Contador not given the time of Vino's group?

[Ryo Hazuki]

Don't mistake good guy with always managing to do something really dumb during a GT. He is entertaining in the same way Claudio Chiappucci was.

that's why vino has a palmares bigger than that of 99% of this tour peloton. Vino is a 100% winner despite he has no sprint he has won more races than most sprinters

 

[michaeld]

AC back to hog/pharmstrong team??!! after all that happened??! are you kidding?!! well, one never knows, but dopador would be inredible stupid to do so... but at the end, he will follow the money...

To Caisse d'Epargne. To fill the budget hole Piti left.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

contador will stay with astana. they offered him 8 million a year, no team can match that and even if they could astana would only higher their offer since they are the wealthiest team in the world.

 

[Publicus]

Yeah, based on everything I've read in the past 24 hours, my guess is that he was just dropped. I've heard that he had a flat, a broken spoke, rubbing brakes, etc. I mean come on.

He had all of those things, plus riding hard to stay with the group, he was toast at the end. He's already said that:

Contador summarized his physical feelings today by saying that at the beginning of the stage “I felt pretty bad. I changed bikes at kilometer 100 and then I felt worse, but after the change I started feeling better and then with all the tension on the pavé, I felt very, very comfortable, extremely comfortable. With the breakdown, I knew that I couldn’t let up, couldn’t get out of the saddle and I knew that I was expending more energy than normal, but I wasn’t able to stop.” For that reason he lost time in the final kilometer. “That was all I could do,” he said.

Rubbing brakes, working hard to minimize losses, he was toast at the finale. The mechanical happened at 30KM so it wasn't within last 3K, so lost time was just lost time. Mystery solved.

 

[ManInFull]

He had all of those things, plus riding hard to stay with the group, he was toast at the end. He's already said that:



Rubbing brakes, working hard to minimize losses, he was toast at the finale. The mechanical happened at 30KM so it wasn't within last 3K, so lost time was just lost time. Mystery solved.

He couldn't get out of the saddle because of the cobbles or due to the tire?

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Yeah, based on everything I've read in the past 24 hours, my guess is that he was just dropped. I've heard that he had a flat, a broken spoke, rubbing brakes, etc. I mean come on.

Well, at least he didn't get dropped as early as Lance did.

 

[ManInFull]

contador will stay with astana. they offered him 8 million a year, no team can match that and even if they could astana would only higher their offer since they are the wealthiest team in the world.

Astana is the wealthiest team in the world? Wow. I did not know that. Is it due to the team being funded with oil money? I hope that they can attract better domestiques for AC next year.

 

[alberto.legstrong]

He couldn't get out of the saddle because of the cobbles or due to the tire?

He doesn't say, but if you are under the impression you have a broken spoke (on the rear), then you shouldn't get out of the saddle as the sharp increase in power through the rear wheel could cause the weakened wheel to completely fail.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Astana is the wealthiest team in the world? Wow. I did not know that. Is it due to the team being funded with oil money? I hope that they can attract better domestiques for AC next year.

All the good domestiques went to RadioShack to help Lance.

 

[Beech Mtn]

Astana is the wealthiest team in the world? Wow. I did not know that. Is it due to the team being funded with oil money? I hope that they can attract better domestiques for AC next year.

Astana and Katyusha are both very wealthy teams. AC has some pretty darn good domestiques this year as it is. But you have to remember the mess with Bruyneel leaving last fall. That took a long time to sort out (I believe JB intentionally dragged his feet to hurt Astana's chances of hiring riders for 2010). This left Astana not able to make many contract offers to riders until very late in the season.

As it was, they were able to sign quite a few solid riders - Tiralongo, Stangelj, DDLF, Gasparotto, in addition to the Spaniards who were always going to stay with Alberto. It said a lot about Vino and Alberto that good riders and good managers (Martinelli, Sanquer) waited it out and came to Astana even though nothing could be finalized until very late in the season.

 

[Angliru]

I wish AC gets his story sorted out. He claims he had a woobly wheel that was rubbing against the brake and prevented him from standing while pedaling the last 30KM or so. Really? I guess AC never figure out how to operate his brake quick release and the climb that we could not ride out of the saddle is pure BS as I saw him out of the saddle numerous times during the telecast. I think he blew at the end but that's not something u want your competition to know.

Opening the brake calipers to the max won't necessarily stop the tire from rubbing on the brake when you have a broken spoke. Often times the tire will be rubbing on the frame or fork also unless you take the wheel off and reset it in the drop outs. Of course to take the time to do that would result in even more time lost. It appears to me he made the best of a bad situation. I've noticed that once a rider has to stop for whatever reason in the last quarter of P-R they very, very seldom regain contact with the group they were in at that point.

 

[alberto.legstrong]

Opening the brake calipers to the max won't necessarily stop the tire from rubbing on the brake when you have a broken spoke. Often times the tire will be rubbing on the frame or fork also unless you take the wheel off and reset it in the drop outs. Of course to take the time to do that would result in even more time lost. It appears to me he made the best of a bad situation. I've noticed that once a rider has to stop for whatever reason in the last quarter of P-R they very, very seldom regain contact with the group they were in at that point.

For a guy who has a lot to learn, he's not too dumb.

 

[Escarabajo]

I thought I saw a flat back tire when he came in. I guess i need to fix my TV.

 

[Benotti69]

Is Vino not part owner of the team and therefore more interested in an Astana TdF winner than himself finishing 3rd......

Vino put the head down in the last kilo and my understanding didn't see Contador off the back.....

but if it makes people excited to see things that may or may not be.....

 

[hfer07]

At the end of the day-what really matters is what Contador accomplished in the cobbles-the timegap with Vino & Wiggo are not going to matter this coming weekend....

 

[erader]

Is Vino not part owner of the team and therefore more interested in an Astana TdF winner than himself finishing 3rd......
Vino put the head down in the last kilo and my understanding didn't see Contador off the back.....

but if it makes people excited to see things that may or may not be.....

funny you say that because last year Astana was angry because contador wouldn't "follow the plan" to place kloden on the podium ... or some such rot .

vino is a backstabbing snake. the only way to get his "loyalty" is to put time into him like the rest of you enemies.

ed rader

 

[Barrus]

funny you say that because last year Astana was angry because contador wouldn't "follow the plan" to place kloden on the podium ... or some such rot .

vino is a backstabbing snake. the only way to get his "loyalty" is to put time into him like the rest of you enemies.

ed rader

Well Contador seems to get along with him, or otherwise he wouldn't remain in the Astana team. It is in Vino's best interest to ensure Contie is happy so that he remains in the team, something that Vino wants.

Also could you put that ed rader just in your signature, I notice you end every post with it, so wouldn't that be easier?

 

[Hitchey]

funny you say that because last year Astana was angry because contador wouldn't "follow the plan" to place kloden on the podium ... or some such rot .

vino is a backstabbing snake. the only way to get his "loyalty" is to put time into him like the rest of you enemies.

ed rader

Contador supposedly asked Kloden just before he attacked if it was ok to up the tempo and Kloden replied with a yes, just before he was dropped. If you base any of your opinion of AC's riding on last year's tour, you have failed miserably to see what really happened and the games by Bruyneel and LA to derail AC's tour. What exactly are you basing the backstabbing snake comment on? When vino was riding for ullrich and attacked? Seems like many teams go into grand tours these days with more than one "leader" or send other teammates up the road to force others to chase.

All this with AC actually getting dropped and Vino riding for himself and not being a good teammate is complete rubbish. Those of you that feel that way are viewing through spectacles smeared with hate towards Vino, and that can only be reserved for someone truly deserving of that, not to mention names.

Furthermore, the comment regarding the Shack hiring away the former Astana riders as proof of anything other than the timing with Astana and the guarantees of contract and payment and delays is further evidence of not being aware of the facts.

Vino has been riding himself into the ground to help AC and I believe that time will show that will continue to be the case.

 

[riobonito92]

Accepting as the truth that Contador broke a spoke with 30 km to go, did he make the correct decision not to change bikes? - Surely they could have chosen a good non-pave spot to do a quick bike change and AC would have rejoined the same group.

Presumably the wheel became progressively less true the further he continued - so there may not have been an initial problem - but as soon as the tyre began to rub against the frame (if it did) it would have to explode sooner or later.

I been thinking about this and just cannot see that AC did not take a hige risk by not making a change.

 

[alberto.legstrong]

Well Contador seems to get along with him, or otherwise he wouldn't remain in the Astana team. It is in Vino's best interest to ensure Contie is happy so that he remains in the team, something that Vino wants.

Also could you put that ed rader just in your signature, I notice you end every post with it, so wouldn't that be easier?

They seem to get along OK to me. Maybe I am wrong, but am just not seeing what these other folks claim they are seeing.

This is kind of a nutty thread on a day with a dull stage so people seem to just be filling their time.

 

[Angliru]

Accepting as the truth that Contador broke a spoke with 30 km to go, did he make the correct decision not to change bikes? - Surely they could have chosen a good non-pave spot to do a quick bike change and AC would have rejoined the same group.

Presumably the wheel became progressively less true the further he continued - so there may not have been an initial problem - but as soon as the tyre began to rub against the frame (if it did) it would have to explode sooner or later.

I been thinking about this and just cannot see that AC did not take a hige risk by not making a change.

If it's a wheel with a high spoke count then it's not going to be as adversely affected as some of the light weight wheels with fewer spokes. Lose a spoke in a Rolf-like design wheel and your day is likely done. Considering the terrain I would think they would have chosen a more durable wheel that can withstand the cobbles but also not be a liability on the regular pavement. Still, you're going to have some break rub and if riding with a warped wheel rubbing on your rear breaks is the cause of his getting dropped then I'd say he did extraordinarily well to finish where he did.

 

[Benotti69]

funny you say that because last year Astana was angry because contador wouldn't "follow the plan" to place kloden on the podium ... or some such rot .

vino is a backstabbing snake. the only way to get his "loyalty" is to put time into him like the rest of you enemies.

ed rader

Last yea LA/Hog ran the show till they realised their puppet had no strings and was a real boy.....

Kloden was part of the LA/Hog team and i bet that was obvious from very early in the TdF if not before...so your argument does not hold.

Vino has done any backstabbing that i have seen. Astana is backed with government money and last years payments was something we will probably never know the truth about...not doubt LA/Hog were up to their necks in that though....

 

[Publicus]

Accepting as the truth that Contador broke a spoke with 30 km to go, did he make the correct decision not to change bikes? - Surely they could have chosen a good non-pave spot to do a quick bike change and AC would have rejoined the same group.

Presumably the wheel became progressively less true the further he continued - so there may not have been an initial problem - but as soon as the tyre began to rub against the frame (if it did) it would have to explode sooner or later.

I been thinking about this and just cannot see that AC did not take a hige risk by not making a change.

The Astana cars (like all of the cars) were behind the Chavanel group (some 4 minutes back). By the time a teammate or someone gave him a wheel, he would have come in behind the Armstrong group if he was lucky.

You can't really question his decision in the heat of the moment.

 

[Publicus]

Last yea LA/Hog ran the show till they realised their puppet had no strings and was a real boy.....

Kloden was part of the LA/Hog team and i bet that was obvious from very early in the TdF if not before...so your argument does not hold.

Vino has done any backstabbing that i have seen. Astana is backed with government money and last years payments was something we will probably never know the truth about...not doubt LA/Hog were up to their necks in that though....

From the excerpts from Bill Strickland's book, it's pretty clear that AC was on his own for most of the Tour. No support from teammates, Bruyneel or the staff.

You can read some of the excerpts from the book on the Bicycling.com website. Here's a decent review from someone over at podium cafe:

http://www.podiumcafe.com/2010/7/7/1556482/tour-de-lance-by-bill-strickland

 

[Publicus]

They seem to get along OK to me. Maybe I am wrong, but am just not seeing what these other folks claim they are seeing.

This is kind of a nutty thread on a day with a dull stage so people seem to just be filling their time.

This isn't the first time they've been teammates. Road together on Liberty Seguros and Liberty-Wurth.