Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Pennino]

Tomorrow is gonna be excellent...

 

[jsem94]

Re:

Little boys will get on their bikes dreaming of being able to race like the Great Alberto Contador.

This. No one will grow up dreaming of racing like Froome (not being a hater, but it's like when a wise man once said "no one wants to grow up to be a Gary Neville"). I sometimes imagine myself being Contador on any sort of incline and try dance on the pedals. Then I remember I can't push 500 watts for extended periods of time and I die.

 

[Merckx index]

If I haven’t missed any, these are all the stages on which Contador has attacked, and the result (relative to Froome):

Stage 8. Finished same time
Stage 11. Lost 23 seconds (including time bonus).
Stage 12. Gained 42 seconds.
Stage 14. Lost 6 seconds.
Stage 15: Lost 40 seconds.
Stage 17: Gained 1:24 (including time bonus).
Stage 18: Finished same time.
Stage 19: Finished same time.
Net: :57 gained

Also interesting to note the GC just since the second rest day:

Contador
Froome :25
Kelderman :31
Zakarin :46
Nibali :51
Poels 1:50
Lopez 2:50
Woods 3:32
Aru 3:34
Chaves 9:43

 

[huge]

I really like Contador's aggressive racing style, but today's attack was totally pointless and a useless waste of precious energies.

Was he really thinking he could gain time on that kind of finish? Not a smart way of riding today.

 

[jsem94]

Would have liked to see him sit this one out too in hindsight, but it was amazing to see him give it a go.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

I really like Contador's aggressive racing style, but today's attack was totally pointless and a useless waste of precious energies.

Was he really thinking he could gain time on that kind of finish? Not a smart way of riding today.

I guess he just wants to feel the thrill of attacking as many times as possible before he retires.

 

[Merckx index]

Re:

I really like Contador's aggressive racing style, but today's attack was totally pointless and a useless waste of precious energies.

Was he really thinking he could gain time on that kind of finish? Not a smart way of riding today.

I think it can be defended in terms of risk/reward ratio (not that I believe Contador actually thinks in those terms; he just attacks, cause that’s who he is). There was fairly low risk, in that he attacked on a relatively short, not excessively steep gradient, when the pace was not particularly high, then tried to hold the lead on a downhill. So not that much extra energy expended. Attacks on climbs some distance from the finish usually fail, but given the time he needs to make up, I think it was worth a try. Even a 20 second gain (which Froome would have tolerated) would have put him in a better position to make the podium tomorrow. And if something unusual happened, such as a mechanical of one of the contenders, or a crash on the downhill that temporarily blocked the road, Contador was in position to reap a huge benefit.

 

[bob.a.feet]

I think regardless of what happens tomorrow, this will go down as one of the greatest final GTs ever. For Contador to attack on almost every stage and to have an entire country of people cheering him on day in day out, it's simply amazing. Now it's rare for riders to be aggressive and to attack, yet here is Contador attacking every day. He has managed to put his mark on this Vuelta and on the world of cycling. Regardless of who wins tomorrow, this will go down as the Vuelta of Alberto Contador. Good luck Alberto and tomorrow do what you do best.

 

[perico]

I'd love for him to win tomorrow, but a stage win won't matter to me as long as I see him finishing ahead of the favorites one last time and them struggling to get up that monster of a climb. Leave them in the dust one last time. It's a moral victory, but that is all I ask for.

 

[huge]

The thing is that he has a very serious chance to get on the podium. On Angliru he can make some real damage to his direct contenders for a spot, Kelderman and Zakarin. That's why today, imo, he should have focused only on saving as much energy as possible. Maybe today's attack will not have any consequences on his legs or maybe it will. Why taking the risk?

 

[LaFlorecita]

I'm a little worried about the whispers that Berto isn't thinking about the stage win, but about the overall win. Please be smart, Berto. You have a great chance to win the stage if you stay calm.

 

[lenric]

Re:

I'm a little worried about the whispers that Berto isn't thinking about the stage win, but about the overall win. Please be smart, Berto. You have a great chance to win the stage if you stay calm.

 

[huge]

hahahahaha

 

[LaFlorecita]

Trek riders messing with us on twitter... they are joking that Berto will stay

Can you imagine if this was all just 1 big joke

 

[Climber123]

Re:

The thing is that he has a very serious chance to get on the podium. On Angliru he can make some real damage to his direct contenders for a spot, Kelderman and Zakarin. That's why today, imo, he should have focused only on saving as much energy as possible. Maybe today's attack will not have any consequences on his legs or maybe it will. Why taking the risk?

Qualitative benefits. The other GC contenders also had to expend more energy than they would have hoped for and there are a few tired riders out there. Also Zakarin's morale may be dented a little

 

[jsem94]

Re:

Trek riders messing with us on twitter... they are joking that Berto will stay

Can you imagine if this was all just 1 big joke

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wldE_4xjVQ

 

[Climber123]

Re:

I'm a little worried about the whispers that Berto isn't thinking about the stage win, but about the overall win. Please be smart, Berto. You have a great chance to win the stage if you stay calm.

Me too, if he attacks after the flat bit on the final climb he still has enough real estate to win the stage and to get the podium. That would be optimum. Only way to win would be for Froome to have a proper meltdown. Don't see it happening.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re:

I'm a little worried about the whispers that Berto isn't thinking about the stage win, but about the overall win. Please be smart, Berto. You have a great chance to win the stage if you stay calm.

Tbh, having a team wont matter much in the last 50km, apart from maybe the lower slopes of the Angliru and maybe the flat bits between climbs

 

[lenric]

Re: Re:

I'm a little worried about the whispers that Berto isn't thinking about the stage win, but about the overall win. Please be smart, Berto. You have a great chance to win the stage if you stay calm.

Tbh, having a team wont matter much in the last 50km, apart from maybe the lower slopes of the Angliru and maybe the flat bits between climbs

For a guy who is used to have his minions all around him and controlling his group at his will, finding himself without a team can be a bit stressful, especially if he's dropped. Maybe without no colleague helping him he may be less motivated.
But yes, when it gets to drafting and all that, it will not exist at the low velocities that the steeper climbs are ridden.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re: Re:

I'm a little worried about the whispers that Berto isn't thinking about the stage win, but about the overall win. Please be smart, Berto. You have a great chance to win the stage if you stay calm.

Tbh, having a team wont matter much in the last 50km, apart from maybe the lower slopes of the Angliru and maybe the flat bits between climbs

For a guy who is used to have his minions all around him and controlling his group at his will, finding himself without a team can be a bit stressful, especially if he's dropped. Maybe without no colleague helping him he may be less motivated.
But yes, when it gets to drafting and all that, it will not exist at the low velocities that the steeper climbs are ridden.

I mean I find I can put out a fair bit more power and dig a lot deeper when I've got a wheel to focus on in front of me instead of thinking bout the pain in my thighs, but these guys are pros. Doubt it makes much difference for them

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

I'm a little worried about the whispers that Berto isn't thinking about the stage win, but about the overall win. Please be smart, Berto. You have a great chance to win the stage if you stay calm.

Tbh, having a team wont matter much in the last 50km, apart from maybe the lower slopes of the Angliru and maybe the flat bits between climbs

I don't see why that matters? If Berto goes before Angliru he will run out of gas.

Otoh, I guess there's a big chance there'll be someone far ahead if he waits till Angliru

 

[Puccini]

The great cyclist champion of this century
and one of the most spectacular cyclists of all time ....
Tomorrow the LAST CHAPTER

 

[Puccini]

In front of the mediocrity and vulgarity and lack of courage there is an ANTIDOTE ... his name is Alberto ... his name is Alberto Contador....

 

[ruby]

Re: Vuelta of Alberto Contador

I think regardless of what happens tomorrow, this will go down as one of the greatest final GTs ever. For Contador to attack on almost every stage and to have an entire country of people cheering him on day in day out, it's simply amazing. Now it's rare for riders to be aggressive and to attack, yet here is Contador attacking every day. He has managed to put his mark on this Vuelta and on the world of cycling. Regardless of who wins tomorrow, this will go down as the Vuelta of Alberto Contador. Good luck Alberto and tomorrow do what you do best.

Yes ! and the more i hear the words 'control' and 'police' in relation to Sky the more I value Contador's heart and instinctual riding.

As much as I will miss him I hope he doesn't go back on his decision to retire, i think this Vuelta is a wonderful way to finish- leave us wanting more
When Froome claims his podium in Madrid i wonder if he'll wonder what he would have to do to arouse this degree of affection in people's hearts that Contador does. Who really is the winner here.

 

[Puccini]

Re:

If I haven’t missed any, these are all the stages on which Contador has attacked, and the result (relative to Froome):

Stage 8. Finished same time
Stage 11. Lost 23 seconds (including time bonus).
Stage 12. Gained 42 seconds.
Stage 14. Lost 6 seconds.
Stage 15: Lost 40 seconds.
Stage 17: Gained 1:24 (including time bonus).
Stage 18: Finished same time.
Stage 19: Finished same time.
Net: :57 gained

Also interesting to note the GC just since the second rest day:

Contador
Froome :25
Kelderman :31
Zakarin :46
Nibali :51
Poels 1:50
Lopez 2:50
Woods 3:32
Aru 3:34
Chaves 9:43

For that and many other things (difference potential equipment)
Alberto has been the best of this Vuelta and is very likely to finish tomorrow 1st or 2nd in the overall standings.
This race has been the Alberto Show.
The rest on another level with all respect towards Froome of course.