Contador's Attack on Le Grand Bornand

[Hugh Januss]

I agree. I guess from Zubeldia's very suppportive comments (http://www.steephill.tv/2009/entries/contador-post-tdf-news-conference/) , Contador did thank his teammates every night, but when Armstrong twittered about Contador he could do it because, apparently, Contador never thanked the team publicly, a la Mark Cavendish after every sprint. Which might have been hard to do, under the circumstances.

At least on VS, as they never had time to interview him much.

 

[ggusta]

I agree. I guess from Zubeldia's very suppportive comments (http://www.steephill.tv/2009/entries/contador-post-tdf-news-conference/) , Contador did thank his teammates every night, but when Armstrong twittered about Contador he could do it because, apparently, Contador never thanked the team publicly, a la Mark Cavendish after every sprint. Which might have been hard to do, under the circumstances.

Thanks for the link. Pretty good stuff.

And of course that link links to video by reuters and AP where I can take the examination down to the Zapruder level.

 

[manolo]

... There were many occasions when the Astana train sat on the front and dictated the pace. Regardless of what was going on... the team did work for its leader(s)...

... Apparently, Contador never thanked the team publicly, a la Mark Cavendish after every sprint...

At least on VS...

You know, you're right! I followed the Tour on TeleDeporte the day it arrived at Barcelona and on the post-race show they had Oscar Pereiro, Carlos Sastre and Alberto. I wish I had been lucky enough or persistant enough to seek out their transmissions for Alberto's commentary the rest of the tour.

 

[manolo]

It'd be nice to see if Alberto himself or his brother leaked these out after the Tour. I wish the Spanish Press would name their sources for articles such as this:

http://nyvelocity.com/content/features/2009/one-man-alone-command

Or this:

http://www.as.com/ciclismo/articulo...trong-contador/dasclm/20090729dasdaicic_4/Tes

Johan Bruyneel's response to a fans' questioning about the subject:

EquipoPistolero @johanbruyneel so is it true AC was left without a team car to transport him to Annecy TT? and did LA use Astana cars for family & RSHACK?
5:23 PM Aug 4th

johanbruyneel @EquipoPistolero - stop wasting your time will you?
1:52 PM Aug 5th from web in reply to EquipoPistolero

 

[scribe]

It'd be nice to see if Alberto himself or his brother leaked these out after the Tour. I wish the Spanish Press would name their sources for articles such as this:

http://nyvelocity.com/content/features/2009/one-man-alone-command

Or this:

http://www.as.com/ciclismo/articulo...trong-contador/dasclm/20090729dasdaicic_4/Tes

Johan Bruyneel's response to a fans' questioning about the subject:

EquipoPistolero @johanbruyneel so is it true AC was left without a team car to transport him to Annecy TT? and did LA use Astana cars for family & RSHACK?
5:23 PM Aug 4th

johanbruyneel @EquipoPistolero - stop wasting your time will you?
1:52 PM Aug 5th from web in reply to EquipoPistolero

At some point, there was only Lance and Berto sitting at the breakfast table alone. I doubt Lance was singing about how uncomfortable it was to sit there with Berto.

 

[Anonymous]

At some point, there was only Lance and Berto sitting at the breakfast table alone. I doubt Lance was singing about how uncomfortable it was to sit there with Berto.

No, you are right, Lance doesn't have the humility to feel uncomfortable around someone he is marginalizing and treating disrespectfully. He is a dickwad of the type that thrives on that kind of confrontation.

 

[St. Elia]

Here is my take for what it is worth.

Contador made a mistake by attacking because he knew he had little hope of gaining time on the shlecks. His motive, I believe was to take time out of LA and felt bad that Kloden got burned as he did say as much in the interview after the race. Also you could see AC making a deal with the shlecks coming to the finish IE I can't do any work here but you guys can have the stage win. Maybe hoping that they would work so he could get time on LA.

I really don't see why he attacked, as other posters stated he should have left it up to Kloden to attack. All of you know what it's like to be in a situation where you are gassed and sometimes you can come back if you just hold on for a bit. If AC would have held back a bit Kloden would have either been able to hold on or at least hold on long enough to get back on the decent. The other thing with the attack was that neither Frank or andy looked bad at the time of the attack he might have dropped Frank but not andy who was the real threat. Frank was only a threat to LA and Kloden.

In the end it doesn't matter but I have to say it was dumb any way you look at it. He better have a strong team next year or who knows maybe Andy will beat him (if he improves his ITT)

 

[peloton]

Here is my take for what it is worth.

Contador made a mistake by attacking because he knew he had little hope of gaining time on the shlecks. His motive, I believe was to take time out of LA and felt bad that Kloden got burned as he did say as much in the interview after the race. Also you could see AC making a deal with the shlecks coming to the finish IE I can't do any work here but you guys can have the stage win. Maybe hoping that they would work so he could get time on LA.

I really don't see why he attacked, as other posters stated he should have left it up to Kloden to attack. All of you know what it's like to be in a situation where you are gassed and sometimes you can come back if you just hold on for a bit. If AC would have held back a bit Kloden would have either been able to hold on or at least hold on long enough to get back on the decent. The other thing with the attack was that neither Frank or andy looked bad at the time of the attack he might have dropped Frank but not andy who was the real threat. Frank was only a threat to LA and Kloden.

In the end it doesn't matter but I have to say it was dumb any way you look at it. He better have a strong team next year or who knows maybe Andy will beat him (if he improves his ITT)

I don't get this.
Why should Contador NOT attack and try to gain time?

The Schlecks said in an interview that they saw Klöden was at his limits, as we saw, how in earth could he even attack?

Contador is a rider who likes to attack. I can't see anything wrong in that.

 

[Jonathan]

Contador made a mistake by attacking because he knew he had little hope of gaining time on the shlecks.

There is no basis for this. Unless Contador had a crystal ball, he could not have foreseen that both Schlecks would be with him all the way. He had dropped them to Arcalis and Verbier; it was reasonable to believe he could do so again.

 

[St. Elia]

There is no basis for this. Unless Contador had a crystal ball, he could not have foreseen that both Schlecks would be with him all the way. He had dropped them to Arcalis and Verbier; it was reasonable to believe he could do so again.

The reason I said this was because of the long down hill after the climb, to be left with out a team mate was not a good situation. If it was an up hill finish that would have been a different situation but there was quite a long finish.

I have no problem with contador attacking but in this situation he should have sat back and saved his energy for the ITT. In the end I can only imagin that this attack was about getting time on LA. Who I think he was a little worried about in the ITT. Of course in the end he had nothing to worry about.

 

[Hugh Januss]

The reason I said this was because of the long down hill after the climb, to be left with out a team mate was not a good situation. If it was an up hill finish that would have been a different situation but there was quite a long finish.

I have no problem with contador attacking but in this situation he should have sat back and saved his energy for the ITT. In the end I can only imagin that this attack was about getting time on LA. Who I think he was a little worried about in the ITT. Of course in the end he had nothing to worry about.

This just in, the Tour de France is over. Yes it has finished. It was won by a skinny little spanish boy who had to hitch-hike to several of the stage starts and I think he had to sleep on the floor a couple of nights as well. His loyal sidekick and great teammate Lance Armstrong finished a very strong third. Some kid from Lichtenstein or Luxemburg or one of those little Rhode Island sized countries got second, I think.

 

[richwagmn]

This just in, the Tour de France is over. Yes it has finished. It was won by a skinny little spanish boy who had to hitch-hike to several of the stage starts and I think he had to sleep on the floor a couple of nights as well. His loyal sidekick and great teammate Lance Armstrong finished a very strong third. Some kid from Lichtenstein or Luxemburg or one of those little Rhode Island sized countries got second, I think.

+1 though it's entertaining to see it still continuing...

 

[St. Elia]

This just in, the Tour de France is over. Yes it has finished. It was won by a skinny little spanish boy who had to hitch-hike to several of the stage starts and I think he had to sleep on the floor a couple of nights as well. His loyal sidekick and great teammate Lance Armstrong finished a very strong third. Some kid from Lichtenstein or Luxemburg or one of those little Rhode Island sized countries got second, I think.

How is this different then fans of any other sports talking about games after the fact. If you don't like the topic why did you read about it? and then take the time to be a smart *** and post? What should people do sit around and speculate on who will win the next race? Of just bash Lance for the rest of the year?

 

[Liophy]

AC lovers (who are newborn LA haters) are pathetic.

They defend the right of AC to attack (wich i will agree), but why the hell did he stop then?

If you attack - GO!!! He droped Kloden, and then stop. Why the hell?

Finish your attack full. At least that way it would have mean something. Instead, he just stoped. Stupid. Very stupid. It just show the whole frame of mind of Contador during the whole TdF - perplexed.

 

[Jonathan]

AC lovers (who are newborn LA haters) are pathetic.

They defend the right of AC to attack (wich i will agree), but why the hell did he stop then?

If you attack - GO!!! He droped Kloden, and then stop. Why the hell?

Finish your attack full. At least that way it would have mean something. Instead, he just stoped. Stupid. Very stupid. It just show the whole frame of mind of Contador during the whole TdF - perplexed.

I think Contador stopped because he couldn't drop the Schleck brothers as he intended to do.

 

[thehog]

AC lovers (who are newborn LA haters) are pathetic.

They defend the right of AC to attack (wich i will agree), but why the hell did he stop then?

If you attack - GO!!! He droped Kloden, and then stop. Why the hell?

Finish your attack full. At least that way it would have mean something. Instead, he just stoped. Stupid. Very stupid. It just show the whole frame of mind of Contador during the whole TdF - perplexed.

I'm with you. The TDF was exciting enough without the need for anyone to attack. I mean the 2nd week through the Pyrenees. I think I was going to have a myocardial infarction from excitement watching some of those stages.

 

[bianchigirl]

I'm reminded of a certain rider and his 'no gifts' stance. So why should Contador have helped Kloeden ride onto the podium given the utter lack of support that the team were giving him? As I recall, both Kloeden (and Armstrong on other occasions) were content to ride up on Contador's wheel - strange when Contador was the MJ and therefore the protected rider, surely?

 

[thehog]

I'm reminded of a certain rider and his 'no gifts' stance. So why should Contador have helped Kloeden ride onto the podium given the utter lack of support that the team were giving him? As I recall, both Kloeden (and Armstrong on other occasions) were content to ride up on Contador's wheel - strange when Contador was the MJ and therefore the protected rider, surely?

I'm not sure what you are saying but I agree with you. More blue train, less attacking.

 

[Mellow Velo]

I think these poll results are reckless, impulsive and lack maturity......
.....Sums up those 3 annual weeks in July.

Now, Vuelta Espana anyone?

 

[thehog]

I think these poll results are reckless, impulsive and lack maturity......
.....Sums up those 3 annual weeks in July.

Now, Vuelta Espana anyone?

Tour de France was awesome. Cannot remember any of it. There were no stand out moments.

It reminded me of school bus trips to boring locations. When there was nothing to keep the kids excited they started to get out of hand. Name calling, b1tching, lunchbox and bottle stealing. It was all too much. The kids just needed something to keep them focused. They need to limit the amount of sugar in energy gels.

Did Lance pull Alberto's hair?

 

[Angliru]

I have no problem with contador attacking but in this situation he should have sat back and saved his energy for the ITT. In the end I can only imagin that this attack was about getting time on LA. Who I think he was a little worried about in the ITT. Of course in the end he had nothing to worry about.

There are all types of holes in this. Firstly he had no reason to fear Armstrong in the ITT or in the mountains having shown his superiority in both disciplines. As was stated earlier he had dropped Andy on both previous summit finishes so he had no reason to believe that he couldn't gain time on both of them regardless of the downhill finish. As far as Contador saving his energy for the ITT, there was no reason to think that either of the Schlecks would be able to gain any time in the ITT, based on their history in ITT events.

 

[manolo]

There are all types of holes in this... He had dropped Andy on both previous summit finishes... [and] there was no reason to think that either of the Schlecks would be able to gain... time in the ITT...

Contador's comments after the stage showed a little remorse at having dropped Kloden. I think he realized it was a stupid move. I, too, wish he had either gone relentlessly after the stage win, or had just ridden someone else's wheel till the end. There was no need to attack. He's a great rider, physically, but tactically? Well, who am I to criticize him?

Based on this Tour, I'd have said he treated teammates like crap. Just based on laeving Kloden out to dry, but I know he's had some moments with other teammates, like Luis Leon Sanchez in the Tour Down Under, where he seemed to be classy and considerate, but not on the Tour. Instead of regretting that his move dropped Kloden, I wish he had given Kloden a shot at a little glory, like Lance did with Floyd in 2005. Just a shot!

But his "pat-on-the-back" on the Schlecks on the downhill made him, in my mind, look humbled, hesitant, and reluctant. He seemed tactically defeated and made to look foolish. There was no need to attack and he realized it. How much time was he going to gain on the downhill even if dropped everyone? All he did was distance Armstrong and Kloden, and I think he realized he looked petty doing that to his own teamates. He would have looked more classy just following wheels, by obliterating everyone and going for the stage win, or by letting Kloden attack, maybe on the downhill, if they had stuck together (I know he couldn't on the climb). Ah, well! I just think he owed a powerful teammate like Kloden a shot at a stage.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Yeah, right. USPS/Disco were famous for giving all their riders shots at stage wins.
Can't lay that crap at Contador's door. That's an old Bruyneel/Armstrong tactic special, known as "the protective bubble".
As for treating his team mates badly, I'd stick that shoe on another foot.

Trouble is, too many folks only know one way to watch a race and that's the old, blue train way.
Amazingly enough, riders used to win the Tour by attacking their rivals, not by worrying about whether their domestique help could keep up.

Ah, well! I just think he owed a powerful teammate like Kloden a shot at a stage.

What race were you watching? Kloden was dead on his bike.

 

[Jonathan]

Based on this Tour, I'd have said he treated teammates like crap.

Contador apologized to each of his teammates after the stage. He made a mistake (in hindsight) but did not treat them like crap.

 

[manolo]

Contador... knew he had little hope of gaining time on the Shlecks. His motive... was to take time out of LA and felt bad that Kloden got burned... You could see AC making a deal with the Shlecks... "I can't do any work here but you guys can have the stage win" ... hoping... they would work so he could get time on LA.

... If AC would have held back a bit Kloden would have either been able to hold on or at least hold on long enough to get back on the decent. [Contador] might have dropped Frank but not Andy who was the real threat. Frank was only a threat to LA and Kloden.

...He better have a strong team next year[!]

I was nauseous when I saw Contador's "pats-on-the-back" to the Schlecks during this stage. I was staring at the TV set during the attack blankly, thinking "You can't do this! You're only succeeding in dropping your own teammate! You traitor! You crazy self-centered son-of-a-b1tch!" I was tormented for daya! I so wanted Kloden on the podium! : )

More on this from the Astana website:

http://www.astana-cyclingteam.com/special_features/acst17.html

Levi said it best for me on Twitter:

If Andreas finishes 4th in GC by less than 2' from 3rd, we know where he lost it. . .
8:37 AM Jul 22nd from Tweetie

... I said this was because of the long down hill after the climb, to be left with out a team mate was not a good situation. If it was an up hill finish that would have been a different situation...

... In this situation he should have sat back and saved his energy for the ITT. In the end I can only imagin that this attack was about getting time on LA...

I agree!...