Contador confirms he will ride the Tour

[Publicus]

Check your notes, other than during their best year, yes thtat's only one year, Hinault, Fignon or Lemond didn't trash the competition like the Uniballer and Contador.

I would check your stats on Contador. Other than the 2009 TdF and the 2011 Giro (both over 4'), most of his GT wins have been under under 1' (2008 Giro being the exception). Not exactly trashing the competition.

 

[El Pistolero]

I would check your stats on Contador. Other than the 2009 TdF and the 2011 Giro (both over 4'), most of his GT wins have been under under 1' (2008 Giro being the exception). Not exactly trashing the competition.

He did dominate the Vuelta though.

 

[Publicus]

He did dominate the Vuelta though.

True but he didnt dominate the 2008 Giro and still won by almost 2'.

 

[Captain_Cavman]

This is a joke right, Fignon smashed everyone in the 84 Tour by over 10minutes, he dominated TTs and mountains. Hinault and LeMond finished 10 minutes ahead of the next best rider in the 86 Tour. Hinault absolutely dominated many of his GTs, Merckx likewise. This idea that there have been no dominant performances since before Armstrong is a joke. Please wake up.

The Giro is the first GT Contador has really dominated on a route tailor made for him. However keep this in mind, Contador finished almost the exact amount of time ahead of JRod and Kreuziger at the Giro as he did at last years Tour. Where is the huge improvement. The only difference was the quality in between with a better field at the Tour. Go check out the time differences.

Using Wiggins as proof of clean riding is hardly re-affirming, a few years ago Wiggins could barely climb over a bridge and now he can just about hang with a few decent climbers. Still his amazing improvement should be far more worrying than Contadors consistency.

I am not a fanboy or hater of anyone, (well maybe Lance) but I wish people would look at things with a bit of logic instead of just going off on one without looking at the stats. What is the saying about stats.......

You can't compare Lemond's era with the current one in terms of time gaps. 1986, to pluck a year at random, had over 4000kms and 180km of Time trialing, and the gaps were massive on the mountain stages. 10 minutes represented a single not so great day on the climbs.

 

[El Pistolero]

True but he didnt dominate the 2008 Giro and still won by almost 2'.

He did have a nasty crash during that Giro and didn't plan for to ride the Giro(didn't check out any climbs and didn't knew the competition)

So, it's only normal he had a hard time that Giro. He was planning to only ride the first week when he entered the Giro that year by the way. His crash happened on stage 8 or something.

 

[pmcg76]

You can't compare Lemond's era with the current one in terms of time gaps. 1986, to pluck a year at random, had over 4000kms and 180km of Time trialing, and the gaps were massive on the mountain stages. 10 minutes represented a single not so great day on the climbs.

I am not sure what your point is, is it that TTs suited LeMond and Hinault so that is why they were dominant. Well more mountains and less TTs actually suits Contador better so on a mountainous route, surely it is logical he wins by more time as well.

The other point people have ignored is the time gaps between Contador and JRod, Kreuziger in relation to the Giro and last years Tour. If the time gaps are similar, how is it possible that Contador was so dominant in the Giro but not at the Tout last year. Surely its due to the quality of the opposition.

 

[webvan]

I'll admit that the near total disappearance of ITTs is very perplexing. Adding a long ITT in the middle would certainly make for a more balanced race. Wiggins would stand a chance for instance...with a Contador performing at human levels that is.

 

[El Pistolero]

I am not sure what your point is, is it that TTs suited LeMond and Hinault so that is why they were dominant. Well more mountains and less TTs actually suits Contador better so on a mountainous route, surely it is logical he wins by more time as well.

The other point people have ignored is the time gaps between Contador and JRod, Kreuziger in relation to the Giro and last years Tour. If the time gaps are similar, how is it possible that Contador was so dominant in the Giro but not at the Tout last year. Surely its due to the quality of the opposition.

Last year Contador was struggling to drop Jrod on a climb that suited him(Mende)

This year at the Giro he totally blew Jrod away on all climbs. And Jrod had a rising form this Giro, so he was peaking in the third week as can be seen in his ok TT(for his standards that is lol)

Plus the Tour that year had a 45km time trial and a prologue. Contador always takes a lot of time on his opponents at time trials when in good shape. Had there been those time trials in the Giro Contador would have won with an even larger gap. Plus he didn't give his everything this year at the Giro(Zoncolan, Grossglockner, Finestre/Sestriere, the climb where Tiralongo won,etc) while he did give everything last year in the Tour.

He took a minute on Scarponi during the final 26km time trial for example. If it had been a 50km time trial the gap would be way bigger... Plus Jrod took some time on Contador because Contador let him go on some mountain stages(as he was obviously no threat)

It takes more than to just look at numbers. The context is more important.

As for Kreuziger, who says he didn't improve compared to last year?

 

[warmfuzzies]

The guy's a cheater. CAS gonna shut 'em down. Bang, bang!

 

[El Pistolero]

The guy's a cheater. CAS gonna shut 'em down. Bang, bang!

CAS is his teammate and he will be shooting lot's of people's dream this Tour. But not Bertie's.

 

[warmfuzzies]

Pro cycling is as rigged as WWE. Think for a second. Albertoe must lose this TdF. They've hyped him as much as possible, i.e. with the Giro win. At the TdF, they'll introduce the Next Big Thing, and flush Bertie - just like any other stinky deuce.

 

[El Pistolero]

Pro cycling is as rigged as WWE. Think for a second. Albertoe must lose this TdF. They've hyped him as much as possible, i.e. with the Giro win. At the TdF, they'll introduce the Next Big Thing, and flush Bertie - just like any other stinky deuce.

You mean Mr. No chain?

--

Anyway: To keep us busy before the Tour starts

Giro 2011 highlights vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3vdqGcFnF8

 

[warmfuzzies]

The CAS timing stinks like hell. Cycling is rigged. This TdF will be the last GT for Bertie. This is his swansong, his send-off. The commercial interests make more $ with him in it. It's like the later career of Andre the Giant. Everyone knew he and Hulk Hogan would fight to a double disqualification in Wrestlemania 4. Whether Andy or an unknown becomes the next grand champion depends more on who gives good phone than endurance on a bike. You all are suckers for thinking this sport is not rigged.

 

[ManInFull]

The CAS timing stinks like hell. Cycling is rigged. This TdF will be the last GT for Bertie. This is his swansong, his send-off. The commercial interests make more $ with him in it. It's like the later career of Andre the Giant. Everyone knew he and Hulk Hogan would fight to a double disqualification in Wrestlemania 4. Whether Andy or an unknown becomes the next grand champion depends more on who gives good phone than endurance on a bike. You all are suckers for thinking this sport is not rigged.

Please, under no circumstances, mention both cycling and wrestling in the same response.

 

[mombus]

I'm sure you are right. The Schleck brothers didn't show much since leaving Saxobank and during the Tour 2010 Alberto wasn't in good shape but when he is he can keep it for a long time and he recovers in a short time. That's genetic and makes him the best rider in GTs.

yeah just riding to second and third together at liege, months before being in top form. They don't ride anything, what do you expect? Should one of them have placed in the Giro or something...?

 

[mombus]

The guy's a cheater. CAS gonna shut 'em down. Bang, bang!

haha good one

 

[inri2000]

haha good one

you have misspelled dillusional

 

[craig1985]

Pro cycling is as rigged as WWE. Think for a second. Albertoe must lose this TdF. They've hyped him as much as possible, i.e. with the Giro win. At the TdF, they'll introduce the Next Big Thing, and flush Bertie - just like any other stinky deuce.

Cool story bro.

 

[pmcg76]

Last year Contador was struggling to drop Jrod on a climb that suited him(Mende)

This year at the Giro he totally blew Jrod away on all climbs. And Jrod had a rising form this Giro, so he was peaking in the third week as can be seen in his ok TT(for his standards that is lol)

Plus the Tour that year had a 45km time trial and a prologue. Contador always takes a lot of time on his opponents at time trials when in good shape. Had there been those time trials in the Giro Contador would have won with an even larger gap. Plus he didn't give his everything this year at the Giro(Zoncolan, Grossglockner, Finestre/Sestriere, the climb where Tiralongo won,etc) while he did give everything last year in the Tour.

He took a minute on Scarponi during the final 26km time trial for example. If it had been a 50km time trial the gap would be way bigger... Plus Jrod took some time on Contador because Contador let him go on some mountain stages(as he was obviously no threat)

It takes more than to just look at numbers. The context is more important.As for Kreuziger, who says he didn't improve compared to last year?

That is pretty much what I am saying, Everyone is raving how he crushed everyone at the Giro but we have to take his form, the route, opposition all into account.

 

[Simply The Best]

Pro cycling is as rigged as WWE. Think for a second. Albertoe must lose this TdF. They've hyped him as much as possible, i.e. with the Giro win. At the TdF, they'll introduce the Next Big Thing, and flush Bertie - just like any other stinky deuce.

Even in the event that contador doesn't win it won't be of any surprise that schleck will step up to the mantlepiece of being the next multiple TDF winner. Until contador comes back anyway, and do everyone a favour and don't try compare cycling and WWE, what a load of bull**** go find somewhere else to make up baseless stories Playschool prehaps.

 

[greenedge]

No bore the France now with Contador. Otherwise it would have been a Shleck procession through France.

 

[Angliru]

In any case it was normal, in the past, for the best rider in the world to go for the Giro-Tour double. From Coppi, to Anquetil, to Merckx to Hinault, to Roche, to Indurain to Pantani.

How many of those riders were on bread and water alone?

How, then, is Contador any different? Or would the Tour be thus honored more if A. Schelck were to win? Or do we only allow sentimentality to guide our judgment? Or why do we continue to watch, if this isn't the case?

Contador is the sacrificial lamb for all those that still cry about "Chaingate" and him being the typical "cheating Spaniard" that supposedly robbed the Tour from the accepted heir apparent to their soon to be fallen hero.

 

[Angliru]

So Schleck vs Contador it is then.

The steaks are high.

No it's Contador vs Schleck.

The chain is off.

 

[Angliru]

I don't know about you folks, but for me, when a cyclist, or any other athlete for that matter, has both his/her samples come out positive, he/she should be suspended and not allowed to race. Period! Even if he doesn't make the podium, it will be a bit annoying watching him for three weeks, knowing he doped and getting away with it (so far). I, like many of you here, hope that this gets 100% resolved and he is stripped of his titles/awards in this period and be suspended for 2 years, just like everyone else. BTW, has anything really happened with the 'dope index' that came up before or during the Giro? That seemed to be put under the rug quite quickly. I hope that gets resolved as well.

So does Frankie's donation to the Fuente's Clandestine Training Foundation mean that he only "intended" to get a training program from the good doctor?
I guess that's what his country's cycling federation surmised since he was also cleared. Oh, my bad...that's different because he's one of the "special" riders whose associations are always beyond reproach.

By the way, 100% resolved can go either way, cleared or not cleared, at least that is usually how things operate.

 

[jobiwan]

No it's Contador vs Schleck.

The chain is off.

If only Contador was Steakboy back in 07. Rasmussen/Contador would have been Chicken vs. Steak!

I enjoy watching both riders (bigger fan of Schleck). It'll be a good show, and I'll let legal settle it out in August, although it's not fun having it in the back of your mind.