Contador 2010

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Hugh Januss

Hugh Januss

Jul 9, 2009
7,862
1,274
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maltiv said:
Either that, or AC will just accelerate at the bottom of the climb, leaving everyone behind. Tactics and strong teams doesn't really help when no one can follow his acceleration.
Click to expand...

He might not have to if Vino is the first to attack (based on past performance, not unlikely) then it will be RS and Saxo that will have to decide whether or not they will chase. Alberto can then do his blinding acceleration thing near the top.
 
thehog

thehog

BANNED
Jul 27, 2009
31,285
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Publicus said:
What I appreciate most about him: he's a straight shooter.
Click to expand...

He's a very intelligent man. The statment below is the truest reflection of the 09 Tour I've read. The 09 route has given Armstrong a false sense of security about his own ability. The route held back A.Shleck
& Contador. At times Shleck was getting frustrated at the lack of opportunity to attack. He's clearly seen dropping back to the team car & raising his hands in frustration at Riis.

"The route was definitely designed to create uncertainty," Contador says, "and that meant the overall classification didn't reflect how things were in reality."
 
python

python

Sep 25, 2009
7,527
1
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thehog said:
He's a very intelligent man. The statment below is the truest reflection of the 09 Tour I've read. The 09 route has given Armstrong a false sense of security about his own ability. The route held back A.Shleck
& Contador. At times Shleck was getting frustrated at the lack of opportunity to attack. He's clearly seen dropping back to the team car & raising his hands in frustration at Riis.

"The route was definitely designed to create uncertainty," Contador says, "and that meant the overall classification didn't reflect how things were in reality."
Click to expand...
not only hes very intelligent. berto also analyzed the last years race and armstrong with the sense of proportion and restraint. at times when a swear word was due to properly describe what hes been exposed to, he just smiled or as the author put it used an understatement.

Compare that with armstrong's bombastic insulting trash talk about berto in his interview with de telegraaf.

sometimes i wonder why certain people ignore clear evidence. o well:eek:
 
B

bianchigirl

Mar 18, 2009
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There speaks a true champion. Had Contador been riding 1999 onwards, Armstrong wouldn't have won 1 GT, let alone 7 and he knows it. That's why it's so personal with Contador - because Armstrong knows they're not at all dissimilar except when it comes to having class, on and off the bike.
 
S

ScottyMuser

Jan 6, 2010
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The problem, as I see it, this year for AC is NOT marking the Shack team (as pure climbers, NONE of Levi/AK/LA are going to be able to beat A/Perreiro/Vino on a mountain stage, AC is a better TT now than the Shack as well, and AC also has the likes of Tiralonga/Hernandez in the mountains).
IF JB/LA force the team to stick with LA and ride for him, the problems I can see for AC is the Schlecks keeping it together (with the likes of Voigt/Rasmussen helping), but for me, on the mountains, you can't help but be impressed with the strength of Liquigas:
Nibali/Basso as co-leaders (one a former GT rider and good clikber, the other 6th in last year TDF as a young rider, excellent climber) with to help them up:
Kreuzeiger (9th last TDF, good climber/domestique in mountains)/Pellizotti (winner Polka dot last year iee. good climber)/Smzyd(highly rated young rider by many, meant to be good climber IIRC)/Zaugg (has shown he can climb in the past)
Thats a pretty impressive 6 (if they take all 6 - they may not take both Zaugg/Szymd tbh, and pick another sprinter to help Bannati/Sabbatini).
What do others think?
 
mr. tibbs

mr. tibbs

Mar 10, 2009
2,278
4
11,485
ScottyMuser said:
The problem, as I see it, this year for AC is NOT marking the Shack team (as pure climbers, NONE of Levi/AK/LA are going to be able to beat A/Perreiro/Vino on a mountain stage, AC is a better TT now than the Shack as well, and AC also has the likes of Tiralonga/Hernandez in the mountains).
IF JB/LA force the team to stick with LA and ride for him, the problems I can see for AC is the Schlecks keeping it together (with the likes of Voigt/Rasmussen helping), but for me, on the mountains, you can't help but be impressed with the strength of Liquigas:
Nibali/Basso as co-leaders (one a former GT rider and good clikber, the other 6th in last year TDF as a young rider, excellent climber) with to help them up:
Kreuzeiger (9th last TDF, good climber/domestique in mountains)/Pellizotti (winner Polka dot last year iee. good climber)/Smzyd(highly rated young rider by many, meant to be good climber IIRC)/Zaugg (has shown he can climb in the past)
Thats a pretty impressive 6 (if they take all 6 - they may not take both Zaugg/Szymd tbh, and pick another sprinter to help Bannati/Sabbatini).
What do others think?
Click to expand...

I would LOVE to see Liquigas doing some damage in the hills! Unfortunately, I think the only plausible threat to Contador is a Schleck. A Schleck, to be precise. No matter how much clever thinking Brunyeel does, Contador will still ride his bike faster than any of the RS boys. Ditto for Liquigas, but I would really like to see Basso show some of that old form and Nibali continue to develop.

As for the sprints, if Liquigas hopes to match the Columbia train, they're going to need to focus too much on the flat stages, which--as your post implies--is not the strong point of their team anymore.
 
S

ScottyMuser

Jan 6, 2010
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mr. tibbs said:
I would LOVE to see Liquigas doing some damage in the hills! Unfortunately, I think the only plausible threat to Contador is a Schleck. A Schleck, to be precise. No matter how much clever thinking Brunyeel does, Contador will still ride his bike faster than any of the RS boys. Ditto for Liquigas, but I would really like to see Basso show some of that old form and Nibali continue to develop.

As for the sprints, if Liquigas hopes to match the Columbia train, they're going to need to focus too much on the flat stages, which--as your post implies--is not the strong point of their team anymore.
Click to expand...

Indeed, so would I (as a Britain) would LOVE to see Liquigas cause chaos, as I feel that if they did (with say an attack by Pelizotti/Kreuzeiger leading out Basso/Nibali), only Contador and the 2 Schlecks could live with them (and dropping ALL of RS in the process). The problem with them as far as I see it, is even if they pulled such stunts and got Nibali/Basso up the road from RS, the Schlecks and Contador would still be able to at min stay with them, and AC would DESTROY them over 2 ITTs to make time up if he fell a few secs behind.

As for the supporting Bennati, thats just me idly wondering from their squad, how many I had heard of (and therefore what they would do) - I can't see them doing it, they probably will still take Bennatti as an engine for the flat stages if nothing else, but will then just pick a mountain goats team, mjuch like Euskatel do! They'll probably aim again for at least 2 in the top 10 (Basso instead of Kreuzeiger one would think), with the aim of maybe a third Kreuzeiger too - and having Pellizotti defending his KOM title maybe on the way of dragging BAsso/Nibali up the really big mountains if they need any help
 
Publicus

Publicus

Mar 17, 2009
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Clemson Cycling said:
It is going to take at least a two headed monster (Radioshack, Liquigas, or Saxo Bank) to break Contador at the Tour this year.
Click to expand...

That didn't work this year (Brothers Schleck), but that's not saying that it won't. What I think is implicit in everyone's analysis about how to beat AC is that his team will disappear. We don't know if that is true. Frankly, I'm looking forward to seeing if Astana can deliver him to victory (get the jersey and defend it) not just at the TdF, but Paris-Nice or Cataluyna or Tour of the Basque Country.

The other factor not being considered is the impact of hubris on the other teams. I would gather that Radio Shack is supremely confident that of their own strength, but also Astana's weakness. How do they recovery psychologically if Astana isn't weak? So much of their marketing and build up is toward a showdown with AC and Astana, I suspect it might throw them off their games.

Obviously, I'm playing devil's advocate and projecting a bit ;) but that's what internet forums are for, right?
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
I agree. I'm looking for the TDU to see early form for Pereiro, Jufre and Strangelj, and for the camp announcement with more detailed race assignments. Levi and Frank are doing a lot of the stage races with Alberto, so it would be good to see him with some early wins, specially in the event with LA.

I think it all gets serious with Paris-Nice, when they plan to work on strategy and team dynamics. I'm really excited to watch "the dregs" prove they aren't.
 
tjwracer

tjwracer

Dec 23, 2009
42
0
0
Publicus said:
That didn't work this year (Brothers Schleck), but that's not saying that it won't. What I think is implicit in everyone's analysis about how to beat AC is that his team will disappear. We don't know if that is true. Frankly, I'm looking forward to seeing if Astana can deliver him to victory (get the jersey and defend it) not just at the TdF, but Paris-Nice or Cataluyna or Tour of the Basque Country.

The other factor not being considered is the impact of hubris on the other teams. I would gather that Radio Shack is supremely confident that of their own strength, but also Astana's weakness. How do they recovery psychologically if Astana isn't weak? So much of their marketing and build up is toward a showdown with AC and Astana, I suspect it might throw them off their games.

Obviously, I'm playing devil's advocate and projecting a bit ;) but that's what internet forums are for, right?
Click to expand...



On the Verbier stage they had contador hurting though andy will be more developed aswell it is very possible that those two or a duo from Liquigas could pul it off nobody from Radio Shack has the climbing legs to hang with them.
 
hfer07

hfer07

Mar 17, 2009
8,421
959
19,680
ScottyMuser said:
The problem, as I see it, this year for AC is NOT marking the Shack team (as pure climbers, NONE of Levi/AK/LA are going to be able to beat A/Perreiro/Vino on a mountain stage, AC is a better TT now than the Shack as well, and AC also has the likes of Tiralonga/Hernandez in the mountains).
IF JB/LA force the team to stick with LA and ride for him, the problems I can see for AC is the Schlecks keeping it together (with the likes of Voigt/Rasmussen helping), but for me, on the mountains, you can't help but be impressed with the strength of Liquigas:
Nibali/Basso as co-leaders (one a former GT rider and good clikber, the other 6th in last year TDF as a young rider, excellent climber) with to help them up:
Kreuzeiger (9th last TDF, good climber/domestique in mountains)/Pellizotti (winner Polka dot last year iee. good climber)/Smzyd(highly rated young rider by many, meant to be good climber IIRC)/Zaugg (has shown he can climb in the past)
Thats a pretty impressive 6 (if they take all 6 - they may not take both Zaugg/Szymd tbh, and pick another sprinter to help Bannati/Sabbatini).
What do others think?
Click to expand...

??????????????????when did Rasmussen sign with Saxo??????????????:confused:
 
tjwracer

tjwracer

Dec 23, 2009
42
0
0
ScottyMuser said:
Indeed, so would I (as a Britain) would LOVE to see Liquigas cause chaos, as I feel that if they did (with say an attack by Pelizotti/Kreuzeiger leading out Basso/Nibali), only Contador and the 2 Schlecks could live with them (and dropping ALL of RS in the process). The problem with them as far as I see it, is even if they pulled such stunts and got Nibali/Basso up the road from RS, the Schlecks and Contador would still be able to at min stay with them, and AC would DESTROY them over 2 ITTs to make time up if he fell a few secs behind.

As for the supporting Bennati, thats just me idly wondering from their squad, how many I had heard of (and therefore what they would do) - I can't see them doing it, they probably will still take Bennatti as an engine for the flat stages if nothing else, but will then just pick a mountain goats team, mjuch like Euskatel do! They'll probably aim again for at least 2 in the top 10 (Basso instead of Kreuzeiger one would think), with the aim of maybe a third Kreuzeiger too - and having Pellizotti defending his KOM title maybe on the way of dragging BAsso/Nibali up the really big mountains if they need any help
Click to expand...



The team I see challenging Columbias train is Garmin that have been close but now that train is much stronger
 
franciep10

franciep10

Apr 12, 2009
1,087
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Well at least we're discussing 2010, as I have said before contador is the best climber I've ever seen or heard about he is also a great time trialist If he can trust his team to mark attacks in the mountains and to protect him on the flats he will win and become a 5 time grand tour winner.
 
F

Ferminal

Jul 3, 2009
18,948
5
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Clemson Cycling said:
It is going to take at least a two headed monster (Radioshack, Liquigas, or Saxo Bank) to break Contador at the Tour this year.
Click to expand...

It's going to take something outside the box isn't it? If teams just roll up to the last climb of the day expecting their leaders to out climb Contador, he wins by 5mins.
 
Publicus

Publicus

Mar 17, 2009
11,341
1
22,485
tjwracer said:
On the Verbier stage they had contador hurting though andy will be more developed aswell it is very possible that those two or a duo from Liquigas could pul it off nobody from Radio Shack has the climbing legs to hang with them.
Click to expand...

If by hurting you mean putting 43 seconds and minute plus into both Schleck Brothers, then yeah, I agree. They were killing him.
 
lagartija

lagartija

Jul 26, 2009
364
0
0
Ferminal said:
It's going to take something outside the box isn't it? If teams just roll up to the last climb of the day expecting their leaders to out climb Contador, he wins by 5mins.
Click to expand...

funny , but oh so true.............:)
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Astana frames for 2010

I'm not big on starting new threads, so I thought I'd add this for the Contador curious. Specialize has a FaceBook page, and they posted 12 pics of the new Tarmac SL3 in Astana colors. Personally, I'm not sure about the black, and you can probably see the "S Works" in helicopter shots, but it's about the bikes and technology, so...

http://ow.ly/Uk3s

Here's one of the four Specialized videos of Contador from Pisa - where he rides and talks about the bike. For subtitles click CC on the bottom right corner of the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aFTq8pYhb8&feature=player_embedded
 
K

kurtinsc

Nov 17, 2009
2,388
0
0
Publicus said:
If by hurting you mean putting 43 seconds and minute plus into both Schleck Brothers, then yeah, I agree. They were killing him.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure he was talking about Grand Bornand... not Verbier.

But even then, I'm not sure his point is accurate.
 
S

Señor_Contador

Jul 22, 2009
754
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If my memory serves me right... Contador was not hurting at Grand Bornand either. I mean... he did attack but was unable to drop the Schlecks, but he wasn't hurting. Or so I think.

The only time I saw him "bittin' hard" was at the Ventoux, when Andy (and the mountain) had everyone taking mighty big breaths.
 
S

Señor_Contador

Jul 22, 2009
754
1
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As far as Alberto's season is concerned, looks like everyone in his team will be willing to work for him, including Vino. Thus his approach to the season will be an easy one compared to last year.

As far as his tactics are concerned, he will most likely try to test everone on the Morzine-Avoriaz or Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne stages, especially the last one, which includes the infamous Madeleine, which he knows Lance hates, so he will most likely attack there with Vino to put some time on everyone.

Nonetheless, Contador's mind is in the Pyrenees. He will attack, for sure, and I bet my left nut on this, on Ax-3 Domaines. This climbs is reminiscent of Verbier, and Alberto loves that climb. If I were Andy, Frank, Cadel, Levy, Bradley, Lance or Nibali I'd be crapping major bricks right about then, because that is going to be a haaaaaard day for everyone.

If everything is undecided by this stage, which I doubt, the Pau and Bagnéres stages can be decisive, but I doubt it.

And if time gaps are not to Alberto's liking he will have the Tourmalet a second time just in case he's got to lay down the law.

The time trial will decide # 3-5, but that's about it.
 
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