Contador will not win the TDF?

[bridgeman]

Contador will not be a factor in this years tour.

 

[wwabbit]

Alberto beats the snot out of Froome last time. The contention here that AC (who came back from a ban) was fresh falls away against this lack of racing rythm. Also, look at Talent. Froome never managed to win a GT, wore a jersey one day before he was destroyed.

Oh and Schleck has such a long track record of being destroyed by Alberto that this isn't even a contention anymore.

Maybe instead of having riders compete in the GT, we should just award the win to the rider that already has the most GT wins because he will obviously be the winner and no one else has a chance.

 

[airstream]

Maybe instead of having riders compete in the GT, we should just award the win to the rider that already has the most GT wins because he will obviously be the winner and no one else has a chance.

if you could imagine how many times I posted it for last 2 years...

 

[Zam_Olyas]

I'm not seeing the "Abducted by aliens or Zam and Airstream" option...

That'd be a great option.

 

[Le Baroudeur]

That'd be a great option.

You like that eh?

Put it right next to "Froome has a racing brain transplanted", "All Specialized bikes dissolve in the rain" and "Schleck is really Jens's love child and can descend at light-speed"...

The race is open...

 

[airstream]

Hooray! Everyone know Zam and me

 

[BYOP88]

Wait you've messed up the poll.

Where is the 'Fleur has jumped ship and loves Froome' option?

 

[hiero2]

Meh - no Vino option. Pfah. Give me some more options - and better ones, at that, eh?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Now this, is a real Contador fan. Sticks with Contador and believes in him no matter what trouble he may be going through. Kudos ILovecycling.

Afrank I think you are confused. A real fan can doubt their favorite sometimes. They should just always support them. You can support someone while not really believing in them.

 

[Netserk]

Afrank I think you are confused. A real fan can doubt their favorite sometimes. They should just always support them. You can support someone while not really believing in them.

Agree with LaFlo.

I supported Nibali in last year's Tour, but I didn't think he'd have a chance to win it. So I was glad that he ended on the podium

 

[hayzer114]

Heres a couple of factors why I think Contador will win the tour. Obviously he is the best GT rider of his generation and on top form he has proved to be unbeatable. While Saxo had a disapointing start to the year they have shown in the past month that they are starting to come back into form, Kreuziger in Amstel, Rogers in Cali and Majka in the Giro. Roche has taken a long break after the Classics and isnt returning until Tour de Suisse and I assume doing the Nat Championships before the tour while Contador seems to be following a similar route and doing the Dauphine before the Tour. This leads me to believe that they will have put in serious training during this period and got rid of any cobwebs. Roche has always stated that his major goals were Tour/Vuelta so he should be peaking at that time as will Kreuziger. Furthermore Sky seem to be in disarray to some extent given the ongoing dispute between Froome/Wiggins and Wiggins is obviously going to want to make amends for the Giro now. I dont think the team they sent to the giro was near as strong as last years tour team and it may not be as strong in the tour this year. Another point they have dominated the one week races this year, (impressively) im not too sure they are going to be able to do it over three weeks this year as teams are becoming wise to their tactics. Its fine saying what your going to do, doing it is another thing.

 

[Dedelou]

Heres a couple of factors why I think Contador will win the tour. Obviously he is the best GT rider of his generation and on top form he has proved to be unbeatable. While Saxo had a disapointing start to the year they have shown in the past month that they are starting to come back into form, Kreuziger in Amstel, Rogers in Cali and Majka in the Giro. Roche has taken a long break after the Classics and isnt returning until Tour de Suisse and I assume doing the Nat Championships before the tour while Contador seems to be following a similar route and doing the Dauphine before the Tour. This leads me to believe that they will have put in serious training during this period and got rid of any cobwebs. Roche has always stated that his major goals were Tour/Vuelta so he should be peaking at that time as will Kreuziger. Furthermore Sky seem to be in disarray to some extent given the ongoing dispute between Froome/Wiggins and Wiggins is obviously going to want to make amends for the Giro now. I dont think the team they sent to the giro was near as strong as last years tour team and it may not be as strong in the tour this year. Another point they have dominated the one week races this year, (impressively) im not too sure they are going to be able to do it over three weeks this year as teams are becoming wise to their tactics. Its fine saying what your going to do, doing it is another thing.

For a super team Sky's GT record is rather dismul. In the past 9 GT they have won 1 and lost 8. I do understand that some here do not think past performance is predictor of what will be this summer, however it would take more than Sky to make Contador loose.

 

[Afrank]

Afrank I think you are confused. A real fan can doubt their favorite sometimes. They should just always support them. You can support someone while not really believing in them.

Okay, fair enough. Just to clarify, my post wasn't directed at you. Just appreciating ILovecycling continuing to believe in Contador too the end.

 

[offbyone]

Froome might be better than him, but contador will have the full support of his team while Froome will be sharing that support with wiggins. That is a decisive mental and physical advantage.

 

[hfer07]

Contador to me still has the upper hand, since he has far more experience -both winning & losing a grand tour- whereas Froome is yet to win his first one-no matter how strong is getting & how Sky is planning his bid for it in July.

Contador has experienced the top & glory (tdf 2009 & Giro 2011)-yet he has fallen in disgrace(Tour absences in 08 & 12-Tour 2010 + & titles removed), bounced back against adversity (Tour 2011, Vuelta 2012) & won against the odds(Tour 2007 & Giro 2008)-dealing with his very own team against him (Vuelta 2008, Paris Nice 2009, Tour 2009) & yet he has delivered what he has promised....

Froome & Sky are yet challenged to achieve such success under one single name.....

 

[airstream]

Contador to me still has the upper hand, since he has far more experience -both winning & losing a grand tour- whereas Froome is yet to win his first one-no matter how strong is getting & how Sky is planning his bid for it in July.

Contador has experienced the top & glory (tdf 2009 & Giro 2011)-yet he has fallen in disgrace(Tour absences in 08 & 12-Tour 2010 + & titles removed), bounced back against adversity (Tour 2011, Vuelta 2012) & won against the odds(Tour 2007 & Giro 2008)-dealing with his very own team against him (Vuelta 2008, Paris Nice 2009, Tour 2009) & yet he has delivered what he has promised....

Froome & Sky are yet challenged to achieve such success under one single name.....

Again, experience is a factor if other things being equal. Even if he a little little bit weaker, he won't win at the cost of bigger experience. Froome is not dogface. He has a solid experience too.

 

[Jelantik]

Froome might be better than him, but contador will have the full support of his team while Froome will be sharing that support with wiggins. That is a decisive mental and physical advantage.

this might be the upper hand that contador will have come july. At least as far as psychologically distraction. He'll be tranquilo . Wiggins is out Giro now.He is probably more than ever wants to bounce back from his Giro disappointment. Will sky sing the same tune about chris the sole leader? Brailsford hasn't confirmed either that wiggins will be super domestique. Those two guys relationship is already as frosty as contador and lance. (well we know how it went during TDF). There will be behind the scene dog fight, I bet. While they are busy competing their numbers with each other, contador is quietly build his form. I don't think we'll be seeing contador like the first half of the season comes July.

 

[Franklin]

Thanks. No hint on objectivity, however you managed to underline explicitly your hot preferences in this duo.

I know, facts are not objective :

I love it when I give the cold hard undeniable facts to supprot my reasoning and you come with no evidence and jst fanboy rahrah. It sure shows who has hot prteferences. Airstream, go look at the statistics of people fairing against AC in a GT and dsmiss it here please. I'll await your objectivity

 

[airstream]

I know, facts are not objective :

I love it when I give the cold hard undeniable facts to supprot my reasoning and you come with no evidence and jst fanboy rahrah. It sure shows who has hot prteferences. Airstream, go look at the statistics of people fairing against AC in a GT and dsmiss it here please. I'll await your objectivity

The forum discussions are neve built around statistics, because statistic is an unshakable feature no one can argue with. Discussions are built around different opinions. IMO, the opinion which is based on pure statistics is not opinion, because it contains zero personal stance. That's it. If you offer to rely on criteria of statistics, Contador will still stay a GT #1 favorite for many years.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

The forum discussions are neve built around statistics, because statistic is an unshakable feature no one can argue with. Discussions are built around different opinions. IMO, the opinion which is based on pure statistics is not opinion, because it contains zero personal stance. That's it. If you offer to rely on criteria of statistics, Contador will still stay a GT #1 favorite for many years.

This is why I never look at statistics when I say that Kash will top 5 any grand tour he participates in

 

[Lanark]

I'd almost written Contador off after his poor showing the past spring. But with Rogers and Majka making a fool of themselves, maybe that old Riis 'magic' isn't completely gone. Maybe Riis can prepare Contador to a 100% one last time. Either way, we'll be looking at a freak show this summer.

 

[airstream]

I'd almost written Contador off after his poor showing the past spring. But with Rogers and Majka making a fool of themselves, maybe that old Riis 'magic' isn't completely gone. Maybe Riis can prepare Contador to a 100% one last time. Either way, we'll be looking at a freak show this summer.

Why is there such a big difference? Magic in one corner of the ring and freak show in the other one?

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Why is there such a big difference? Magic in one corner of the ring and freak show in the other one?

Lanark point is with rogers knowledge of marginal gains and riis magic they will be unstoppable.

 

[IndianCyclist]

Froome has gone up a level. Contador has gone down a level. Both are equal in mountains just like Contador & Schleck in 2010. Froome will win it through TTs

 

[xrayvision]

Hm, sadly I don't grab hilarity in this. Alright let's assume Saxobank will be stronger. Do you think it can change the general situation in the climbs drastically?

I think it´s completely impossible to make any predictions what so ever who will be the better team during the tour.
That´s why I think it´s completely nonsense to make any statements of who will be the best team, comparing rider up against rider based on the season results is useless, and in my opinion, SKY should have bigger problems than Saxo, making early season results takes a lot out of the respective rider, Porte been performing from early season, Uran and Henao is riding the Giro, comparing to the tour team we expect to see from Saxo, I would say they should be more rested and fresh, -in theory.