Contador NEVER race Giro again

[Dedelou]

a strong team and 100k of ITT being one of them hilly should make the double possible for contador.

but i don't think the ASO will give contador that opportunity any time soon

I heard ASO is planning to re hire the motorcycling who took KAS for Contador and give him a licence to drive a french television car instead next year.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

What support in TdF? They sucked....

But his team was weak, wasn't it?

I wouldn't say the sucked or were weak. They didn't give much support in the Tour, but four of them (Blazquez, Porte, Tosatto, and Navarro) had just ridden the Giro in his support. They were exhausted. If he wants to attempt the double, he will need a strong team, but that means different teams in both races.

Besides, him losing this year had little to do with team support.

 

[Dedelou]

He is implying that his team was weak? If I just rode two GTs in his support, I would be a bit offended.

No. only expecting more from management if they hope to get better results they have to make sure his team must be stronger.. That make sense unless you read something else. Demanding more from a team is not accusing them of being weak but trusting them to be capable to do better with more help. Adding to that the statement implies a wish that no russian or motorcyclists team up with the opposition to make it harder for his team to function. Is there a chance you might ride one GT. Perhaps there is a job there for next year IK.

 

[Forunculo]

Nope, the original Spanish statement was even more categorical than the English translation.

I'm not agree at all, the statement wasn't an interwiev but an informal talk with spanish journalists.

It's impossible to know the context of that talk, even we didn't know the questions.


From what I understand Contador wants to make Tour his big goal for some years and try Vuelta with a weak field. This is a better way to reach the 7 Tour of his big enemy Lance and the 11 GT of Eddie.

He didn't regret of Giro, he told everybody always, but he will wait until have a better record of Tours of France and a well suited parcours, perhaps more quantity and quality in his team.

It's a fact that a rider like Bak (media rumours) for flat, Tony Martin (same like Bak) for TTT and medium mountains and probably a superdomestique for high mountain will improve a lot his chances. And he can have his spanish helpers for Vuelta, only Navarro has level for Tour.


Little off topic wasn't Rujano free. Maybe Saxo and Sungard wants danish and US riders, but Rujano could be like Heras was for Armstrong. He could ride Giro as leader and help. Or maybe Valverde could split spring classics with Nuyens and help Alberto in July but is more likely to return to Movistar.

 

[patrick767]

Eh, that could just be frustration talking. I think it depends on how obsessive his focus with winning more and more TdFs becomes. If he's totally focused on matching or exceeding Armstrong's 7 Tour wins, then maybe we won't see him in the Giro again or at least not for a long time. I don't know what his career ambitions are exactly.

 

[sultanofhyd]

Guys, please read his recent interview a bit carefully. He said this year's parcours didn't suit him as there was no prologue or MTT but a team time trial where obviously his team is not the strongest.

"You need to have stages that suit you, either a prologue, a mountain time trial or two time trials. But not a team time trial if you don't have a strong team. With attention to detail like this and good preparation, you can win both the Giro and the Tour in the same season"

He was not talking about mountain support at all, and lets face it, if he has good form he won't need much support.

 

[Grand Tourist]

I reckon Bert could do it & he's the only cyclist in the peleton who could do it.

I doubt we going to see ultra hard Giros for the forseeable future now that Zomegan has been given his marching orders & a different Tour course would work in Berts favour.

Bert is right - Saxo Bank need to be beefed up & no doubt Riis is thinking about that. I don't think he was criticising him team mates per se but rather saying they were knackered after the Giro.

 

[Parrulo]

I reckon Bert could do it & he's the only cyclist in the peleton who could do it.

I doubt we going to see ultra hard Giros for the forseeable future now that Zomegan has been given his marching orders & a different Tour course would work in Berts favour.

Bert is right - Saxo Bank need to be beefed up & no doubt Riis is thinking about that. I don't think he was criticising him team mates per se but rather saying they were knackered after the Giro.

couldn't be more wrong. the giro being the toughest GT is a RCS demand and has nothing to do with zomegnan. yes the guy came up with some brilliant stages but it was under the orders of the higher ups on RCS.

 

[Angliru]

He is implying that his team was weak? If I just rode two GTs in his support, I would be a bit offended.

You're creating drama where there is none. You can't take the same riders from battling for the Giro overall and do the same at the Tour. One would need a stronger/deeper team than currently exists at Saxo.

 

[El Pistolero]

His team was crap. They were nowhere to be seen in the Giro and the Tour when it went uphill.

 

[Angliru]

I wouldn't say the sucked or were weak. They didn't give much support in the Tour, but four of them (Blazquez, Porte, Tosatto, and Navarro) had just ridden the Giro in his support. They were exhausted. If he wants to attempt the double, he will need a strong team, but that means different teams in both races.

Besides, him losing this year had little to do with team support.

A strong team would not have had to roll the dice and keep their ride leader riding mid-pack in hopes of saving their team's energy for the pivotal 3rd week which is what Riis/Saxo management said they were doing to explain why they were constantly not at the front in the first week. This says that the team was not able to support their leader as they should have which resulted in the multitude of crashes and consequently an injury that was a hinderance to being able to perform at his best. Without the loss of time in the first week there would have been no need to attack on consecutive stages on descents (at least not on both days), using valuable energy that wasn't necessarily at a surplus considering.

Ultimately a strong team would've been better able to keep their leader out of harms way and in a more optimal position to challenge for the Tour victory.

 

[Je ne sais quoi]

Contador must be a DS's dream. He is so low maintenance. He seems quite content to ride around with a minimum of fuss and support. This Tour seems like it's one of the few times it has come back to bite him.
One of his strong tactical skills is his canny way of separating his competitors from their support (eg at the Giro), "dragging them into the deep end of the pool".
I believe that's how he could have won this Tour had it not been for the opening stage crash/time loss and injury. A rested team...

 

[ManInFull]

His team was crap. They were nowhere to be seen in the Giro and the Tour when it went uphill.

But what is Saxo Bank going to do about it? Who are they going to sign?

 

[horizon27]

Contador must be a DS's dream. He is so low maintenance. He seems quite content to ride around with a minimum of fuss and support. This Tour seems like it's one of the few times it has come back to bite him.
One of his strong tactical skills is his canny way of separating his competitors from their support (eg at the Giro), "dragging them into the deep end of the pool".
I believe that's how he could have won this Tour had it not been for the opening stage crash/time loss and injury. A rested team...

Agreed I'm happy Evans won the tour,its just even though Evans is a fine cyclist.There is no way he is the cyclist Contador is.Glad Andy Schleck didn't win,although l do feel for him.

 

[Mshengu]

I suggest that Bjarne higher a rider like Johnny Hoogerland to pull Contador in the flats, and higher a few more guys like him.

 

[dsut4392]

Hushovd only stares at Cancellara's a$$ in order to aim where his foot is going to go.

I've been a Thor hater earlier in the season, but his Tour has been fantastic.

Meh. Never been a Hushovd fan either, but watching the tour has done nothing to convert me. His ride in the recent TdF made me think of the clinic more than anything else.
As for watching Cancellara's backside, Canc was stupid to think it would go any other way, but Hushovd has the form...Wheelsucking Flecha for the last 30km in PR 2010, then outsprinting him for 2nd was just weak.
"Waah waah waah, I want a rainbow jersey bonus, even though it's not in my contract, Waah!". You don't like Garmin? Do what Evans did, and buy yourself out!

 

[Parrulo]

Meh. Never been a Hushovd fan either, but watching the tour has done nothing to convert me. His ride in the recent TdF made me think of the clinic more than anything else.
As for watching Cancellara's backside, Canc was stupid to think it would go any other way, but Hushovd has the form...Wheelsucking Flecha for the last 30km in PR 2010, then outsprinting him for 2nd was just weak.
"Waah waah waah, I want a rainbow jersey bonus, even though it's not in my contract, Waah!". You don't like Garmin? Do what Evans did, and buy yourself out!

and don't forget that he had spent the 30k before he started wheelsucking flecha wheelsucking boonen.i have said that on this very same forum more then once to prove how not impressive hushovd's high P-R placings are but some people don't seem to agree. glad you share my opinion

 

[MartinGT]

Gutted, he looks great in pink

 

[El Pistolero]

albertocontador Alberto Contador
Espero que esteis recuperando,gracias x vuestra ayuda.I hope you are recovering,thanks for your help http://yfrog.com/kjr60xpj

The bastard! He thanked his team! How dares he.

 

[roundabout]

What a tool. First he blamed the Giro, then the route didn't suit him (that takes the cake) and apparently the team was also not good enough.

Excuses galore.

 

[Publicus]

What a tool. First he blamed the Giro, then the route didn't suit him (that takes the cake) and apparently the team was also not good enough.

Excuses galore.

I'm pretty sure no matter what answers he gave your response would be pretty much the same.

 

[Orvieto]

He is implying that his team was weak? If I just rode two GTs in his support, I would be a bit offended.

Actually that was just the headline. Contador doesn't write the headlines. Here's what he said (abeit in translation):

"You need to have stages that suit you, either a prologue, a mountain time trial or two time trials. But not a team time trial if you don't have a strong team. With attention to detail like this and good preparation, you can win both the Giro and the Tour in the same season."

Makes perfect sense. His main point is that you need your prep to go well and for the stages to suit you. That's where the team reference come in. If you don't have a good TTT team, that's not a stage that suits you. Nothing controversial or offensive there.

 

[Orvieto]

What a tool. First he blamed the Giro, then the route didn't suit him (that takes the cake) and apparently the team was also not good enough.

Excuses galore.

Read what he said, not just the headline.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

...but the implication is there. I didn't say he is blaming his team. I asked if he was implying that his team is week. Seems like AC, more than most, always has a comment about his team or a teammate. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has noticed this.

@Angliru...didnt mean to stir up a big bowl of drama. I just though I was creating a discussion with a legitimate question.

 

[sultanofhyd]

...but the implication is there. I didn't say he is blaming his team. I asked if he was implying that his team is week. Seems like AC, more than most, always has a comment about his team or a teammate. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has noticed this.

@Angliru...didnt mean to stir up a big bowl of drama. I just though I was creating a discussion with a legitimate question.

You would say he is a deluded fool if he said his team was strong in the TTT.