Contador sentences the Tour

[fulcrum]

Barring an accident, Contador's performance and strategy today left the Tour pretty much decided.

He was able to stay with the Schlecks during the climbs, the only reallistic threats for the Mont Ventoux.

And he was able to put in some minutes to Armstrong and Wiggings, the only reallistic threats for tomorrow's TT in Annecy.

He will probably savor this win more than the first one, specially given the difficult situations he had to face internally at Astana.

 

[jilbiker]

Barring an accident, Contador's performance and strategy today left the Tour pretty much decided.

He was able to stay with the Schlecks during the climbs, the only reallistic threats for the Mont Ventoux.

And he was able to put in some minutes to Armstrong and Wiggings, the only reallistic threats for tomorrow's TT in Annecy.

He will probably savor this win more than the first one, specially given the difficult situations he had to face internally at Astana.

Young man has not been given credit at all. Rasmusen gave him a tough time in 2007 before being tossed. So people sort of called him the accidental champion. Now, they say LA couldn't give his best, AK and LL on seperate teams would have made it more exciting. What more can he do...win some more AC. You are in good company, LA was also never acknowledged and you know what, he just kept winning.

 

[Belokki]

Strategy?? LOL he broke off his own domestic from the group, maybe costing him a podium! Both Lance and Johan were pretty upset!

Contador will be lost immediatly after he gets separated from Johan...a good thing! He'' be a lot more vunerabil

 

[fulcrum]

Strategy?? LOL he broke off his own domestic from the group, maybe costing him a podium! Both Lance and Johan were pretty upset!

Contador will be lost immediatly after he gets separated from Johan...a good thing! He'' be a lot more vunerabil

And how does dropping a domestique really affect his chances of winning the Tour? That "domestique" was 2 min behind him in the GC, with a TT and the Ventoux ahead. Now the "domestique" is 4 minutes back. That is exactly were domestiques belong.

 

[Anonymous]

What Contador did today was stupid, but why should he be expected to follow the orders of a DS who stuck a knife in his back and allowed a washed up former champion to do the same?

 

[Mellow Velo]

Strategy?? LOL he broke off his own domestic from the group, maybe costing him a podium! Both Lance and Johan were pretty upset!

Contador will be lost immediatly after he gets separated from Johan...a good thing! He'' be a lot more vunerabil

Ah, I see Drivel minor has turned up, with his unique insight as to what really never happened.
Look at the GC and do the math.
Kloden finishes with AC and Lance's podium probably goes out of the window.
Oh wait, of course, that would be Contador's fault as well......

 

[lostintime]

And how does dropping a domestique really affect his chances of winning the Tour? That "domestique" was 2 min behind him in the GC, with a TT and the Ventoux ahead. Now the "domestique" is 4 minutes back. That is exactly were domestiques belong.

If Contador flatted, he could have lost big time, as Kloden was not there. I'm not sure if he had a team car with him or not though.

 

[fulcrum]

If Contador flatted, he could have lost big time, as Kloden was not there. I'm not sure if he had a team car with him or not though.

If Contador flatted he would have lost time, whether Kloden was around or not. That's what happens when you get a flat downhill: you slow down.

 

[Publicus]

If Contador fatted he would have lost time, whether Kloden was around or not. That's what happens when you get a flat downhill: you slow down.

Isn't that what the neutral service car is for?

 

[indurain666]

Ah, I see Drivel minor has turned up, with his unique insight as to what really never happened.
Look at the GC and do the math.
Kloden finishes with AC and Lance's podium probably goes out of the window.
Oh wait, of course, that would be Contador's fault as well......

Yeah these guys probably watch an altered version of the race.

 

[Nastyy]

Isn't that what the neutral service car is for?

The neutral service sucks. What was it with Lequattre when he was in the front with Hushovd and then had to drop all the way back to peloton which was 6 mins back at that point? Surely it can't take 6 minutes to change the tyre.

 

[ashaman]

Contador showed his hand today. He doesn't care for the goal of placing 3 Astana riders in podium. All he cares about is winning the race and screw everyone else.
Now that everyone knows where Contador stands, don't be surprised if no one in Astana will help tow Contador if he's in trouble on Ventoux. When other GC contenders attacks, Contador will have to mark them himself and no other Astana will spend the energy to mark bring them back for him.

How many attacks will Contador be able to mark on Ventoux? Heck, maybe his Astana team mates will attack him as well.

 

[patswana]

Contador showed his hand today. He doesn't care for the goal of placing 3 Astana riders in podium. All he cares about is winning the race and screw everyone else.
Now that everyone knows where Contador stands, don't be surprised if no one in Astana will help tow Contador if he's in trouble on Ventoux. When other GC contenders attacks, Contador will have to mark them himself and no other Astana will spend the energy to mark bring them back for him.

How many attacks will Contador be able to mark on Ventoux? Heck, maybe his Astana team mates will attack him as well.

Contador will be the one attacking! Nobody else will be able to stay with him so this is not really a worry for him.

The really interesting thing will be whether Contador is just as good on another team, assuming that he does change teams. Or will he be another Heras/Landis/Hamilton?

 

[RdBiker]

If Contador flatted he would have lost time, whether Kloden was around or not. That's what happens when you get a flat downhill: you slow down.

When you get a flat and have a teammate with you your teammate gives you his bike. That's what happens when you have a teammate with you: you get his bike.

 

[richwagmn]

When you get a flat and have a teammate with you your teammate gives you his bike. That's what happens when you have a teammate with you: you get his bike.

No, you get his wheel. Not only might they be riding different pedals, have you ever tried to ride that bike that doesn't fit you?

 

[patswana]

When you get a flat and have a teammate with you your teammate gives you his bike. That's what happens when you have a teammate with you: you get his bike.

I think Contador has a sponsorship deal with Look pedals. Do the rest of the team also use them?

 

[rick bensco]

If the guy doesn't finish in Yellow and the rest of Astana are not there WOW! He really screwed his sponsor and Teammates. Should he fall in the tt and be out 2 mins the Shlecks take first and second. What a selfish boy AC is.

 

[richwagmn]

Contador showed his hand today. He doesn't care for the goal of placing 3 Astana riders in podium. All he cares about is winning the race and screw everyone else.
Now that everyone knows where Contador stands, don't be surprised if no one in Astana will help tow Contador if he's in trouble on Ventoux. When other GC contenders attacks, Contador will have to mark them himself and no other Astana will spend the energy to mark bring them back for him.

How many attacks will Contador be able to mark on Ventoux? Heck, maybe his Astana team mates will attack him as well.

Man, this is great for cycling news. All the LA fans are in a tizzy. Lots of new people signing up today over Contador's attack.

Of course, never mind what AC never intended to drop Kloden. Seems they discussed it ahead of time. And if AC intended to drop Kloden, why keep looking for him and why stop working? He could have certainly worked with the Schlecks and put more time into LA, Kloden and everyone else. He didn't work at all.

One word for what happened to Kloden. Bonk. Of course only Alberto is dumb enough to do that. Or is he...

 

[richwagmn]

I think Contador has a sponsorship deal with Look pedals. Do the rest of the team also use them?

LA rides dura-ace. There's still the problem of trying to ride a bike that doesn't fit.

 

[the vagabond]

Contador showed his hand today. He doesn't care for the goal of placing 3 Astana riders in podium. All he cares about is winning the race and screw everyone else.
Now that everyone knows where Contador stands, don't be surprised if no one in Astana will help tow Contador if he's in trouble on Ventoux. When other GC contenders attacks, Contador will have to mark them himself and no other Astana will spend the energy to mark bring them back for him.

How many attacks will Contador be able to mark on Ventoux? Heck, maybe his Astana team mates will attack him as well.

There are "kinda" no-nos in cycling and then there are major no-nos. Kinda no-nos involve situations that are ambiguous, like Garmin pulling hard into Besancon. There were reasons, and, after all, Hincapie is not a teammate. You do a major no-no and nobody forgets. Contador had the Schlecks neutralized and thus Kloden and Armstrong were in a decent situation to hold their positions. Contador pulled a major no-no today. He's either an idiot or has too much spite for a 26-year-old. Big mistake.

 

[the vagabond]

Of course, never mind what AC never intended to drop Kloden. Seems they discussed it ahead of time. And if AC intended to drop Kloden, why keep looking for him and why stop working? He could have certainly worked with the Schlecks and put more time into LA, Kloden and everyone else. He didn't work at all.

One word for what happened to Kloden. Bonk. Of course only Alberto is dumb enough to do that. Or is he...

The fact that it took Armstrong and Nibali almost 15k to catch Kloden after he was dropped shows that Kloden wasn't completely cooked. If tired, once gapped, always gapped. You can be at your limit and hang for 20k with 3 strong riders if they don't accelerate but easily lose 2-3 minutes if they do. The fact that Contador got back into the Schleck wheels after they came up changes nothing. He had no excuse to attack - none.

 

[fulcrum]

If the guy doesn't finish in Yellow and the rest of Astana are not there WOW! He really screwed his sponsor and Teammates. Should he fall in the tt and be out 2 mins the Shlecks take first and second. What a selfish boy AC is.

Selfish? Of course, he is the team leader. He needs to be selfish because it is about him! He is the man. He is the leader. Domestiques help him win the Tour and he wins it. Domestiques sacrify their chances for him. That's how cycling works. What u guys are describing is a Disney plot, not the TdF.

 

[fulcrum]

The fact that it took Armstrong and Nibali almost 15k to catch Kloden after he was dropped shows that Kloden wasn't completely cooked. If tired, once gapped, always gapped. You can be at your limit and hang for 20k with 3 strong riders if they don't accelerate but easily lose 2-3 minutes if they do. The fact that Contador got back into the Schleck wheels after they came up changes nothing. He had no excuse to attack - none.

None? what about a stage win? what about putting more distance between him and the 2nd guy at the GC? His attack no only was not a mistake, it was fun to watch. And he showed people in Astana their true place on today's race. They are no longer co-leaders aiming for 2nd or 3rd in Paris. They are domestiques. And as a domestique, they are better of at almost 5 mins in the GC than to a scarce 2 minutes with a ITT and Ventoux ahead. Just extra insurance against JB. Perfect move.

 

[the vagabond]

None? what about a stage win? what about putting more distance between him and the 2nd guy at the GC? His attack no only was not a mistake, it was fun to watch. And he showed people in Astana their true place on today's race. They are no longer co-leaders aiming for 2nd or 3rd in Paris. They are domestiques. And as a domestique, they are better of at almost 5 mins in the GC than to a scarce 2 minutes with a ITT and Ventoux ahead. Just extra insurance against JB. Perfect move.

OK, maybe he had a reason, but it doesn't wash. Cycling is a career, not a stage win. Eventually Contador will realize that. And if he was going for the stage win he failed, which in itself shows lack of leadership. He behaved like a nervous nellie, and he will regret what he did in the future. Anybody who is not a team player suffers in the future for it, even if there is discourse inside the team. Bad move.

 

[the vagabond]

"Discourse"=discord