Contador about to leave the tour?

[just some guy]

Ding ding.

There has been a lot of discussion about AC vs AS - very little mention of Frank.
He could be the third dog to run away with the bone.

Exactly - as I said before The person who needs Condator to ride well as much as Alberto and Riis is Evans - if Contador is badly injured Andy and Fränk will do over Evans to finish 1-2 and Evans might finish 5-6

 

[Jeanne]

You think so? He won't defer to Andy?

That would be a real surprise. The only way I see this happen is that Andy would really HEAVILY suck in the mountains.

 

[dlwssonic]

Exactly - as I said before The person who needs Condator to ride well as much as Alberto and Riis is Evans - if Contador is badly injured Andy and Fränk will do over Evans to finish 1-2 and Evans might finish 5-6

yes just like how they excellently did it against gilbert this year and valverde in 2008.

 

[Maxiton]

What is with all the yapping about "anglophones" on what is after all an English language forum?

Are some people under the impression that only the anglophone media have been speculating about Contador's apparent injury? Or for that matter, that the booing at the Giro and Tour was carried out by stealth anglophones passing themselves off as Italian or French?

Lol. You have found them out.

 

[Captain_Cavman]

Exactly - as I said before The person who needs Condator to ride well as much as Alberto and Riis is Evans - if Contador is badly injured Andy and Fränk will do over Evans to finish 1-2 and Evans might finish 5-6

If this year's LBL is anything to go by, they'll manage to hand Evans the win.

 

[spanky wanderlust]

anyone else find it ironic that a week ago we were all arguing whether this tour would have any credibility, given bertie's controversial participation?

and now, it seems that the only way to salvage any credibility from this tour is for him to stay and actually win the thing.

weird how a week changes things.

 

[roundabout]

Exactly - as I said before The person who needs Condator to ride well as much as Alberto and Riis is Evans - if Contador is badly injured Andy and Fränk will do over Evans to finish 1-2 and Evans might finish 5-6

Contador riding well means 3rd place for Evans.

Contador not riding well means 2nd/3rd place if he decides not to chase whatever Schleck.

There's little to gain really.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

That would be a real surprise. The only way I see this happen is that Andy would really HEAVILY suck in the mountains.

True. Another thing...I haven't paid close enough attention to Frank's TTs, but is it possible Frank could take a lead in the TT? Or is Frank going even worse in the TT this year?

Exactly - as I said before The person who needs Condator to ride well as much as Alberto and Riis is Evans - if Contador is badly injured Andy and Fränk will do over Evans to finish 1-2 and Evans might finish 5-6

yes just like how they excellently did it against gilbert this year and valverde in 2008.

If they race for each other, and not for the win, they'll finish 2-3. They can't wait.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

anyone else find it ironic that a week ago we were all arguing whether this tour would have any credibility, given bertie's controversial participation?

And now, it seems that the only way to salvage any credibility from this tour is for him to stay and actually win the thing.

Weird how a week changes things.

+1
.............................

 

[just some guy]

yes just like how they excellently did it against gilbert this year and valverde in 2008.

It must be hard for wanting Cadel and Andy to win - I digress

I give you 5 stages like Alpe d Huez 2008 no one rider can take being smacked around the head that much 1 2 1 2 1 2 your out

 

[Archibald]

If this year's LBL is anything to go by, they'll manage to hand Evans the win.

here's hoping!

as for which one will take precedence, I think it will be deferred to Andy - wasn't the national champs a deal for Frank to have that so Andy has the Tour?
That said, if Frank stays with Andy for the remainder of the tour he'll be in front of him at the TT, and we know Frank's a better TT than Andy...

 

[Dr. Maserati]

You think so? He won't defer to Andy?

Leopard Trek have two strong riders, I doubt they would care which one was in a leading position.

In climbing ability I think Andy and Alberto are similar in so far as they will not be able to put time in to each other.
The way to put Contador under pressure is to attack him and use their numerical advantage and Frank is in a good position and capable to attack.

 

[just some guy]

Contador riding well means 3rd place for Evans.

Contador not riding well means 2nd/3rd place if he decides not to chase whatever Schleck.

There's little to gain really.

It could mean less than 3rd was my point

 

[spanky wanderlust]

Disagree. If you want to be picky you could say that or something similar about most Tours.

2006 - Ulrich, Basso etc booted out on eve of race
2007 - Vino and Kloden (the two betting favourites) both crash out. Rasmussen forced out when leading.
2008 - Contador and Leipheimer not allowed to compete
2009 - OK, this one was pretty comprehensive.
2010 - Andy loses 39s to a mechanical and loses by 39s.

When it comes to the Tour I don't think there are any "default" wins. Well, except maybe Pereiro.

you chain people will never give up with this, will you? it's sad. it's as if you only watched one stage of the tour.

i agree with the others. i mean, seriously, carlos sastre? really? in the end you can only race against riders who are actually in the race.

 

[roundabout]

It could mean less than 3rd was my point

And?

Evans can try and stick to Contador and blow up and finish 6th.

I still don't see the gain for him.

 

[Parrulo]

What is with all the yapping about "anglophones" on what is after all an English language forum?

Are some people under the impression that only the anglophone media have been speculating about Contador's apparent injury? Or for that matter, that the booing at the Giro and Tour was carried out by stealth anglophones passing themselves off as Italian or French?

the tiffosi were booing at the giro because of the crostis removal so you can't compare it to the french booing

 

[Parrulo]

If this year's LBL is anything to go by, they'll manage to hand Evans the win.

the thing is in L-B-L gilbert was clearly stronger so they would need to use the 1-2 tactic on the flat parts forcing gilbert to chase one of them while the other would just sit back waiting for gilbert to catch only to attack himself while the other brother would go back to sit back on gilbert's wheel.

but here they will be stronger then evans in the mountains and most likely will just ride him off their wheels

 

[just some guy]

And?

Evans can try and stick to Contador and blow up and finish 6th.

I still don't see the gain for him.

Maybe they won´t race differently - I think they might as they will try to get Fränk 2nd but if Contador rides Fränk works for Andy ? might not make a difference to Evans

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

the tiffosi were booing at the giro because of the crostis removal so you can't compare it to the french booing

I very much doubt if any reputable polling company carried out a survey. The French were booing him as a doper. The Italians were booing him too, possibly as a doper, possibly over Crostis, possibly over some combination of the two, possibly over something else. Who knows. Who cares. The point is that anti-Contador sentiment is demonstrably not the province of anglophones. And for that matter, there are plenty of anglophones who like him.

 

[spanky wanderlust]

Go back to 1999, everyone didn't rate Armstrong's win due to zulle's crash on the passge du Gois plus the past two winners missing being Ullrich and pantani. That tour win was still valued. Saying because Contador is out means that the vcitory isn't valued is a moronic argument.

especially if cadel wins, right?

 

[LaFlorecita]

I very much doubt if any reputable polling company carried out a survey. The French were booing him as a doper. The Italians were booing him too, possibly as a doper, possibly over Crostis, possibly over some combination of the two, possibly over something else. Who knows. Who cares. The point is that anti-Contador sentiment is demonstrably not the province of anglophones. And for that matter, there are plenty of anglophones who like him.

It was because of the Crostis, the Italians were cheering for him the whole time, except for that day.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

It was because of the Crostis, the Italians were cheering for him the whole time, except for that day.

There really are some people quite determined to miss the point. I don't care why the Italians booed him any more than I care why the French did so.

There are plenty of Contador fanboys who speak any given language. There are plenty of people who are neutral about him who speak any given language. There are plenty of people who loathe him who speak any given language. It is not an "anglophone" versus continental thing in the slightest. If there is any major national or linguistic bias it is that he is more popular in Spain than elsewhere, but that's about it.

The squealing about "anglophones" on what is, after all, an English speaking forum is rude, stupid and, more importantly, wrong.

 

[profff]

I very much doubt if any reputable polling company carried out a survey. The French were booing him as a doper. The Italians were booing him too, possibly as a doper, possibly over Crostis, possibly over some combination of the two, possibly over something else. Who knows. Who cares. The point is that anti-Contador sentiment is demonstrably not the province of anglophones. And for that matter, there are plenty of anglophones who like him.

you are not very well informed
tifosi at the giro booed contador only the day of the crostis and the following day
on the finestre, for instance, the public did not booed at contador
i was there and you can believe me.
the quota of italians anti-contador is physiologic and not particularly linked to doping issues.
anglophones are much more sensitive about doping issues and this probably must be considered when dealing about anti contador sentiment.

 

[Parrulo]

It was because of the Crostis, the Italians were cheering for him the whole time, except for that day.

exactly . . .

 

[Michele]

It was because of the Crostis, the Italians were cheering for him the whole time, except for that day.

There were italian cheering and booing for the whole Giro.