Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

We should discuss the Contador interview that was posted on Cyclingnews today. I find it really positive that he still has the fighting spirit and that he still wants a team fully commited to him doing the Tour.

I think he should go for the Giro-Vuelta double in 2017. He also says he will maybe ride the Spanish nats, but only the road race. I would like to see him in the TT, it suits him and it could be a good test.

 

[Publicus]

So he's already laid down the marker for the Dauphine--he won't be going for the win. I assume he will be sitting on Froome's wheel to the extent possible.

 

[Miburo]

Re:

So he's already laid down the marker for the Dauphine--he won't be going for the win. I assume he will be sitting on Froome's wheel to the extent possible.

He'll try to win if he can like always. There's only one time when he didn't try to win in a race and that was dauphine '09.

Besides he'll get at least 20 sec on the prologue anyways

That prologue is so brutal, thank the heavens

 

[ILovecycling]

Re: Re:

Source Miburo? I don't think I've every hear Wuyts say something positive about Contador. Or something negative about Sky. He sees a chance to indirectly bash Contador, he takes it

There's a youtube video, about Contador's crash & seizure in the 2004 Vuelta a Asturias, and in the comments Wuyts wrote: "falls off his bike like Manzano. Maybe they ate the same Spanish steak?"

who the heck is this freekin idiot

 

[trevim]

Re: Re:

So he's already laid down the marker for the Dauphine--he won't be going for the win. I assume he will be sitting on Froome's wheel to the extent possible.

He'll try to win if he can like always. There's only one time when he didn't try to win in a race and that was dauphine '09.

Besides he'll get at least 20 sec on the prologue anyways

That prologue is so brutal, thank the heavens

Wow. Is Zomegnan making this stuff up?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Source Miburo? I don't think I've every hear Wuyts say something positive about Contador. Or something negative about Sky. He sees a chance to indirectly bash Contador, he takes it

There's a youtube video, about Contador's crash & seizure in the 2004 Vuelta a Asturias, and in the comments Wuyts wrote: "falls off his bike like Manzano. Maybe they ate the same Spanish steak?"

who the heck is this freekin idiot

Sporza commentator (unfortunately)

 

[LaFlorecita]

That climb in the prologue is very similar to the Arrate climb in Pais Vasco

 

[Matteo.]

It's too explosive for guys as Pinot or Quintana. Maybe only Froome in monster shape could match Contador . Anyway i'm pretty sure alberto will win

 

[Miburo]

Even s*** 2013 Contador had a better time than froome in the first part of the MTT in the tour. He's just the best in the world in these kinda things, i'm also certain he's gonna crush it.

 

[rhubroma]

The mystery is after so much time out of competition, will he be firing on all cylinders.

 

[lenric]

Re:

The mystery is after so much time out of competition, will he be firing on all cylinders.

Froome will be out of competition for quite some time too, so the same can be asked about him. Let's just wait and see, though I'm secretly wishing some underdog can keep up with them, even surpass them.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

The mystery is after so much time out of competition, will he be firing on all cylinders.

Froome will be out of competition for quite some time too, so the same can be asked about him. Let's just wait and see, though I'm secretly wishing some underdog can keep up with them, even surpass them.

I'm gonna vote for Amets Txurruka on that one. Everyone likes him, so everyone has to be happy

 

[HelloDolly]

Mick Rogers taling about Alberto about 20 minutes in

https://twitter.com/cycling_podcast/status/729030597394481152

 

[lenric]

Re: Re:

The mystery is after so much time out of competition, will he be firing on all cylinders.

Froome will be out of competition for quite some time too, so the same can be asked about him. Let's just wait and see, though I'm secretly wishing some underdog can keep up with them, even surpass them.

I'm gonna vote for Amets Txurruka on that one. Everyone likes him, so everyone has to be happy

Why not? Igon Anton too
But I had my mind in Kelderman, just a faint hope

 

[peloton]

There is a big rumor going on that Contador will continue with Specialized. Can't see him going back to Astana, esp. with the budget cuts, so it's either Etixx ot Nuttie will continue. Or he has managed to set up his own team
We'll see

 

[Irondan]

Re:

There is a big rumor going on that Contador will continue with Specialized. Can't see him going back to Astana, esp. with the budget cuts, so it's either Etixx ot Nuttie will continue. Or he has managed to set up his own team
We'll see

I have a feeling he's got his own team in the works, thus the two years being rumored as his new retirement date.

That's the going rate for sponsorship commitment these days, seems logical that he has a new sponsor to cycling and is keeping mum about it during the season.

You heard it first here!

 

[peloton]

@Irondan Hmm, I think I read somewhere when Fran said the deadline for his 'new team' was in April. Riis as usual is not finding sponsors, so reckon Etixx has a good chance now.
Speculation, of course

 

[Irondan]

Re:

@Irondan Hmm, I think I read somewhere when Fran said the deadline for his 'new team' was in April. Riis as usual is not finding sponsors, so reckon Etixx has a good chance now.
Speculation, of course

I hadn't heard anything about an "April" deadline. Well, that's disappointing...

I guess I'm not very good at starting rumours.

 

[peloton]

Re:

Mick Rogers taling about Alberto about 20 minutes in

https://twitter.com/cycling_podcast/status/729030597394481152

Thanks Dolly!

Took a little snippet of that, sorry for typos

”Out of all the stage race riders that I’ve rode alongside with, I think Alberto is the most talented, his recovery, capacity is amazing, I really not had never seen anyone like that before.

******

A Champion like that comes along in 10-15 years"

 

[peloton]

@Irondan Could still be possible ofc! I wonder if Nuttie will pull the plug, or continue until next year

 

[Jspear]

Re:

@Irondan Could still be possible ofc! I wonder if Nuttie will pull the plug, or continue until next year

In my mind the only thing that would keep him in is if AC won the Tour, Vuelta, and Olympic RR. I haven't seen as much media coverage of him...I think he's bored of cycling.

 

[Publicus]

Re: Re:

@Irondan Could still be possible ofc! I wonder if Nuttie will pull the plug, or continue until next year

In my mind the only thing that would keep him in is if AC won the Tour, Vuelta, and Olympic RR. I haven't seen as much media coverage of him...I think he's bored of cycling.

I think another co-sponsor would keep him in. If AC has viable sponsors, but not enough for a full team, he could partner with Tinkov. Or not. There are plenty of options if you're looking to extend the team.

 

[LaFlorecita]

- the first deadline was April, but they moved that deadline to the end of May. They have several potential sponsors but need a definite answer from them.

- I can't see Tinkov staying no matter what happens.

- Nice words from Mick. He also notes that "a lot of riders have come and gone since he's been at the top" which is remarkable also in his opinion.

- Alberto said he has several offers, so I'm wondering which teams would have contacted him. We know Lampre is one, and I'd be surprised if Astana wasn't another. They'll most likely lose Nibs, have the money and have good support for him. I can't see any of BMC, Sky, Lotto (both), Cannondale, Giant or the French teams making him an offer. So that leaves.. Katusha, Etixx and even Movistar? Katusha presumably has the money and might want another GC contender besides an aging Purito, inconsistent Spilak and Zakarin. Etixx has been named many times, even in earlier years, but I personally don't see it as a good fit. Movistar, as far as I know, always tried to sign him whenever he was available, can't see that being different this time. Although I'm unsure how they'd fit him in with Quintana and Valverde.

 

[Red Rick]

Everytime Movistar tried to sign Contador Valverde would say they get along great. But with Quintana, you basically have 2 potential Tour favourites, and another rider who's a favourite in basically every Vuelta or Giro he does. I think that's too much in one team, unless one of them (Quintana?) really wants to do the Giro next year, and give Valverde a free role.

Astana depends on how badly they want to developt their younger climbers into GT riders. Don't really know how Contador's relationship with Vino is. Also, their budget is shrinking due to low oil prices

Katusha seems like a surprisingly good fit to me.

 

[Miburo]

Please god no, not movistar but luckely that will never happen.

Astana would be awesome, that's the best he can be on except for sky. Would be a great storyline: Aru can ride with his idiol for the last years of his career.

2017: Aru goes for the giro, Contador for the tour while Aru helps him out.

2018: Contador for the giro and Contador is a helper for Aru in the tour. Of course Contador can't be a dom and will try to win the race