Contador 2010

[Publicus]

- He is a legend, yes?

“A hard day with a lot of tension,” Contador wrote on Twitter. “My leg didn’t permit me to use my normal pedal stroke but I hope that with (physical therapy) and time, it will get better.”
Contador said he has now gotten beyond the point of thinking about abandoning Paris-Nice this year.
I think today was really the hardest for me,” he said. “I am not going home now. I was able to finish and I am in a good position (on GC), so I’ll continue, for sure.”

Without a shadow of doubt, the answer is no. He's had a decent 2.5 year run, but legend is putting WAY too much on it. Let's revisit this conversation in five years or so.

 

[luckyboy]

Merckx, Gimondi, Hinault, Antequil and AC are the only guys who have won all 3 GTs. If he wins 3 or 4 more, I'd say he could be considered a 'legend' - only after he has retired though. Maybe there should be a thread asking who people consider to be legends of cycling..

 

[thehog]

Merckx, Gimondi, Hinault, Antequil and AC are the only guys who have won all 3 GTs. If he wins 3 or 4 more, I'd say he could be considered a 'legend' - only after he has retired though. Maybe there should be a thread asking who people consider to be legends of cycling..

You mean only after he has retired and then made a money-grabbing comeback?

 

[thehog]

New race schedule:

Contador said that last week’s Paris-Nice was taxing on both physical and mental levels. As a result, he has opted not to compete in the upcoming Volta a Catalunya (March 22-28) or the Vuelta al País Vasco (April 5-10).
Contador will, instead, race in the Criterium International (March 27 and 28), the Vuelta a Castilla y León (April 14-18) and then take a stab at two major spring classics, Fleche Wallonne (April 21) and Liège-Bastogne-Liège (April 25).

 

[hfer07]

New race schedule:

Contador said that last week’s Paris-Nice was taxing on both physical and mental levels. As a result, he has opted not to compete in the upcoming Volta a Catalunya (March 22-28) or the Vuelta al País Vasco (April 5-10).
Contador will, instead, race in the Criterium International (March 27 and 28), the Vuelta a Castilla y León (April 14-18) and then take a stab at two major spring classics, Fleche Wallonne (April 21) and Liège-Bastogne-Liège (April 25).

has LA heard already of this? - He's probably checking with JB what can be done to skip any encounter with Alberto at all

 

[thehog]

has LA heard already of this? - He's probably checking with JB what can be done to skip any encounter with Alberto at all

Correct.

JB: "We're doing more racing to improve Lance's fitness" ; “err actually now we’re doing less racing because he's too fit”

 

[Bike Boy]

And here is the link.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-to-face-armstrong-in-criterium-international

This so much fun can't wait to see the race. what a brilliant move by Contador. Usually this is Armstrongs weapon (changing schedule), but now that tactic backfires.

Last year by this time Contador had a lot to learn (joke), but now Armstrong must be very proud with the progress of his student (irony intended).

 

[DavidVilla7]

I was really looking forward to Catalunya and Pais Vasco.
But still, it will be interessting to see him in the classics.

 

[Bag_O_Wallet]

Contador and Armstrong at Crit. Int., eh? I can't wait to see the awkward start-line photos of the two of them together! I suspect it will be a bit like the shot of Armstrong, Ullrich, and Pantani at Murcia in 2001.

I wonder who'll get to play Jan's role this time?

 

[franciep10]

Contador and Armstrong at Crit. Int., eh? I can't wait to see the awkward start-line photos of the two of them together! I suspect it will be a bit like the shot of Armstrong, Ullrich, and Pantani at Murcia in 2001.

I wonder who'll get to play Jan's role this time?

With his new found waste line I guess Lance is now Jan.

 

[theswordsman]

I was really looking forward to Catalunya and Pais Vasco.
But still, it will be interessting to see him in the classics.

I was too. But it's a good sign that he's willing to trust his new Astana advisers and step away from what worked last year, and entering a couple of races where he definitely won't be considered a favorite. Hopefully it will mean that some other Astana riders have a chance to step up and get results on their own without putting the squad under the pressure of expectations. I also kind of hope that fewer days of racing this Spring might lead to a trip to the Vuelta this year.

But in the short term, Stage One of Criterium International could be a Shot Heard Around The World in a lot of ways. Four climbs, each a bit higher than the one before, and a mountain top finish of 14.2 kilometers at 6.2%. There isn't an opinion or a tweet or full scale media spin that can hide the truth of that climb.

 

[No_Balls]

New race schedule:

Contador said that last week’s Paris-Nice was taxing on both physical and mental levels. As a result, he has opted not to compete in the upcoming Volta a Catalunya (March 22-28) or the Vuelta al País Vasco (April 5-10).
Contador will, instead, race in the Criterium International (March 27 and 28), the Vuelta a Castilla y León (April 14-18) and then take a stab at two major spring classics, Fleche Wallonne (April 21) and Liège-Bastogne-Liège (April 25).

Great to see him in all these classics. He ain´t a favourite for this ones but he is real with his respect for the sport.

 

[Francois the Postman]

I also kind of hope that fewer days of racing this Spring might lead to a trip to the Vuelta this year.

I would be amazed if he didn't do it. If the Tour hadn't been as sour, and the Autumn had been "normal" in Team Astana, I'm sure he would have raced it, as he seems to prefer racing over sitting things out. But given the summer experience, it was no wonder that he packed it in for the year after that.

 

[Polish]

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.

The "Contador 2010" thread is getting its rear end handed to it
by the "Armstrong Thread 2010".

I realize it is only early spring, but what gives?

Is there enough time for the Contador 2010 thread to catch up with the Lance 2010 thread?

BTW, has Astana recieved THE OFFICIAL invite to the TdF by the ASO yet?
(No, I do not mean the UCI ProTour Team automatic invite lol - I mean the in writing OFFICIAL INVITE direct from the ASO...)

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

The "Contador 2010" thread is getting its rear end handed to it
by the "Armstrong Thread 2010".

I realize it is only early spring, but what gives?

Is there enough time for the Contador 2010 thread to catch up with the Lance 2010 thread?

BTW, has Astana recieved THE OFFICIAL invite to the TdF by the ASO yet?
(No, I do not mean the UCI ProTour Team automatic invite lol - I mean the in writing OFFICIAL INVITE direct from the ASO...)

Well, we have to let Cartstrong and his dingleberries win something this year.

 

[Francois the Postman]

Yeah, if only LA showed up in an actual race that mattered we wouldn't need to keep posting in the Lance thread. But indeed, it is only March.

 

[theswordsman]

I would be amazed if he didn't do it. If the Tour hadn't been as sour, and the Autumn had been "normal" in Team Astana, I'm sure he would have raced it, as he seems to prefer racing over sitting things out. But given the summer experience, it was no wonder that he packed it in for the year after that.

I'm sure you're right. He raced a number of crits, but there was no way he was going to listen to Bruyneel for one more day. But I guess contract considerations could come into play as well, assuming that he'll be moving on after this year. But Astana is paying him big money, Specialized paid big money, and Martinelli wants him to make the most of his potential. Fingers crossed for the double.

 

[reyan12]

I'm sure you're right. He raced a number of crits, but there was no way he was going to listen to Bruyneel for one more day. But I guess contract considerations could come into play as well, assuming that he'll be moving on after this year. But Astana is paying him big money, Specialized paid big money, and Martinelli wants him to make the most of his potential. Fingers crossed for the double.

the chances are great that he can/will do the double!

 

[El Imbatido]

the chances are great that he can/will do the double!

Yes he might possibly do the Giro/Tour double this year. Borrowed this off Ak-zaaf from the general news thread:

Cicloweb.it speculates that Alberto Contador might be a surprise addition to the Giro d&#8217]

 

[theswordsman]

the chances are great that he can/will do the double!

I hope so, but my concerns then become the Team Time Trial, and like he said, what the team has left after the Tour de France. I wouldn't expect Vino to do a third grand tour (if he's allowed to ride the TdF). If they need all there strongest riders for the Tour, wouldn't they need pretty much the identical squad a month later?

Still, the whole season is there to play out and I'm sure surprises and twists.

 

[theswordsman]

Yes he might possibly do the Giro/Tour double this year. Borrowed this off Ak-zaaf from the general news thread:

I just checked my twitter feed for links to a couple of articles about Martinelli and the possibility of a double. Translated by Google.

http://www.as.com/ciclismo/articulo...-facil-pedalea/dasclm/20100116dasdaicic_3/Tes

Contador not rule two great laps run this year and gives it as insurance for 2011. This year will be the Tour and Vuelta, the next, the Tour and eventually choose between Giro and Vuelta. Contador just turned 27 and have enough time left to go meet the targets they would place him among the best cyclists of all time.

http://www.as.com/opinion/articulo/contador-grandes/dasclm/20100116dasdaiopi_11/Tes

Contador fans who haven't seen the link from Criterium International thread might want to read this Versus article and leave a comment for Bob Roll.

http://www.versus.com/blogs/bobkes-bike-beat/a-tale-of-two-champions/

 

[python]

pereiro speaks warmly about astana, vino's role in contador's staying with the team, and the team spirit.

googled

"If Contador is here is wine"

google, you mean 'if contador stayed with astana, it's vino's doing'

 

[DavidParis]

Contador : Mr. Zero in 2010

Freedom of speech and thought allow me to state, politely, that I think AC is a jerk and I hope he has sub-standard results in 2010.

 

[python]

but that means you are ignorant - he already has 2 for 2 this season

have a nice day, skippy.

 

[No_Balls]

Freedom of speech and thought allow me to state, politely, that I think AC is a jerk and I hope he has sub-standard results in 2010.

Due a due thus far. Now you have spoken your mind Lancey-boy. Now GTFO.