival I notice that they are unable to create anything against the old boy !. A few seconds and that's it. I think the others would be *** if he just raced like they do, follow that man most of the time. Hes been solid all spring and hopefully today he will get his reward.

 

[Gigs_98]

The main difference from the spring to the tdf is that in the tour he wont be the one big favorite. In Paris Nice, Catalunya and now also in Pais Vasco. Yeah he isnt in such a superb shape that he can drop everyone easily but if you have to close every single gap while not having a good team its just extremely difficult.
In the tour it will be completely different. Froomes domestiques will try to control every race as long as possible and generally his rivals there will probably also be in very good shape so he isnt the only big favorite anyway. It will make the race more difficult but the tactics way more easy. I think his spring is decent and maybe today he can even win the gc so its not as if he completely failed. Its not 2014 but I think his chance to win the tour is still relatively good.

 

[Jspear]

The main difference from the spring to the tdf is that in the tour he wont be the one big favorite. In Paris Nice, Catalunya and now also in Pais Vasco. Yeah he isnt in such a superb shape that he can drop everyone easily but if you have to close every single gap while not having a good team its just extremely difficult.
In the tour it will be completely different. Froomes domestiques will try to control every race as long as possible and generally his rivals there will probably also be in very good shape so he isnt the only big favorite anyway. It will make the race more difficult but the tactics way more easy. I think his spring is decent and maybe today he can even win the gc so its not as if he completely failed. Its not 2014 but I think his chance to win the tour is still relatively good.

It would have been more comforting as a fan to see a little more during his spring campaign...In theory though, he can still reach a very high level of form before the Tour. I keep thinking about that very first attack Froome is going to make in the Tour. AC has to be able to keep up. If he loses more than a few seconds he's toast.

 

[Gigs_98]

The main difference from the spring to the tdf is that in the tour he wont be the one big favorite. In Paris Nice, Catalunya and now also in Pais Vasco. Yeah he isnt in such a superb shape that he can drop everyone easily but if you have to close every single gap while not having a good team its just extremely difficult.
In the tour it will be completely different. Froomes domestiques will try to control every race as long as possible and generally his rivals there will probably also be in very good shape so he isnt the only big favorite anyway. It will make the race more difficult but the tactics way more easy. I think his spring is decent and maybe today he can even win the gc so its not as if he completely failed. Its not 2014 but I think his chance to win the tour is still relatively good.

It would have been more comforting as a fan to see a little more during his spring campaign...In theory though, he can still reach a very high level of form before the Tour. I keep thinking about that very first attack Froome is going to make in the Tour. AC has to be able to keep up. If he loses more than a few seconds he's toast.

Contadors advantage against froome is that this time the first mtf of the tour isnt that hard. Froomes advantage is that there will also be the Ventoux which is super hard before the third week. Honestly I think that Froome will once again be the strongest on those first two mtf's but I don't think he will attack on the Aspin and the Peyresourde. So I'd say if Contador and Quintana are within 2 minutes after the ITT Froome is beatable. He has now shown us twice that he gets problems against the strongest riders in the 3rd week and the 3rd week this time is harder than in 2013 and 2015. If Froome is already behind one of those two I don't give him a high chance and if he destroys everyone on all three pyrenees stages, the central massif stage and the ventoux (which is possible) he will already be by far more than 5 minutes in front after the ITT and the tour will already be over anyway

 

[cantpedal]

The main difference from the spring to the tdf is that in the tour he wont be the one big favorite. In Paris Nice, Catalunya and now also in Pais Vasco. Yeah he isnt in such a superb shape that he can drop everyone easily but if you have to close every single gap while not having a good team its just extremely difficult.
In the tour it will be completely different. Froomes domestiques will try to control every race as long as possible and generally his rivals there will probably also be in very good shape so he isnt the only big favorite anyway. It will make the race more difficult but the tactics way more easy. I think his spring is decent and maybe today he can even win the gc so its not as if he completely failed. Its not 2014 but I think his chance to win the tour is still relatively good.

It would have been more comforting as a fan to see a little more during his spring campaign...In theory though, he can still reach a very high level of form before the Tour. I keep thinking about that very first attack Froome is going to make in the Tour. AC has to be able to keep up. If he loses more than a few seconds he's toast.

Contadors advantage against froome is that this time the first mtf of the tour isnt that hard. Froomes advantage is that there will also be the Ventoux which is super hard before the third week. Honestly I think that Froome will once again be the strongest on those first two mtf's but I don't think he will attack on the Aspin and the Peyresourde. So I'd say if Contador and Quintana are within 2 minutes after the ITT Froome is beatable. He has now shown us twice that he gets problems against the strongest riders in the 3rd week and the 3rd week this time is harder than in 2013 and 2015. If Froome is already behind one of those two I don't give him a high chance and if he destroys everyone on all three pyrenees stages, the central massif stage and the ventoux (which is possible) he will already be by far more than 5 minutes in front after the ITT and the tour will already be over anyway

If you go back to 2013 before the Aix3 Stage many were saying the Bagnères-de-Bigorre Stage was the 1st dangerous / hard Stage. Aix 3 Domaines was so hard because Sky/Moviestar tactics made it so. Is this years 1st MTF not capable of being made so? I haven't really looked at the race profile yet.

 

[rm7]

It seems like people presume that Contador will be stronger than Froome in the 3rd week, or he'll be more consistent through the Tour. But keep in mind that Froome got stronger in the Vuelta 2014 as the race went on, so it is possible for him to be stronger in the 3rd week too.

He hasn't really done anything of notice this year yet, and Contador have already rode 4 one week races. Obviously we can't conclude too much, but I wouldn't be so sure about Froome fading and loosing minutes in the 3rd week. He was ill in 2015 too, and Quintana always peaks later in the race.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

It seems like people presume that Contador will be stronger than Froome in the 3rd week, or he'll be more consistent through the Tour. But keep in mind that Froome got stronger in the Vuelta 2014 as the race went on, so it is possible for him to be stronger in the 3rd week too.

He hasn't really done anything of notice this year yet, and Contador have already rode 4 one week races. Obviously we can't conclude too much, but I wouldn't be so sure about Froome fading and loosing minutes in the 3rd week. He was ill in 2015 too, and Quintana always peaks later in the race.

Vuelta 2014 was far from his normal race prep. His build up for the Tour is completely different. In 2013 and 2015 Tour's he's come out guns blazing.

 

[Gigs_98]

If you go back to 2013 before the Aix3 Stage many were saying the Bagnères-de-Bigorre Stage was the 1st dangerous / hard Stage. Aix 3 Domaines was so hard because Sky/Moviestar tactics made it so. Is this years 1st MTF not capable of being made so? I haven't really looked at the race profile yet.

Well first of all I have no idea why people in 2013 thought the Ax3 stage wouldnt be difficult since Pailheres is probably one of the 2 or 3 hardest pyrenees passes in france and Ax 3 Domaines is also a very difficult climb.

Generally however I would say that the Andorra stage this year might be even harder, although the climbs near the finish aren't that difficult. However the reasons why I think this stage isnt as good for Froome as the first mtf in 2013 are:
-I don't think anybody besides sky wants to make the stage hard because now everyone knows what Froome can do on these kind of stages.
-Andorra Arcalis just isnt a very hard climb. Its usually a bit overrated since it always gets a HC status which it simply doesnt deserve. In 2013 Froome attacked after a hard stage on a pretty steep climb and in 2015 he attacked when the climb already became a bit flatter but there was absolute carnage on the very difficult first half of the climb.

Another interesting factor will be the stage before which is very difficult (A HC, a 2nd category and two 1st category climbs directly after each other). There could happen something on this stage but I just have the feeling that everyone will wait for the first mtf in the Andorra stage.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I just saw the last 5km of yesterday's stage on Eurosport, Alberto looked really strong he didn't really attack, he just accelerated and tore the group apart

 

[Red Rick]

Very hard to guess who can follow Froome though. The 2 years he succeeded on the first MTF's, all the primary contenders were so far off where they were supposed to be. You have to be up there immidiately, otherwise you'll find yourself minutes back, but I think that Quintana and Contador can match Froome if they get it right

 

[ray j willings]

Re:

Very hard to guess who can follow Froome though. The 2 years he succeeded on the first MTF's, all the primary contenders were so far off where they were supposed to be. You have to be up there immidiately, otherwise you'll find yourself minutes back, but I think that Quintana and Contador can match Froome if they get it right

Bertie stayed with a Froome bonkers attack at the dauphine 2014. Froome thought he could ride Bertie off his wheel. He can't do that with a in form Bertie. He was mentally beaten right there.
He tried it at the Vuleta and got beat as well.

I think Quintana is to fragile/inconsistent like yesterday when he lost time. Bertie is not.

 

[rm7]

Re: Re:

Very hard to guess who can follow Froome though. The 2 years he succeeded on the first MTF's, all the primary contenders were so far off where they were supposed to be. You have to be up there immidiately, otherwise you'll find yourself minutes back, but I think that Quintana and Contador can match Froome if they get it right

Bertie stayed with a Froome bonkers attack at the dauphine 2014. Froome thought he could ride Bertie off his wheel. He can't do that with a in form Bertie. He was mentally beaten right there.
He tried it at the Vuleta and got beat as well.

I think Quintana is to fragile/inconsistent like yesterday when he lost time. Bertie is not.

I'm not sure Quintana is too inconsistent in a GT. The problem is more that he doesn't seem to be able to peak before the 3rd week of the Tour, but he doesn't have bad days in GT's.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

Very hard to guess who can follow Froome though. The 2 years he succeeded on the first MTF's, all the primary contenders were so far off where they were supposed to be. You have to be up there immidiately, otherwise you'll find yourself minutes back, but I think that Quintana and Contador can match Froome if they get it right

Bertie stayed with a Froome bonkers attack at the dauphine 2014. Froome thought he could ride Bertie off his wheel. He can't do that with a in form Bertie. He was mentally beaten right there.
He tried it at the Vuleta and got beat as well.

I think Quintana is to fragile/inconsistent like yesterday when he lost time. Bertie is not.

Maybe I forgot about something but has Quintana had one single bad stage in the tdf 2013 and 2015 or the giro 2014? I don't know a single one so I don't know why Quintana should be inconsistent. Only because of a preparation race for which he didnt peak?
Why do the Bertie fans always bash Quintanas chances to win the tour. Is it so hard to think objectively?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Haha, Michael Boogerd just told a nice story on Eurosport while watching Kreuziger on the downhill.
2005 Pais vasco, the ITT, he was waiting for the start, and watching the race to see what his opponents would do. It rained, and there was one young guy, Berto descending like a madman, and Boogerd thought, "I have to go that fast for a decent time?!" Of course, Alberto won that TT

 

[ray j willings]

Re: Re:

Very hard to guess who can follow Froome though. The 2 years he succeeded on the first MTF's, all the primary contenders were so far off where they were supposed to be. You have to be up there immidiately, otherwise you'll find yourself minutes back, but I think that Quintana and Contador can match Froome if they get it right

Bertie stayed with a Froome bonkers attack at the dauphine 2014. Froome thought he could ride Bertie off his wheel. He can't do that with a in form Bertie. He was mentally beaten right there.
He tried it at the Vuleta and got beat as well.

I think Quintana is to fragile/inconsistent like yesterday when he lost time. Bertie is not.

Maybe I forgot about something but has Quintana had one single bad stage in the tdf 2013 and 2015 or the giro 2014? I don't know a single one so I don't know why Quintana should be inconsistent. Only because of a preparation race for which he didnt peak?
Why do the Bertie fans always bash Quintanas chances to win the tour. Is it so hard to think objectively?

Well he lost time yesterday did he not? I understand your point and its fair comment but IMO he should have won the tour last year. He seems to lack confidence or belief in his ability. He can only attack on one mountain.
If Bertie or Nibs say go for a long attack Quintana could not cope. A bit like Purito and Froome .He' does not have the racer instinct he relies on the same tactic.

 

[Carols]

YES! YES! YES!!!!!!!

 

[GuyIncognito]

You may recommence being bipolar for another 3 months

 

[Matteo.]

They said...Pinot could match Contador in ITT...they said

 

[Irondan]

Yes Alberto!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fantastic ride by a great champion!

 

[Simurgh]

Finally! Congratulations, great ride today.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Good end to the spring season. Best possible motivation and ofcourse equalling the all time record in Pais Vasco

 

[Jelantik]

Finally. A nice way of finishing off his early season. Great ride by Contador. And I don't have to see another sky domestique beating him. Chapeau. Next, TDF. Hope he can deliver a final win that will be remembered forever. Congrats Contador.

 

[rm7]

He still got it!! I've been saying sometimes this year, that it looks like he still got the engine in the moutains, but he doesn't have that acceleration to drop people at will anymore. So they always just follow his wheel and gain that advantage. He need that one guy like Majka to up the pace to put people in red, and then attack.

Sure he could go faster on the second part if he had to, but no reason to take risks. If it was a ITT in the middle of a one week/GT, he would probably have done the route 20 seconds faster.