Contador about to leave the tour?

[GreasyMonkey]

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 for the EPO-laced samples. Saying because Contador is out means that the vcitory isn't valued is a moronic argument.

Fixed it for you...

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Had to leave training. SBS pressconference 15:00

http://tour.tv2.dk/article.php/id-41616165:medie-skadet-contador-forlader-træning.html

Use translate

What the?

I know its a slow new's day - but the article clearly has AC saying ".....I hope to be strong for the rest of the Tour".

Of course he is banged up and any knee injury is a worry, but nothing will be decided today.

 

[Fatclimber]

You think following Contador's wheel and only getting dropped once is riding better? Seriously. To be riding better, he'd have to DROP Contador, not the other way around.

Especially since there have been exactly 2 opportunities for this to happen. That's giving credit too, climbs that short could barely be considered opportunities.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

You think following Contador's wheel and only getting dropped once is riding better? Seriously. To be riding better, he'd have to DROP Contador, not the other way around.

or being luckier. Cos he did crash on the stage where Contandor lost time, and he finished together with Contador, but it was at the 2,5km mark so he didnt lose time and he was lucky to not get hurt by the crash.

Ofc its not pure luck - his team has done very well - but luck is also a big factor, esp. on a route like we have seen in the first week where all the riders always try to be at the front.

I really believe he will do that on luz ardiden. because of contadors fatigue and injury though.

Luck does have something to do with it, but he's been riding smarter because he's better placed in the peloton (his team has done an excellent job protecting him). Contador doesn't seem to be focused at all (not like recent years), and his team looks worn out too.

Andy doesn't have to drop Contador, he can ride defensively. I do think he will try to take advantage, as dlwssonic said, of his fatigue and knee pain. He will want a cushion in the TT, but he doesn't need to actually drop Contador, not with his time advantage. If Contador can only take 31 seconds from Andy on a 52km TT, he will take less on a 42.5km TT. If anything Contador has to drop Andy. I hope Andy's mechanic installed a chain watcher

And they both have to watch Evans...

 

[Cimber]

So whats up with this press conference. DId it happen? Is there a stream?

It happened and the basic points were:

-yes he has knee problems but will continue
-He feels tired after the Giro
-They still aim for the win, though some of the rivals looks stronger.

 

[Ferminal]

Luck does have something to do with it, but he's been riding smarter because he's better placed in the peloton (his team has done an excellent job protecting him). Contador doesn't seem to be focused at all (not like recent years), and his team looks worn out too.

Andy doesn't have to drop Contador, he can ride defensively. I do think he will try to take advantage, as dlwssonic said, of his fatigue and knee pain. He will want a cushion in the TT, but he doesn't need to actually drop Contador, not with his time advantage. If Contador can only take 39 seconds from Andy on a 52km TT, he will take less on a 42.5km TT. If anything Contador has to drop Andy. I hope Andy's mechanic installed a chain watcher

And they both have to watch Evans...

If Contador can take 1'45" off Andy in a 40.5km TT he will take more on a 42.5km TT.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

If Contador can take 1'45" off Andy in a 40.5km TT he will take more on a 42.5km TT.

That was totally different. Contador was in better form that year, and Andy has improved his TT since then. AC looks to be in 2010 form, if not worse.

 

[Ferminal]

That was totally different. Contador was in better form that year, and Andy has improved his TT since then. AC looks to be in 2010 form, if not worse.

Exactly, if we go into details about the 2010 ITT we will also find that it alone is suitable as a method of predicting future outcomes.

 

[Pantani_lives]

It happened and the basic points were:

-yes he has knee problems but will continue
-He feels tired after the Giro
-They still aim for the win, though some of the rivals looks stronger.

"Rivals look stronger" could still be false modesty, but it's certainly true that Contador can't be happy about the first nine days.

Is it the inside or the outside of his knee? I've always been told the inside is much more serious.

 

[hrotha]

"Rivals look stronger" could still be false modesty, but it's certainly true that Contador can't be happy about the first nine days.

Is it the inside or the outside of his knee? I've always been told the inside is much more serious.

He hurt the outside days ago, but yesterday he hit the inside when he crashed onto some spectators after Karpets somehow used the Force on him.

 

[No_Balls]

Certainly? The facts are we know nothing about Contadors form other than he has had a bit of dab on two uphill finished. He was still good enough to nearly beat Evans on the Mur in spite of all that straining.

Wishful thinking at best. The anglophones can read that he is strucked by a "massive knee injury" or hear on TV that he is responsible for the crashes in this Tour. So the fanboys licking their lips looking forward to a battle by the few.

Maybe he is struggling. But I find that difficult to believe.

It is not difficult to believe he is struggling. That would be perfectly normal after winning that hard Giro. What is difficult to belive is that he is very outspoken with his weakness despite claiming that they have "objectives" in this Tour.

Its unlikely now Saxo will have to pull until the alps - its in his interest to stay below the radar (if thats possible for him). And why would he be so open about his injuries and form if he wasn't playing games?

The only reason would be because of his (unlike Schlecklet) passion for racing and the hope of riding in some sort of order during the weeks to come. It could even be vital for future references how the body responding during a Giro/Tour given Alberto/Bjarne have hinted they would do the triple one day.

But yeah, i find it strange.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

Exactly, if we go into details about the 2010 ITT we will also find that it alone is suitable as a method of predicting future outcomes.

Little confused here. You seem to support my point. Did you intend to say it is not a suitable method?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

contadors 2010 tour itt was exceptionally bad for contadors standard(he was 7th?). I doubt we will see that again.

 

[luckyboy]

Little confused here. You seem to support my point. Did you intend to say it is not a suitable method?

Think he was bing sarcastic.

 

[Ferminal]

Little confused here. You seem to support my point. Did you intend to say it is not a suitable method?

Oops, supposed to be a not in there somewhere

Anyway, here is Andy's ITT history:

2007 (his breakout season)

Paris-Nice Prologue: 46th
Romandie Prologue: 40th
Romandie ITT: 22nd
Giro ITT: 6th

2008

T-A ITT: 66th
TdF ITT 1: 19th
TdF ITT 2: 28th

2009

T-A ITT: 48th
Pais Vasco ITT: 43rd
Suisse Prologue: 48th
Suisse ITT: 15th
TdF Prologue: 17th
TdF ITT: 21st
Vuelta Prologue: 123rd
Vuelta ITT 1: 42nd

2010

Catalunya ITT: 130th
Pais Vasco ITT: 40th
Suisse Prologue: 31st
Suisse ITT: 31st
TdF Prologue: 122nd
TdF ITT: 44th

2011

T-A ITT: 73rd
Crit International ITT: 52nd
Pais Vasco ITT: 25th
California ITT: 38th
Suisse Prologue: 147th
Suisse ITT: 46th

But you can basically ignore everything except the Giro and TdF results, as we can't trust Andy's performances outside July.

 

[dlwssonic]

Oops, supposed to be a not in there somewhere

Anyway, here is Andy's ITT history:

2007 (his breakout season)

Paris-Nice Prologue: 46th
Romandie Prologue: 40th
Romandie ITT: 22nd
Giro ITT: 6th

2008

T-A ITT: 66th
TdF ITT 1: 19th
TdF ITT 2: 28th

2009

T-A ITT: 48th
Pais Vasco ITT: 43rd
Suisse Prologue: 48th
Suisse ITT: 15th
TdF Prologue: 17th
TdF ITT: 21st
Vuelta Prologue: 123rd
Vuelta ITT 1: 42nd

2010

Catalunya ITT: 130th
Pais Vasco ITT: 40th
Suisse Prologue: 31st
Suisse ITT: 31st
TdF Prologue: 122nd
TdF ITT: 44th

2011

T-A ITT: 73rd
Crit International ITT: 52nd
Pais Vasco ITT: 25th
California ITT: 38th
Suisse Prologue: 147th
Suisse ITT: 46th

He is pretty ok when its a TT in a GT especially when its near the end of a race. plus its a hillier course this year.

 

[Ferminal]

He is pretty ok when its a TT in a GT especially when its near the end of a race. plus its a hillier course this year.

Sure is, but I wouldn't play it safe thinking he can stay within 2 minutes of Contador in the ITT. Just like you would be nervous for your boy if he had to make up 1 minute on Andy in it.

Very dangerous to just rely on the ITT to decide the race.

 

[luckyboy]

AC should do better comparatively to Schleck on this hilly course.

 

[Maxiton]

Wishful thinking at best. The anglophones can read that he is strucked by a "massive knee injury" or hear on TV that he is responsible for the crashes this Tour. So the fanboys licking their lips looking forward to a battle by the few.



It is not difficult to believe he is struggling. That would be perfectly normal after winning that hard Giro. What is difficult to belive is that he is very outspoken with his weakness despite claiming that they have "objectives" in this Tour.



The only reason would be because of his (unlike Schlecklet) passion for racing and the hope of riding in some sort of order during the weeks to come. It could even be vital for future references how the body responding during a Giro/Tour given Alberto/Bjarne have hinted they would do the triple one day.

But yeah, i find it strange.

I think his opponents - especially the two Muppet boys - will test him as soon as the road goes really uphill. If he's faking, he might have to lose a few more seconds, otherwise he will be found out. Would he be willing to give up, say, five seconds - or even more? I think he would, if it meant he would no longer be marked so closely, that his team could rest a bit more, and that he could later gain significant time because he was catching them unawares. That would be an awesome thing to watch.

Having said that, though, I agree he isn't faking. But we can always hope. Such a fake out - i.e. a successful one - would be brilliant.

 

[roundabout]

1.30 will be cutting it close as a hillier TT would probably suit Contador more because he is quite a bit better downhill on a TT bike and has a better change of rhythm.

OTOH in 2009 the first mountain stage where it was possible to gain a lot of time was before the TT so Schlecks had to work while Contador could suck wheels for the last hour or so that day.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

Sure is, but I wouldn't play it safe thinking he can stay within 2 minutes of Contador in the ITT. Just like you would be nervous for your boy if he had to make up 1 minute on Andy in it.

Very dangerous to just rely on the ITT to decide the race.

AC should do better comparatively to Schleck on this hilly course.

If I were Andy I wouldn't ride in total defense of the lead. I'd attack to get more of a cushion, but considering his AC's fatigue and knee pain (which may not be as bad as he's letting on), his TT may not be all that stellar.

 

[dlwssonic]

Sure is, but I wouldn't play it safe thinking he can stay within 2 minutes of Contador in the ITT. Just like you would be nervous for your boy if he had to make up 1 minute on Andy in it.

Very dangerous to just rely on the ITT to decide the race.

certainly. thats why im sure the schlecks will attack early in the mountains and try to get as much time as possible. I also hope cadel doesnt rely on his TT that much. I dont know why but i believe there could be some time differences on stage 17. evans might be able to gain time on that one if he distances the others on the descent. but its unlikely.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

certainly. thats why im sure the schlecks will attack early in the mountains and try to get as much time as possible. I also hope cadel doesnt rely on his TT that much. I dont know why but i believe there could be some time differences on stage 17. evans might be able to gain time on that one if he distances the others on the descent. but its unlikely.

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.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Wishful thinking at best. The anglophones can read that he is strucked by a "massive knee injury" or hear on TV that he is responsible for the crashes in this Tour.

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?

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

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.

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