By how much will Alberto Contador Velasco win la Vuelta a España?

[infeXio]

Lost it completely? LMFAO, you're actually the most depressing poster I've ever seen

 

[SafeBet]

I remember me and you were one of the only ones to point out weaknesses in him after the Arrate stage when he could'nt sustain his kick. This race came too soon for him.

There were plenty of posters telling the same thing.
I've actually stated long ago that I wasn't expecting Contador to be at more than 70% before the Vuelta started.
He can improve, or not. Only road will tell.

 

[airstream]

Yep Alberto's not gonna win this. I'm afraid he's lost it completely. I already saw it coming in 2010.

Сheer up! A real fan hopes for his/her rider to the bitter end!

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Yea, now you have to walk in Airstreams shoes until next season where he will be back in top shape and will everything again... Or not, wait for the first REAL mountian stage before you start with heavy drinking and cutting yourself

 

[LaFlorecita]

Сheer up! A real fan hopes for his/her rider to the bitter end!

I will keep on hoping. Just like I did last year. Didn't really help did it?

 

[cineteq]

Is "he won't win" still a haters option?

 

[LaFlorecita]

I remember me and you were one of the only ones to point out weaknesses in him after the Arrate stage when he could'nt sustain his kick. This race came too soon for him.

Yeah and it will be the same next year. Come on when was the last time he was great, it's almost 4 ****ing years ago alright?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Is "he won't win" still a haters option?

It never was

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Yeah and it will be the same next year. Come on when was the last time he was great, it's almost 4 ****ing years ago alright?

He was not "great" last years giro? Fine he did not pull any Verbier stage there... but it is pretty clear that in this Vuelta where even freakin Valverde beats him he is not in top shape...

 

[Forunculo]

Yep Alberto's not gonna win this. I'm afraid he's lost it completely. I already saw it coming in 2010.

He will be good in 2013 but it's too soon perhaps, and there better stages for him

 

[LaFlorecita]

He was not "great" last years giro? Fine he did not pull any Verbier stage there... but it is pretty clear that in this Vuelta where even freakin Valverde beats him he is not in top shape...

No, he wasn't. Dropping Scarponi and Nibali isn't great is it? And don't forget Rujano was able to hang on.

 

[LaFlorecita]

He will be good in 2013 but it's too soon perhaps, and there better stages for him

Yeah. Keep hoping.

 

[SafeBet]

Dropping Scarponi and Nibali isn't great is it?

This offends me

 

[LaFlorecita]

This offends me

Well 2012 Nibali is much better but we're talking about 2011 Nibali.

 

[Afrank]

No, he wasn't. Dropping Scarponi and Nibali isn't great is it? And don't forget Rujano was able to hang on.

I'd agree, winning the Giro by 6 minutes over 2nd place is pretty bad.

 

[bridgeman]

Contador will not even make podium.

 

[User Guide]

Way early yet to write off Bertie.
I believe him when he said dehydration.
It would of been much easier for him to say he wasnt 100% due too lack of racing etc "finding his legs" etc.Would have taken a bit of pressure of him.
But no he said cramps.It makes sense.
After all when was last time on any climb he finished nearer Nocentini and Roche than the winner?(no offense AG2R peeps)

 

[burning]

Way early yet to write off Bertie.
I believe him when he said dehydration.
It would of been much easier for him to say he wasnt 100% due too lack of racing etc "finding his legs" etc.Would have taken a bit of pressure of him.
But no he said cramps.It makes sense.
After all when was last time on any climb he finished nearer Nocentini and Roche than the winner?(no offense AG2R peeps)

He gets into dehydration (hunger knock) situation way too often though, or he just gives an excuse whenever he crackes in a race

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

He gets into dehydration (hunger knock) situation way too often though, or he just gives an excuse whenever he crackes in a race

Yeah, I don't believe him, either. I still think he's in contention, though. The longer climbs should suit him better than this Purito stuff.

 

[airstream]

I believe him. More accurately I believe him this time more than usual. Nonetheless, it was weakness. The reason is secondary. Though 'dehydration' sounds a bit far-fetched for such a hard-boiled pro-.

 

[Angliru]

He gets into dehydration (hunger knock) situation way too often though, or he just gives an excuse whenever he crackes in a race

Hunger knock and dehydration aren't the same thing but nevertheless I can recall only one other time and that was Paris-Nice in 2009 (hunger knock) which prompted the infamous tweet from HWINTBN: "He's got a lot to learn", conveniently forgetting he suffered from the same issue during a Tour battle he had with Pantani.

 

[El Pistolero]

Paris-Nice 2009 wasn't an excuse, was an obvious case of a hunger knock(caused by not eating/drinking enough). He needed extra sugars there. First thing he did after the finish was drinking a coke.

 

[Miburo]

Contador will not even make podium.

Wanna bet? Tell me how much alright.

This is stupid, this is how people acted on the montevergine last year.

This is Contador, THE GREAT ONE.

He'll show us all saterday, just wait. He'll dance away.

His wil to win will be even greater than his legs.

 

[Carols]

expect a bit and compare him directly to Froome in the first serious MTF. It will be logical surely. But even if improved form won't let him drop Froome, will you consider it "improved"??

Of course I'd consider it improved if he is able to ride harder longer. Regardless of whether he can drop Froome or not; doesn't mean he won't have 'improved' his current form.

BTW I voted for 1-2 mins...as I always thought it would be a tough ask coming off of 6+ months of not racing to win a GT.

And I voted right after the poll went up; not after today.....after today I would vote <1 min.

 

[burning]

Hunger knock and dehydration aren't the same thing but nevertheless I can recall only one other time and that was Paris-Nice in 2009 (hunger knock) which prompted the infamous tweet from HWINTBN: "He's got a lot to learn", conveniently forgetting he suffered from the same issue during a Tour battle he had with Pantani.

IIRC, he suffered from hunger knock last year at Galibier as well, or it was just an excuse