Contador linked with Movistar

[Cimber]

The controlling part to me is more a "clash" between personalities-both with strong ones & ambitious-perhaps Alberto has a different approach than Bjarne, since he-Contador- has gone through so much troubling situations during his career-that he might feel bothered by Riis trying to "boss" him around -when the Spaniard has already proved his qualities over and over....

Ye I was thinking that aw well. I think Cancellara was also saying something like "Bjarne always gets it his way". On the other hand I think Andy have been critizising Riis for being to absent, for not being close enough to the riders.

 

[Polish]

I just posted it cos some ppl were arguing about how they thought Specialized would leave Contador as a sponsor.

That makes sense, thanks.
Sorry for my confusion.

I think Specialized will stick by Alberto. Although his performance since signing on with Specialized has been a bit below their expectations I would guess.

 

[Forunculo]

That makes sense, thanks.
Sorry for my confusion.

I think Specialized will stick by Alberto. Although his performance since signing on with Specialized has been a bit below their expectations I would guess.

I don't see that, aside clenbuterol and TAS verdict issue, he "won" Tour 2010, Giro 2011 and was 5th at Tour 2011 in a good fashion.

And he was winning races through the year.

 

[Polish]

I don't see that, aside clenbuterol and TAS verdict issue, he "won" Tour 2010, Giro 2011 and was 5th at Tour 2011 in a good fashion.

And he was winning races through the year.

C'mon, I like looking at the bright side of things as much as the next guy.
When life hands you lemonade, make some margueritas.

But Specialized is a very tough outfit. They expect excellence. 110%.
Three GT's in a year expectations. Or at least multiple TdF's wins.
Crush their evil competitor Trek. Crush them and crush them some more.
That is why they pay the big sponsorship bucks.
Crush them or Die.

Alberto has not met those expectations.
World Class Expectations.
Thats all I'm saying.

 

[Teddy Boom]

I dont see Saxo having enough points to be on the world tour in 2013 hence contador if he goes back to Saxo won't be at the tour in 2013 as aso won't give them a wildcard

Even if they don't have enough points, could the Tour possibly turn down the team with Contador? I have my doubts.

It does raise a very interesting possibility though. Think of the awesomeness of Contador going all out in all races at the end of the year to pile on the points. 6 or 7 stages and all the jerseys at Veulta. I might even find a way to get to Quebec if Contador would be there and racing for a victory. That would be a beautiful thing to see!

 

[Polish]

Even if they don't have enough points, could the Tour possibly turn down the team with Contador? I have my doubts.

!

The Team with Contador WAS banned in 2006 and 2008.
And Alberto himself is banned in 2012.
Disqualified from 2010.
Boo Booed by the fans in 2011.

Maybe Alberto should stick to the Giro and the Vuelta?
The TdF has not been very good to Alberto.

 

[El Pistolero]

Nothing to do with clinic stuff this time. I mean they already have Valverde so Contador joining them won't matter much regarding that.

Can't be personality either. All the names I listed are either arrogant or rather unpleasant characters. With the exception of Leipheimer who I genuinely think is a nice guy. Just based on interviews though, don't know the guy personally.

 

[Teddy Boom]

It does raise a very interesting possibility though. Think of the awesomeness of Contador going all out in all races at the end of the year to pile on the points. 6 or 7 stages and all the jerseys at Veulta. I might even find a way to get to Quebec if Contador would be there and racing for a victory. That would be a beautiful thing to see!

I just looked it up.. I'm surprised that Jerseys don't count for any points. Helps to reduce the prestige of the KoM calssification even more, which is really unfortunate.

Anyway, to the real point though. What's the sporting criteria? Best I can find is this:

the world Tour formula calculates the sporting eligibility criterion by adding the team's riders' individual points from the last two years to the team's collective points from the previous year to determine their score for this year's license.

So that makes things a bit complicated.. With the points from a Veulta win, and the 200+ points Saxo has from riders last year, I don't think they'd have any problem getting status for 2013. It is the 2012 status that they risk losing.

Anybody seriously think the Veulta would decline to invite them regardless

 

[Teddy Boom]

The Team with Contador WAS banned in 2006 and 2008.
And Alberto himself is banned in 2012.
Disqualified from 2010.
Boo Booed by the fans in 2011.

Maybe Alberto should stick to the Giro and the Vuelta?
The TdF has not been very good to Alberto.

Yes indeed, fair point, but 2006-2008 was different times I think.

 

[El Pistolero]

Yes indeed, fair point, but 2006-2008 was different times I think.

For the record, Polish is just a troll. A good one though. Yup, good trolls exist, how rare they may be.

 

[The Hitch]

Contador can just put a stipulation in his contract that if Saxo don't get the Tour, he can switch teams.

Its what Menchov had, though he didn't use it of course.

 

[Old School]

Movistar would be nice...but as long as he rides, I don't care who he's with!!! I'm tired of losing all the great competition to suspensions...

Let 'em all ride! The stars still get paid, in the end, the fans suffer from lack of real, all out, competition.

 

[therealtimshady]

I thought as having served a ban none of contadors points would count for 2 years

 

[LaFlorecita]

I thought as having served a ban none of contadors points would count for 2 years

That is debatable. The rule was invented after Alberto's doping violation took place, so it shouldn't apply on him, but neither it should on Valverde.

Besides, it is against WADA's "no extra punishment" rule.

 

[Mambo95]

Even if they don't have enough points, could the Tour possibly turn down the team with Contador? I have my doubts.

As well as going to great lengths to getting his team kicked out in 2008 (as opposed to not inviting them), they had no problem in 2011 in sticking two fingers up to Geox, with a previous winner and a podium from the previous year.

I would think it quite likely that they wouldn't invite Saxo in 2013.

 

[Mambo95]

That is debatable. The rule was invented after Alberto's doping violation took place, so it shouldn't apply on him, but neither it should on Valverde.

Besides, it is against WADA's "no extra punishment" rule.

That rule is quite likely to stand up to an appeal. It's not a sanction directly against the rider. It doesn't stop them joining teams or entering races. It's just an arbitrary system for ranking teams.

 

[LaFlorecita]

As well as going to great lengths to getting his team kicked out in 2008 (as opposed to not inviting them), they had no problem in 2011 in sticking two fingers up to Geox, with a previous winner and a podium from the previous year.

I would think it quite likely that they wouldn't invite Saxo in 2013.

Yeah it is quite likely.

 

[LaFlorecita]

That rule is quite likely to stand up to an appeal. It's not a sanction directly against the rider. It doesn't stop them joining teams or entering races. It's just an arbitrary system for ranking teams.

It is extra punishment because the rider becomes less interesting for teams. What if it weren't Alberto Contador we are talking about. The guy would not be guaranteed a team when he comes back.

 

[Mambo95]

It is extra punishment because the rider becomes less interesting for teams. What if it weren't Alberto Contador we are talking about. The guy would not be guaranteed a team when he comes back.

He's less interesting anyway because he has a tarnished reputation. And plenty of dopers couldn't get a job long before this rule came in.

It's not a sanction against the rider, it merely a rule for determining a team ranking. The rider is not directly being punished.

It may get overruled, but it's on much firmer legal footing than, for example, the British Olympic rule

 

[Walkman]

It is extra punishment because the rider becomes less interesting for teams. What if it weren't Alberto Contador we are talking about. The guy would not be guaranteed a team when he comes back.

So? Would that be a bad thing?!

 

[LaFlorecita]

He's less interesting anyway because he has a tarnished reputation. And plenty of dopers couldn't get a job long before this rule came in.

It's not a sanction against the rider, it merely a rule for determining a team ranking. The rider is not directly being punished.

It may get overruled, but it's on much firmer legal footing than, for example, the British Olympic rule

If Alberto gets a good lawyer, he will get it overruled 99% sure. Of course the reputation of the "doper" makes him already less interesting, but the fact that he won't be able to earn points two years after makes him even less interesting. Two years is a long time, in Alberto's case that's almost to the end of his career.

 

[LaFlorecita]

So? Would that be a bad thing?!

Yes, it would be. Everyone deserves a second chance. Once he served the ban he should be able to return without any hindering.

 

[Maxiton]

Contador's brother and manager, Fran, was the first to deny the story, telling sporten.dk that “We will be in talks with Bjarne soon, and Alberto would like to continue working with him.”

Finally read the article. I think there is a high probability that this story was generated by Fran to give himself some sort of advantage in negotiations with Saxo.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Finally read the article. I think there is a high probability that this story was generated by Fran to give himself some sort of advantage in negotiations with Saxo.

Lol. He denies his own story. Now that'd be something.

 

[Christian]

Rumour has it Contador is working on setting up his own team for next season ... Team KrispyKreme. Ullrich rumoured to make comeback.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cou...lly-push-contador-away-from-riis-and-saxobank