Contador

[Mambo95]

Ah, the hate of Eddy on Contador...think about it. Eddy had to win as much as he could back in the day because winning meant more $$$. It's different today, with guys specializing in stage racing, classic winning, and TTing.

Merckx was massively overriden by his sponsors too - doing 150 days racing (+crits) a year - more than his contemporaries. That's why he he didn't really do much past the age of 30. Burnt out.

 

[Parrulo]

Great Parrulo! The movistar avatar is you! >)

10 chars

 

[The Plediadian]

contador is not like armstrong, saying that is an offence to contador, armstrong didn't focused on GT's he focused on the tour, contador focus on all the important stage races in calender, GT's or not and is always there to win.

also he gives away too many stages in GT's imo just look at last years giro: one to rujano, arguably another to anton, then to tiralongo and then he didn't even put an effort on the itt and still finished thrid.

i recall reading somewhere that he would go for the tour-vuelta double this year and next year add the classics to list of races he wants to peak for

I think Contador gives away stages so that other riders will work for him or with him, so that he can acheive his goals. Tiralongo Giro last year was a thank you, to Tiralongo and the Astana team.

 

[Parrulo]

I think Contador gives away stages so that other riders will work for him or with him, so that he can acheive his goals. Tiralongo Giro last year was a thank you, to Tiralongo and the Astana team.

and should we blame him for that? he is just being smart. . .

looks like gentleman while collecting friends in the peloton

 

[T-Nielsen]

and should we blame him for that? he is just being smart. . .

looks like gentleman while collecting friend

You do not need to have many friends in the Peleton, but it is important not to have enemies. Or so I have heard. Not many people will probably hate a man who on any given day would give you a stage win.

 

[T-Nielsen]

and should we blame him for that? he is just being smart. . .

looks like gentleman while collecting friends in the peloton

You do not need to have many friends in the Peleton, but it is important not to have enemies. Or so I have heard. Not many people will probably hate a man who on any given day would give you a stage win.

 

[robertocarlos]

As a cycling fan that likes contador I would love to see him get a gdl, fw, or any other holly classic. How about next year (if he doesn't get banned) going for fw, tdf and Lombardy.

 

[Parrulo]

I could definetly see contador win Fleche Wallonne in the future. He came third in it 2 years ago when evans won.

By the way i am not even sure he is riding FW this year.

Does anyone know for certain?

he isn't getting anywhere near the classics this year. full rest from pais vasco till the dauphine because this year he will have an heavy second half of the season with the tour, the olympic itt, the vuelta, the worlds and very likely the GdL which he can win if he gets there in good shape

 

[AussieGoddess]

yep - as much as many cycling fans arent really happy with moving GdL ... with the worlds being a hilly race, loads of the big guns will have a go - and will go in GdL as well.

Will be awesome to see them in Lombardy. Cant wait already

 

[greenedge]

If he goes to Vuelta I quote you

He might be banned

 

[greenedge]

As a cycling fan that likes contador I would love to see him get a gdl,

I doubt he would even be able to contend against BMC. Even if he attacked on the climb he would probably get reeled in on the run-in to the finish where Evans/ Gilbert could both outsprint him.

 

[issoisso]

It wasn't. In the last km Contador went full throttle, made up 5 seconds to Anton. Anton was simply better that day.

Contador dropped Nibali, but didn't have the power to exploit the gap.

This doesn't look like playing right: http://www.grassyknolltv.com/2011/giro-d-italia/photos/stage-14/287-PIC197854363.jpg

Funny how on the 3 different forums I know you on, you never make a post where Euskaltel riders aren't all powerful saints. How dare I suggest that an Euskaltel rider won for any other reason than being the best of the best?

If it was Rujano instead of Antón you wouldn't have posted.

Not to mention that you're factually wrong, of course.

 

[Sciocco]

Funny how on the 3 different forums I know you on, you never make a post where Euskaltel riders aren't all powerful saints. How dare I suggest that an Euskaltel rider won for any other reason than being the best of the best?

If it was Rujano instead of Antón you wouldn't have posted.

Not to mention that you're factually wrong, of course.

Yea, Contador was interested in winning the Giro, not the stage, a chance to mess with Nibali was definitely a priority.

 

[ferryman]

Will GDL be the same course as last year?

Coz if it is i could see Dan Martin going one better and winning it this time and that is something i would love to see. That course really suited him and i think that will be one of his main objectives this year.

We need a big win like that from an irish rider to get cycling back in the news over here.

I have a good feeeling for Dan this year. He will be a player at the World's also. Is he doing the Giro do you know?

 

[uphillstruggle]

A fully fit and motivated Contador at any of the hilly Ardennes or Lombadria starts as favourite.

No way does he start as favourite in those races. Evans, Gilbert, Valverde to name a few have a better shot. As said by others, if anyone with a half decent sprint gets to the line with him he will not win.

Not to say he won't win one of the races but he's not the favourite.

 

[Gregory]

There's a very nice extract of Contador's interview with some Basque magazine on the frontpage: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-says-things-have-not-been-easy-since-2004

 

[Poursuivant]

I think his comments at the end about LL are indicative. AC is a respectful person but I dont think he rates Levi's chances at Le Tour.

 

[Gregory]

I think his comments at the end about LL are indicative. AC is a respectful person but I dont think he rates Levi's chances at Le Tour.

And rightly so. Even if Contador is out, Levi just doesn't have any chance at all. Sorry...
Contador comes off as a respectful person, but with sense and honesty in his judgement.
Interesting to hear about his weight issue. Seems like he has none of the problems which plagued Ullrich so much. He would probably also had great trouble to put on some muscle mass even if he became competely devoted to this cause, but fortunately he doesn't need it. Still, as lean as he is, he somehow manages to look much better on bike, than guys like Rasmussen for example.
The way he moves on the bike, when climbing, whether he is seated and his hands are on the bar, or he is standing on pedals with hands on the drops reminds me of Paolo Savoldelli. He has a similar, although leaner silhouette and similar movements on the bike.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I have a good feeeling for Dan this year. He will be a player at the World's also. Is he doing the Giro do you know?

He's definitely not doing the Giro this year, and I don't think he will in the near future, until/unless he finds a way to deal with his allergies.

 

[Cobblestoned]

Alberto is still learning the classics. Knowing the course and its finenesses is essential for power saving, attacking and, most important part, winning.

Anyway, his sprint ability isn't in his favour.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Learning as we go?

Alberto is still learning the classics. Knowing the course and its finenesses is essential for power saving, attacking and, most important part, winning.

Anyway, his sprint ability isn't in his favour.

Contador won six GT's already and you say he is still learning the classics [basics] of the game.

For the sake of cycling, lets just hope the man doesn't start to really understand the fundamentals of racing to win.

 

[FreeWheelin]

Contador won six GT's already and you say he is still learning the classics [basics] of the game.

For the sake of cycling, lets just hope the man doesn't start to really understand the fundamentals of racing to win.

I will speak for Cobblestoned; he said that Contador is still learning the classics not the basics. The classics are the one day races, you know the Cobbled classics, the Ardennes Classics etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_cycle_races

Whether Cobblestoned is correct that Contador has been unsuccessfull because he is still learning these races is a different issue. I would not have thought that was his biggest hindrance... but I what would I know.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Classics instead of GT's

I will speak for Cobblestoned; he said that Contador is still learning the classics.......QUOTE]

Would have preferred the cobbler, but ok..

At this point, I don't think Contador gives 5c for anything else than GT's. He doesn't train for it, doesn't seems to care and appears to be happy when somebody from his team wins a 1 day race. I wouldn't call this trying to learn the ropes.

If he start getting serious about these races, we can evaluate.

 

[craig1985]

I noticed the bit where he said he was eating fruit whilst training in Tenerife. Cue durianrider to tell us he is vegan in 5..4..3

 

[Angliru]

By comparing Contador to Armstrong I meant Armstrong foucused only on the Tour de France (a grand tour), just like Contador focus on all the grand tours, all I was saying was they are both grand tour riders.
I definitely agree with you on Contador giving away too many stages, a rider as dominant as him should have more stage wins. Even Merckx criticised his gifting stages.

I doubt one of his idols, Miguel Indurain, has any criticisms of his generosity.
It's a trait he, Contador, likely admired in Indurain and he apparently decided to emulate him.