Contador Isolates Self

[goober]

From Velonews:

“On the climb, when I was speaking with Andreas. I said I am going to attack,” Contador said after the stage. “He said, ‘if you want, attack.’ I thought it was going to be a mano-a-mano with Andy Schleck and I. Then I saw that Andreas was struggling and I wasn’t distancing the Schlecks, this is the big regret I have from the day.

“It was a tactic we thought about before the stage, to attack to distance the Schlecks,” Contador added. “I spoke with (Bruyneel), he told me to attack if I wanted, I attacked and I saw that the brothers were strong, I saw that Andreas stayed back, I was constantly looking back to see if he was coming back but he suffered a bonk behind and he couldn’t regain the wheel – for that I am pretty sad about it.”

If this is true then all is good in my book...

 

[Escarabajo]

looking back on it, i'm not so sure johan told ac to cool it and called off his attack. Remember when the schlecks reeled ac back, ac was looking back for ak? johan on the radio: "basta! Basta! Basta! ahhhhh mi corazon!!!"

lol


......................

 

[Publicus]

Actually he did read Levi's comments in the order he made them.

#
Well, that wasn't a good move!!

#
Now Alberto is isolated AND Andreas is dropped!
#
I guess it's not meant to be for Andreas, what was a near sure victory will now be difficult.

# If Andreas finishes 4th in GC by less than 2' from 3rd, we know where he lost it. . .

On the finish line when he couldn't hold Lance's wheel (who said he was cramping at the end). Dude was BLOWN.

 

[schnebit]

Probably to see if he could crack the brother's Schleck. Obviously it didn't work. So as you saw on the descent he just rode on their wheels. Sometimes you attack to try and put the other racers in trouble and when it works you put time between you and the others.

Hope that helps.

Yeah, well... he didn't need the time. So I have to think it was a tactical blunder that may have cost his team mate a spot on the podium.

 

[fulcrum]

So, now is Contador the bad teammate? cannot believe american fans at all

He is not a bad teammate. He is the team leader. That means his interest prevails over any other rider's in the team. Remember? JB promised him so much until he decided to go back on his word at the beginning of the Tour.

 

[Anonymous]

well, Lance is just doing his own race, anything to do with being a good teammate.
If he will be enough strong he will be in the first split with AC and Kloden. Simply he wasn't able. If you agree Kloden was out of gas in last 100 m, you should agree he was same out of gas in the last colombiere kms...
So, now is Contador the bad teammate? cannot believe american fans at all

I'm assuming you weren't referring to me... I hadn't said anything about Contador being a bad teammate. And it's pretty obvious who the strongest rider is (he's wearing yellow).

But for a 38yo, LA is doing quite well. So to have the possibility of getting on the podium why not try? He's not digging into AC's time. Or would you rather he stay on Wiggo's wheel, who already cracked, for no reason? He may not get to wear yellow but as a competitor he's not going to sit down either.

 

[schnebit]

He is not a bad teammate. He is the team leader. That means his interest prevails over any other rider's in the team. Remember? JB promised him so much until he decided to go back on his word at the beginning of the Tour.

He's not a bad teammate... maybe tactically stupid, but not a bad team mate...

 

[schnebit]

I'm assuming you weren't referring to me... I hadn't said anything about Contador being a bad teammate. And it's pretty obvious who the strongest rider is (he's wearing yellow).

But for a 38yo, LA is doing quite well. So to have the possibility of getting on the podium why not try? He's not digging into AC's time. Or would you rather he stay on Wiggo's wheel, who already cracked, for no reason? He may not get to wear yellow but as a competitor he's not going to sit down either.

Exactly... AC had 2+ minutes in-hand, was already past the summit when LA decided to go. LA had NO chance of catching him or taking any time...

He saw that he had some freedom to preserve his spot w/o damaging the leader.

 

[TRDean]

The twitter machine is in full action...AC will have to defend himself once again. If LL is not even there how the hell does he know the tactics? The only one that was there and speaking is AC...and he said JB and Klodi were in the know. If Kloden bonked...there is no way AC should have stayed with him!!! That would have been stupid..the attack did not cause the bonk!!!

 

[Publicus]

With 2km to the summit, Contador attacked and immediately opened a gap, but ultimately only dropped his teammate as the Schleck brothers pulled themselves back.

“On the climb, when I was speaking with Andreas. I said I am going to attack,” Contador said after the stage. “He said, ‘if you want, attack.’ I thought it was going to be a mano-a-mano with Andy Schleck and I. Then I saw that Andreas was struggling and I wasn’t distancing the Schlecks, this is the big regret I have from the day.

“It was a tactic we thought about before the stage, to attack to distance the Schlecks,” Contador added. “I spoke with (Bruyneel), he told me to attack if I wanted, I attacked and I saw that the brothers were strong, I saw that Andreas stayed back, I was constantly looking back to see if he was coming back but he suffered a bonk behind and he couldn’t regain the wheel – for that I am pretty sad about it.”

Behind, Wiggins drove the chase. With teammates up the road, Armstrong dutifully sat in until near the summit, where he attacked and motored up and over the top in pursuit of his two teammates and the Schleck brothers. Nibali soon joined Armstrong, and the pair caught Klöden before the finish.

Bombing down towards the line, Contador sat behind the Schlecks, his GC lead safe for another day. In the closing kilometers, Andy Schleck took up the pace-setting, and gave his older brother the stage win in gratitude for his super domestique service.

Contador said the win was no gift, but he had no reason to contest the finish.

“On the way down, the Schlecks were asking me to collaborate with them, and I said no because I had teammates coming up from behind,” said Contador. “I knew they would attack all the way to the finish line. I was controlling the two of them. In the sprint, I preferred to be a little more conservative and thinking about tomorrow. More than anything, just be calm.”

http://tour-de-france.velonews.com/article/95658/frank-schleck-wins-stage-17

This is tempest in a teapot is done.

 

[schnebit]

A lot of people are talking about how Astana's 'out to get' Alberto (stabbing him in the back, riding for Lance, etc.).

Keep in mind that Alberto IS in yellow... a feat he couldn't accomplish on his own! He's not riding a solo race here... if he's in yellow, it's because Astana has worked to put/keep him there.

 

[Publicus]

Yeah, well... he didn't need the time. So I have to think it was a tactical blunder that may have cost his team mate a spot on the podium.

You always put time into your rivals when you can. Wasn't that the mantra around here after Stage 3?

 

[Carl0880]

The more I think about this, I think the real problem behind the entire Astana situation is Johan. He told Alberto he was team leader, then when Lance was thinking about riding the Tour he probably asked Johan if he would have the support of the team, I am sure he was told yes. Then when both gave the response to the media that they were the leader, JOhan has had to do alot of crisis management. Both guys have said all along they will do the teams bidding, and they have so far. They have 2 individual goals, but they do what is asked of them. LIke Lance has said, they would look really stupid if they didn't win the Tour, so that is the number 1 goal. Now that Goal Number 1 has been accomplished (So it appears) now you can go after goals number 2 3 and 4.

IN essence, instead of throwing everything at Lance and Alberto, we should more focus on Johan for what we have percieved to have seen.

 

[psychlist]

And LA twitters are what undermine the team. LA is a *** period. He was not even there. Why did he chase so hard on the descent? To catch Kloden...thats why!! LA needs to just shut up!! Talk about a bad teammate.

get over it!

 

[schnebit]

You always put time into your rivals when you can. Wasn't that the mantra around here after Stage 3?

Dunno...

I suppose you could take the position that, you always put time into your rivals when you can. But you have to weigh the risks... There's always a risk... things could have gone really, really bad for Alberto as a result of his move.

 

[TRDean]

get over it!

If you say so!!

 

[schnebit]

The more I think about this, I think the real problem behind the entire Astana situation is Johan. He told Alberto he was team leader, then when Lance was thinking about riding the Tour he probably asked Johan if he would have the support of the team, I am sure he was told yes. Then when both gave the response to the media that they were the leader, JOhan has had to do alot of crisis management. Both guys have said all along they will do the teams bidding, and they have so far. They have 2 individual goals, but they do what is asked of them. LIke Lance has said, they would look really stupid if they didn't win the Tour, so that is the number 1 goal. Now that Goal Number 1 has been accomplished (So it appears) now you can go after goals number 2 3 and 4.

IN essence, instead of throwing everything at Lance and Alberto, we should more focus on Johan for what we have percieved to have seen.

That's a good point... JB was in a tough spot, though.

Picture this - you have the 2007 winner on your team. Not to mention, said winner also won the last 3 grand tours that he rode.

Then, here comes the 7-time winner of the Tour back onto your team. What would YOU do?

It's easy to sit here and sling mud, but unless you're in the situation it's hard to judge.

 

[TRDean]

get over it!

Let me know when you get tired of being a LA nutt hugger OK!!! Go back and read his twitter you school girl!

 

[danielcosta]

Contador is the strongest man in the race, he´s not worring the second or third place is his teammate or not, he wants to win the tour. What will be his next team ?

 

[TRDean]

That's a good point... JB was in a tough spot, though.

Picture this - you have the 2007 winner on your team. Not to mention, said winner also won the last 3 grand tours that he rode.

Then, here comes the 7-time winner of the Tour back onto your team. What would YOU do?

It's easy to sit here and sling mud, but unless you're in the situation it's hard to judge.

This is a good point...however tough it is, it is not that difficult. You pick a leader before the tour. If Johan is that good a team manager/leader he should have made no bones about the direction of the team. Remember, all we keep hearing is what a genous DS he really is. Much of this is his own fault.

 

[schnebit]

Contador is the strongest man in the race, he´s not worring the second or third place is his teammate or not, he wants to win the tour. What will be his next team ?

I hear ya.... but that's a BAD leader then.

Next year? Maybe Astana since Lance and Johan will be gone! But then he'd have Vino to contend with.

Alberto needs to get on a team where he's the dominant rider. The team has to be strong enough to support him, but not strong enough to contest him.

 

[schnebit]

This is a good point...however tough it is, it is not that difficult. You pick a leader before the tour. If Johan is that good a team manager/leader he should have made no bones about the direction of the team. Remember, all we keep hearing is what a genous DS he really is. Much of this is his own fault.

True enough... but remember, is job for the team is to win the Tour. Who do you have a better shot with?

 

[klodifan]

Contador is the strongest man in the race, he´s not worring the second or third place is his teammate or not, he wants to win the tour. What will be his next team ?

It was a stupid move. Period. He's got a lot to learn

 

[Publicus]

A lot of people are talking about how Astana's 'out to get' Alberto (stabbing him in the back, riding for Lance, etc.).

Keep in mind that Alberto IS in yellow... a feat he couldn't accomplish on his own! He's not riding a solo race here... if he's in yellow, it's because Astana has worked to put/keep him there.

LOL. Astana didn't work to put him in yellow. The team worked to put the most time into their rivals on the TTT with Lance NARROWLY missing yellow. Had he gotten it, I can just guess the trajectory of where things would have gone.

Contador beat Andy Schleck by 42 seconds on Stage 1, 21 seconds on Arcalis, 43 seconds on Verbier. So without the TTT he's still where? In yellow. I expect him to expand his lead against A Schleck tomorrow.

I'm not trying to diminish the role of the other teammates or the TTT, but Kloden was pacing Lance up Arcalis and Verbier, not Contador. He wasn't taking ANY pulls or letting Contador ride in his slip stream today or yesterday for the matter. He was THERE, sure, but he wasn't exactly doing anything other than holding on to Contador's wheel. And as he said in the article, he talked to Kloden about it. Kloden couldn't follow. It happens.

No such uproar about Lance announcing his new team and team sponsor and the Tour isn't finished; or JB announcing that he's going with that new team on the same day.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Let me know when you get tired of being a LA nutt hugger OK!!!

Didn't realise there was room on there, what, with Leecheimer sucking so furiously on it.

It was a stupid move. Period. He's got a lot to learn

He's not the only one.