Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Miburo]

Mj is a strange case, and a lot of things went wrong with the bulls at the end. A lot of drama apperently and mj wasn't in his prime anymore at '98 anyways.

His prime was '92.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Mj is a strange case, and a lot of things went wrong with the bulls at the end. A lot of drama apperently and mj wasn't in his prime anymore at '98 anyways.

His prime was '92.

Whops, I messed up my numbers, he won his first of 3 in a row in 96 and obviously retired in 98! And yes, he was better earlier on obviously, but that didn't hold him back from averaging 30 points and STILL being the best player on the planet when he retired. Nothing really held him back when he retired, he had Pippen and they would still be the favourites after '98, even tho MJ wasn't the athletic freak he once was.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Alberto will ride two more years. He's close to a deal but no official statement shall be made before the 1st of August

http://www.elmundo.es/deportes/2016/06/04/57530908e2704edb508b45d4.html

Contador to win Innsbruck WCRR!

Then he'll need to ride 2019 too.

Yes please

 

[Arnout]

Re:

Alberto will ride two more years. He's close to a deal but no official statement shall be made before the 1st of August

http://www.elmundo.es/deportes/2016/06/04/57530908e2704edb508b45d4.html

Wow big surprise

 

[thehook]

Alberto will continue for 2 more seasons. And if I had to wager on it. He will ride for ETIXX.The BIG S will not let him go. Nibs is off Specialized. All Spec has for GT is ARU. To unproven IMHO.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Let's hope that he targets the 100th Giro next year. Then back for one final go at the Tour in 2018.

 

[cellardoor]

If he's gone to a big team then personally I hope it will be Etixx and he can finally bring them some GT success.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Let's hope that he targets the 100th Giro next year. Then back for one final go at the Tour in 2018.

He says he will definitely go for the TDF in 2017, that would be a shame I want to see him at the 100th Giro

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

If he's gone to a big team then personally I hope it will be Etixx and he can finally bring them some GT success.

Etixx just isn't strong enough in the mountains (I guess Jungels, De la Cruz, Verona and Brambilla would be his domestiques?) and Kittel would want his leadout train so they would have to ride different schedules.

 

[cellardoor]

Re: Re:

If he's gone to a big team then personally I hope it will be Etixx and he can finally bring them some GT success.

Etixx just isn't strong enough in the mountains (I guess Jungels, De la Cruz, Verona and Brambilla would be his domestiques?) and Kittel would want his leadout train so they would have to ride different schedules.

They would probably bring a couple of new helpers in. I feel he only really needs one strong domestique in the mountains and having strong flatlanders has proved more important in recent editions where there have been cobbles and opportunities to create splits, which Etixx are masters of. Personally I feel like Katusha and Astana have too much baggage for my liking and also other potential leaders.

ETA: Based on what we saw at the Giro I think Jungels would be second to none as a dom. Personally I think he would be a bit wasted as a dom and would prefer to see him have his own chances in races that Alberto isn't doing. Brambilla on the other hand was very unselfish in his work for Jungels - maybe he doesn't have it for the high mountains of the Tour yet, but he has the potential to turn into a great dom.

 

[lenric]

I don't believe in Ettix to be his destiny. Either the new team that will take Tinkoff's place, or...

Doing a simple exercise, let's exclude the teams that are highly doubtful that would want/can hire him (either because of money or different objectives):
- Ettix;
- Lampre;
- Team Dimension Data;
- AG2R;
- FDJ;
- IAM;
- Orica;
- Giant;
- Trek;
- Soudal;
- Sky.

That leaves us with:
- Astana;
- Movistar;
- New team;
- Cannondale;
- BMC;
- Lotto Jumbo;
- Katusha.

I highly doubt that BMC would hire him (not because of a lack of interest, but they already have 3 top dogs), Astana is highly doubtful also, because of their previous relationship.
Lotto Jumbo possibly, but they hardly have the money to pay Contador and keep some of their riders (such as Gesink or Krushweak).
Movistar? Too many top dogs also, especially one that is on the rise and targets the Tour.

So, we have Cannondale and Katusha. Katusha lacks a leader for GTs, especially the Tour, since the ageing Rodriguez seems to perform better at Spain.
Cannondale is a good team. With Uran, Talansky and Rolland they have potential to top 5 in the Giro/Vuelta, sothey lack a guy who can go for the top3/win in the Tour over the next 2 years.

 

[LaFlorecita]

@lenric
You just excluded the three teams that have been mentioned the most. Trek, Etixx and Lampre.
I don't see why you would exclude those teams yet include LottoJumbo

 

[lenric]

Re:

@lenric
You just excluded the three teams that have been mentioned the most. Trek, Etixx and Lampre.
I don't see why you would exclude those teams yet include LottoJumbo

If you re-read my post, you'd see that I explained why I excluded them. Lack of money/different objectives.

 

[rhubroma]

Nice article by Luca Gialanella in today's la Gazzetta dello Sport:

"Ci sono giorni che valgono una carriera. Ieri è stato uno...quando ha parlato Alberto Contador (in Alto Savoia, Francia). Al di là di quanto gli è successo in quest' ultimo decennio, il madrileno è con Nibali il corridore piu spettacolare della sua generazione. Un campione che butta il cuore in ogni corsa, che non si mette il numero sulla schiena per allenarsi o per rimanere schiavo (soltanto) di computer, battiti, watt. Per carità, aspetti determinanti nella preparazione di un atleta di vertice, ma quando si entra nell'arena i campioni vogliamo vederli faccis a faccia. E Alberto piace proprio per questo...Alberto Contador ha detto: 'Correrò per altri due anni...'"

"There are days that are worth a career. Yesterday was one...when Alberto Contador spoke (in Haute Savoie, France). Notwithstanding whatever may have happened to him over the last decade, the Madrid native is, along with Nibali, the most spectacular racer of his generation. A champion that puts his heart into every race, who doesn't put a number on his back to train or remain a slave (only) to his computer, heartrate, watts. Certainly these are determining aspects to the preparation of a top athlete, but when one enters in the ring we want to see the champions face to face. And Alberto is liked exactly for this...Alberto Contador said 'I'll race two more years...'"

Then Alberto goes on to say that the people's affection convinced him and that he feels better than ever.

Hmmm...let's see what comes of this Dauphine, Tour, Olympics, Vuelta then.

PS. To be precise, Alberto Contador: "There are various reasons that pushed me toward this decision. First of all has been the warmth of the fans, through the social networks, on the roads, at the races. This made me reflect. Moreover, physically I'm the best ever. When you see that you beat your records on the climbs, this motivates you. And if you have the support of your family, notwithstanding it is still a sacrifice for them, in the end you decide to continue."

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

@lenric
You just excluded the three teams that have been mentioned the most. Trek, Etixx and Lampre.
I don't see why you would exclude those teams yet include LottoJumbo

If you re-read my post, you'd see that I explained why I excluded them. Lack of money/different objectives.

And that isn't the case for LottoJumbo? Their budget is lower than either Trek's or Lampre's and both of those teams have allegedly contacted Alberto, so clearly they want to sign him and don't have other objectives. And their budgets are high enough to afford a 2 or 3mln euro contract for Alberto. Trek now have Cancellara on their payroll, who'll retire, so that'll free up some money and Trek (the sponsor) really wants Alberto as a brand ambassador so they may offer some additional money to sign him, just like Specialized did when Alberto signed for Saxo.
Lampre's budget really isn't low and since Merida owns a part of Specialized, so might want to keep them on "their" bikes and also offer some money

Edit: and I forgot to add LottoJumbo have nearly nothing to offer in terms of climbing support. Gesink, Kelderman, Kruijswijk (if he stays) aren't going to be forced to work for a Spaniard on a Dutch team.

 

[Red Rick]

Lol at the thought of Contador going to Lotto-Jumbo

 

[Kwibus]

It's not even a discussion. Contador will not join Lotto-jumbo.

 

[lenric]

Re: Re:

@lenric
You just excluded the three teams that have been mentioned the most. Trek, Etixx and Lampre.
I don't see why you would exclude those teams yet include LottoJumbo

If you re-read my post, you'd see that I explained why I excluded them. Lack of money/different objectives.

And that isn't the case for LottoJumbo? Their budget is lower than either Trek's or Lampre's and both of those teams have allegedly contacted Alberto, so clearly they want to sign him and don't have other objectives. And their budgets are high enough to afford a 2 or 3mln euro contract for Alberto. Trek now have Cancellara on their payroll, who'll retire, so that'll free up some money and Trek (the sponsor) really wants Alberto as a brand ambassador so they may offer some additional money to sign him, just like Specialized did when Alberto signed for Saxo.
Lampre's budget really isn't low and since Merida owns a part of Specialized, so might want to keep them on "their" bikes and also offer some money

Edit: and I forgot to add LottoJumbo have nearly nothing to offer in terms of climbing support. Gesink, Kelderman, Kruijswijk (if he stays) aren't going to be forced to work for a Spaniard on a Dutch team.

It's frustrating to have you answer my posts without reading them.
If you have read what I wrote, you would have seen that I classified Lotto Jumbo as one of the possibilities regarding GT teams, but wrote right afterwards that it would hardly happen, since they don't have the money to afford Contador, and in the end I said that he'll either end up in a new team, or in Cannondale/Katusha.

Stop answering my posts without having read them and start answering them only after reading them.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

It's frustrating to have you answer my posts without reading them.
If you have read what I wrote, you would have seen that I classified Lotto Jumbo as one of the possibilities regarding GT teams, but wrote right afterwards that it would hardly happen, since they don't have the money to afford Contador, and in the end I said that he'll either end up in a new team, or in Cannondale/Katusha.

Stop answering my posts without having read them and start answering them only after reading them.

It just confuses me that you exclude two teams that would be near perfect fits with plenty of climbing support, have a big enough budget and have also expressed interest in him, yet include a team that would never be interested in him and doesn't have a big enough budget anyway.
I thought you were trying to figure out which team Alberto would likely sign for. In that case, it makes zero, and I mean absolutely downright zero, sense to exclude Lampre, Trek and even Etixx.
You wrote:

Doing a simple exercise, let's exclude the teams that are highly doubtful that would want/can hire him

Well, I can tell you, that both Lampre and Trek want and can hire him. LottoJumbo does not want to hire him nor can hire him.

 

[Arredondo]

The hype train becomes the hype Ferrari!!!

Tour-winner of 2016, here we come!

 

[matusow_m]

Froome fans say Contador is over the top well might be a little bit over the top but he still does this to everyone in the peleton, even tho hes not at his peak of his career his still the best in the peleton says a lot doesnt it?.. Legend no other word to describe him no matter if you like or hate him a true legend!

 

[Miburo]

I bet you that many people were waiting to make fun of us for hyping this up!

Easy, this is made for him.

Been 6 years since he won in france on the WT level.

Finally in yellow again.

 

[Pantani Attacks]

Re:

Froome fans say Contador is over the top well might be a little bit over the top but he still does this to everyone in the peleton, even tho hes not at his peak of his career his still the best in the peleton says a lot doesnt it?..

Yeah talent, ability and elegance always trumps robotic ugly science.

 

[Matteo.]

And so , he did his homework. u_u

Anyway impressive ride , he was always out of saddle.

 

[Red Rick]

Hoping he just sits on Froomes wheel the rest of the Dauphine, if Porte gets away, so be it.