Contador blasts LA

[Parrot23]

Some gracious words from Levi L.'s on Twitter (albeit on 26th before this brouhaha exploded and after he dissed AC earlier for tactics, I think):

"Congratultions to Alberto, he's won the last 4 Grand Tours he's done!! Proud to be part of 3.5 of em. He's shown he's the strongest."

 

[Publicus]

you have to admit if the
"chicken" didn't get bounced in 07, he would have won, not ac. he did "win",
but with asterisk,imo.

You have to admit that if Ullrich didn't crash during the final TT, Lance wouldn't have won in 2003. Or the 1999 Tour which featured those 6 positives that don't exist.

Contador still had to defend the jersey from Cadel Evans. He did. He won. No asterisk. Just won. Trying to qualify his victories is disrespectful to the work he did over the last two plus years.

 

[elapid]

I cannot be bothered going through 38 pages of this thread, but these are my thoughts after reading the CN summary of Contador's statements during his press conference and Lance's twitters: Contador was honest - he more than anyone would be able to appreciate Lance's achievements on the bike and also be able to comment on Lance the man. Lance's reactions to Contador's press conference were immature and rather ironic. This speaks volumes to Lance the man and just supports his public image as an arrogant a-s-s. Lance calling a team mate not a team player is not being a team mate, and Lance was all about Lance on Motorola, US Postal, Discovery and also Astana. If Lance were a better man, he would congratulate Contador on his achievement of a second TdF (and fourth straight GT) and admit there were tensions and leave it at that so we can all move on.

 

[usedtobefast]

You have to admit that if Ullrich didn't crash during the final TT, Lance wouldn't have won in 2003. Or the 1999 Tour which featured those 6 positives that don't exist.

Contador still had to defend the jersey from Cadel Evans. He did. He won. No asterisk. Just won. Trying to qualify his victories is disrespectful to the work he did over the last two plus years.

no disrespect of ac. i just remember the story at the time was just as i said. he has no blem in the record
books. i kind of like the guy, but i think he needs more help than he thinks he does.

 

[Bagster]

Wow, Armstrong is NOT handling 3rd place very well at all. A loser will always act like what he is.

Sigh, I keep hoping for at least some objectivity from you but it is never forthcoming. The reality is that LA has never publicly slagged off AC as a person. (if he has, maybe you can link the comment) In fact as I have already said in another post, since the end of the tour he has praised AC's ability as a rider even to the point of admitting that AC would have beaten him in three of his tour wins and has AC's victory photos plastered all ove his website. Hardly the actions of someone "not handling his third place". In contrast what does AC do? The first chance he gets upon returning home he attacks Armstrong personally. Probably Lance should not have then retaliated and AC would have just ended up looking like the pouting little pratt. He should just accept his win and move on, not start running other guys down.

 

[Anonymous]

ok i just have to say it.........he was NOT attacking his teamate.......and actually kloedens position on GC is irrelevant

Fine. Whom was he attacking and why was he attacking? Think about it? What was he to gain and from whom?

 

[Publicus]

Fine. Whom was he attacking and why was he attacking? Think about it? What was he to gain and from whom?

The two riders from Saxo Bank. You know Andy and Frank Schleck? Those two guys trying to win the Tour de France? The same two he attacked on Arcalis and Verbier. In each case to gain time. Apparently, I think this is an unconfirmed rumor so don't quote me on this, but apparently to win the overall you have to complete the entire 21 stages faster than any of the other racers, including your teammates. Hopefully that helps.

 

[elapid]

You have to admit that if Ullrich didn't crash during the final TT, Lance wouldn't have won in 2003. Or the 1999 Tour which featured those 6 positives that don't exist.

Contador still had to defend the jersey from Cadel Evans. He did. He won. No asterisk. Just won. Trying to qualify his victories is disrespectful to the work he did over the last two plus years.

+1. Racing is racing. The strongest do not always win, and fortune smiles on the brave. Periero won the 2006 TdF because he was fortunate to get in a break which made 30 minutes on the peloton and the peloton didn't chase despite knowing the implications of allowing a previous two-time top 10 finisher into the yellow jersey. Just because Flandis was thrown out shouldn't diminish Periero's achievement - he was in the right break at the right time and did well thereafter. He did more to deserve that win than anyone else. Same with most other race results - there is always some story as to why someone didn't win. This shouldn't diminish anyone's win.

 

[Publicus]

no disrespect of ac. i just remember the story at the time was just as i said. he has no blem in the record
books. i kind of like the guy, but i think he needs more help than he thinks he does.

Fair enough. I think he recognized that he couldn't rely on the team to give him 100% of their effort; that there would naturally be split loyalties. That makes him pretty astute in my book.

 

[mherm79]

. If Lance were a better man, he would congratulate Contador on his achievement of a second TdF (and fourth straight GT) and admit there were tensions and leave it at that so we can all move on.

agreed. it no longer matters who is in the right / wrong or whether they are telling the truth. you don't air your dirty laundry in public

 

[cody_57]

I believe it was the famous "Look" stage. He was riding with Azevedo and Ullrich and some of the other "favorites". He accelerated and rode away. He didn't give two sh!ts about Azevedo or his time loss. Why? Because he was the overall contender, not Azevedo. I'm not even going to get into the fact that Contador SPOKE to Kloden before he put in the move and Kloden was ok with it. I'm willing to bet money Lance NEVER did such a thing and would have laughed if someone suggested otherwise.

This whole Contador attacked his team mates commentary is just getting too stupid for words.

Agreed. Cannot get on how many people are latching onto an argument that is really meaningless!

 

[Publicus]

Sigh, I keep hoping for at least some objectivity from you but it is never forthcoming. The reality is that LA has never publicly slagged off AC as a person. (if he has, maybe you can link the comment) In fact as I have already said in another post, since the end of the tour he has praised AC's ability as a rider even to the point of admitting that AC would have beaten him in three of his tour wins and has AC's victory photos plastered all ove his website. Hardly the actions of someone "not handling his third place". In contrast what does AC do? The first chance he gets upon returning home he attacks Armstrong personally. Probably Lance should not have then retaliated and AC would have just ended up looking like the pouting little pratt. He should just accept his win and move on, not start running other guys down.

1. Twitter after Contador bonked during Paris Nice.
2. The lack of smarts comment (don't have the exact words) after Stage 3.
3. He would have beaten him in at least 4 (how Lance excluded 2003 when he barely won is beyond me)
4. Not going to the team dinner to celebrate on Saturday? Yeah that's a real teammate.
5. Only allowing champagne celebrations after Stage 3 and the TTT, but not after Verbier or Annency? Yeah, true teammate indeed.

AC looks perfectly fine--his comment was fair enough (respect the accomplishments on the road, don't admire the man personally--I'm sure Lance feels the same way about Hinault and LeMond). Lance overreacted yet again.

 

[scribe]

Azevedo finished 8 minutes off the podium.

 

[Carl0880]

A few thoughts.

I seem to remember a much friendlier relationship in 07 when Lance was coaching Contador from the Discovery Channel car for the final TT. Not sure if AC's statement about LA's personality stretches back that far, or since his return from retirement.

I doubt AC will receive much support from Astana, given LA's past history of holding grudges against anyone who crosses him eg. Simeoni, Lemond. That probably goes for the rest of the peleton, given Lance's unbelievable rebirth during the TdF. Looks like he's going to be a huge influence for a long time.

Both of them should keep their mouths shut. Just like in the NFL and MLB, keep all of the dirt in the family. While I found the whole soap opera with LA's coy hints and jabs entertaining, he should have taken the high road and remained a professional. Had AC kept his mouth shut, he'd look like the good guy. Now they both look petty.

It does make for an interesting 2010, as LA will pull out all the stops to keep Contador from winning. Maybe the Radioshack team will carry frame pumps.

I totally agree, both were able to do an incredible acocmplishments, and all this spat will do is sully the perspective of both. Can we please just shut up, maybe amke a comment Like Congratulations to ______ on a great ride at the Tour, we have our disagreement with each other, but wish each other best of luck at our next adventure, and hope to have a close competition next TDF

 

[Publicus]

Azevedo finished 8 minutes off the podium.

Of course he did. Lance attacked him on that stage. If he had ridden to protect his teammate's GC position, Azevedo could have finished on the podium

 

[Anonymous]

amazing.......

My sentiments exactly.... same race (I think)...

 

[cody_57]

What a mess 17 is. Imagine if instead of going downhill against Andy it would have been someone who could decend like Cancellera or Landis.

At the end 1 of 2 things is true and neither one of them speaks good for Alberto.

1. He dropped his teammate, made some stupid deal with the Schlecks, then gave the stage win away to a rival team and faked a lunge at the end to sell it.. or

2. He dropped his teammate, was isolated by the Schlecks and was so gassed at the end that he couldn't win the stage.

You mean like Armstrong gave Pantani the stage?

 

[usedtobefast]

Fair enough. I think he recognized that he couldn't rely on the team to give him 100% of their effort; that there would naturally be split loyalties. That makes him pretty astute in my book.

he is got to be the favorite in any race he is trying for. just needs a team. here comes vino.
this is like "dallas".

 

[Anonymous]

your missing the point alltogether, LA divided the team to the point were it was uncomfortable for all the team staff, riders , managers etc.....yes dissension within a team working enviroment falls under the crap unbrella

so AC attacking against JB's orders is Lance's fault... ok, yeah, I think you are on the right path there. Good observation.

 

[Publicus]

so AC attacking against JB's orders is Lance's fault... ok, yeah, I think you are on the right path there. Good observation.

You are actually actively trying not to grasp the points folks are trying to make to you.

 

[Anonymous]

I have seen several candidates worthy of Contador's tactical level for the next tour. You guys should send in your applications.

Totally agree. There are several future DS's commenting here. Cheers!

 

[frizzlefry]

Of course he did. Lance attacked him on that stage. If he had ridden to protect his teammate's GC position, Azevedo could have finished on the podium

Acevedo was cooked when LA attacked. He was doing the Tom Simpson back and forth across the road.

 

[frizzlefry]

Of course he did. Lance attacked him on that stage. If he had ridden to protect his teammate's GC position, Azevedo could have finished on the podium

Check out the vid at :27.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7THIhZEP4QM

 

[fulcrum]

so AC attacking against JB's orders is Lance's fault... ok, yeah, I think you are on the right path there. Good observation.

Orders are never JB's. They are Lance's orders. He speaks through his personal lap dog JB. JB is a remarkably talented doggie, he can bark in 6 different languages.

 

[Publicus]

Acevedo was cooked when LA attacked. He was doing the Tom Simpson back and forth across the road.

Sounds a lot like Kloden. He was holding on for dear life.