Contador 2010

[Publicus]

How should Alberto's new team mates at Astana feel about this news?
(copied from El Imbatido's post from "general news")




http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/2...ed&utm_campaign=Feed:+velonation_pro_cycling+

Not surprised that's for sure. Frankly it is way early for Quick Step to be throwing their weight around. They were bidding for AC when he wasn't a complete free agent. If he wins the TdF this year (or god forbid the Tour/Vuelta double), do you really think Quick Step has the bank to keep him if he wants to go elsewhere? Lot's of variables and obviously lots of things could change, but if he has a good year, this may be quite the bidding war in the off season (wouldn't be surprised to see Radio Shack throw their weight around if possible).

 

[Race Radio]

How should Alberto's new team mates at Astana feel about this news?
(copied from El Imbatido's post from "general news")




http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/2...ed&utm_campaign=Feed:+velonation_pro_cycling+

This is classic Lefevere, mostly smoke. I would be shocked if AC rides for QS next year.

 

[auscyclefan94]

This is classic Lefevere, mostly smoke. I would be shocked if AC rides for QS next year.

hasn't he left a spot vacant so he can have a red hot go at contador for next year?

 

[BroDeal]

Don't tanning beds cause cancer?

It is not a tanning bed. Armstrong's odd color comes from bronzer tanning products. When combined with real sun, they create a "tan" that is too dark and an unnatural color. If he continues then he will have a really strange and very dark skin color.

Armstrong in a few years:

 

[Race Radio]

hasn't he left a spot vacant so he can have a red hot go at contador for next year?

I do not believe a thing Lefevre says.

 

[lagartija]

This is classic Lefevere, mostly smoke. I would be shocked if AC rides for QS next year.

agreed, i dont put much stock in Patric's comments either............

 

[burninglegs]

I question whether Contador needed those experienced riders from Astana last year.
He could have won the tour without them. He will have to watch out racing on the cobblestones, but he will be fine in the mountains and in the time trial.
Let's see how he and the current Astana team performs in the races leading up to the Tour.
I hope he decides to also ride in the Vuelta this year. I want to see Liquigas attack the GC classification this year.

 

[peloton]

I'm interested to see given Lefevere's latests comments if QS will somehow protect AC on the cobbled/flat stages.

 

[ravens]

apologize for not having read the whole thread, I have to keep looking up to the title to see if I am in the AC thread or the Lance thread. lotta good that Lance stickie is doing.

My question is this: How does he go about preparing for the cobbles. He said (from memory, so please don't give me the unlimited abuse for any poster that gets a fact wrong) that he did not plan to do any cobbles training?

what should he prepare for. Is his light weight a problem?

What do you expect the team's strategy will be to protect him? what would be a rivals team's strategy to put him in a difficult position on cobbles?

 

[Publicus]

apologize for not having read the whole thread, I have to keep looking up to the title to see if I am in the AC thread or the Lance thread. lotta good that Lance stickie is doing.

My question is this: How does he go about preparing for the cobbles. He said (from memory, so please don't give me the unlimited abuse for any postert hat gets a fact wrong) that he did not plan to do any cobbles training?

what should he prepare for. Is his light weight a problem?

What do you expect the team's strategy will be to protect him? what would be a rivals team's strategy to put him in a difficult position on cobbles?

He actually said the opposite. He will be doing specific training in Belgium next month ahead of the Volta ao Algarvae. I think the other idea is that as many of his potential domestiques will do the Spring Classics to learn the route and familiarize themselves with the terrain.

As for the strategy, the obvious one is to be in the front and/or as close to the likes of Quick Step (or other classics teams) as possible. Of course, all of the GC contenders are going to take a similar tact. Maybe the real smart move is to try and get in the break. That wouldn't be expected. As for how to put him to difficulty, really it's the terrain and his team's inability to maintain contact with any accelerations. Mayo was with the Armstrong group until he crashed in 2004.

 

[maltiv]

apologize for not having read the whole thread, I have to keep looking up to the title to see if I am in the AC thread or the Lance thread. lotta good that Lance stickie is doing.

My question is this: How does he go about preparing for the cobbles. He said (from memory, so please don't give me the unlimited abuse for any postert hat gets a fact wrong) that he did not plan to do any cobbles training?

what should he prepare for. Is his light weight a problem?

What do you expect the team's strategy will be to protect him? what would be a rivals team's strategy to put him in a difficult position on cobbles?

His team doesn't really have any vastly experienced "cobblestone riders" who can help him out and defend him. This means that he might have troubles knowing where on the cobbles he should ride (that plays a vital role, the difference is huge sometimes), while the Schlecks for example can just mindlessly follow the wheels of Cancellara, who is an expert at this area.

Also, If Contador does not have enough support/experience, he could easily fall too far behind in the peloton and miss the split that always happens on cobbles, thus losing a lot of time. Expect Saxo Bank to attempt to blow the race apart for this to happen. Another team that will attempt to ride the highest possible pace is Team Sky - with EBH, Flecha and Kurt they definitely have the experience and the power, and in addition, Bradley is probably the best of the GC riders when it comes to riding cobbles (he was 25th in paris-roubaix).

 

[Angliru]

Isn't an equally important issue the jockeying for position on the uncobbled roads that lead to the cobbled sections? Will Astana be tactically savvy and strong enough to competently battle for the desired position near the front to avoid the inevitable crash(es) that may occur further back in the peloton?
I recall Mayo crashed on the road just before a cobbled section.

 

[Polish]

Will Astana be tactically savvy and strong enough to competently battle for the desired position near the front to avoid the inevitable crash(es) .

Expect Vino and the Kazaks to be at the front, no-looking-back attacking...you know, to clear the way for Alberto behind them.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Expect Vino and the Kazaks to be at the front, no-looking-back attacking...you know, to clear the way for Alberto behind them.

Lance will be right behind Vino with you attached to his shorts.

 

[ravens]

Lance will be right behind Vino with you attached to his shorts.

I wonder what Phil and Paul will say when that is shown on the telly!

thanks for a very funny visual.

 

[Polish]

Lance will be right behind Vino with you attached to his shorts.

It would be naughty if RadioShack forms an alliance with Vino and the Kazaks.

But BMC/BigGeorge/Cadel may find it to their advantage to team up with Radioshack.

Hopefully it will be an entertaining and brutal stage/tour

 

[Cerberus]

It would be naughty if RadioShack forms an alliance with Vino and the Kazaks.

But BMC/BigGeorge/Cadel may find it to their advantage to team up with Radioshack.

The way I see it everyone with a hope of winning the GC might find it to their advantage to team up against AC on that stage.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Saxo Bank and BMC hold the best cards on the cobbles.
Vino will pilot AC through the difficult parts just fine. The ****ers who keep yapping about Vino being a bad teammate are just that. ****ers.

 

[peloton]

The way I see it everyone with a hope of winning the GC might find it to their advantage to team up against AC on that stage.

And if Lefevere thinks/knows Contador will be joining his team in 2011, I'd bet QS will make sure he stays protected.

Going to be interesting.

 

[peloton]

Saxo Bank and BMC hold the best cards on the cobbles.
Vino will pilot AC through the difficult parts just fine. The ****ers who keep yapping about Vino being a bad teammate are just that. ****ers.

agree but the problem is if the ASO will allow Vino to ride.

 

[python]

And if Lefevere thinks/knows Contador will be joining his team in 2011, I'd bet QS will make sure he stays protected.

Going to be interesting.

agreed. and as we learned in 2009 he has other friends in the peloton who are from spain and willing to help. armstrong can't suck up their water. the cobbles are overrated anyway..

 

[Polish]

The ****ers who keep yapping about Vino being a bad teammate are just that. ****ers.

Vino is a Great Team Mate IMO!

Team=Astana
Mate=Alberto

Come July, if Vino is in good form, and Alberto is doing his last race in the glorious uniform of Astana, soon to jump ship and enter a High Euro bidding war for 2011 - do you think Vino should place the emphasis on Team or Mate?

VP of the Kazakh cycling federation Nikolai Proskurin and sponsor Samruk-Kazyna would not mind seeing Vino make the podium.

 

[Publicus]

Vino is a Great Team Mate IMO!

Team=Astana
Mate=Alberto

Come July, if Vino is in good form, and Alberto is doing his last race in the glorious uniform of Astana, soon to jump ship and enter a High Euro bidding war for 2011 - do you think Vino should place the emphasis on Team or Mate?

VP of the Kazakh cycling federation Nikolai Proskurin and sponsor Samruk-Kazyna would not mind seeing Vino make the podium.

Vino has no chance to make podium. The Glorious Nation's best hopes lie with Alberto Contador. My guess is that if they can, they will make a serious effort to retain his services in 2011 and beyond.

 

[ravens]

Vino has no chance to make podium. The Glorious Nation's best hopes lie with Alberto Contador. My guess is that if they can, they will make a serious effort to retain his services in 2011 and beyond.

They (management/ownership) always seem to find the cash when they absolutely must dig into the piggy bank. But if they can welch on an obligation with impunity, they will do it. That's old school.

 

[python]

Vino has no chance to make podium. The Glorious Nation's best hopes lie with Alberto Contador. My guess is that if they can, they will make a serious effort to retain his services in 2011 and beyond.

any speculation that vino will ride again anywhere outside astana are unfounded. he said so a gazillion of times: his goal is dsing/managing at astana if the team goes on. my educated guess is the team will go on as long as he is willing to stick around in whatever capacity. the noteworthy and important context is that there is TRUST between vino and berto. it would never be possible for him to stay if there wasn't. vino will ride the giro for a podium. he said so. he knows a podium at the tour with berto, andy, wiggo, nibali is a very remote possibility. i believe he's shooting for a stage at the tour and getting a 3d tour for berto. anyone doubting vino's loyalty is up for a surprise.