Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

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...

 

[LaFlorecita]

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.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

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.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

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.

 

[Sciocco]

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...

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

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

 

[BigMac]

Re: Re:

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.

 

[Red Rick]

Wait, I thought he signed a 2-year deal

 

[Irondan]

Re:

Wait, I thought he signed a 2-year deal

He did, but the second year was a "riders option".

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

1 year with an option for a second, if both parties want to continue the partnership, I believe

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

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

 

[bob.a.feet]

Re:

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

 

[Red Rick]

Still think Ruta del Sol 2015 was a very underrated race.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

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

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re: Re:

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 , I think it looks good on Alberto!

 

[DFA123]

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.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I don't really know what Felline is doing in Andalucia instead of Oman. Pretty stupid considering the routes and everything.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

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.

 

[Red Rick]

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.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

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.

 

[LaFlorecita]

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.

 

[DFA123]

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.

 

[Jelantik]

Re: Re:

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 , 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.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Hopefully Felline's main task this season isn't to help Contador. He's much better than that.

 

[LaFlorecita]

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.