Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Red Rick]

Can you just avatar block someone, cause with all due respect Piti, I find your avatar slightly disturbing

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Don't tell Flo but:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2016/04/news/road/contador-shelves-retirement-plans-for-now_402049

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

The odds have been altered slightly after Contador impressive ride today as well. @Bet365

2,25 Froome
3,00 Quintana
4,50 Contador
........
Porte, Aru, Pinot, TJ (17-34)

May actually have been a lot of value in playing Contador to 6, but it seems it too late now.

Yeah, I wanted to place 10 euros on him this winter, but Dutch people can't create accounts on betting sites apparently

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Don't tell Flo but:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2016/04/news/road/contador-shelves-retirement-plans-for-now_402049

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

The odds have been altered slightly after Contador impressive ride today as well. @Bet365

2,25 Froome
3,00 Quintana
4,50 Contador
........
Porte, Aru, Pinot, TJ (17-34)

May actually have been a lot of value in playing Contador to 6, but it seems it too late now.

Yeah, I wanted to place 10 euros on him this winter, but Dutch people can't create accounts on betting sites apparently

Well, you can on sites that don't seem to care too much about dutch legislation.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

The odds have been altered slightly after Contador impressive ride today as well. @Bet365

2,25 Froome
3,00 Quintana
4,50 Contador
........
Porte, Aru, Pinot, TJ (17-34)

May actually have been a lot of value in playing Contador to 6, but it seems it too late now.

Yeah, I wanted to place 10 euros on him this winter, but Dutch people can't create accounts on betting sites apparently

Wasn't it as high as 7, even 8 at some point? Thats some real value!

 

[Tonton]

I see the debate is heated, as usual. Berto should be Berti: the drama is very cliché Italian: when he's not winning, it's the "oh my God, oh my God" panic and the naysayers hyenas are chewing on his bones. When he wins, some proclaim him the Eddy Merckx plus 50% .

I love this thead. By now, LaFlo is popping the third bottle of Dom Perignon and flashing her anatomy. Cheers

Bertie wanting to finish in '17 on a Vuelta win is a great story-line. Can't beat that. But before '17, there's '16 and I'll stick to my reasonable view: Contador is strong. Yes, he makes stupid attacks, but I see that as a way to build moral: he can stretch it. And the guys who get dropped have that little bit of doubt creeping in their head, which will prove useful when it matters (i.e. in July). The "Here we go again" bummer.

Only Froome has stayed away from a real face-off. Albertov needs to Berzin Dawg in the Dauphiné to show him that he can toy with him. Play mind games. That's the only way. He has no team to speak of compared to Sky. All he can do is to make them paranoid...and get friends.

Second place is not good, right .

 

[BlurryVII]

Re:

It means that Contador pretty much was a non factor in 2013 and 2015, the two editions Froome annihilated the peloton on Ax-3 and PSM, so its still up in the air if he can match Froome this year on first MTF.

We do know why he wasn't a factor, and we know what AC did on other more form-balanced races between him and Froome and that's why we believe he will indeed.

 

[HelloDolly]

So Alberto is staying put for another year

I was wondering does anyone think that maybe Tinkov will stay put also ? His team is doing so much better than last year and maybe when push comes to shove he won't want to go either

I think TinkoFF will be better at the Tour with Majka, Trofimov, Kreu, Kiserloski, etc stepping up ...

And a big point is Froome does not have Richie Porte ...in fact Porte/Van Garderen will make a difference ...In fact SKY should really keep Heano for the Tour imo although given Landa's TT today Heano may be highest SKY rider at the Giro

 

[jilbiker]

Re: Re:

Don't tell Flo but:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2016/04/news/road/contador-shelves-retirement-plans-for-now_402049

You have got to be kidding me. Is he seeing what I am seeing? He is barely keeping up with these young lads. His famous recovery is far from what it used to be, he does not have the power to accelerate and leave people hanging. I see all these in agony and I say "well its his last year, do what you can and exit".

That is very sad news, another year of agony watching while Bertie is dusted by domestiques? I think he was caught up in the euphoria of the win (a bit too much bubbly?), forgetting a lot and wishing a lot. Perhaps after sweating it out for TDF win, he will say otherwise.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

It means that Contador pretty much was a non factor in 2013 and 2015, the two editions Froome annihilated the peloton on Ax-3 and PSM, so its still up in the air if he can match Froome this year on first MTF.

We do know why he wasn't a factor, and we know what AC did on other more form-balanced races between him and Froome and that's why we believe he will indeed.

It was also meant to be interpreted as that: Froome annihilates the first MTF, BUT we know Contador was a shadow of himself in those 2 years in Le Tour, so the jury is out on Contador. On the other hand, we have seen Quintana get smashed, but we are under the belief that Quintana was operating at 100% in those two years. Or at least close to - Alberto wasn't. It was an argument in favour of Contador.

But, to sum it up and you must excuse me if this gets messy. You are arguing that,

- Contador won't lose time to Froome on the first MTF, which pretty much means the Pyrenees. So if anything, it isn't Contador who loses time, but rather Froome if we see gaps

- Froome has the advantage on the flattish ITT, but Contador will claw back some of that time on the mountainous one. Please clarify here how much will he gain/lose on the two ITTs

- Contador won't lose any time to Quintana in the 3rd week either, so that means he won't lose time to Froome and most probably win a fair bit since Quintana has been viewed as the best 3rd week GT rider in some time now

That means Quintana will play a minor to no role in the GC-fight and only Froome can challenge Contador. Quintana will lose time on the first MTF, both ITT's and won't claw any time back on Contador in the 3rd week in the high mountains, Quintana's playground. Froome won't be able to drop Contador in the Pyrenees, will get a minor gain over the course of the two ITT's and will be dropped in the Alps, probably pretty handedly since Contador won't lose time to Quintana and Quintana has shown himself the superior climber to Froome in the 3rd week.

I dont know if thats 100%, I might have lost a few things here, but I think I've gotten the most important stuff written down. The only thing which we haven't touched upon is Ventoux - what will its role be? Exciting stuff.
-

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

The odds have been altered slightly after Contador impressive ride today as well. @Bet365

2,25 Froome
3,00 Quintana
4,50 Contador
........
Porte, Aru, Pinot, TJ (17-34)

May actually have been a lot of value in playing Contador to 6, but it seems it too late now.

Yeah, I wanted to place 10 euros on him this winter, but Dutch people can't create accounts on betting sites apparently

Wasn't it as high as 7, even 8 at some point? Thats some real value!

I don't remember exactly, but I think 6 were the lowest odds available across all bookies, i.e. worst value

 

[LaFlorecita]

I see the debate is heated, as usual. Berto should be Berti: the drama is very cliché Italian: when he's not winning, it's the "oh my God, oh my God" panic and the naysayers hyenas are chewing on his bones. When he wins, some proclaim him the Eddy Merckx plus 50% .

I love this thead. By now, LaFlo is popping the third bottle of Dom Perignon and flashing her anatomy. Cheers

Bertie wanting to finish in '17 on a Vuelta win is a great story-line. Can't beat that. But before '17, there's '16 and I'll stick to my reasonable view: Contador is strong. Yes, he makes stupid attacks, but I see that as a way to build moral: he can stretch it. And the guys who get dropped have that little bit of doubt creeping in their head, which will prove useful when it matters (i.e. in July). The "Here we go again" bummer.

Only Froome has stayed away from a real face-off. Albertov needs to Berzin Dawg in the Dauphiné to show him that he can toy with him. Play mind games. That's the only way. He has no team to speak of compared to Sky. All he can do is to make them paranoid...and get friends.

Second place is not good, right .

Cool post

 

[ILovecycling]

Re:

Vamos grandeee

Yep,nothing more to say after this stage

 

[ILovecycling]

I see the debate is heated, as usual. Berto should be Berti: the drama is very cliché Italian: when he's not winning, it's the "oh my God, oh my God" panic and the naysayers hyenas are chewing on his bones. When he wins, some proclaim him the Eddy Merckx plus 50% .

I love this thead. By now, LaFlo is popping the third bottle of Dom Perignon and flashing her anatomy. Cheers

Bertie wanting to finish in '17 on a Vuelta win is a great story-line. Can't beat that. But before '17, there's '16 and I'll stick to my reasonable view: Contador is strong. Yes, he makes stupid attacks, but I see that as a way to build moral: he can stretch it. And the guys who get dropped have that little bit of doubt creeping in their head, which will prove useful when it matters (i.e. in July). The "Here we go again" bummer.

Only Froome has stayed away from a real face-off. Albertov needs to Berzin Dawg in the Dauphiné to show him that he can toy with him. Play mind games. That's the only way. He has no team to speak of compared to Sky. All he can do is to make them paranoid...and get friends.

Second place is not good, right .

Cool post

Totally awesome ,actually, Tonton
But I still hope he wins it on pure strenght.

 

[Jelantik]

Re:

So Alberto is staying put for another year

I was wondering does anyone think that maybe Tinkov will stay put also ? His team is doing so much better than last year and maybe when push comes to shove he won't want to go either

I think TinkoFF will be better at the Tour with Majka, Trofimov, Kreu, Kiserloski, etc stepping up ...

And a big point is Froome does not have Richie Porte ...in fact Porte/Van Garderen will make a difference ...In fact SKY should really keep Heano for the Tour imo although given Landa's TT today Heano may be highest SKY rider at the Giro

If Contador stays another year, he should finished it by winning all 4 early season target and finishes it off with the Giro. I would love to see Contador vs Nibali in the Giro. Today shows that Contador climbed faster than the rest of the field. If his team at TDF can destroy sky's train, then froome has to reel in Contador by himself. And everyone is everyman by themselves. So far sky has always has domestique with superior form that can help Froome dragged anyone who attacked him. I don't know how strong Tinkoff squad will be. They need more Majka type of guy. Trovimov and Kiserlovski haven't shown that they can stay when sky domestique puts their screw. Without Mic this year, not sure who will be Contador's last man standing. BMC duo will surely create some headache.

I have the same feeling about Oleg too. This year his team performs much better than last year. Maybe because he didn't *** them like last year, so everyone is now relax. The result so far has coming left and right from other rider, not just Contador and Sagan.

 

[ferryman]

Re:

Many hands

Luckily for you LF this isn't in his early days. El Pulpo as a nickname just wouldn't have have stuck (get it)

 

[Cannibal72]

Re: Re:

So Alberto is staying put for another year

I was wondering does anyone think that maybe Tinkov will stay put also ? His team is doing so much better than last year and maybe when push comes to shove he won't want to go either

I think TinkoFF will be better at the Tour with Majka, Trofimov, Kreu, Kiserloski, etc stepping up ...

And a big point is Froome does not have Richie Porte ...in fact Porte/Van Garderen will make a difference ...In fact SKY should really keep Heano for the Tour imo although given Landa's TT today Heano may be highest SKY rider at the Giro

If Contador stays another year, he should finished it by winning all 4 early season target and finishes it off with the Giro. I would love to see Contador vs Nibali in the Giro. Today shows that Contador climbed faster than the rest of the field. If his team at TDF can destroy sky's train, then froome has to reel in Contador by himself. And everyone is everyman by themselves. So far sky has always has domestique with superior form that can help Froome dragged anyone who attacked him. I don't know how strong Tinkoff squad will be. They need more Majka type of guy. Trovimov and Kiserlovski haven't shown that they can stay when sky domestique puts their screw. Without Mic this year, not sure who will be Contador's last man standing. BMC duo will surely create some headache.

I have the same feeling about Oleg too. This year his team performs much better than last year. Maybe because he didn't *** them like last year, so everyone is now relax. The result so far has coming left and right from other rider, not just Contador and Sagan.

As has been mentioned above, the 2017 (100th) giro is currently shaping up to be Froome v Quintana v Contador, while I don't think Nibali has yet announced his plans. I'd love to see Contador go all out for the Vuelta record next year, however.

 

[cineteq]

You make me sleepy Zzzzzzzzzz

Only Froome has stayed away from a real face-off. Albertov needs to Berzin Dawg in the Dauphiné to show him that he can toy with him. Play mind games. That's the only way. He has no team to speak of compared to Sky. All he can do is to make them paranoid...and get friends.

 

[Captain_Obvious]

Great to see Contador standing on the pedals like that again.

Very happy for this win.

 

[orangerider]

Re:

So Alberto is staying put for another year

I was wondering does anyone think that maybe Tinkov will stay put also ? His team is doing so much better than last year and maybe when push comes to shove he won't want to go either

Don't think so - Olga has already expressed his departure is due to financial reasons. He simply cannot afford another year. Maybe he can be a minor sponsor or something but even for that I doubt it. His distaste for the structure of the sport's financial backbone isn't a secret.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Luckily for you LF this isn't in his early days. El Pulpo as a nickname just wouldn't have have stuck (get it)

If Nibali and Froome and Quintana really all go for the Giro maybe Alberto should go for the Tour, see how that works for them

 

[amih77]

I think it was mentioned before but I'm not sure: it seems that Contador used to be a good descender, aero position, on the drops etc. and nowadays not so much. What's the deal about descending in the hoods?

 

[Pantani_lives]

Re:

I think it was mentioned before but I'm not sure: it seems that Contador used to be a good descender, aero position, on the drops etc. and nowadays not so much. What's the deal about descending in the hoods?

I think he just played it safe yesterday, avoiding crashes, knowing how much he was ahead of Henao. I don't think there's anything wrong with his descending.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Yeah, he said he just wanted to avoid a crash at all cost. He had a solid margin over Quintana, and a huge margin over Henao. He could have lost the stage to Quintana, but the overall victory was safe, unless he crashed. A crash could have ruined his Tour chances too.
I think he is a bit more cautious since his Tour crash in 2014, but I don't think it is the reason for his slow descent today.