Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Kokoso]

Re: Re:

I really hope Roman is in great shape, it would help Alberto a lot

It would. And it would even good for Kreuziger, don't you think. - No, I don't think it appeared on your mind really :razz:

My mistake, I thought this was the Alberto Contador thread. :lol:

This is is exactly answer I expected :lol: Nevermind.

 

[ILovecycling]

Re: Re:

I really hope Roman is in great shape, it would help Alberto a lot

It would. And it would even good for Kreuziger, don't you think. - No, I don't think it appeared on your mind really :razz:

My mistake, I thought this was the Alberto Contador thread. :lol:

This is is exactly answer I expected :lol: Nevermind.

Lol stop whining about czech riders in every thread,its tiresome,this is AC thread fyi

I like this roster very much,good team for AC.Obviously Astana,Movi and Sky will be superior from 2nd week but if Majka and Roman are in great shape then it would nit matter at all

 

[Jelantik]

4 Tinkoff riders won their national championship. 3 of them are in the TDF team. So we are going to see lots of National Champ jersey colors this time. I hope Majka and Kreuziger (both national champs), are up to the task. Other wise, Sky squad will eat them alive. From his interview, looks like Alberto has recovered from his cold. (better now that during the Tour). I'm curious of what tactic they will play since Tinkoff is in the under dog position compare to the impressive roaster of Sky. Even Astana is impressive. I can't bare to see if Alberto got isolated like so many times, long before the final climb. Hope Roman and Majka come with a great form this time.

 

[sir fly]

It's not the mountain stages where Contador will be the mostly handicapped compared to Froome, Quintana, Aru, Nibali... Sagan's ambitions and support means that Contador will often be left to navigate through the bunch by himself. That's where his opponents may have real advantage. Not exclusively in time gained, more in physical and mental drainage before the mountains.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

It's not the mountain stages where Contador will be the mostly handicapped compared to Froome, Quintana, Aru, Nibali... Sagan's ambitions and support means that Contador will often be left to navigate through the bunch by himself. That's where his opponents may have real advantage. Not exclusively in time gained, more in physical and mental drainage before the mountains.

I really don't see it that way. Gatto is on the team mainly to help Sagan, but especially in the hilly stages he can help Alberto as well. Bodnar can ride on the front for ages, he will be equally useful for both Alberto and Peter. Valgren and Tosatto will most likely be assigned to protecting Alberto in the bunch, but of course their work will benefit Peter as well if they stay close together.
I wouldn't be surprised if we see for example Valgren ride towards the 3km to go mark with Tosatto, Alberto, Gatto and Sagan in his wheel, then Toso and Alberto drop back a bit to let Gatto and Sagan do their thing.

 

[Beech Mtn]

F-ing Majka better darn well ride his heart out for AC. That is all.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

I really hope Roman is in great shape, it would help Alberto a lot

It would. And it would even good for Kreuziger, don't you think. - No, I don't think it appeared on your mind really :razz:

My mistake, I thought this was the Alberto Contador thread. :lol:

This is is exactly answer I expected :lol: Nevermind.

Cant you just join a Czech cycling forum instead

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

F-ing Majka better darn well ride his heart out for AC. That is all.

I'm sure he will

 

[Beech Mtn]

Re: Re:

F-ing Majka better darn well ride his heart out for AC. That is all.

I'm sure he will

That makes one of us.

 

[sir fly]

Re: Re:

F-ing Majka better darn well ride his heart out for AC. That is all.

I'm sure he will

That makes one of us.

Does Majka have a contract for the next season?
Might be negotiating a lot through the radio connection.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Sorry to say it, but I don't think Tinkoff believes in Contador this year.

The reason I say that is, that the team is unbalanced, with a climber too little, for how the route is..... especially when looking at what a frighteningly strong mountain teams, Sky and Astana are putting in..... Even BMC has a better team for the mountains than Tinkoff.... and I haven't even mentioned Movistar.

I think it spells trouble - lack of conviction in the captain..... and I think Gatto made the team, because Tinkoff needs Sagan to "save" the tour for them, if Contador does not find form.

- and let me stress, I am saying this, while being a Contador fan.

 

[ILovecycling]

VAAAMOS this year!

Are you feeling nervous?
I am.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Sorry to say it, but I don't think Tinkoff believes in Contador this year.

The reason I say that is, that the team is unbalanced, with a climber too little, for how the route is..... especially when looking at what a frighteningly strong mountain teams, Sky and Astana are putting in..... Even BMC has a better team for the mountains than Tinkoff.... and I haven't even mentioned Movistar.

I think it spells trouble - lack of conviction in the captain..... and I think Gatto made the team, because Tinkoff needs Sagan to "save" the tour for them, if Contador does not find form.

- and let me stress, I am saying this, while being a Contador fan.

Its not an unreasonable assessment, but I think Tinkoff realise that Sagan by far is the best rider in the world and therefore deserves 1-2 domestiques - especially after the horror that was the 2015 Tour.

 

[bob.a.feet]

I have two very important questions regarding Contador in this year's Tour:

1. Will he wear white shoes?
2. Will he wear yellow shorts if he takes the jersey?

If the answer to both of these questions is 'yes', then it will great.

Also it would be kinda good if he wins the tour I guess.

 

[BlurryVII]

Yeah, the lack of support might be quite problematic if he is to defend the Yellow jersey on multiple climb stages.

But then again, who's gonna risk it from far away? Nibali might be a candidate but I doubt he'll have the form anyway.

 

[BlurryVII]

Re:

I have two very important questions regarding Contador in this year's Tour:

1. Will he wear white shoes?
2. Will he wear yellow shorts if he takes the jersey?

.

1. I don't think he will, he'll keep looking like a minimoy in those black shoes and that horrific specialized helmet. Can't wait for next year to see him at Trek.

2. Probably

 

[bob.a.feet]

Re: Re:

I have two very important questions regarding Contador in this year's Tour:

1. Will he wear white shoes?
2. Will he wear yellow shorts if he takes the jersey?

.

1. I don't think he will, he'll keep looking like a minimoy in those black shoes and that horrific specialized helmet. Can't wait for next year to see him at Trek.

2. Probably

I actually don't mind the helmet but the black shoes just don't suit Contador.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Please, no yellow shorts except for the final stage.
I prefer him at Tinkoff, actually, Sportful designs nice jerseys, Trek jersey is an abomination and I doubt it'll change much for next season.

 

[bob.a.feet]

Re:

Please, no yellow shorts except for the final stage.
I prefer him at Tinkoff, actually, Sportful designs nice jerseys, Trek jersey is an abomination and I doubt it'll change much for next season.

I think yellow shorts would look terrible on pale riders (Froome's skinsuit for example) but I think it looks good on riders like Alberto, but black shoes and yellow shorts would be horrendous.

 

[BlurryVII]

Re:

Please, no yellow shorts except for the final stage.
I prefer him at Tinkoff, actually, Sportful designs nice jerseys, Trek jersey is an abomination and I doubt it'll change much for next season.

Trek bike, Sidi shoes (most likely white), aerodynamic looking helmet... he'll actually look like the great Contador again.

Tinkoff's jersey is great but I just don't like specialized's equipment, even the bikes are more rigid than Trek ones, never liked it since he switched in 2010.

 

[Red Rick]

Just using normal shorts with some details is the one single and irrelevant positive thing Sky has (re)introduced to the peloton.

 

[filipepc]

Re: Re:

Sorry to say it, but I don't think Tinkoff believes in Contador this year.

The reason I say that is, that the team is unbalanced, with a climber too little, for how the route is..... especially when looking at what a frighteningly strong mountain teams, Sky and Astana are putting in..... Even BMC has a better team for the mountains than Tinkoff.... and I haven't even mentioned Movistar.

I think it spells trouble - lack of conviction in the captain..... and I think Gatto made the team, because Tinkoff needs Sagan to "save" the tour for them, if Contador does not find form.

- and let me stress, I am saying this, while being a Contador fan.

Its not an unreasonable assessment, but I think Tinkoff realise that Sagan by far is the best rider in the world and therefore deserves 1-2 domestiques - especially after the horror that was the 2015 Tour.

I don´t see that way... Tinkoff is not sky or astana and never was!!! Maybe it should be, but it isn´t.

Let see the last 3 year ok...

2013 - Contador , kreuziguer, hernandez, roche, rogers, benatti, tossato, paulinho, benjamim
2014- Contador, majka, roche, rogers, jesus hernandez, paulino, tossato, morkov, bennati
2015 - Contador, Majka, kreuziguer, rogers, Basso, valgreen, sagan, bennati, tossato,

Normally, 3 climbers, not more... At least with good quality, not more than 3. And honestly i don´t think the problem is the number of the climbers, the problem, is that climbers can´t suport Contador like i see the sky train doing for the last 5 years... To me the problem is this...

3 or 4 good climbers are enough to help a leader, but if they can´t follow the attacks and the leader until the last km´s as almost always we see... Then... Contador has another problem.

Majka and kreuziguer have obligation to hang on until the las km´s. Kiserslovsky can do the beginning of the climbs. The firs two are guys that have top 10, and top 5 results in grand tours, so no excuses.

Sagan can guide him in the uphill´s finish... ( but maybe he wants to win, and that is the problem).

So, to me the problem is the commitment that they have to Contador,and that is the big diference to another teams with leader that want to win...

The only surprise, beacuse this year Rogers isn´t there and he is a huge rider, i thought Paulinho must have gone, beacuse he is a good roller and great descent, and Contador maybe could use him.

But, let´s see. If he is ok, the problem is not the mountais, but get there without loosing time.

 

[TomLPC]

Re:

Just using normal shorts with some details is the one single and irrelevant positive thing Sky has (re)introduced to the peloton.

Ullrich with those black Adidas shorts was such an awesome retro look

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re: Re:

Sorry to say it, but I don't think Tinkoff believes in Contador this year.

The reason I say that is, that the team is unbalanced, with a climber too little, for how the route is..... especially when looking at what a frighteningly strong mountain teams, Sky and Astana are putting in..... Even BMC has a better team for the mountains than Tinkoff.... and I haven't even mentioned Movistar.

I think it spells trouble - lack of conviction in the captain..... and I think Gatto made the team, because Tinkoff needs Sagan to "save" the tour for them, if Contador does not find form.

- and let me stress, I am saying this, while being a Contador fan.

Its not an unreasonable assessment, but I think Tinkoff realise that Sagan by far is the best rider in the world and therefore deserves 1-2 domestiques - especially after the horror that was the 2015 Tour.

I don´t see that way... Tinkoff is not sky or astana and never was!!! Maybe it should be, but it isn´t.

Let see the last 3 year ok...

2013 - Contador , kreuziguer, hernandez, roche, rogers, benatti, tossato, paulinho, benjamim
2014- Contador, majka, roche, rogers, jesus hernandez, paulino, tossato, morkov, bennati
2015 - Contador, Majka, kreuziguer, rogers, Basso, valgreen, sagan, bennati, tossato,

Normally, 3 climbers, not more... At least with good quality, not more than 3. And honestly i don´t think the problem is the number of the climbers, the problem, is that climbers can´t suport Contador like i see the sky train doing for the last 5 years... To me the problem is this...

3 or 4 good climbers are enough to help a leader, but if they can´t follow the attacks and the leader until the last km´s as almost always we see... Then... Contador has another problem.

Majka and kreuziguer have obligation to hang on until the las km´s. Kiserslovsky can do the beginning of the climbs. The firs two are guys that have top 10, and top 5 results in grand tours, so no excuses.

Sagan can guide him in the uphill´s finish... ( but maybe he wants to win, and that is the problem).

So, to me the problem is the commitment that they have to Contador,and that is the big diference to another teams with leader that want to win...

The only surprise, beacuse this year Rogers isn´t there and he is a huge rider, i thought Paulinho must have gone, beacuse he is a good roller and great descent, and Contador maybe could use him.

But, let´s see. If he is ok, the problem is not the mountais, but get there without loosing time.

I don't get your math..... I see it as:

2013: 4 climbers + Contador
2014: 5 climbers + Contador
2015: 4 climbers + Contador
2016: 3 climbers + Contador

Obviously we can always debate who is a climber and who is not, but for all intends and purposes, Contador has 1-2 climbers less this year.

The problem is not just sitting with Contador, it is also being able to pull in lieutenants attacks in the mountains and defending Contadors position in the GC, and someone still needs to go get bottles btw, and someone also might need to go away early in long range attacks.

If just one of the 3 has an off day or a defect at the wrong time, they are in trouble, which is why I would have liked to see an extra climber in there.

I am actually shocked they picked Gatto over Hansen, if the object really is the Yellow Jersey

 

[Jspear]

Re:

VAAAMOS this year!

Are you feeling nervous?
I am.

No pics from this day allowed!