Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Zakarin's TT is generally really overrated, but whatever. Assuming that Alberto had maintained status quo with his direct competitors for the podium today, then there is little doubt that the real threat for the podium would have been Lopez, the best climber of the race and more than decent time trialist.

He once had a great time trial in the Tour of Romandie and has been below average for a GC guy since.

I think Zakarin and Contador are about even on flat TTs these days. Nibali very similar as well. Zakarin has been a bit up and down over the years, but this season he put in respectable performances in the Giro and at Romandie. I think he is better on non-technical routes (a bit like Contador). And this Vuelta one is very non-technical for the most part, at least after the first 2km, so I think he'll go quite well.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re: Re:

Zakarin's TT is generally really overrated, but whatever. Assuming that Alberto had maintained status quo with his direct competitors for the podium today, then there is little doubt that the real threat for the podium would have been Lopez, the best climber of the race and more than decent time trialist.

He once had a great time trial in the Tour of Romandie and has been below average for a GC guy since.

I think Zakarin and Contador are about even on flat TTs these days. Nibali very similar as well. Zakarin has been a bit up and down over the years, but this season he put in respectable performances in the Giro and at Romandie. I think he is better on non-technical routes (a bit like Contador). And this Vuelta one is very non-technical for the most part, at least after the first 2km, so I think he'll go quite well.

The only reference point we have is the last ITT of the Giro, and Zakarin did not impress there, to say the least. Contador and Nibali have been consistently good in ITT's this year, no matter the profile of the route.

 

[Matteo.]

so it be folks

 

[Electress]

He said he has no regrets. That he is riding the way he enjoys riding. I shouldn't think he gives a rats ass about podium. Well, great, because I enjoy the show and I'll take whatever he can give. Who else is really showing any kind of fighting spirit? Not all of these kind of attacks can work out, but they also give an opportunity for others if they can take it.

One of the single most annoying things for me about cycling at the mo. is the sense of frustration - there is little incentive for those who attack and the highest reward is for the most boring % wheelsucking type of cycling. Thank god for Lopez. I hope he goes thermo-nuclear next week, coz Berto is virtually single-handedly animating this race at the moment.

 

[Forever The Best]

Re:

@Matteo
If that is your opinion, that's fine, you're entitled to it. But I prefer to see him riding like this rather than hanging on like all others in the hopes of securing a podium position. His riding is like a breath of fresh air.

This. Better go all-out than riding for placements anonymously.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Today we witnessed an old warrior determined to die with sword in hand.

This. Exactly.

 

[Carols]

Re:

He said he has no regrets. That he is riding the way he enjoys riding. I shouldn't think he gives a rats *** about podium. Well, great, because I enjoy the show and I'll take whatever he can give. Who else is really showing any kind of fighting spirit? Not all of these kind of attacks can work out, but they also give an opportunity for others if they can take it.

One of the single most annoying things for me about cycling at the mo. is the sense of frustration - there is little incentive for those who attack and the highest reward is for the most boring % wheelsucking type of cycling. Thank god for Lopez. I hope he goes thermo-nuclear next week, coz Berto is virtually single-handedly animating this race at the moment.

Indeed, he is being true to himself and his Lion Heart. Unfortunately the legs aren't what they used to be! Enjoy the show, we are down to 6 days and all there will be is memories. So Alberto if you want to attack. Attack! It's who you are .

 

[LaFlorecita]

Contador insisted afterwards that he had “no regrets about attacking, because this is my style of racing, I enjoy doing that. Just sitting there in the peloton is something I can’t do, it’s complicated for me.”

A 22-kilometre breakaway, almost all of it uphill, was an impressive effort by the Spanish veteran, although the impression that it barely disturbed Team Sky was hard to avoid, too. For Contador, testing the water seems to be something he cannot avoid doing, saying “If you wanted to see what was going to happen behind [in the leader’s group] you had to be brave, but Sky has a great team and the wind was extremely strong in places.

“Finally, I paid a price, it went on for too long. Superman was a good breakaway teammate but I was working harder at the start of the ascent and he wasn’t working so much, maybe because of team orders, and so there were a lot of changes of pace. Bardet helped a bit, but it was hard for him.”

Having dropped a spot to ninth overall, 3:59 down, Contador was notably vague about what his objectives were for the final week, saying simply: “I want to enjoy myself, just like I’ve been enjoying myself up to now. Let’s take it day by day.”

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-i-cant-conform-with-just-going-in-the-peloton/

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re: Re:

Yes. It is beyond me how can anyone thinks that the best strategy to threat the podium isn't riding like zaka, keldermann and chaves rode today

That was the best strategy for Zakarin and Kelderman, because they are already in or close to the podium positions. They could afford to be more conservative. Riders like Contador and Lopez - who are further back - have to take a few more risks if they are going to make up the ground they need to. For Lopez it worked out superbly, for Contador it backfired badly - but their tactic was essentially the same. Simply one rider was much stronger than the other.

Plus if Kelderman or Zakarin went earlier, they would have had reaction from Sky, the same way Nibali had. So that would have backfired.

 

[lenric]

It has been a good vuelta to Trek when it comes to exposure. Maybe that's their goal, otherwise today Contador wasn't very smart.

 

[Pennino]

Re:

He said he has no regrets. That he is riding the way he enjoys riding. I shouldn't think he gives a rats *** about podium. Well, great, because I enjoy the show and I'll take whatever he can give. Who else is really showing any kind of fighting spirit? Not all of these kind of attacks can work out, but they also give an opportunity for others if they can take it.

One of the single most annoying things for me about cycling at the mo. is the sense of frustration - there is little incentive for those who attack and the highest reward is for the most boring % wheelsucking type of cycling. Thank god for Lopez. I hope he goes thermo-nuclear next week, coz Berto is virtually single-handedly animating this race at the moment.

Indeed. It's just ridiculous how mountains are being raced nowadays. And despite the good show, the final kilometres made me think he better could have waited for a brutal attack in the last couple of km. Like that he probably would have isolated Froome and dropped a couple of GC contenders. But that's fine.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Just some nice videos and photos to give an impression of the reception Berto's gotten from the fans. I can't imagine what it'll be like when they reach Madrid.

Locura por @albertocontador en Écija
https://twitter.com/lavuelta/status/903968256028958722

https://twitter.com/Ciclored/status/903537442359312385

Kanako & Aoi have come from Japan to see their hero @albertocontador

(I want that flag)
https://twitter.com/TrekSegafredo/status/903555062118707200

https://twitter.com/Contador_Fans/status/903554148930654208

The photos don't capture the adoration in the children's voices. Magical moments at today's start
https://twitter.com/TrekSegafredo/status/902490089187618817

Contador levanta pasiones en La Vuelta

Huge crowds outside Contador's bus everyday, but especially today. #LV2017

https://twitter.com/cycling_podcast/status/904336383866757120

Alcalá La Real se vuelca con #LV2017 y con @albertocontador
¡¡Gracias!!
https://twitter.com/lavuelta/status/904309234338336768

All these people are waiting for @albertocontador. Absolutely amazing the crowds supporting him everyday at #LV2017
https://twitter.com/Laura_Meseguer/status/904292244362014721

@albertocontador interacts with his fans after S14. No doubt he's fully enjoying his last race. This is pure Contador.

https://twitter.com/TrekSegafredo/status/904030219727544320

Gran recibimiento a Alberto Contador en Écija

 

[Carols]

Damn he's going to miss all that love! Or maybe he'll be happy for some peace!

He sure will be missed by millions

 

[Valv.Piti]

What happened today on Sierra Nevada what about the most predictable thing today, we have seen that so much lately. But if he hadn't done that I doubt Lopez would have moved before the last 5 kilometres and imagine that. What horror.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Damn he's going to miss all that love! Or maybe he'll be happy for some peace!

He sure will be missed by millions

As it's the last time, I think he's really enjoying and savoring the experience. But yeah, I don't think he'll mind the peace and quiet

 

[Gigs_98]

I just hope he gets a stage win somewhere. His career just deserves a happy ending and after all the attacks in this vuelta, Alberto winning a stage in one of the last races of his career would simply be an incredible story.

 

[Matteo.]

I just hope he gets a stage win somewhere. His career just deserves a happy ending and after all the attacks in this vuelta, Alberto winning a stage in one of the last races of his career would simply be an incredible story.

There are two remaining muritos. The last trains

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Hopefully it wasn't the last hurrah by Alberto. Angliru victory would be a spectacular ending of his great career!

 

[Gigs_98]

I just hope he gets a stage win somewhere. His career just deserves a happy ending and after all the attacks in this vuelta, Alberto winning a stage in one of the last races of his career would simply be an incredible story.

There are two remaining muritos. The last trains

I think it would also be an incredible story if he wins stage 18, which is a lot like the infamous Fuente De stage only with a different last climb.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I just hope he gets a stage win somewhere. His career just deserves a happy ending and after all the attacks in this vuelta, Alberto winning a stage in one of the last races of his career would simply be an incredible story.

I really hope so too. Unfortunately, I can't see which stage he could realistically win

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I just hope he gets a stage win somewhere. His career just deserves a happy ending and after all the attacks in this vuelta, Alberto winning a stage in one of the last races of his career would simply be an incredible story.

I really hope so too. Unfortunately, I can't see which stage he could realistically win

After he loses more time during the TT they will let him go during one of the remaining mountain stages. I doubt Sky will chase him on Angliru if he's 5+ minutes down on GC. He may even lose more time intentionally during one of stages (after realizing there's no chance for GC).

 

[telencefalus]

who cares if alberto wins a stage his career is the one of an all time great , Martinelli ds of astana who worked with Pantani ranked him as high as indurain and Hinault , so let him have fun without ANY pressure , please

 

[Electress]

I just hope he gets a stage win somewhere. His career just deserves a happy ending and after all the attacks in this vuelta, Alberto winning a stage in one of the last races of his career would simply be an incredible story.

I think his career is having a happy ending. He is smiling all the way to Madrid, he is clearly enjoying himself. Yes, it'd be great to win a stage, but the only thing he'd regret at this point if he didn't try until the last 3 k and failed anyway.

I think he'll love the crowds and the love from the fans - how could he not. But I never have the impression he's a fame whore type, so I suspect he'll be quite happy to slip into a less high-octane kind of superstardom.

 

[Poursuivant]

He has a better chance of a stage win after the TT I think, because he will be about 5/5:30 down on GC. His problem will be Lopez looks best climber in race, and likes of Yates', Atapuma, Bardet and Majka are stage hunting, but he still has a chance.

I fully expect him to go down fighting, stage 19 looks very Contador esque.

 

[Amazinmets87]

What are you basing him being a worse TT on? Especially after a rest day