Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

Page 1688 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Aug 3, 2015
22,741
10,688
28,180
Re: Re:

jflemaire said:
Jspear said:
Valv.Piti said:
I don't know about all the fuzz about the Trek-jersey being ugly, it looks fine to me.

Lets wait and see how he performs against Valverde in Andalucía. The 3 first stages are very hard so he should be able to beat Valverde considering his little crash in January.

Sorry, I'm probably just not reading right, but want to clarify....Valverde crashed or AC?
Valverde: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/valverde-crashes-during-training-ride/

I don't know how you can understand it differently...
 
May 15, 2011
45,171
617
24,680
The kit is fine, although a bit boring, but that was to be expected from Trek. The helmet is horrific though as are the glasses. POC levels of ugliness.
 
Aug 3, 2015
22,741
10,688
28,180
Re:

Valv.Piti said:
I don't know about all the fuzz about the Trek-jersey being ugly, it looks fine to me.

Lets wait and see how he performs against Valverde in Andalucía. The 3 first stages are very hard so he should be able to beat Valverde considering his little crash in January.

I'd have expand on this. The most important test will still be at Col de la Couillole in P-N and Mont Caro in Catalunya against top level competition, altho he wont face Quintana in neither and probably only a pretty mediocre Froome in Catalunya. Recently he has always disappointed on longer climbs while he still has smashed Malhao, Pais Vasco and the opening prologue in Dauphine. The last time I saw an impressive Contador in 'high mountains' has to be at Mortirolo (I guess a case can be made for Madeleine, but none saw it and it wasn't in the final). He has to show something better than he did in those races last year for me to believe he still can win the Tour, on those climbs.
 
May 15, 2011
45,171
617
24,680
Re: Re:

Valv.Piti said:
Valv.Piti said:
I don't know about all the fuzz about the Trek-jersey being ugly, it looks fine to me.

Lets wait and see how he performs against Valverde in Andalucía. The 3 first stages are very hard so he should be able to beat Valverde considering his little crash in January.

I'd have expand on this. The most important test will still be at Col de la Couillole in P-N and Mont Caro in Catalunya against top level competition, altho he wont face Quintana in neither and probably only a pretty mediocre Froome in Catalunya. Recently he has always disappointed on longer climbs while he still has smashed Malhao, Pais Vasco and the opening prologue in Dauphine. The last time I saw an impressive Contador in 'high mountains' has to be at Mortirolo (I guess a case can be made for Madeleine, but none saw it and it wasn't in the final). He has to show something better than he did in those races last year for me to believe he still can win the Tour, on those climbs.
I don't expect much. I'm afraid he no longer has the stamina required.
No expectations for this season, just hopes and dreams.
 
Jan 24, 2012
1,169
0
0
I think he will win PN, VaPV, TdF, and MT.

Also, I'd like to see Contador on a team in green. Caja Rural 2018... :)
 
May 15, 2011
45,171
617
24,680
Re:

Sciocco said:
I think he will win PN, VaPV, TdF, and MT.

Also, I'd like to see Contador on a team in green. Caja Rural 2018... :)
I hope so :)

I wanted to see him in green as well, Luca Bardiani is a big fan ;) but realistically I don't think he will race beyond 2017
 
Jun 10, 2013
9,240
5
17,495
Re: Re:

LaFlorecita said:
Sciocco said:
I think he will win PN, VaPV, TdF, and MT.

Also, I'd like to see Contador on a team in green. Caja Rural 2018... :)
I hope so :)

I wanted to see him in green as well, Luca Bardiani is a big fan ;) but realistically I don't think he will race beyond 2017

If he wins [any of] those races, I don't think he should say farewell.

Moreover, I think he should retire at WT level.
 
Mar 13, 2015
2,637
0
0
Re:

Valv.Piti said:
I don't know about all the fuzz about the Trek-jersey being ugly, it looks fine to me.

Lets wait and see how he performs against Valverde in Andalucía. The 3 first stages are very hard so he should be able to beat Valverde considering his little crash in January.

Well if he beats Valverde, that means he's in great shape. Valverde is always very good in Andalucia, and that crash was a minor one, I think... He was already decent at Mallorca races
 
Jun 12, 2016
1,642
1,342
13,680
Re:

LaFlorecita said:
The kit is fine, although a bit boring, but that was to be expected from Trek. The helmet is horrific though as are the glasses. POC levels of ugliness.
I actually think the helmets look good
 
May 15, 2011
45,171
617
24,680
Re: Re:

bob.a.feet said:
LaFlorecita said:
The kit is fine, although a bit boring, but that was to be expected from Trek. The helmet is horrific though as are the glasses. POC levels of ugliness.
I actually think the helmets look good
They are a bit on the large side IMO
 
Apr 17, 2013
6,494
431
18,580
Re: Re:

LaFlorecita said:
bob.a.feet said:
LaFlorecita said:
The kit is fine, although a bit boring, but that was to be expected from Trek. The helmet is horrific though as are the glasses. POC levels of ugliness.
I actually think the helmets look good
They are a bit on the large side IMO
Naah. Trek's got everything right on the fashion side. Awesome helmets and the coolest glass (Rudy P) and clothing (Sportful) manufacturer in modern cycling. What is not to like? :)
...And, unlike the rest of you pessimists :D , I think it looks good on Alberto!
 
Nov 7, 2010
8,820
246
17,880
Just seen the startlist for Andalucia confirmed: Contador, Brandle, Cardoso, Felline, Hernandez, Irizar, Zubeldia. What do people think will be Felline's role will be in the race: a helper for Contador or given a free role to stage hunt, and maybe even try to go high in GC himself? If they could get him to buy into Contador's GC hopes this season then I think he could be a major asset - could be the equivalent of someone like Thomas. I thought they may be kept on separate sides of the team with Contador targetting GC in stage races and Felline targetting stages in different events, but it seems not. Rest of the team looks a bit on the old side, but it's not such a hard race so should be OK here.
 
Aug 3, 2015
22,741
10,688
28,180
I don't really know what Felline is doing in Andalucia instead of Oman. Pretty stupid considering the routes and everything.
 
Nov 7, 2010
8,820
246
17,880
Re:

Valv.Piti said:
I don't really know what Felline is doing in Andalucia instead of Oman. Pretty stupid considering the routes and everything.
Yeah, I'm inclined to agree. Unless they are trying to turn him into some kind of super-domestique for the Tour and want to give him time to work with Contador. Or maybe he will compete himself at Andalucia - there are certainly a couple of stages he could target; but it would be strange considering Contador's GC is by far the number one goal.
 
Feb 20, 2012
53,884
44,271
28,180
I think it's weird. Felline is definitely the kind of rider you'd want to give his own opportunities as well. Ruta del Sol doesn't seem like the race that has the dynamics of a GT.
 
Nov 7, 2010
8,820
246
17,880
Re:

Red Rick said:
I think it's weird. Felline is definitely the kind of rider you'd want to give his own opportunities as well. Ruta del Sol doesn't seem like the race that has the dynamics of a GT.
Yeah, seems that way to me as well. Perhaps we're reading too much into it though and he's just there to get some kms in the legs. I know Trek used to do a lot of training camps around Mojacar and Sierra Nevada in Andalucia (not sure if they still do), but perhaps he's just in the area anyway. He is the kind of helper that Contador has lacked in recent seasons though: someone who could put in a short powerful burst to put everyone on the limit, before launching an attack. At Tinkoff they were all a bit too one-paced.
 
May 15, 2011
45,171
617
24,680
He will be one of Alberto's main helpers this season. Actually the entire Ruta del Sol team seems to consist of riders that will play an important supporting role for him this season, besides Brändle.
 
Nov 7, 2010
8,820
246
17,880
Right, that would make sense. I was a bit confused because on procyclingstats the next race after this that they are scheduled to start together is the Tour de France - but I guess it's not accurate then. He's potential a really great domestique, certainly would give more flexibility in terms of tactical options.
 
Jul 19, 2010
5,361
0
0
Re: Re:

Cance > TheRest said:
LaFlorecita said:
bob.a.feet said:
LaFlorecita said:
The kit is fine, although a bit boring, but that was to be expected from Trek. The helmet is horrific though as are the glasses. POC levels of ugliness.
I actually think the helmets look good
They are a bit on the large side IMO
Naah. Trek's got everything right on the fashion side. Awesome helmets and the coolest glass (Rudy P) and clothing (Sportful) manufacturer in modern cycling. What is not to like? :)
...And, unlike the rest of you pessimists :D , I think it looks good on Alberto!

I'm with you on this. I think Trek jersey looks modern without too much crap going on. It has subtle line pattern without looking hideous. I like their balista helmet. It looks better than any other aero helmet.
 
May 15, 2011
45,171
617
24,680
It's not his main task but he's definitely expected to help him in some races. But as DFA wrote they aren't scheduled to race many races together.