Re: Re:
I would hope to everything that makes Contador Contador he would never take this stance. I'd much rather he let Quintana and/or Bardet initiate attacks and use that to counterattack Froome and possible chip into his lead. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
DFA123 said:Yeah, that's fair. Perhaps beforehand he wouldn't accept it, because Froome has failed to finish more than one GT now. I just think if he came into the last week a minute or two behind Froome in 2nd place, with Quintana or Bardet just behind him, we wouldn't see a win or bust attack - it'd be much more likely to see him try to defend 2nd.LaFlorecita said:Objectively maybe but he clearly still very much believes he can win and anyways anything can happen, Froome could crash out or lose 4 minutes after a mechanical or have an off-season, there is no way Berto would settle for 2nd.DFA123 said:I don't agree with this. His record has been so poor at the Tour for half his career now, post-ban, that I think he would bite your hand off if you offered him a second place behind Froome at the Tour - proving (kind of) that he is the best of the rest.rhubroma said:He's obviously believing that under ideal circumstances, which patently wasn't the case at Tinkov, he can find both the necessary power and stamina to overcome Froome (and Quintana if the Giro doesn't effect him adversely) at the Tour. A podium certainly means nothing to him. It's win or fail. Evidently we will see if between PN and the Dauphine he shows signs he can hit those kind of numbers. It is a shame we didn't get to see at least one mountain showdown in the 2014 Tour before both he and Froome crashed out. I think that will still leave some doubt in his and his entourage's minds about this coming July, as to whether or not AC can produce the necessary levels to defeat Froome at the Tour.
Objectively, 2nd at the Tour, given his record there, would be a great result for this season.
Edit: I should add that I'd rate a win at Paris-Nice or Pais Vasco above a 2nd place at the Tour (aka first loser) and I bet Berto would too.
Edit2: But if he were to finish 2nd after a perfect prep and a perfect race with no misfortune I think that would ease his mind knowing that that is the most he could get out of it - yes 2014 2016 "what if" but I don't think he'd be as obsessed anymore
Not sure about Paris-Nice or Pais Vasco meaning so much to him nowdays. There's the commercial angle as well - in that Trek will be paying him a lot of money and will want some decent exposure at the Tour - which finishing 2nd would bring. Week long stage races unfortunately don't even come close in this day and age.
I would hope to everything that makes Contador Contador he would never take this stance. I'd much rather he let Quintana and/or Bardet initiate attacks and use that to counterattack Froome and possible chip into his lead. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.