djpbaltimore said:Oleg Tinkoff at the finish line.
"Our team didn’t have a good last five days. Our captain was struggling and we had to be around him. It was not an easy time, even though Peter [Sagan] was in yellow we had to sort of manage two goals: to look after Alberto and still manage to keep the yellow jersey. Now, to me, it's kind of a relief, because Alberto is going home to prepare for the Vuelta."
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-stage-9-finish-line-quotes/
Fergoose said:Big contrast with Contador quitting and Nibali hanging in there and working for his team; I know which one behaves more like a champion who respects the TdF. Contador was fit enough to attack today, had the rest day tomorrow to recover and could have fought for a top 5, KotM or a stage win; all of which would have respected the race. But no, he quit.
Combine that with his appalling bike handling that created his own crash and I consider his reputation to be even more tarnished than it already was.
Did you know riding with fever is extremely dangerous? Did you see his face as he was reeled in? Have you noticed how lopsided he sits on his bike? Have you heard he can hardly use his left leg because of the bruising?Fergoose said:Big contrast with Contador quitting and Nibali hanging in there and working for his team; I know which one behaves more like a champion who respects the TdF. Contador was fit enough to attack today, had the rest day tomorrow to recover and could have fought for a top 5, KotM or a stage win; all of which would have respected the race. But no, he quit.
Combine that with his appalling bike handling that created his own crash and I consider his reputation to be even more tarnished than it already was.
LaFlorecita said:Did you know riding with fever is extremely dangerous? Did you see his face as he was reeled in? Have you noticed how lopsided he sits on his bike? Have you heard he can hardly use his left leg because of the bruising?Fergoose said:Big contrast with Contador quitting and Nibali hanging in there and working for his team; I know which one behaves more like a champion who respects the TdF. Contador was fit enough to attack today, had the rest day tomorrow to recover and could have fought for a top 5, KotM or a stage win; all of which would have respected the race. But no, he quit.
Combine that with his appalling bike handling that created his own crash and I consider his reputation to be even more tarnished than it already was.
Do you realize there's a big difference between Contador's situation and Nibali's?
Chances are he has fever, he probably had some kind of problem outside of his crash/crashes, but I don't just understand why he then goes 100% on Bonaigua. I know its not a popular view in this thread, but I've seen Contador attack before, it seems, just for the show of it. For people to recognise what an attacker he is and what a refreshing rider he is, in contrast to Sky, a romantic.Red Rick said:Well, yesterday he got dropped by like 20 guys and seemed to be improving somewhat, albeit too slow to compete for the win. Today he couldn't even follow a breakaway with Sagan. I think that's a clear indication of being worse than yesterday at least. Whether that's a fever or not we'll likely never know.
By no more than 15 guys, yesterday... And logically, guy with fever goes on attack, isn't it?Red Rick said:Well, yesterday he got dropped by like 20 guys and seemed to be improving somewhat, albeit too slow to compete for the win. Today he couldn't even follow a breakaway with Sagan. I think that's a clear indication of being worse than yesterday at least. Whether that's a fever or not we'll likely never know.
Matteo. said:Seeing the current form of the opponents an healthy Alberto would be with them with only one leg
warmfuzzies said:Matteo. said:Seeing the current form of the opponents an healthy Alberto would be with them with only one leg
In the face of repeated examples of flops, quits, and 3rd places, it might be time to come to grips with the fact that Contador isnt going to win another Tour. Maybe a Giro, likely a Vuelta (if he makes it a focus).
peloton said:@Valv.Piti Maybe test how he feels and if he can continue?
He does look and sound fairly bad http://sport.tv2.dk/cykling/2016-07-10-contadors-kaempe-nedtur-jeg-skal-til-laege-og-undersoeges
Valv.Piti said:peloton said:@Valv.Piti Maybe test how he feels and if he can continue?
He does look and sound fairly bad http://sport.tv2.dk/cykling/2016-07-10-contadors-kaempe-nedtur-jeg-skal-til-laege-og-undersoeges
Test how he feels when a) supposedly is sick and b) still suffering relatively much from the crashes? I don't think anybody would wan't to 'test' themselves under those circumstances, then again, Contador is a different bike rider than most. But it smells like an image stunt to me.
Valv.Piti said:peloton said:@Valv.Piti Maybe test how he feels and if he can continue?
He does look and sound fairly bad http://sport.tv2.dk/cykling/2016-07-10-contadors-kaempe-nedtur-jeg-skal-til-laege-og-undersoeges
Test how he feels when a) supposedly is sick and b) still suffering relatively much from the crashes? I don't think anybody would wan't to 'test' themselves under those circumstances, then again, Contador is a different bike rider than most. But it smells like an image stunt to me.
peloton said:Valv.Piti said:peloton said:@Valv.Piti Maybe test how he feels and if he can continue?
He does look and sound fairly bad http://sport.tv2.dk/cykling/2016-07-10-contadors-kaempe-nedtur-jeg-skal-til-laege-og-undersoeges
Test how he feels when a) supposedly is sick and b) still suffering relatively much from the crashes? I don't think anybody would wan't to 'test' themselves under those circumstances, then again, Contador is a different bike rider than most. But it smells like an image stunt to me.
Don't see what's wrong there?
Valv.Piti said:peloton said:@Valv.Piti Maybe test how he feels and if he can continue?
He does look and sound fairly bad http://sport.tv2.dk/cykling/2016-07-10-contadors-kaempe-nedtur-jeg-skal-til-laege-og-undersoeges
Test how he feels when a) supposedly is sick and b) still suffering relatively much from the crashes? I don't think anybody would wan't to 'test' themselves under those circumstances, then again, Contador is a different bike rider than most. But it smells like an image stunt to me.
Fergoose said:He was still with the peloton when he started speaking to the team car and effortlessly moved back up the peloton. He could have easily paced himself to the end, respected the race and regrouped to find for stages or KotM and generally help his team. This was the weakest retirement I've seen since the days of Cipollini.
If his health was endangers by be prospect of making an effort then his team should be punished for letting him attack over 100km out.
Fergoose said:He was still with the peloton when he started speaking to the team car and effortlessly moved back up the peloton. He could have easily paced himself to the end, respected the race and regrouped to find for stages or KotM and generally help his team. This was the weakest retirement I've seen since the days of Cipollini.
If his health was endangers by be prospect of making an effort then his team should be punished for letting him attack over 100km out.
