Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[lenric]

One way or another, he finished the Dauphine in an apparently better form than he was on friday, which good.
Froome will improve too (as the whole Sky team), let's just hope that Aru gets frankly better, because, apart from Aru and Bardet, I don't see anyone willing/capable of attacking earlier than on the last 3 kms of any stage, so that Contador can have allies. And even them need to bee GC significant to maximize the effect on Sky, which is doubtful, especially in the case of Bardet. Maybe those two can work as a way to trigger more attacks in the bunch, mainly from the likes of Quintana, since BMC will do 0.

Anyway, Contador needs not only to increase his explosiveness, but also more blatantly increase his endurance. Today good signs were seen in the penultimate climb, let's just hope that in the next few weeks he can keep up with this.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Yeah, he could keep the pace up for a long time on the penultimate climb. A good sign.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Also, it was a long time ago that he won a TT, and this season, he won two doesn't mean much because they were mountain TTs of course, but still thought it was cool

 

[Miburo]

He's gonna win that MTT for sure. And if he was in '09 shape he would also win that other ITT

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

He's gonna win that MTT for sure. And if he was in '09 shape he would also win that other ITT

He still could win the 'flat' ITT this year, wouldn't be surprised. Quintana could as well. Froome is the favourite, but then you also have Dumoulin, Thomas and Martin

 

[Miburo]

He'll have the best time on the first intermediate

Contador has always the best first intermediate on hilly ITT.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

He'll have the best time on the first intermediate

Contador has always the best first intermediate on hilly ITT.

He probably will, but he is also able to do more than that in this ITT. I think its sneakily very hard!

 

[HelloDolly]

Contador on ITV interview saying Froome is not that much better than the rest of the top 5 riders and maybe a little worse thann he was last year at Dauphine ...Contador is feeling better than this time last year

say he is happy with his team but acknowledges that SKY keep buying the best riders every year and we all know how it is but he did say he sees weakness in them too

 

[Jelantik]

I re-watched the stage today. Contador looked good, it's like he was riding on his tempo/threshold training, while sky domestique were in disarray. So that's kinda encouraging. But I don't know how much his form can progress because I'm sure Froome's form will be higher than Dauphine. This year, Contador has no excuse. So TDF will be the real true picture of how Contador fares against Froome/Quintana/Aru etc. And finally it will put to rest the argument about .. if Froome didn't crash or if Contador didn't do Giro, etc. etc. I once, supported his decision to retire, but then he changed his mind. If he wins TDF, maybe he should go out while he is on the top. But knowing him, he probably will continue for another 2 years. I'm curious who's the team who is going to sign him. And wonder if he will still working with De Jongh.

Sky brought his A team to Dauphine, and we have seen a glimpse of how strong they are. Only Moviestar and Astana probably can match them (if Astana shows up with his 2015 Giro). Tinkoff .. not so much. Sometimes, I wonder .. what are the decision making going on in Tinkoff when they bought the riders. Seems everyone that comes there either are just an OK rider or they just become mediocre. I have to tip my hats to Sky when it comes to hiring their team. They can assemble a strong team year after year. That's impressive.

 

[Miburo]

I love the whole Sky vs Contador thing. How many thing has tried Contador taking on this sky train? I can easily recollect 10 situations where a sky guy with froome behind him chased down after him.

He pretty much always failed, but why do we fall heh?

Today he dropped sky one by one, if he doesn't have a team to get rid off them he might aswell do it himself.

 

[Jelantik]

Re: Re:

Stop worrying about the Sky Train, if Contador is where he should be at the Tour, he can follow and not lose time to Froome in the first place like he surprisingly did on Vaujany here and will be able to make the difference on key MTFs.

If not then regardless of the Sky train, Contador will not win the Tour lol, it's really simple. He's gonna attack a bit like today after having lost minutes on the first MTF and that's not gonna do jack ****.

All down to his form.

Sure is all about his form but when you realise that you´re playing against the most powerfull team in the world that has 4 or 5 five riders capable of doing a top 10 in the Tour ( if they dindít go as domestics), you need to have the plan B. To me, that train his important yes, because his the sky plan A, his what sky do always, since bradley... So if contador, quintana, and Aru see that Froome his on top form in The tour, they need to do something. When you say that Contador will loose energy attacking by far, is truth, but who follow will loose it too, and i never saw a race with froome isolated... I trully believe that is not prepared to that, and Contador there is more prepared.

Look, tactics, is important, like in any game, sometimes you need to realise that eye in the eye you can´t win, and go for another type of race...

If Contador is Top form, the best ever, maybe the way he ride in the vuelta 2014 will be enough, but remeber that in the vuelta Froome hadn´t that train, it was a weak team comparing to this one... If he had a strong team maybe it was diferent. What i mean, his that Froome his so strong, and with that train when you attack, and they follow, letting froome rest, you are playing his game, but when you attack, and isolate him he has to follow, he has to spent energy, and then he is more vulnerable.

Take him... Take them, from they conforto plan, and let´s see...

well the problem is.. the sky team. I don't care how good Contador is. But this isn't 2009 and he is way older. He can't or no one can compete with 5 strong climbers plus a super strong leader. It will need a collective of someone like Nibali, Scarponi and Valverde to sit close to GC and sacrifice to go kamikaze out in the front like a bunny. That might blow up the train. Contador can't do it alone and with his another so-so team. We see it so often, even when the sky team is dropped, they often slowly catch the leaders back. Wasn't it last year, Poehls came back and stayed w/ Froome when he got dropped? That's the problem. Beating Froome isn't just beating him, but beating the entire squad. Sky is playing a collective strength of the team. And with Froome super strong, it makes it even harder.

Astana and Moviestar have a chance to isolate Froome. They got Nibali/Valverde plus their team are strong. Contador's team probably already dropped somewhere in near the bottom. And Majka? I never believe that he wants to work as contador's domestique (seem that he likes the glory of winning a stage for his name). He pulled for couple km and disappeared. Even Poehls, Henao and Landa are better than him. For someone that is touted to be the next GT leader, he is always disappointed me.

 

[filipepc]

Re: Re:

Stop worrying about the Sky Train, if Contador is where he should be at the Tour, he can follow and not lose time to Froome in the first place like he surprisingly did on Vaujany here and will be able to make the difference on key MTFs.

If not then regardless of the Sky train, Contador will not win the Tour lol, it's really simple. He's gonna attack a bit like today after having lost minutes on the first MTF and that's not gonna do jack ****.

All down to his form.

Sure is all about his form but when you realise that you´re playing against the most powerfull team in the world that has 4 or 5 five riders capable of doing a top 10 in the Tour ( if they dindít go as domestics), you need to have the plan B. To me, that train his important yes, because his the sky plan A, his what sky do always, since bradley... So if contador, quintana, and Aru see that Froome his on top form in The tour, they need to do something. When you say that Contador will loose energy attacking by far, is truth, but who follow will loose it too, and i never saw a race with froome isolated... I trully believe that is not prepared to that, and Contador there is more prepared.

Look, tactics, is important, like in any game, sometimes you need to realise that eye in the eye you can´t win, and go for another type of race...

If Contador is Top form, the best ever, maybe the way he ride in the vuelta 2014 will be enough, but remeber that in the vuelta Froome hadn´t that train, it was a weak team comparing to this one... If he had a strong team maybe it was diferent. What i mean, his that Froome his so strong, and with that train when you attack, and they follow, letting froome rest, you are playing his game, but when you attack, and isolate him he has to follow, he has to spent energy, and then he is more vulnerable.

Take him... Take them, from they conforto plan, and let´s see...

well the problem is.. the sky team. I don't care how good Contador is. But this isn't 2009 and he is way older. He can't or no one can compete with 5 strong climbers plus a super strong leader. It will need a collective of someone like Nibali, Scarponi and Valverde to sit close to GC and sacrifice to go kamikaze out in the front like a bunny. That might blow up the train. Contador can't do it alone and with his another so-so team. We see it so often, even when the sky team is dropped, they often slowly catch the leaders back. Wasn't it last year, Poehls came back and stayed w/ Froome when he got dropped? That's the problem. Beating Froome isn't just beating him, but beating the entire squad. Sky is playing a collective strength of the team. And with Froome super strong, it makes it even harder.

Astana and Moviestar have a chance to isolate Froome. They got Nibali/Valverde plus their team are strong. Contador's team probably already dropped somewhere in near the bottom. And Majka? I never believe that he wants to work as contador's domestique (seem that he likes the glory of winning a stage for his name). He pulled for couple km and disappeared. Even Poehls, Henao and Landa are better than him. For someone that is touted to be the next GT leader, he is always disappointed me.

I understand and agree with you, but come on, contador and the others have to try... They can´t simple let sky do like they want. At least they have to fight, and i just hope that none of the best riders have problems before the moutains, because contador needs all the help he can have.

It´s like i said, sky has 4 domestiques capable of doing top 10 in the tour, and that it´s too much, so the only way is cross fingers to contador form and endurance, and he must do some allies with Aru, nibali, valverde, and destroy sky train, then maybe someone can do it, if not contador, maybe another.

But i thinks the teams this year are more prepared and already knows that have to do something diferent, otherwise it´s almost impossible.

I Know that it´s hard to attack 100 km´s from the finish alone, but maybe with 1 or 2 good riders, like a nibali it´s possible to do... If you don´t try you will never know... Just think, If Nibali didn´t had made that attack this year when everyone had burry him, he would never had won the giro. Contador has to try.

 

[filipepc]

Re: Re:

Hello.

I continue thinking that the only chance of the contenders is to attack, and attack and attack Froome. If they simple let him go with that train, it will not be possible, at least i think not. But i think they can do it. They have to isolate it, like today for an exemple, than he can´t controll all. Lucky that Aru, Nibali and Bardet, are not going to do what i saw Richie doing today, and maybe the can put Froome in problems.

Today Contador in 2 km. isolated Froome, that is a good sign, he made that Landa, Henao and Powels didn´t follow him... Then it was a little descent and the last climb it was short, but in the tour will be different.

I´m not saying that even this way, isolated, Froome can´t win it, maybe he can, but, the other teams must try something, because letting that train go and go, and go.. It´s stupidity. If i was the sportif directeur of Froome challengers, i could loose the race but i wouldn´t let him go until the last mountain with his train.

Who wants to win, must try, must fight, must to something, that´s the point that make me believe that they can do it.

+1. They have to win it the same way your avatar won it back in 98. if they let froome ride behind the sky train and he is delivered to the final climb they are not gonna beat him

Yes, like 98, but Froome is not Ulrich, and sky is stronger than telekom was... But he has to try, like the little guy in my avatar tried.

It´s thanks to him, that today i am here in this forum. It was him, with that irreverence in the mountains that made me love cycling since those times, AND NEVER loose a WT RACE. I was in university and i remeber i always run to the t.v. between the classes to watch the races that he was... I love cycling thanks to him, i will never forget it. Never.

 

[boasson]

Re:

Contador on ITV interview saying Froome is not that much better than the rest of the top 5 riders and maybe a little worse thann he was last year at Dauphine ...Contador is feeling better than this time last year

say he is happy with his team but acknowledges that SKY keep buying the best riders every year and we all know how it is but he did say he sees weakness in them too

I saw weeknesses too. But not in Sky.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Contador on ITV interview saying Froome is not that much better than the rest of the top 5 riders and maybe a little worse thann he was last year at Dauphine ...Contador is feeling better than this time last year

say he is happy with his team but acknowledges that SKY keep buying the best riders every year and we all know how it is but he did say he sees weakness in them too

Interesting. Do you perhaps have a link to the interview or is it not online?

 

[Red Rick]

The doms get tired too.

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

"We want wins" he won the prologue just 1 week ago
And I refer you to BigMac's post yesterday, we shouldn't cast Alberto aside like an old toy that doesn't entertain anymore. He is still a great rider and he should keep riding however he wants.

Indeed.... goes without saying. Federer is still playing Tennis. Anyway Tour is still on. Contador has always maintained this race was not his target, trust in him.

I don't trust in him since tour 2013... "i'm beating all my personal records in the moutains"... i'm not confident, i feel froome didn't go to his limits

Yeah, I often ignore what he says. Regardless he isn't as bad as he was in the 2013 Dauphine. He's much better than that.

 

[Taxus4a]

Re:

He'll have the best time on the first intermediate

Contador has always the best first intermediate on hilly ITT.

I think so as well, but he could lose more than 1 minute with Froome at the end, and the last climb is quite hard...

Acording 2009, no good to talk about other eras.


He doesnt:

"Las sensaciones son muy buenas, el objetivo era ganar pero estoy satisfecho por cómo se ha desarrollado la carrera. Estoy muy contento porque el estado de forma es bueno, me recuerda al 2014 que fue el mejor de mi carrera" analiza. He aid 2014 was hi best year, when he was stronger.

"Varios elementos han entrado en juego", añadió para explicar su cambio de planes. "Quizás el más importante ha sido el cariño del público, que he recibido a través de las redes sociales, en la calle, en las carreras y en todas partes. Todo eso que me han dicho me ha hecho reflexionar, además del hecho de que físicamente me encuentro mejor que nunca. Si en los entrenamientos hubiera visto que he bajado aunque fuera un uno por ciento, la decisión hubiera cambiado. Pero si ves que superas tus récords en subida, te motivas, y si además tienes el apoyo de la familia, aunque para ellos sea también un sacrificio, al final decides continuar", declaró el corredor español.

he said:

Phisically I fell better than ever.

Training I didnt decrase my best level not a 1 %

I am improving my climbing records.

I could demostrate he is lying, considerig performance in race in 2018-2010, in other way he is right: We have now the best Contador possible.

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

He'll have the best time on the first intermediate

Contador has always the best first intermediate on hilly ITT.

I think so as well, but he could lose more than 1 minute with Froome at the end, and the last climb is quite hard...

Acording 2009, no good to talk about other eras.


He doesnt:

"Las sensaciones son muy buenas, el objetivo era ganar pero estoy satisfecho por cómo se ha desarrollado la carrera. Estoy muy contento porque el estado de forma es bueno, me recuerda al 2014 que fue el mejor de mi carrera" analiza. He aid 2014 was hi best year, when he was stronger.

"Varios elementos han entrado en juego", añadió para explicar su cambio de planes. "Quizás el más importante ha sido el cariño del público, que he recibido a través de las redes sociales, en la calle, en las carreras y en todas partes. Todo eso que me han dicho me ha hecho reflexionar, además del hecho de que físicamente me encuentro mejor que nunca. Si en los entrenamientos hubiera visto que he bajado aunque fuera un uno por ciento, la decisión hubiera cambiado. Pero si ves que superas tus récords en subida, te motivas, y si además tienes el apoyo de la familia, aunque para ellos sea también un sacrificio, al final decides continuar", declaró el corredor español.

he said:

Phisically I fell better than ever.

Training I didnt decrase my best level not a 1 %

I am improving my climbing records.

I could deostrate he is lying, considerig performance in race in 2018-2010, in other way he is right: We have now the best Contador possible.

Lol

 

[lenric]

If we believe that Contador can't reach his 2007-2011 level, then, assuming that premise, if he reaches top form in July, then we'll have the best Contador possible, since his ceiling nowadays isn't as high as it once were.

That's my interpretation of Taxus words. Whether they're right or not it's debatable and we, as fans (or not) of Contador and also, more importantly, not specialists in sports medicine, can't contradict (nor acquiesce) this.

 

[KGB]

Re: Re:

Stop worrying about the Sky Train, if Contador is where he should be at the Tour, he can follow and not lose time to Froome in the first place like he surprisingly did on Vaujany here and will be able to make the difference on key MTFs.

If not then regardless of the Sky train, Contador will not win the Tour lol, it's really simple. He's gonna attack a bit like today after having lost minutes on the first MTF and that's not gonna do jack ****.

All down to his form.

Sure is all about his form but when you realise that you´re playing against the most powerfull team in the world that has 4 or 5 five riders capable of doing a top 10 in the Tour ( if they dindít go as domestics), you need to have the plan B. To me, that train his important yes, because his the sky plan A, his what sky do always, since bradley... So if contador, quintana, and Aru see that Froome his on top form in The tour, they need to do something. When you say that Contador will loose energy attacking by far, is truth, but who follow will loose it too, and i never saw a race with froome isolated... I trully believe that is not prepared to that, and Contador there is more prepared.

Look, tactics, is important, like in any game, sometimes you need to realise that eye in the eye you can´t win, and go for another type of race...

If Contador is Top form, the best ever, maybe the way he ride in the vuelta 2014 will be enough, but remeber that in the vuelta Froome hadn´t that train, it was a weak team comparing to this one... If he had a strong team maybe it was diferent. What i mean, his that Froome his so strong, and with that train when you attack, and they follow, letting froome rest, you are playing his game, but when you attack, and isolate him he has to follow, he has to spent energy, and then he is more vulnerable.

Take him... Take them, from they conforto plan, and let´s see...

well the problem is.. the sky team. I don't care how good Contador is. But this isn't 2009 and he is way older. He can't or no one can compete with 5 strong climbers plus a super strong leader. It will need a collective of someone like Nibali, Scarponi and Valverde to sit close to GC and sacrifice to go kamikaze out in the front like a bunny. That might blow up the train. Contador can't do it alone and with his another so-so team. We see it so often, even when the sky team is dropped, they often slowly catch the leaders back. Wasn't it last year, Poehls came back and stayed w/ Froome when he got dropped? That's the problem. Beating Froome isn't just beating him, but beating the entire squad. Sky is playing a collective strength of the team. And with Froome super strong, it makes it even harder.

Astana and Moviestar have a chance to isolate Froome. They got Nibali/Valverde plus their team are strong. Contador's team probably already dropped somewhere in near the bottom. And Majka? I never believe that he wants to work as contador's domestique (seem that he likes the glory of winning a stage for his name). He pulled for couple km and disappeared. Even Poehls, Henao and Landa are better than him. For someone that is touted to be the next GT leader, he is always disappointed me.

I understand and agree with you, but come on, contador and the others have to try... They can´t simple let sky do like they want. At least they have to fight, and i just hope that none of the best riders have problems before the moutains, because contador needs all the help he can have.

It´s like i said, sky has 4 domestiques capable of doing top 10 in the tour, and that it´s too much, so the only way is cross fingers to contador form and endurance, and he must do some allies with Aru, nibali, valverde, and destroy sky train, then maybe someone can do it, if not contador, maybe another.

But i thinks the teams this year are more prepared and already knows that have to do something diferent, otherwise it´s almost impossible.

I Know that it´s hard to attack 100 km´s from the finish alone, but maybe with 1 or 2 good riders, like a nibali it´s possible to do... If you don´t try you will never know... Just think, If Nibali didn´t had made that attack this year when everyone had burry him, he would never had won the giro. Contador has to try.

Teams know that since Wiggo won tdf but could not do much.Different was only 2014 which actually wheather help to destroy SKY but unfortunately Contador as well.So Contador,Nairo and Aru have to in their best shape and they need rain at least for one week.

 

[BlurryVII]

Re: Re:

I could deostrate he is lying, considerig performance in race in 2018-2010, in other way he is right: We have now the best Contador possible.

He said that before the Tour 2013 too and it was his worst season ever lol.

Right 'now', this is of course not the best Contador ever unless he proves it at the Tour because the best Contador ever smashes everyone at the Tour, you don't seem to understand that lol.

 

[BlurryVII]

He also said before the Tour 2014 that his legs were as good as in the Tour 09' which he judged to be his best ever.

He basically always says his form is "better than ever", can be true, can be utter bullcrap too. He'll probably say that once again in a month, won't mean much unless we see it on the road.

 

[HelloDolly]

Re: Re:

Contador on ITV interview saying Froome is not that much better than the rest of the top 5 riders and maybe a little worse thann he was last year at Dauphine ...Contador is feeling better than this time last year

say he is happy with his team but acknowledges that SKY keep buying the best riders every year and we all know how it is but he did say he sees weakness in them too

Interesting. Do you perhaps have a link to the interview or is it not online?

Not online yet ...maybe tomorrow

 

[bob.a.feet]

The problem is if Contador loses time to Froome, it will be hard to race aggressively/derail the Sky train when there are so many riders such as Porte who are happy to sit back and hold on to a podium place.