Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Netserk]

Re: Re:

All that mattered today was staying safe and not losing too much time. Should probably have been able to do so with a faster pace, but all in all this is okay.

I disagree. Sure, it was the most important thing, but certainly not all that mattered. I agree it was an OK performance, but OK performances probably won't get him on the podium.

So what else mattered?

Contador is so good that he doesn't have to risk anything. If he stays healthy, the race is in the bag.

 

[Forever The Best]

And he is already more than 40 seconds behind...
The 2014 and 2016 TDF's will always be regretted. He came with great form to these and crashed

 

[arvc40]

Contador looks in great condition physically, apart from his small balls today.

 

[arvc40]

I had a strong sense Froome would be the one to push his luck today. Good for him

 

[bob.a.feet]

Most of the GC contenders that he lost time to today (except for Froome and maybe Porte) are riders that he would expect to put a lot more than just seconds into at the final TT. Shame that he lost time to Froome, but with all the other riders it's not much to worry about.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

I had a strong sense Froome would be the one to push his luck today. Good for him

Yep, you have to credit Froome's bravery. In many ways, he was the one with most to lose, as the favourite for the race. Yet he was still the one who really attacked the course.

 

[indianfanboy]

Re:

I had a strong sense Froome would be the one to push his luck today. Good for him

Champions ride from Froome today . Contador played it safe today, he must really believe he is got the form in the mountains

 

[bob.a.feet]

Re:

Contador looks in great condition physically, apart from his small balls today.

Can't please everyone. He's crashed in almost every TDF in the past few years and when he decides to be cautious..

 

[Jelantik]

A bit disappointed that Contador finished at the bottom of the pack of Porte, Quitana, Aru, Froome. But in hindsight, he stayed upright (maybe he is more afraid to fall than others considering his track record of kissing the asphalt). But 42 seconds to Froome is a mountain to conquer and he won't get it in the mountain either.

 

[Red Rick]

Reminds me of Andy Schlecks TT in Rotterdam really.

 

[rhubroma]

Froome came up with the goods, was very strong and displayed balls, in short delivered what he needed to do to win the Tour. By contrast, Contador failed to deliver. No matter how spooky the situation must have been after the crashes, particularly Valverde, Contador lost too much time.

In 2014 if my memory serves me correctly in a similar length TT at the opening of the Dauphine, he lost 10 secs. to Froome. Given his performance in the TT in this year's Dauphine, being even faster than Froome, one might have expected a bit more of a challenge, or at least grit, but alas he was slow and timerous.

Froome displayed guts, force and determination. Alberto will be quite disappointed with his result and, if not, he's kidding himself..

 

[arvc40]

Re: Re:

I had a strong sense Froome would be the one to push his luck today. Good for him

Yep, you have to credit Froome's bravery. In many ways, he was the one with most to lose, as the favourite for the race. Yet he was still the one who really attacked the course.

He rides with force. Same in sprint finish, gets involved. Fair a square time gain today.

 

[perico]

Bertie said he had been told of Valverde's crash before starting and took it easy on the curves.

 

[arvc40]

Re: Re:

Contador looks in great condition physically, apart from his small balls today.

Can't please everyone. He's crashed in almost every TDF in the past few years and when he decides to be cautious..

I am not complaining. If he feels that's what he needs to do to stay safe then it's the right strategy 100%

 

[Irondan]

I'd like to remind people that if all you want to do is to celebrate Chris Froome's ride today, he has his own thread.

 

[bajbar]

Rain again tomorrow... Could see Froome gaining even more time... hope not. 40 seconds is quite a lot of time for a Tour with so few opportunities to make differences. And I bet he will want to seal the deal by stage 5...

 

[arvc40]

Re:

All that mattered today was staying safe and not losing too much time. Should probably have been able to do so with a faster pace, but all in all this is okay.

I saw him glimpse the rain on the ramp and it was obvious what he was thinking !

 

[rhubroma]

Re: Re:

I had a strong sense Froome would be the one to push his luck today. Good for him

Yep, you have to credit Froome's bravery. In many ways, he was the one with most to lose, as the favourite for the race. Yet he was still the one who really attacked the course.

He rides with force. Same in sprint finish, gets involved. Fair a square time gain today.

And that's what has set him apart over the last 4 years.

 

[sir fly]

Contador took it really cautiously today.
Better safe than sorry, I agree.

 

[arvc40]

Re:

Contador took it really cautiously today.
Better safe than sorry, I agree.

Indeed !. No doubt he knows better than anyone the downside to his approach today.

 

[JosephK]

Alberto rode a smart race today. He's right there with all the other GC contenders except the Froomezilla.

 

[TheYouyou7]

Froome took more risks today and got rewarded congrats to him. Concerning AC we need to wait for monday and obviously PdBF. he took it ridiculously safe today.. which is good if he wants to remain in the race

 

[lenric]

Can't blame a guy who's been falling 4/5 times a year, especially on the Tour, of being afraid to fall, especially after knowing that had happened to one of his rivals.

 

[Publicus]

Re:

Can't blame a guy who's been falling 4/5 times a year, especially on the Tour, of being afraid to fall, especially after knowing that had happened to one of his rivals.

Yep. Still conceding 42" seconds to Froome is no bueno no matter how you caveat it. We can only hope that he truly has the goods this year.

 

[TheYouyou7]

Re: Re:

Can't blame a guy who's been falling 4/5 times a year, especially on the Tour, of being afraid to fall, especially after knowing that had happened to one of his rivals.

Yep. Still conceding 42" seconds to Froome is no bueno no matter how you caveat it. We can only hope that he truly has the goods this year.

obviously, he gotta bring that 2014 whimsical form