Contador 2010

[palmerq]

another good thing for contador is a few bad things happened for him last year.. paris nice and missing the split. Because of Armstrong everyone took a lot of notice of these mistakes so I think the team will be watching out for this and astana have experienced fellows so not bad for contador..

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

Why is that? Would it make it more competitive? I'm hoping everyone makes it through unscathed so that we can see them all at their best when the mountains come. For me that's where the fun begins. Let the chips fall where they may. I wouldn't wish a crash on anyone.

I don't think he was wishing a crash on anyone; he was simply saying it would add to the drama of the race. Which it would....but I'd rather see everyone stay verticle.

 

[Anonymous]

Anyone questioning Contador's team should check this out. The quotes are from Benjamin Noval

“We’re going to work our butts off for Alberto,” they all agree, especially the Spaniards, those who, by virtue of language and culture, are closest to the Pinteño right now. “We’re going to work for him, not like this year.”

Besides his ever-faithful lieutenants, like Benjamin Noval, Jesús Hernández and Dani Navarro, another three Spaniards have joined the Kazakh team this autumn. This means Óscar Pereiro—whose excitement makes him seem like a neo-pro after being recently unemployed—Josep Jufré and David de la Fuente. “I have complete confidence in them,” Contador says about his escuderos, the old ones and the new ones.

“In terms of names, it’s obvious that RadioShack has much more team than Astana,” acknowledges the Asturian, “but a team is not just made up of names, but of men, and I’m particularly convinced that at the moment of truth we’ll be equal to the task and everything will turn out well.”

Precisely due to his faithfulness to Contador, Noval was left out of the last Tour. “Like many other fans, I believe that the Astana team didn’t work for Alberto during the last Tour. They were not all together. In 2010, however, I’m convinced that we’re all going to paddle in the same direction. We don’t have the names that they have, but in the end I think that we’ll rise to the occasion because we have clarity about who the leader is, what our goal is, and what our job is.”

So, knowing that Contador is going to need him in the next Tour, and especially in the famous stage with cobblestones—13 kilometers of pavé spread over seven sections—Noval foresees preparing himself in a special way: “I’m going to volunteer to ride the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. And then, of course, we’ll have to go and memorize the routes, because the setting and the knowledge of the terrain are going to be very important.”

http://www.albertocontadornotebook.info/ (translated from Marca)

 

[Publicus]

Anyone questioning Contador's team should check this out.



http://www.albertocontadornotebook.info/ (translated from Marca)

Love it.

I think this part deserves to be highlighted as well:

Noval knows Armstrong well. “I’m sure that, if you go with the possibilities, neither Klöden nor Leipheimer are going to have options, because Lance won’t allow it. Before, when he won, there were also great riders on the team, but the only leader was him. And that’s not going to change, mainly because I also think that in 2010 he’s going to be stronger tha[n] this year.”

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

Love it.

Me too. Love the determination.

 

[Pedaaldanser]

Even if they're not the best riders, a united team will be really helpful. Menchov won this year's Giro with what some people would call a B-team, but they definately rose to the occasion (of defending the pink jersey) and rode way better than expected, helping their captain with the GT.

 

[eljimberino]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8F2ycQvAkI&feature=related

 

[richwagmn]

Anyone see any struggles from Contador leaving the Bruyneel camp? Astana's GC team is a bit of a mess and would be in the ranks of the lower French teams if they didn't have Contador pinned down. Bruyneel has only been beaten at the Tour once in the last 10 years. Also Bruyneel knows Contador's inside out and might be the only DS that can beat him.

Can we please try to keep this out of the clinic.

I think Astana will be fine. Astana realizes they don't have the powerhouse team of last year but, there are some good riders there and the motivation seems quite high.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I'm assuming this opinion is strongly influenced by Evans' flat and subsequent problems in getting his wheel changed, while Valverde, Basso and Gesink continued to ride on (at this year's Vuelta). You apparently didn't realize that if they had slowed their roll for Evans it would have allowed Sammie Sanchez to regain contact, because he was in the process of fighting to get back on with the elite group after getting dropped.

+1
As much as I have a dislike for valverde, it's a not very sportsman like thing to do like hammering away on a climb when someone's had a flat. It should be the best physical and tatical rider who has strong team support that wins the race, unfortunately it doesn't always work like that. If someone does that to you then you should rise above that an be the bigger man and a good, fair sportsmen.

 

[msjett]

+1
As much as I have a dislike for valverde, it's a not very sportsman like thing to do like hammering away on a climb when someone's had a flat. It should be the best physical and tatical rider who has strong team support that wins the race, unfortunately it doesn't always work like that. If someone does that to you then you should rise above that an be the bigger man and a good, fair sportsmen.

I Don't think that Cadel would have stopped had any of the others been in his position, think about how close the times where at that stage, everyone had to take every and any advantage they could get.

Also I think given the opportunity noone will stop or slow down for Contador if he has any issues this coming season, they will floor it.

And whether it is sporting or not is a matter of interpretation, if someone or something opens a door you go through it.

 

[Señor_Contador]

Hello all.

I think this year's Tour de France will be an interesting one. It's been a long time since we've seen a TdF as competititve as 2010's. Having said this, and getting back to subject, as far as Alberto goes his strategy will be to mark LA.

Everyone know's Lance is at the Tour to win it. His ego is too big to allow someone like Levy or Andreas to steal the limelight. I mean... the Texan's rhetoric will have you believe otherwise, but his goal is the Tour, and he made sure he'd pull Alberto's rug from under his feet after the Tour.

So... Contador's goal is to mark Lance, at first anyway, and see when he's having a bad day. The Spaniard already knows what Lance looks like when he's bonking (see Verbier), and he will see it again.

Needless to say, I think Lance will eventually fade and Alberto will have to look for someone else to mark. Probably Andy Schlek. If the Luxembourger puts enough time while Alberto marks LA then it could be interesting. But nothing more than that.

Barring a fall, I just don't see Armstrong, Evans, Valverde, Basso, Frank Schlek or Nibali posing any sort of credible threat.

Not only that, if Vino shows up in very good form and is indeed willing to help Alberto to the death... it could be lights out after the 3rd or 4th mountain stage for all non-Astanas.

The only Shackies I see aiming sort of high are Levy and Andreas.

Mark my words.

 

[icefire]

Hello all.

I think this year's Tour de France will be an interesting one. It's been a long time since we've seen a TdF as competititve as 2010's. Having said this, and getting back to subject, as far as Alberto goes his strategy will be to mark LA.

Everyone know's Lance is at the Tour to win it. His ego is too big to allow someone like Levy or Andreas to steal the limelight. I mean... the Texan's rhetoric will have you believe otherwise, but his goal is the Tour, and he made sure he'd pull Alberto's rug from under his feet after the Tour.

So... Contador's goal is to mark Lance, at first anyway, and see when he's having a bad day. The Spaniard already knows what Lance looks like when he's bonking (see Verbier), and he will see it again.

Needless to say, I think Lance will eventually fade and Alberto will have to look for someone else to mark. Probably Andy Schlek. If the Luxembourger puts enough time while Alberto marks LA then it could be interesting. But nothing more than that.

Barring a fall, I just don't see Armstrong, Evans, Valverde, Basso, Frank Schlek or Nibali posing any sort of credible threat.

Not only that, if Vino shows up in very good form and is indeed willing to help Alberto to the death... it could be lights out after the 3rd or 4th mountain stage for all non-Astanas.

The only Shackies I see aiming sort of high are Levy and Andreas.

Mark my words.

Nothing new for anyone who has read the last interviews by Alberto. He always states that he considers Andy Schleck as his main contender for the Tour. Regarding the Shacks, Alberto says that Levi has a Tour in his legs and recalls that he did very good ITT's at the end of GT's where he had some chance to win (Tour 2007 and Vuelta 2008). I guess Alberto is trying to create a state of opinion where everyone sees Levi and Andreas as the strongest riders in the Shacks and puts into question their sacrifice for the boss.

 

[Publicus]

Hello all.

I think this year's Tour de France will be an interesting one. It's been a long time since we've seen a TdF as competititve as 2010's. Having said this, and getting back to subject, as far as Alberto goes his strategy will be to mark LA.

Everyone know's Lance is at the Tour to win it. His ego is too big to allow someone like Levy or Andreas to steal the limelight. I mean... the Texan's rhetoric will have you believe otherwise, but his goal is the Tour, and he made sure he'd pull Alberto's rug from under his feet after the Tour.

So... Contador's goal is to mark Lance, at first anyway, and see when he's having a bad day. The Spaniard already knows what Lance looks like when he's bonking (see Verbier), and he will see it again.

Needless to say, I think Lance will eventually fade and Alberto will have to look for someone else to mark. Probably Andy Schlek. If the Luxembourger puts enough time while Alberto marks LA then it could be interesting. But nothing more than that.

Barring a fall, I just don't see Armstrong, Evans, Valverde, Basso, Frank Schlek or Nibali posing any sort of credible threat.

Not only that, if Vino shows up in very good form and is indeed willing to help Alberto to the death... it could be lights out after the 3rd or 4th mountain stage for all non-Astanas.

The only Shackies I see aiming sort of high are Levy and Andreas.

Mark my words.

I think he will mark Lance in the early stages, since that is more likely where Lance and Team Radio Shack will look to exploit their team strength (wind/cobbles). After that, I think his focus will rightly be on the guys who will represent the biggest threat in the mountains (the Brothers Schleck, Basso, Nibali, Gesink, Levi, etc). Unless Lance demonstrates that he has the top end that he had in 1999/2000, all the Radio Shack posturing and media campaigns in the world won't make him a legitimate contender for the podium.

 

[Rex Hunter]

I guess Alberto is trying to create a state of opinion where everyone sees Levi and Andreas as the strongest riders in the Shacks and puts into question their sacrifice for the boss.

Correct, this is the strategy of all Contador supporters. Despite Armstrong out climbing everyone apart from A Schleck and Contador by the end of his comeback tour when he was finally getting into the old routine, they try to spin that he will be worse than Levi and Andreas next time. It's a possibility but not one that is very likely. I guess it's all part of the psychological warfare.

 

[Publicus]

Correct, this is the strategy of all Contador supporters. Despite Armstrong out climbing everyone apart from A Schleck and Contador by the end of his comeback tour when he was finally getting into the old routine, they try to spin that he will be worse than Levi and Andreas next time. It's a possibility but not one that is very likely. I guess it's all part of the psychological warfare.

Of course he outclimbed Kloden on Ventoux. Kloden blew himself up trying to keep Lance in contention. He was the fourth strongest person on the team. Levi was injured and left before Verbier. Kloden was outclimbing him on ALL of the meaningful stages (Verbier, Stage 16, Stage 17) up until Ventoux when the TEAM was working for Lance's podium position. So yes, ultimately, Lance out climbed Kloden after Kloden turned himself inside out for Lance.

The only strategy being employed here is real world observation.

 

[Rex Hunter]

The only strategy being employed here is real world observation.

You're not a big fan of Armstrong so I don't thnk you are able to look at it rationally. Armstrong had not ridden the tour for four years so obviously was going to be out of sorts in the early stages, but he came back to outclimb Kloden on two of the final stages - the Ventoux and the one where Kloden blew up trying to follow Contador. There is no reason to believe, all things being equal next year, that Kloden or Levi will be better than him. We can't rule it out but given Armstrong's history it will be unlikely. I'm sure the bookies will reflect this.

It's in the interests of Contador fans to play this up as much as possible. It will probably only help Armstrong's motivation though.

 

[Publicus]

You're not a big fan of Armstrong so I don't thnk you are able to look at it rationally. Armstrong had not ridden the tour for four years so obviously was going to be out of sorts in the early stages, but he came back to outclimb Kloden on two of the final stages - the Ventoux and the one where Kloden blew up trying to follow Contador. There is no reason to believe, all things being equal next year, that Kloden or Levi will be better than him. We can't rule it out but given Armstrong's history it will be unlikely. I'm sure the bookies will reflect this.

It's in the interests of Contador fans to play this up as much as possible. It will probably only help Armstrong's motivation though.

And yet I just did.

On Stage 17, Kloden made the final selection, Armstrong did not. He only got back after Wiggins imploded (he was just sitting on his wheel the entire time).

And Contador fans aren't playing up anything. Armstrong is the one playing it up. Or did you miss the breathless media coverage of him declaring that it is no longer about him? That at 38 he would be foolish to have himself be the sole leader. Unless I missed something, he's CLEARLY not a Contador fan.

And btw, Verbier was stage 15. It wasn't an early stage.

 

[Rex Hunter]

Wiggins didn't really blow up. He just went to the limit of he could do and stayed at that pace. Armstrong waited until the right movement, stood up and blasted up the hill. It was very impressive. He then caught and passed Kloden.

 

[kurtinsc]

Of course he outclimbed Kloden on Ventoux. Kloden blew himself up trying to keep Lance in contention. He was the fourth strongest person on the team. Levi was injured and left before Verbier. Kloden was outclimbing him on ALL of the meaningful stages (Verbier, Stage 16, Stage 17) up until Ventoux when the TEAM was working for Lance's podium position. So yes, ultimately, Lance out climbed Kloden after Kloden turned himself inside out for Lance.

The only strategy being employed here is real world observation.

While this may be true... on Ventoux Lance did also outclimb Frank Schleck (who was definitely stronger earlier but supposedly had Andy Schleck working for him on Ventoux), Bradley Wiggins, Kreuziger, Nibali, Pellizotti et al on Ventoux as well.

Lance looked pretty weak early on, but later in the race he seemed to step up his climbing... not to A. Schleck/Contador level... but to a level equal pretty much everyone else in the race. Perhaps I can see Frank just having a bad day... he did kick Lance's **** on Le Grand Bornand... but at that point in the race Lance was alread equal to everyone other then the two schlecks and Contador.

Now perhaps his improving as it went on was his "great recovery". Or perhaps it was pharmaceutical in nature. But regardless of the cause, by the end of the race he was catching up or passing those that climbed better then him earlier in the race.

Andy and Contador are the two competing for the top step in my opinion... but Lance is definitely in the mix with everyone else for 3rd.

 

[Publicus]

While this may be true... on Ventoux Lance did also outclimb Frank Schleck (who was definitely stronger earlier but supposedly had Andy Schleck working for him on Ventoux), Bradley Wiggins, Kreuziger, Nibali, Pellizotti et al on Ventoux as well.

Lance looked pretty weak early on, but later in the race he seemed to step up his climbing... not to A. Schleck/Contador level... but to a level equal pretty much everyone else in the race. Perhaps I can see Frank just having a bad day... he did kick Lance's **** on Le Grand Bornand... but at that point in the race Lance was alread equal to everyone other then the two schlecks and Contador.

Now perhaps his improving as it went on was his "great recovery". Or perhaps it was pharmaceutical in nature. But regardless of the cause, by the end of the race he was catching up or passing those that climbed better then him earlier in the race.

Andy and Contador are the two competing for the top step in my opinion... but Lance is definitely in the mix with everyone else for 3rd.

By a whopping 2 seconds. And I don't dispute that Lance finished better than several riders, but I think that was the function of those riders killing themselves earlier and recovery (whether aided or otherwise).

 

[Ferminal]

Now perhaps his improving as it went on was his "great recovery". Or perhaps it was pharmaceutical in nature. But regardless of the cause, by the end of the race he was catching up or passing those that climbed better then him earlier in the race.

Would be interesting to see how it coincides with the blood values he withdrew from publication.

I do agree with you though and as you say though it's irrelevant to this discussion.

 

[Rex Hunter]

Go back to the clinic where you belong.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Correct, this is the strategy of all Contador supporters. Despite Armstrong out climbing everyone apart from A Schleck and Contador by the end of his comeback tour when he was finally getting into the old routine, they try to spin that he will be worse than Levi and Andreas next time. It's a possibility but not one that is very likely. I guess it's all part of the psychological warfare.

Yep, I guess it was an illusion when Evans, Sastre, and Frank left Armstrong in their wake on Verbier.

Levi wasn't even there at that point. Did you watch the Tour at all?

 

[kurtinsc]

By a whopping 2 seconds. And I don't dispute that Lance finished better than several riders, but I think that was the function of those riders killing themselves earlier and recovery (whether aided or otherwise).

I don't know if the 2-seconds was indicative. It felt to me watching the race that Lance probably could have dropped Frank on that climb... but it may just be that he had a very good poker face and was really holding on. To my eye... Lance looked like he had quite a bit left in the tank after that climb, but was doing the strategicly correct thing and just marking those that could take the podium place away. Frank looked like he didn't have anything left.

FYI, according to the tour site there were 7 mountain stages (we all know that all 7 weren't significant, but it's what we got). The following GC riders gained 20+ seconds on Lance in each stage.

7: Contador (21 seconds)
8: None
9: None (unless you include Pellizoti who got 34 seconds on a break)
15: Contador (1.35), A. Schlect (.52), Nibali, F. Schleck, Wiggins, Sastre (.33)
16: None (unless you include guys like Van Den Brouke or Pellizoti who were allowed to escape)
17: The Schlecks and Contador (2.18).
20: None

If people want to argue Frank Schleck will do better then Armstrong... I'm not going to fuss much. There's a definite argument there. But even with less TT kilometers then last year... Frank is still giving up a minute or two due to his TT ability.

The only stage Lance really struggled was Verbier. On Grand Bornand, yes the top 3 got away, but lance put 39 seconds on Wiggins, 1.51 on Vandevelde and 4+ minutes on everyone else of note asside from the top 3 and Nibali (who finished with Lance).

Lance isn't going to win without something unforseen happening to Contador and A. Schleck... but I think he IS capable of beating anyone else without a drastic occurrence. I'm not saying he WILL... just that he'll be in the mix.

 

[Cerberus]

Yep, I guess it was an illusion when Evans, Sastre, and Frank left Armstrong in their wake on Verbier.

Levi wasn't even there at that point. Did you watch the Tour at all?

Shush, the 2 second gap on Ventoux is clearly what counts.

ETA: I agree with Kurtinsc that the third spot on the podium is a possibility. I don't think he'll make it, but I won't eat my hat if he does.