Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Poursuivant]

What's his plan then, TDF "17, Giro-Vuelta "18, retirement??

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

What's his plan then, TDF "17, Giro-Vuelta "18, retirement??

I guess. Hard to know for sure because he keeps changing his mind.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

And it has Col Saint Martin before Couilloule:

That is the stage I am waiting about Contador to see his form totally.

Yes. Its a very hard finishing climb, especially for early March, but on top of that it will be more of a 'real' mountain stage which favours the more consistent climbing, the tempo and endurance grind where Contador hasn't looked brilliant in a couple of years now due to that climb beforehand and the nature of Couilloule. Cant wait.

Re his Tour-team, I see a decently strong team. Mollema, Pantano and Felline for the mountains and he will have a couple of very good rouleurs available. Question is how many riders Trek will devote for Degenkolb - they won't help pull the breaks in, but they might use a couple of guys which could prove crucial at some point in time. See Porte last year. Overall, it shouldn't really be a problem and if Contador shows he is up to the task in the important races leading up to TdF, its really not a question. Degenkolb can't win bunch sprints either.

Anyways, as much as some posters will make it out to the team's fault, it will first and foremost come down to if he has it himself. Tinkoff has supported him very well in Tours 2013-2015 and would have in 2016 if he didn't crash.

Edit: Contador riding Giro + Vuelta in 2018 would be great, but as he said himself, much can change. And much changes. Say, if he wins the Tour, will he defend his title or rest his case? And if he crashes again, what then?

 

[LaFlorecita]

For the TDF Pantano, Mollema and Degenkolb are certain, I also expect Cardoso for the mountains. Felline, I'm not sure, he would be extremely helpful but Mollema will want some useful teammates for the Giro as well. I think De Kort will be Degenkolb's main man and I think we could see Stuyven with a double role as leadout/flat terrain rouleur. One of Brändle or Rast would seem likely for the flat. Zubeldia, Irizar, Gogl are all possibilities as well but there are only 9 spots on the team. Contador-Pantano-Mollema-Felline-Cardoso/Zubeldia-Degenkolb-De Kort leaves 2 spots and it'd be foolish not to fill them with rouleurs.
By the way, I would even consider leaving Mollema at home, I am not sure he'd be very useful after riding for GC at the Giro and on top of that I am not very confident in his ability to put aside his own ambitions for those of someone else. I'd rather see them select an inferior rider who is fully dedicated than a Kreuziger 2.0.

I'm browsing through the Paris-Nice website and this seems to be Trek's team:
Cardoso
Contador
Degenkolb
Gogl
Pantano
Rast
Theuns
Zubeldia

I'm very much looking forward to the Contador-Pantano tandem

 

[Valv.Piti]

I think Mollema is the kind of diesel who can handle that. Majka has shown its indeed very possible to ride the Giro and be as good (or even better) in week 2 and 3 than at the Giro when 'resting' up during the first. Mollema would do the same. The big question obviously is loyalty, but Mollema is no fool, he knows he can't compete after a hard Giro. Leaving Stuyven, Felline and Mollema at home won't exactly increase his chances. They could all prove extremely valuable.

Also, whats up with the Kreuziger v.2.0? The job he did for Alberto in 2013 was some of the most unselfish I've ever seen. I only saw him riding his own race in 2016 which, to be fair to him, was 100% okay to do given the situation.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Also, whats up with the Kreuziger v.2.0? The job he did for Alberto in 2013 was some of the most unselfish I've ever seen. I only saw him riding his own race in 2016 which, to be fair to him, was 100% okay to do given the situation.

I have no bad things to say about 2013, as you say, one of the most selfless performances I have ever seen.

But clearly he didn't like it at all because he started hating Berto after that

 

[Forever The Best]

Re: Re:

Also, whats up with the Kreuziger v.2.0? The job he did for Alberto in 2013 was some of the most unselfish I've ever seen. I only saw him riding his own race in 2016 which, to be fair to him, was 100% okay to do given the situation.

I have no bad things to say about 2013, as you say, one of the most selfless performances I have ever seen.

But clearly he didn't like it at all because he started hating Berto after that

Didn't Kreuziger work for Contador in Tirreno 2014 ? He also wanted to ride Pais Vasco with Contador that year as well from what I remember.

 

[Red Rick]

Pretty sure Mollema would be able to do a team job after riding the Giro for himself. Hopefully his level would be ok.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Didn't Kreuziger work for Contador in Tirreno 2014 ? He also wanted to ride Pais Vasco with Contador that year as well from what I remember.

Oh he worked for Contador after the 2013 TDF as well, but looking back that was likely when things got sour between them.

 

[portugal11]

Never trust on dutchmen. They are specialists in failure

 

[SHAD0W93]

Re: Re:

Didn't Kreuziger work for Contador in Tirreno 2014 ? He also wanted to ride Pais Vasco with Contador that year as well from what I remember.

Oh he worked for Contador after the 2013 TDF as well, but looking back that was likely when things got sour between them.

I think it more started in 16 especially when Kreuziger wanted to ride his own races and either from Tinkoff or Contador couldn't plus when Contador crashed and Tinkoff closing didn't help that Tour. Since in 14 and 15 he tried as hard as he could for Contador.

 

[SHAD0W93]

It depends on how hard the Giro is raced for Mollema on being good help for Contador. If we are lucky the only help Contador will need is on the flat.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Never trust on dutchmen. They are specialists in failure

Hey hey hey, the Dutch men sweeped the individual events at the World Speed Skating championships. What has Portugal won lately?

 

[portugal11]

Re: Re:

Never trust on dutchmen. They are specialists in failure

Hey hey hey, the Dutch men sweeped the individual events at the World Speed Skating championships. What has Portugal won lately?

Speed skating who cares about that? Rui costa won abu dhabi

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

Never trust on dutchmen. They are specialists in failure

Hey hey hey, the Dutch men sweeped the individual events at the World Speed Skating championships. What has Portugal won lately?

I actually hate the Netherlands for this because this makes it possible for them to finish higher than Austria in the medal table of winter olympics (which is frustrating because Winter Sports are the only sports where Austria isn't terribly bad)

 

[Kokoso]

Re: Re:

But clearly he didn't like it at all because he started hating Berto after that

Kreuziger worked for Contador at: Tirreno-Adriatico 2013, Pais Vasco 2013, Tour de France 2013, Tirreno-Adriatico 2014 (where he even sacrificed sure stage win for Alberto), Tirreno-Adriatico , Giro and Tour 2015, Pais Vasco 2016, Dauphine 2016 even despite he had promised to lead Tour de Suisse at that time but for the last moment he was made to work for Contador at Dauphine and he did that hob well.

If Kreuziger really hated Contador since Tour 2013, it didn't affect his loyalty thus he managed to hide it pretty well Certainly one can't say he hated Contador based on his loyalty. There was no Kreuziger v.2.

 

[ice&fire]

Re: Re:

Never trust on dutchmen. They are specialists in failure

Hey hey hey, the Dutch men sweeped the individual events at the World Speed Skating championships. What has Portugal won lately?

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re: Re:

Never trust on dutchmen. They are specialists in failure

Hey hey hey, the Dutch men sweeped the individual events at the World Speed Skating championships. What has Portugal won lately?

Reported.

 

[Beech Mtn]

The folks who crush on Contador's appearance should google Charlie Crist for a look into the future.

 

[rick james]

Bertie needs a holiday it seems...

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Bertie needs a holiday it seems...

did I miss something?

 

[rick james]

Re: Re:

Bertie needs a holiday it seems...

did I miss something?

not really


http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/racing/alberto-contador-reveals-plans-beat-chris-froome-tour-de-france-317302?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Bertie needs a holiday it seems...

did I miss something?

not really


http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/racing/alberto-contador-reveals-plans-beat-chris-froome-tour-de-france-317302?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social

That's funny

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

The folks who crush on Contador's appearance should google Charlie Crist for a look into the future.

Oh dear

 

[Kokoso]

Re: Re:

But clearly he didn't like it at all because he started hating Berto after that

Kreuziger worked for Contador at: Tirreno-Adriatico 2013, Pais Vasco 2013, Tour de France 2013, Tirreno-Adriatico 2014 (where he even sacrificed sure stage win for Alberto), Tirreno-Adriatico , Giro and Tour 2015, Pais Vasco 2016, Dauphine 2016 even despite he had promised to lead Tour de Suisse at that time but for the last moment he was made to work for Contador at Dauphine and he did that hob well.

If Kreuziger really hated Contador since Tour 2013, it didn't affect his loyalty thus he managed to hide it pretty well Certainly one can't say he hated Contador based on his loyalty. There was no Kreuziger v.2.

No reaction? It is not about Kreuziger hating Contador, it's about some fan of Contador hating Kreuziger.