Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[red zone]

Re: Re:

if i never get to see a top form contador going against a top form froome (for more than 1 stage - 2014 dauphine) it will be one of the greatest sporting regrets of my life.

Didn't you hear? Apparently that happened at the Vuelta 2014. Even though Froome was clearly not at his peak level at the 2014 Vuelta - and was battling in the mountains with the likes of Aru, Valverde and Purito and finished far back in the ITT. That was apparently still a top shape Froome according to some of the posters on this thread.

so any time he loses he isn't in top form ?

Considering when Froome's in top form he's easily the best these days - as evidenced in 2013 and 2015 Tour (and probably would have been in 2014 Tour if he hadn't crashed out early and broken his hand), I would have to answer Yes to that question. He has won every Tour and Dauphine that he's finished since 2013. He's very likely going to win this Dauphine and Tour too. Possibly would have beaten Wiggins at 2012 Tour as well if he had been allowed to race him.

I'm not even a Froome fan. I actually wish Contador can somehow beat him at the Tour (not gonna happen ). But I came to realize he's easily the best nowadays and has been since 2012/13. He delivers the goods when it counts again and again, despite what his detractors like to dream up. To my eyes he was obviously a level or two below his peak form at the 2014 Vuelta - but he still managed to ride himself into some form and be a serious threat. He's an outstanding talent.

Why only respond to part of my post ?

again , all your saying is Froome is only on form when he wins

also why leave out the impact of his team ? chances are he doesn't beat Q at last years Tour without them as evidenced by the amount of times he was dropped only to have G drag him back

Froome is a tremendous rider but he is beatable , probably not by an aging Contador but that doesn't change the fact an in form Quintana is easily at his level and could win this years tour if he is also on form . Froome wins the 12 tour if he was allowed but last year was a different story and i do believe he wouldn't have won without his team so stop acting like he's doing it all alone .

as far as the Vuelta goes , he was on good form but his team wasn't at the same level which left him exposed and was the reason he lost

 

[fantomas]

So, he has attacked at the foot of Madeleine.

 

[Brullnux]

He needs to ride his own pace up the mountain now, not try and follow attacks, until he reaches Kreuz and Kiserlovski

 

[Kokoso]

This is just Dauphine, Contador can attack wherever and whenever he wants, if it'd end up well, he would be hero, if not, nothing happens. I don't think any psychological war is at stake.

 

[undencem]

Lets look at the issue from the bigger window. Assume we match contador with froomey. He improves and makes progress till the Tour. But with whom will you match geraint thomas , henao , landa , poels on the mountains? With kreuziger? Dont be funny team sky is close to perfect.

Even quintana has no chance . With his poor tt talent. But a crash or unfair behavior could beat froomey.

 

[Carols]

Re:

Lets look at the issue from the bigger window. Assume we match contador with froomey. He improves and makes progress till the Tour. But with whom will you match geraint thomas , henao , landa , poels on the mountains? With kreuziger? Dont be funny team sky is close to perfect.

Even quintana has no chance . With his poor tt talent. But a crash or unfair behavior could beat froomey.

You know there is a thread Froome vs Quintana vs AC. Go have a look, it's there so people can debate this stuff

 

[Miburo]

Pretty good actually, thought he was gonna lose way more and Porte losing froome's wheel surprised contador.

And he attacked twice on the madeleine, so not bad. Tomorrow more

 

[Pantani Attacks]

Tactics all wrong today. He would have been 3rd by 10 seconds plus had he not attacked earlier

 

[Taxus4a]

Just a bad day for Contador, no probllem, the important race is le Tour.

 

[Matteo.]

True , not bad cause he wasted some energies on Madeleine .
Tomorrow attack on col du noyer and we will see what happen

 

[LaFlorecita]

Not as bad as I thought he would be. He was grimacing all the time from 5km to go. In the end yes he lost Froome's wheel but took some secs from Porte. Keeping his earlier attacks in mind, it's not too bad.

 

[Brod107]

That was not too bad.

 

[Simurgh]

He fared much better than I feared! I'm hopeful for my two favorites Pinot and Contador for le tour

 

[jilbiker]

Seriously, is Trek going to pay AC millions a year? I am baffled. Got to be desperation. He is now way past his prime. And for those who quote the Giro victory of last year, who was his competition? An in-experienced Landa or an inconsistent Aru?

Please AC, rethink the retirement. I cannot believe I will be watching this Legend being tossed around again next year

 

[Captain_Obvious]

What if he had conserved his energy today.

 

[BlurryVII]

When I saw him on the climb, I thought he'd lose minutes, he looked extremely bad. Not that bad in the end, even though I'm wondering why the hell did he even attack on Madeleine, 80 k to go ?

Anyway, this is still not the week end I imagined after I saw the prologue, this is more or less 2013 like.

 

[Carols]

He looked Bad for the final 5km. I thought he'd drop like a stone as soon as Froome hit the front, but Froome was tired also.....

It certainly could have been worse!

 

[Electress]

Well, I'll take that - was surprised he held on tbf. Wish Bardet had won tho.

Tired of seeing the Sky train already tho.

 

[portugal11]

I want him to retire this year... he looks so bad when henao was in front of the peloton

 

[BigMac]

Re:

I want him to retire this year... he looks so bad when henao was in front of the peloton

Yet better than 99% of the peloton.

People this days...

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Just a bad day for Contador, no probllem, the important race is le Tour.

Yawn...

 

[rune1107]

Fine ride by Bertie, after going on Madelaine! Slowly getting better..

 

[portugal11]

This dauphine is reminding a lot of pais vasco 2013, contador has been beaten by third category climbers.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

I want him to retire this year... he looks so bad when henao was in front of the peloton

Yet better than 99% of the peloton.

People this days...

BigMac, you should know that Contador cannot be judged by the same standards as most other riders. Yes, he's better than most riders, but he is a winner, so if he can't win, that's bad.

 

[portugal11]

Re: Re:

I want him to retire this year... he looks so bad when henao was in front of the peloton

Yet better than 99% of the peloton.

People this days...

But not better than 100% of the peloton