Contador confirms he will ride the Tour

[Angliru]

Take it easy bro. In that case, the Spanish Federation is corrupt. If they had their way, Spain would clear every athlete of any wrongdoing.

As I just posted, so is the Luxembourg cycling federation also corrupt?

 

[Angliru]

I had no doubt Contador was racing TdF.
How could possibly be different, when this was the condition of not being banned?!
The problem is if he can be competitive in Giro Tour double, when in the last years almost no one could be.
It's challenging to say the least, but I'm confident if there is someone which could do that it's AC.

What other rider active grand tour gc contender has shown that they can be competitive throughout the season in virtually every event they enter? I'm curious to hear what the responses will be.

 

[just some guy]

What other rider active grand tour gc contender has shown that they can be competitive throughout the season in virtually every event they enter? I'm curious to hear what the responses will be.

At Contador level no one

Levels below

Evans
Valverde

maybe J-Rod last year yes, this year looking very good consistent as well.

Thats it.

 

[warmfuzzies]

Oh gawd. That isn't a veiled reference to Andy's inability to shift his bike is it? Give it a rest.

As I said in the other thread this is Andy's best chance to beat AC and that has more to do with AC (coming off the Giro) than it does with Andy.

Bad news for those who believe in unicorns, but this race, like most of pro cycling, is rigged. The 2011 script was written weeks ago. This is Contador's last ride (at least until Comback 2.0) - he will lead for a bit, then lose in a 'nail-biter' to the Next Big Thing. Drugs will not be as prominent a theme during the race - that storyline is on hold until Contador's CAS date - where he will be sanctioned for 2 years. Get the popcorn out, but don't mistake well-reheased theater for unscripted, ad lib drama. Bang, bang!

 

[Angliru]

I think Contador's consistency, throughout the year, is what distinguishes him from an Armstrong though.

The Texan peaked once a year, this was likely because his natural ability together with his program only acommodated one peak per season.

By contrast Contador wins practically wherever he goes, throughout the season, in GTs and in secondary stage races, whereas when he road those couple of classics last year that suited him he was up their at the front with the specialists.

Now you can say what you want about the guy, that he's a doper (in a doped field however, at least now among the brunt of his main competition - if it were 5 years ago, nearly everyone, but perhaps even so still today), but he is a real and extraordinary talent.

I'm all for punishing him if that's what the decision is, though this won't alter the fact that what he has achieved, was able to achieve, was not merely the product of chemicals, but a natural class that potentially will make him the greatest stage racer the sport has ever known. Winning not just in one month demonstrates this. Nor do I make excuses for him, but the stage race champions have the greatest overall capacity and the most efficient engines of the group.

On this account, therefore, I don't comprehend a certain animosity towards him. His class is authentic in a sport, however, which is not.

But if everyone were clean, I believe he'd still be the best. I don't think this could necessarily have been said, though, between 1991 and 2005.

+1000 My sentiments exactly.

 

[jobiwan]

Bad news for those who believe in unicorns, but this race, like most of pro cycling, is rigged. The 2011 script was written weeks ago. This is Contador's last ride (at least until Comback 2.0) - he will lead for a bit, then lose in a 'nail-biter' to the Next Big Thing. Drugs will not be as prominent a theme during the race - that storyline is on hold until Contador's CAS date - where he will be sanctioned for 2 years. Get the popcorn out, but don't mistake well-reheased theater for unscripted, ad lib drama. Bang, bang!

Go watch wrestling man!

 

[Angliru]

He did dominate the Vuelta though.

No, he almost lost the Vuelta to Leipheimer, his own teammate. His competition (well most of them) were competing with a Tour de France in their legs.

 

[Parrulo]

Go watch wrestling man!

that guy is so silly that it will prolly be the first poster ever on my ignore list

actually i am ignoring him right now.

its like the 5th post in 2 days i see saying that cycling is rigged like wrestling . . .

 

[Angliru]

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.

With that attitude, what pleasure do you get in following the sport? Comparing it to professional wrestling really gives your argument absolutely no credibility.

 

[jobiwan]

With that attitude, what pleasure do you get in following the sport? Comparing it to professional wrestling really gives your argument absolutely no credibility.

Schleck will give Contador the People's Elbow!!

 

[Angliru]

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...?

Frank at least is competitive in the major stage races. Andy's form seems to rise and fall like a rollercoaster or maybe its just his motivation.

 

[El Pistolero]

No, he almost lost the Vuelta to Leipheimer, his own teammate. His competition (well most of them) were competing with a Tour de France in their legs.

Leipheimer was his team mate so he never tried to distance him. He only had one weak moment in the climbing time trial. He took time on Leipi in almost all mountain stages and some punchy stages.

 

[jobiwan]

Frank at least is competitive in the major stage races. Andy's form seems to rise and fall like a rollercoaster or maybe its just his motivation.

That's why everyone should join me in rooting for Andy to win, so he'll finally go for other races!!
('Tis a joke!)

 

[Angliru]

Leipheimer was his team mate so he never tried to distance him. He only had one weak moment in the climbing time trial. He took time on Leipi in almost all mountain stages and some punchy stages.

So no response to the point that Valverde was competing with a Tour in his legs and Contador was fresh and rested?

 

[Angliru]

That's why everyone should join me in rooting for Andy to win, so he'll finally go for other races!!
('Tis a joke!)

Andy annoys me such that I could never root for the dude, sorry. Frank I can root for but Andy no way. I'd prefer Cadel Evans to finish ahead of Evans and I'm far from an Evans fan. Andy's too much of a slacker getting by on his natural ability to go for other races. He couldn't even motivate himself to sacrifice for his brother at the Vuelta.

 

[Publicus]

Bad news for those who believe in unicorns, but this race, like most of pro cycling, is rigged. The 2011 script was written weeks ago. This is Contador's last ride (at least until Comback 2.0) - he will lead for a bit, then lose in a 'nail-biter' to the Next Big Thing. Drugs will not be as prominent a theme during the race - that storyline is on hold until Contador's CAS date - where he will be sanctioned for 2 years. Get the popcorn out, but don't mistake well-reheased theater for unscripted, ad lib drama. Bang, bang!

So you apparently believe in Tinfoil Unicorns.

 

[jobiwan]

Andy annoys me such that I could never root for the dude, sorry. Frank I can root for but Andy no way. I'd prefer Cadel Evans to finish ahead of Evans and I'm far from an Evans fan. Andy's too much of a slacker getting by on his natural ability to go for other races. He couldn't even motivate himself to sacrifice for his brother at the Vuelta.

I honestly don't know why I root for Andy. Maybe it's because I've watched too much Versus!

I want Andy to win this Tour and I hope that Contador is truly innocent, because he has been a great champion!

 

[Publicus]

Schleck will give Contador the People's Elbow!!

Given Schleck's track record, I think he would miss and dislocate his shoulder in the process and then blame AC for not staying still.

 

[jobiwan]

Given Schleck's track record, I think he would miss and dislocate his shoulder in the process and then blame AC for not staying still.

That's probably the more likely scenario!

 

[El Pistolero]

So no response to the point that Valverde was competing with a Tour in his legs and Contador was fresh and rested?

The Vuelta has weak competition, tell us something new.

 

[Angliru]

I honestly don't know why I root for Andy. Maybe it's because I've watched too much Versus!

I want Andy to win this Tour and I hope that Contador is truly innocent, because he has been a great champion!

Of course I agree with the bolded part but you're alright with me! Versus does have its favorites and most of them are on Leopard, Shack, HTC or Sky.

 

[Angliru]

The Vuelta has weak competition, tell us something new.

How does that opinion support your argument?

 

[El Pistolero]

How does that opinion support your argument?

That he dominated the Vuelta? How does it not? I'm not saying his Vuelta form dominated the Tour de France or anything.

 

[BYOP88]

As I just posted, so is the Luxembourg cycling federation also corrupt?

Of course it isn't