Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Red Rick]

Can't say too much about today.

I think that on Friday, Trek will just drop down the hammer and Contador will go for it and not look back, whatever the result

 

[Jelantik]

Re:

Can't say too much about today.

I think that on Friday, Trek will just drop down the hammer and Contador will go for it and not look back, whatever the result

I agree with you. With today's finish.. almost like a procession to me. Yeah, there's a sprinting.. 1/2km to go. Not necessarily the fireworks that I would expect in the mountain. If the mountain is climbed like this, there's no way Contador can win. He is 1+ minutes down, and people in front of him are capable of doing riding like today (even the group were still big). He needs to throw the gauntlet and go for broke. Who cares about the result. He won't cut that much if he attacks in 3/5km. The big group will reel him in.

 

[lenric]

Berto says his sensations were good, but the climb wasn't very hard and there was a headwind so he decided not to attack

Edit:

"I had good sensations, although the stage was relatively calm," explained Contador. "It is true that in the last two passes over La Molina they made a good rhythm on the climb, but it is not a very demanding climb, and in many places, there was a strong headwind, which made it very comfortable to be in the wheels.

"At the final, in the sprint, I tried to make a good finish, but I knew it was a complicated one for me. In addition, we did the last kilometers quite calm, and that makes it so that the explosive riders take air and can be faster than me."

"The team again was very good, impressive, being around me as always," said Contador. "With Jarlinson we wanted to put one more point of intensity, but there was a lot of headwind, and it was quite easy to go on the wheel. In the end, it did punish everyone's legs a little more, and that is also a goal."

[about stage 5] "If the profile corresponds to the reality, it seems that the last climb is really hard and will make differences," said Contador, then added: "But it's complicated because there are riders ahead with a lot of time. Now the important thing is to recover and think about tomorrow."

Pantano obviously is his number two. I hope he gets to connect as well with another high quality colleague, because Pantano won't be there for him all the time in July.

 

[Netserk]

Berto says his sensations were good, but the climb wasn't very hard and there was a headwind so he decided not to attack

Edit:

"I had good sensations, although the stage was relatively calm," explained Contador. "It is true that in the last two passes over La Molina they made a good rhythm on the climb, but it is not a very demanding climb, and in many places, there was a strong headwind, which made it very comfortable to be in the wheels.

"At the final, in the sprint, I tried to make a good finish, but I knew it was a complicated one for me. In addition, we did the last kilometers quite calm, and that makes it so that the explosive riders take air and can be faster than me."

"The team again was very good, impressive, being around me as always," said Contador. "With Jarlinson we wanted to put one more point of intensity, but there was a lot of headwind, and it was quite easy to go on the wheel. In the end, it did punish everyone's legs a little more, and that is also a goal."

[about stage 5] "If the profile corresponds to the reality, it seems that the last climb is really hard and will make differences," said Contador, then added: "But it's complicated because there are riders ahead with a lot of time. Now the important thing is to recover and think about tomorrow."

I think he too, in hindsight, would have preferred Pantano to drill it in the end instead.

 

[Poursuivant]

I can see Bertie dropping everyone on Friday except possibly Valverde. He is in great form, Froome is in yo yo form at best at this time of year, TJ will try and limit his losses, and Thomas won't be able to match the initial acceleration. I think he will eventually shake Valverde but probably not enough to take GC from either him or TJ.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

I can see Bertie dropping everyone on Friday except possibly Valverde. He is in great form, Froome is in yo yo form at best at this time of year, TJ will try and limit his losses, and Thomas won't be able to match the initial acceleration. I think he will eventually shake Valverde but probably not enough to take GC from either him or TJ.

I hope so. Normally he is on a slightly lower level here compared to PN or Pais Vasco, so it would be really nice if he could win a stage.

 

[movingtarget]

Berto says his sensations were good, but the climb wasn't very hard and there was a headwind so he decided not to attack

Edit:

"I had good sensations, although the stage was relatively calm," explained Contador. "It is true that in the last two passes over La Molina they made a good rhythm on the climb, but it is not a very demanding climb, and in many places, there was a strong headwind, which made it very comfortable to be in the wheels.

"At the final, in the sprint, I tried to make a good finish, but I knew it was a complicated one for me. In addition, we did the last kilometers quite calm, and that makes it so that the explosive riders take air and can be faster than me."

"The team again was very good, impressive, being around me as always," said Contador. "With Jarlinson we wanted to put one more point of intensity, but there was a lot of headwind, and it was quite easy to go on the wheel. In the end, it did punish everyone's legs a little more, and that is also a goal."

[about stage 5] "If the profile corresponds to the reality, it seems that the last climb is really hard and will make differences," said Contador, then added: "But it's complicated because there are riders ahead with a lot of time. Now the important thing is to recover and think about tomorrow."

Pantano obviously is his number two. I hope he gets to connect as well with another high quality colleague, because Pantano won't be there for him all the time in July.

If that were the case he wouldn't have him working so hard so far from the finish unless he thought he could thin out the bunch a bit more. Mollema obviously had an off day.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

It is interesting to see Contador with a season-long sidekick / right hand man who is actually a very strong, very useful climber and isn't keeping half an eye on his own chances. He hasn't had that very often in his career. His relationship with Pantano seems very strong, very quickly.

 

[ferryman]

Re:

It is interesting to see Contador with a season-long sidekick / right hand man who is actually a very strong, very useful climber and isn't keeping half an eye on his own chances. He hasn't had that very often in his career. His relationship with Pantano seems very strong, very quickly.

Agreed, but he needs another and he can't afford to use up Pantano too quickly just to distrupt the Sky/Movistar train. We'll see on Friday I guess...

 

[hfer07]

this is an interview (Spanish only) of Alberto after Paris Nice which he claims he's only two kilos away from Tour weight :surprised:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmfcVmcy3bc

 

[IndianCyclist]

Trek made a wise Choice in hiring Pantano Just think without him where would Contador be

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

Trek made a wise Choice in hiring Pantano Just think without him where would Contador be

Probably quite lonely ! I have a feeling it might be the same in the Tour.

 

[lenric]

Re: Re:

Trek made a wise Choice in hiring Pantano Just think without him where would Contador be

Probably quite lonely ! I have a feeling it might be the same in the Tour.

That's why he needs to connect as well with other colleagues, so that they feel the "need" to help him. Wanting to help your leader is a far stronger reason than having to do that because it is your job.

Contador, being introverted, needs another Mick Rogers.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

Trek made a wise Choice in hiring Pantano Just think without him where would Contador be

Probably quite lonely ! I have a feeling it might be the same in the Tour.

That's why he needs to connect as well with other colleagues, so that they feel the "need" to help him. Wanting to help your leader is a far stronger reason than having to do that because it is your job.

Contador, being introverted, needs another Mick Rogers.

No doubt Mick was a very good road captain and a valuable domestique for Contador. Probably the last quality one he had as he was also good at organizing the team and with years of experience to draw on. It's still early days for Pantano.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I still maintain last year's TDF debacle wouldn't have happened with Mick. He'd have given them a slap in the face.

 

[carolina]

André Cardoso was hired just to help Contador. It's a bit strange not seeing him here.

 

[Jelantik]

Re:

It is interesting to see Contador with a season-long sidekick / right hand man who is actually a very strong, very useful climber and isn't keeping half an eye on his own chances. He hasn't had that very often in his career. His relationship with Pantano seems very strong, very quickly.

good thing is they both speak spanish. That should help with the communication.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Pantano is a poor man's 2010 Navarro

 

[GraftPunk]

Rogers was a pretty amazing road captain. Hopefully, with his career nearing it's end, Contie is somewhat mentoring Pantano with that same knowledge. He's been an amazing helper thus far, and can only improve.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Pantano is a poor man's 2010 Navarro

Poor man's Madeleine 2010 Navarro, holy scary Dani that day.

 

[Pennino]

Let's bring this home today. We all need the pistol shot.

 

[rune1107]

Let's bring this home today. We all need the pistol shot.

Just a thought - does anyone think he'll avoid that celebration? Especially after the London attack. Could be a tad inappropriate.

 

[Pennino]

Let's bring this home today. We all need the pistol shot.

Just a thought - does anyone think he'll avoid that celebration? Especially after the London attack. Could be a tad inappropriate.

Well if that's the case, he might as well change his racing style. People could just get offended by his way of harmful attacking either.

 

[rune1107]

Let's bring this home today. We all need the pistol shot.

Just a thought - does anyone think he'll avoid that celebration? Especially after the London attack. Could be a tad inappropriate.

Well if that's the case, he might as well change his racing style. People could just get offended by his way of harmful attacking either.

Yeah well he talked about it after the Paris attacks, but i don't remember if he has done it after November 2015.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-could-drop-pistolero-salute-in-tour-de-france-after-paris-attacks/

 

[Netserk]