Moondance said:Contador didn't start winning major races until his 5th full season with the big boys
He didn't start winning until he got in to Bruyneel's program
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Moondance said:Contador didn't start winning major races until his 5th full season with the big boys
DavidVilla7 said:Contador´s biggest rival is himself!
And everything depends on his form
Publicus said:He hadn't trained at ALL before the 2008 Giro. I believe he said the first mountains he rode up where those at the Giro. So, yes if he comes to the TdF having not trained, he's going to get bested by a number of folks. Including AS.
i respect both berto and andy. you saw me posting plenty good about berto. not trying to diminish him at all.Publicus said:He hadn't trained at ALL before the 2008 Giro. I believe he said the first mountains he rode up where those at the Giro. So, yes if he comes to the TdF having not trained, he's going to get bested by a number of folks. Including AS.
python said:i respect both berto and andy. you saw me posting plenty good about berto. not trying to diminish him at all.
but i don't know if i agree berto did not train at all before the 2008 giro. it was bru's normal exercise in spinology.
you r plolly right he was undertrained and had to scramble when astana got the last minute invite. i'll agree he won in 2008 giro on his talent and growing into form as the giro went on. we'll never know (wait may be we will after the today's news) if he had a propeller in his helmet.![]()
skidmark said:Agreed that he came into it on little training, but didn't he ride and win both Paris-Nice and Pais Vasco that year? Also, Castillia y Leon and a few others? I thought all those had mountains.
Nastyy said:He didn't start winning until he got in to Bruyneel's programNow when he's no in Bruyneel's team he will get busted / get weaker. Andy will or someone else will beat / be close him in 2010 Tour.
Galic Ho said:Andy was roughly 2'00" behind AC in the Annecy ITT. Not bad given he was 3'30" back in 2008. He improved heaps, but so did AC over that period. Brother Frank improved heaps as well. He dropped 5 minutes the year before and nocked 1'30" off that. The ITT was 10km's shorter but AS has grown in that department. Nibali was 5 seconds slower than Andy and Lance was only 15 faster.
But Andy will have to either improve by leaps and bounds or hope that something happens to Contador if he is to win. To Saxo's credit, their riders at least attacked Astana in the ITT and on Verbier. Everyone else seemed to sit back and let Astana dictate this year, a scene unlikely to be repeated next year. I hope the Chicken gets a ride, he'll give AC a run in the hills.
you understand that conta woke up every morning after dreaming that bruyneell NOT guide him during that o9 tour? or you still don't understand it?horizon27 said:So most of us agree AS at least in the 2010 tour cant beat AC.Can LA win the 2010 tour,I know he win be almost 39! But he will have probably the strongest team,who`s only goal is to sacrifice personal ambition and ride 150% just for him.His experience and mental strenghth make him a great threat.Where will Contador be in 2010? what ever team he is with, it will not be as strong as radioshack.So AC will really have to be a leader without Johan Bryneel guiding him.
Mountain Goat said:yes I know Astana didn't support him this year
Mountain Goat said:He is yet to be tested with this many contenders for a TDF title and not the strongest team
horizon27 said:So most of us agree AS at least in the 2010 tour cant beat AC.Can LA win the 2010 tour,I know he win be almost 39! But he will have probably the strongest team,who`s only goal is to sacrifice personal ambition and ride 150% just for him.His experience and mental strenghth make him a great threat.Where will Contador be in 2010? what ever team he is with, it will not be as strong as radioshack.So AC will really have to be a leader without Johan Bryneel guiding him.
karlboss said:If AC doesn't have faith in vino, then he will find himself attacked from all angles and needing to respond and waste energy too early perhaps. I'm not talking about attacks on final climbs, I'm talking from 100km out.
Frank and Andy could try to do something like this, the shack has options, liquigas also, and garmin.
Wow, really?BeachBum said:Look at 2008. Evans was probably stronger mano a mano than AS, FS, and CS. CSC just rotated the 3 of them in attacks until Evans cracked.
ak-zaaf said:Wow, really?
karlboss said:Thanks for the sarcasm
I think Cadel was marginally stronger than the CSC boys, but I think AC is much stronger than everyone else. Put AC where cadel was and he would have attacked himself. However force him and astana to chase a few long breakaways hard...Can't see it happening, I'm just hoping.