Re: Re:
The Hitch said:
I don't remember this at all re 2013 and 2015. I remember it in 2011 and 2012 VUelta and 2014 Tirreno, but not at all in 2013 or 2015. Just Contador saying "I will attack" but with the exception of that one descent where he and Kreuziger attacked for about 2 minutes, nothing.
Well you clearly didn't pay much attention or perhaps you are just ignorant on purpose, because ever since he didn't manage to live up to your insane hype in 2012 you've taken every opportunity to slag him off.
In 2013, he attacked with his team on stage 13, he attacked on the climb and the downhill on the stage to Gap and he also attacked on the descent of Alpe d'Huez. In 2015, he attacked on Plateau de Beille after getting his arse handed to him 2 days earlier, and he attacked early on two or three times: I remember him attacking on the first climb of the day, attacking with Rogers and bridging to Barguil and Bobby Gesink, but I am not sure if those were 3 seperate occasions or just 2.
Did it ever occur to you that perhaps he didn't always manage attack uphill because he was simply in *** form and almost always at his limit? Probably not.
Can you name me one rider who finished 4th or 5th in a GT in recent years who attacked more and tried harder to gain time and climb on the GC?
The problem I have with that is, it was obvious from the very start he had no form. In 2013 some people reported it before the Tour had even began (and the results showed) that Contador had no form.
But he and a lot of the fans kept deluding themselves that it was magically going to come in the 3rd week.
2015 same thing. He did the Giro. A number of us said when he announced he would do the Giro that this was a mistake. Unless he had a plan.
He had no plan. Again it was - lets just ride and see what happens.
Does anyone believe Contador won any of the 9 gts he has by turning up and "seeing what happens". Maybe, maybe the 2008 Giro but that was against weaker competition. The others, no.
So for Contador to turn up to these races with no form but act like he felt he could actually win, was disapointing.
So what should he have done instead, in your opinion? Announce that he wouldn't have a chance to win so best not expect too much? Or should he just have flipped the finger to his sponsors and not started the Tour to save his fans from disappointment?
Do you think he has off-years on purpose?