Contador plans to do TDF-Vuelta in 2012

[Merckx index]

Apologies if this has been posted before, but I didn't see it:

MADRID (AP)—Alberto Contador called his season “very positive,” and marked next year’s Tour de France as his top priority despite the doping charges hanging over him.

Contador, speaking on Spanish state TV, was very happy with his second Giro d’Italia win and a fifth-place finish in the Tour this year.

“Next year the objective will be the Tour and it’s probable I’ll race in the 2012 Vuelta,” Contador told RTVE on Wednesday. “I already want to (race the Vuelta).”

Despite feeling “very positive, very positive” about his 2011 season, Contador has a November date with the Court of Arbitration for Sport hanging over him and his last two big wins.

Contador is facing a two-year doping ban after failing a drug test on his way to winning a third Tour in 2010. Contador has continued to compete since then with his case dragging. He won this year’s Giro after the Spanish cycling federation cleared him of doping for successfully arguing that he tested positive for clenbuterol because of contaminated meat.

The World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Cycling Union appealed the federation’s decision and CAS has twice postponed the hearing. Contador hopes to attend the Nov. 21-24 hearing in Lausanne, Switzerland.

“It’s in the hands of my lawyers now, and I have confidence in them,” said Contador, who hopes a decision will be reached before the close of 2011.

http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=ap-contador

Assuming, of course, he is not sanctioned. I always thought this was the double he should do, because the Tour is obviously his priority, and if he wins that but doesn't have enough in the tank to win the Vuelta, he won't be that disappointed. Easier to sacrifice the Vuelta for the Tour than the Tour for the Giro. And easier to win the Vuelta at less than full-strength than the Tour. And if he actually avoids sanction (which I doubt), winning that double next year would put him in an exclusive class with Hinault--only riders to win two of each GT. Would also run his GT total to eight, past LA!

And wouldn't he be the first rider to do all three possible doubles in his career?

 

[l.Harm]

That's exactly what I expected. But if he owns the Vuelta it won't be exciting any more, like this years Giro.

 

[Moondance]

Let's await the CAS verdict first before we start speculating on Bertie's 2012 season... Although CAS has been handing down some very pro-athlete (and by extension anti-WADA judgments recently).

 

[spanky wanderlust]

Let's await the CAS verdict first before we start speculating on Bertie's 2012 season... Although CAS has been handing down some very pro-athlete (and by extension anti-WADA judgments recently).

it's as if you've never read this forum before.

well, since i think the cas hearing will go bertie's way, i think it will be totally awesome to watch him destroy the vuelta field next year. after grinding andy into hamburger in the tour. after all it's his home tour. he probably has obligations to the organizers and the federation to race it, at least periodically.

plus it should be a (relatively) easy double.

 

[LukeSchmid]

Perhaps he will do the all three from the couch in front of the TV.

 

[The Hitch]

He announced it immediately after the Tour.

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=14726

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Perhaps he will do the all three from the couch in front of the TV.

Perhaps. I'm sure every Lance Armstrong crotch-sniffer hopes that is the case, after Bertie destroyed their hero in back-to-back Tours.

 

[LukeSchmid]

Perhaps. I'm sure every Lance Armstrong crotch-sniffer hopes that is the case, after Bertie destroyed their hero in back-to-back Tours.

I am NOT a Lance Armstrong fan just pointing to the reality that not everything is in Contador's control.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I am NOT a Lance Armstrong fan just pointing to the reality that not everything is in Contador's control.

I was not accusing you of being one at all. I was just saying that there are a lot of people hoping for Contador's demise. I certainly agree with you that things are not in Contador's control.

 

[LukeSchmid]

I was not accusing you of being one at all. I was just saying that there are a lot of people hoping for Contador's demise. I certainly agree with you that things are not in Contador's control.

Okay, sorry I took it wrong. It appears we actually agree.

 

[gregrowlerson]

It probably doesn't matter much with Contador, but not sure why so many riders decide on which GT's they are going to race before even seeing the parcours. Surely one of the races will be loaded with ITT next year, so riders should base their decisions more on the course. I am interested to see what Liquigas do next year. Does Nibali give the TDF a crack after a 2 year absence? He may actually be the main threat to AC over the next few years, given his age and excellent consistency in GT's.

 

[SiAp1984]

Perhaps he will do the all three from the couch in front of the TV.

:-D Great one.

After we have seen this year that AC is vulnerable if he competes in a field with several guys in top form, he might need next years Vuelta to get a big win in 2012. But "he might as well win". Anyway, I guess there is still hope that Luke will be right...

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

That's exactly what I expected. But if he owns the Vuelta it won't be exciting any more, like this years Giro.

Well, if he's cleared by CAS, then I presume he'll race the 2012 Tour also. So he won't be so fresh for the Vuelta. Just like this year he was not so fresh for the Tour following the Giro. The 2012 Vuelta could then be more of a dogfight.

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

Too bad Contador did not do this year's Vuelta. The fact that Wiggins is up there with a chance shows that the course is soft and the competition is softer. Contador would have only needed his team for the team time trail. After that the team could have dropped out. Contador could race on solo and still win.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Too bad Contador did not do this year's Vuelta. The fact that Wiggins is up there with a chance shows that the course is soft and the competition is softer. Contador would have only needed his team for the team time trail. After that the team could have dropped out. Contador could race on solo and still win.

Could you imagine that, AC doing the triple and winning two of them. Someday maybe.

 

[Forunculo]

:-D Great one.

After we have seen this year that AC is vulnerable if he competes in a field with several guys in top form, he might need next years Vuelta to get a big win in 2012. But "he might as well win". Anyway, I guess there is still hope that Luke will be right...

Contador was vulnerable because of his form. Other in his situation falls deep in GC overall. If he is on top form he will carry the Giro 2011 into Tour 2012. An exhibition like that in the Tour could destroy everything. And I hope to see that against "the new fusion".

And with the Tour won he can afford a lose in Vuelta.

 

[Ragerod]

Too bad Contador did not do this year's Vuelta. The fact that Wiggins is up there with a chance shows that the course is soft and the competition is softer. Contador would have only needed his team for the team time trail. After that the team could have dropped out. Contador could race on solo and still win.

Truly amazing. I didn't think it was possible but in a completely unrelated thread you've managed to have a swipe at Wiggins. I beginning to think he slept with your missus or something.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Well, if he's cleared by CAS, then I presume he'll race the 2012 Tour also. So he won't be so fresh for the Vuelta. Just like this year he was not so fresh for the Tour following the Giro. The 2012 Vuelta could then be more of a dogfight.

yes but this year's Giro was on an extremely demanding course, and Contador had some bad luck in the Tour - Crashes etc...

 

[Lexman]

Apparently Contador is not amused withe the possible merger of RS and Leopard Trek...

 

[jens_attacks]

Apparently Contador is not amused withe the possible merger of RS and Leopard Trek...

he's just humble and respectful as always.
he will slaughter anybody anywhere next year in le tour.

 

[WillemS]

I would love to see Contador in next years Vuelta. He will spice things up even more, especially with a tour just behind him. He is probably not going to at his absolute best, which will guarantee fireworks.

I didn't expect him to do this, though. It is the likely double, but I thought that he would focus on the classic season, do the tour and then focus on the World's, as it is Gold Race-like. On the other hand, if Gilbert is as good next year as he is this year (and previous), the world's is going to go nowhere than Belgium. But, you never know. That Swiss MegaMan hasn't repeated his top season the next year either.

 

[Lexman]

If Contador gets suspended, from when to when will this take place, it all depends of course if it's a two year or one year suspension but just curious about it.

If he's suspended for one year he might ride in january 2012 already?

If it's two years his first race might be Vuelta 2012?

As said i don't take a position if he's guilty or not...

 

[Dutchsmurf]

:-D Great one.

After we have seen this year that AC is vulnerable if he competes in a field with several guys in top form, he might need next years Vuelta to get a big win in 2012. But "he might as well win". Anyway, I guess there is still hope that Luke will be right...

Not sure which race you watched, but you sure saw something different than I did. In one race he faced competition of several guys in top form and absolutely crushed tham. In another race he faced several guys in top form of which most fell of their bikes (including himself) before they even reached the first mountain. The only guy left in the top 5 that was actually in top form was Evans. Only thing we saw this year is that Contador is vulnerable if he does 2 hard GTs in a row and falls on his knee a couple times. And even then everyone is scared.

 

[Angliru]

Not sure which race you watched, but you sure saw something different than I did. In one race he faced competition of several guys in top form and absolutely crushed tham. In another race he faced several guys in top form of which most fell of their bikes (including himself) before they even reached the first mountain. The only guy left in the top 5 that was actually in top form was Evans. Only thing we saw this year is that Contador is vulnerable if he does 2 hard GTs in a row and falls on his knee a couple times. And even then everyone is scared.

+1
...and loses 1 and 1/2 minutes when held up by a crash,due in part to a risky strategy of riding mid-pack to save the team till the mountains. Amazing how a race can be viewed and then translated in such a different perspective or maybe simply omitting the details that are contrary to their (SiAp1984's) particular hopes and dreams.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

If he's not sanctioned, I'd like to see him actually attempt a double of some sort. This year was more circumstance than anything. He only went to the Giro because he wanted to win a GT before what he expected would be a sanction during the Tour. It was never about attempting the double.

I loved watching his fight this year in the later stages of the Tour; he earned some respect from me. With that being said, I'd like to see him attempt the Tour-Vuelta with real preparation toward that. I have no doubt he could do it.