Contador's fframe of mind and his attacks in the mountain stages

[ratatata]

Contador wins Gran Premio Vive México de Cancún.

Time-Trial:
1 Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne)
2 Rubén Plaza (Liberty)
3 Alberto Contador (Astana)
4 Florencio Ramos (Tecos)
5 Oscar Freire (Rabobank)

Points:
1 Alberto Contador (Astana)
2 Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne)
3 Oscar Freire (Rabobank)
4 Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas)
5 Michel Rasmussen (Tecos)

General:
1 Alberto Contador (Astana)
2 Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne)
3 Oscar Freire (Rabobank)
4 Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas)
5 Florencio Ramos (Tecos)

 

[thehog]

Thanks for posting that Hog!

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news...tuesday-the-deadline-for-astana-s-future.html


"I'll know if I continue or not in Astana on Tuesday," Contador told Spanish sports daily MARCA shortly after taking part in a criterium in Cancun, Mexico.

"That's the day the UCI will give the green light to Astana - or not. Depending on what happens, I'll either fulfill my contract with Astana until the end of 2010, or I'll quit."

 

[Ripper]

Contador is a suck ... it'll be hilarious when Vino does his trademark attack on a team mate next year in the TdF

(oops, I see this is a poll from the 2009 TdF because we care about Contador's feelings and thoughts)

 

[thehog]

PARIS — Tour de France champion Alberto Contador finished the official cycling season as the top ranked rider in the International Cycling Union (UCI) world calendar released on Monday.

In an all-Spanish podium Contador, who rides for Astana, finished top on 527 points, ahead of second placed Alejandro Valverde (483) and Olympic road race champion Samuel Sanchez (357).

In the teams world ranking Astana ended the season on 1,100 points, with Valverde's Caisse d'Epargne second on 1048 and American outfit Team Columbia third on 957.

Spain also topped the nations world ranking on 1,756 points with Italy (984) in second and Australia (960) third.

The Tour of Lombardy, won by Belgium's Philippe Gilbert of Silence, brought the curtain down on the official 2009 cycling season on Saturday.

 

[progressor]

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news...tuesday-the-deadline-for-astana-s-future.html


"I'll know if I continue or not in Astana on Tuesday," Contador told Spanish sports daily MARCA shortly after taking part in a criterium in Cancun, Mexico.

"That's the day the UCI will give the green light to Astana - or not. Depending on what happens, I'll either fulfill my contract with Astana until the end of 2010, or I'll quit."

Is that tues sept 5th ?

 

[Nikoloz]

I am sure that kloden won't miss podium next year...

 

[DavidVilla7]

I am sure that kloden won't miss podium next year...

mmm, that would be a shame for others!

 

[Nikoloz]

mmm, that would be a shame for others!

I don't care about others...

 

[thehog]

Just off the wire.... not sure these guys know what they're talkin about:

(AP) – 25 minutes ago

ALMATY, Kazakhstan — Tour de France champion Alberto Contador will remain with the Astana team until his contract expires at the end of next year, Kazakh Cycling Federation deputy president Nikolai Proskurin says.

The Spaniard's future with Astana has been unclear for months amid persistent doubts about the Kazakh team's financial viability.

The International Cycling Union had warned that Astana's financial troubles could endanger its chances of securing a new four-year license, prompting speculation that Contador — the world's top-ranked rider — could be released by the team.

Contador won the Tour de France for the second time in July with former teammate and seven-time Tour champion Lance Armstrong finishing third.

 

[thehog]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jT2WRc0UF2MItiSiD4bl3VFHh2BAD9BKKH4G1

 

[DavidVilla7]

we will see!

I´m getting frustrated by the UCI and astana etc.
Everytime they set a deadline, but when the deadline reaches, NOTHING!
So another deadline.

 

[progressor]

Just off the wire.... not sure these guys know what they're talkin about:

(AP) – 25 minutes ago

ALMATY, Kazakhstan — Tour de France champion Alberto Contador will remain with the Astana team until his contract expires at the end of next year, Kazakh Cycling Federation deputy president Nikolai Proskurin says.

The Spaniard's future with Astana has been unclear for months amid persistent doubts about the Kazakh team's financial viability.

The International Cycling Union had warned that Astana's financial troubles could endanger its chances of securing a new four-year license, prompting speculation that Contador — the world's top-ranked rider — could be released by the team.

Contador won the Tour de France for the second time in July with former teammate and seven-time Tour champion Lance Armstrong finishing third.

What has this got to do with this thread topic? Why resurrect a thread that went way past it used by date originally, with off topic subject matter more than a week after it's last post??

 

[manolo]

If I was Kloden, and Contador asked me if he could attack, I'd probably have said "Are you 'out-of-your-mind'?... : ) That's just me, of course...

Are you sure Manolo aren't being ironic? When I first read his post I thought it was... actually rather funny... Bruyneel decided that Klöden was to help Armstrong get this spot... I agree that it seems wrong that Armstrong got the podium spot, when Klöden was obviously... stronger, but ...if Klöden had [done what]Contador did... then he probably would have placed third. But then he wouldn't have a nice secure job next year in the Shack... So Klöden chose the safe... way...

I was being sarcastic... but I honestly thought: "Man, what is up with Kloden? I would think he would be ****ed with Contador's attack!" But I never heard a peep from him. I imagined that if I were him, though, I'd be ****ed, but I was being sarcastic.

I wonder what was going through [Klöden's] mind on the stage to Verbier. "... I have to wait on a guy who is clearly not going to win the Tour [?]... I am obviously stronger [!]

Kloden has always been an enigma to me. I wonder if he's servile by nature, if he's given up any podium aspirations, if he has felt any bitterness or if he's just happy to have a job... [or maybe he's just glad he hasn't been caught cheating?].. Anyways, who knows?... I sort of admire his stoicness but I'm also intrigued with how good he might have been, or could still be, if he was given free reign and help at the Tour... I almost feel like he's wasting some very good years on the bike at the service of others and I see no one reporting he's dissatisfied, or that he's unhappy or even that he really likes his role! Anyways, he seems to kind of press-avoidant, but still someone I look forward to seeing every year...

+1000... [Bruyneel] would have said the same thing to him after the stage.. A little respect to Kloden for his... years of working for others would have been nice by [Contador]...

I wonder... It kind of would have been nice to see more cooperation... a la the Schlecks... Have there ever been two other teammates on the podium of a Grand Tour? Hinault and LeMond? Were Simoni and Cunego both on the podium in the 2004 Giro? I just wonder if cooperation is possible at that level... and I wonder if the Schleck brothers will make it next year... Anyways, an intriguing situation and fun to talk about! : )

 

[Polish]

let levi ride

Have there ever been two other teammates on the podium of a Grand Tour? Hinault and LeMond? Were Simoni and Cunego both on the podium in the 2004 Giro? I just wonder if cooperation is possible at that level... and I wonder if the Schleck brothers will make it next year... Anyways, an intriguing situation and fun to talk about! : )

Team Disco (Bruyneel) did the TdF "2 on a podium" 2007...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0tvHWwWlQ4

.

 

[manolo]

Seems to me there are too many people on this thread who've only seen the race ridden the USDiscatana way and hadn't realised there was a rich tradition of the MJ actually attacking alone to win the race

I found it interesting the other day when a Spanish blog commented that for the most part, during his 5 year reign in the 1990's, Indurain and the Banesto team actually raced that way - meaning very little attacking, a lot of riding other people's wheels in the mountains and taking huge chunks of time in the time trials, and that Armstrong based his strategy on that type of riding.

 

[Bag_O_Wallet]

I wonder... It kind of would have been nice to see more cooperation... a la the Schlecks... Have there ever been two other teammates on the podium of a Grand Tour? Hinault and LeMond? Were Simoni and Cunego both on the podium in the 2004 Giro? I just wonder if cooperation is possible at that level... and I wonder if the Schleck brothers will make it next year... Anyways, an intriguing situation and fun to talk about! : )

The only double podium that I can think of that wasn't outwardly messy was the 1996 Tour. Bjarne Riis and Jan Ullrich were 1 and 2. Jan did a lot of work for Barney, and gained a lot of time back in the final TT.

 

[lagartija]

The only double podium that I can think of that wasn't outwardly messy was the 1996 Tour. Bjarne Riis and Jan Ullrich were 1 and 2. Jan did a lot of work for Barney, and gained a lot of time back in the final TT.

dont forget Levi and Berto at the vuelta......

 

[Bag_O_Wallet]

dont forget Levi and Berto at the vuelta......

Ah, yes. I always forget about Levi... That one got a little heated with regard to the final TT, no?

'84 Tour, Renault had Fignon and Lemond in 1st and 3rd, and Laurent won by over 10 minutes. Anyone know if Greg played the role of super domestique well?

 

[manolo]

Seems to me there are too many people on this thread who've only seen the race ridden the USDiscatana way and hadn't realised there was a rich tradition of the MJ actually attacking alone to win the race

Between 1991 and 1995 Indurain won the Tour. Of course, Indurain was a terrific time trialist. Before Lance came on in 1999, Riis, Ullrich and Pantani won the Tour. I know Pantani attacked solo in the mountains, but I have to admit I don't know how much attacking in the mountains Bjarne and Jan did to win their respective Tours. I can imagine they had their more substantial time gains from their time trialing, but I can't confirm it. I am under the impression that since 1991, at least, it seems that, except for Pantani and Sastre, most of the Tour winners relied very heavily on their time trialling more than their attacking in the mountains to win. I guess Contador does it both ways. And so, maybe, depending on your point of view, did Floyd Landis. Sastre? I guess the 2008 L'Alp de Huez stage speaks for itself. What will next year bring? I wonder if any strong time trialist other than Contador will stand a chance. Kloden? I doubt it! But, who knows?... : )

 

[thehog]

dont forget Levi and Berto at the vuelta......

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/2282/Cash-injection-and-name-change-for-Astana-team.aspx

With today being the final deadline of submission of documents to the UCI, the backers of the Astana team have pledged €15 million ($22 million) to the team for the 2010 season.

"Samruk-Kazyna (state holding) has provided UCI with a guarantee of financial backing worth euro15 million ($22 million) for this season," Kazakh Cycling Federation deputy president Nikolai Proskurin said, according to AP.

In addition to that, he said that approximately $3.7 million has been transferred this week to the paying agency that handles team salaries. The UCI confirmed in recent days that there had been delays in payment of wages in recent weeks, so this lodgement should cover those costs.

The team will be hoping that it gets a green light in the coming days from the UCI to continue in the ProTour next season. Alberto Contador confirmed yesterday that he will stay put, providing it retains the licence.

According to reports in the Italian media, the name of the team will change to Samruk Kazyna in 2010.

In addition, the sponsoring company’s chairman Kairat Kelimbetov has been named as head of the country's cycling federation.

Proskurin said that the team is planning further ahead. He stated that it is in talks with an Italian telecommunications company for an additional sponsorship deal, and that it is interested in signing Ivan Basso for 2011. He claims a number of high-profile riders have been in contact, expressing an interest in riding with the Kazakh team.

 

[kurtinsc]

Contador expected to be the team leader after the time trial at Monaco and felt betrayed by Armstrong and Bruyneel when Armstrong took the 41 seconds at Had Armstrong not taken that time, Contador might have ridden other's wheels and not attacked.

I don't think he had a right to feel betrayed that Lance made the break... Astana didn't cause the break, Columbia did.

Perhaps he could feel betrayed that Popovych and Zubeldia relayed... but to be honest that was the correct thing for the team to do. If memory serves, the only non-Astana GC guy in the break were Gerdemann and Rogers/Martin... none of whom were really a huge threat. Wouldn't it make sense to get your #2 in Armstrong some time?

 

[Publicus]

I don't think he had a right to feel betrayed that Lance made the break... Astana didn't cause the break, Columbia did.

Perhaps he could feel betrayed that Popovych and Zubeldia relayed... but to be honest that was the correct thing for the team to do. If memory serves, the only non-Astana GC guy in the break were Gerdemann and Rogers/Martin... none of whom were really a huge threat. Wouldn't it make sense to get your #2 in Armstrong some time?

Hate to prolong this, but Astana didn't have to do anything to push the break. Columbia was taking care of it all by their lonesome. Lance would have gained time and team harmony would have been preserved. Instead he had JB order Popo and Zubeldia to work to increase the advantage. I guarantee you won't see that happen in 2010 if Lance misses a break and three of his teammates make the break (say Levi).

 

[kurtinsc]

Hate to prolong this, but Astana didn't have to do anything to push the break. Columbia was taking care of it all by their lonesome. Lance would have gained time and team harmony would have been preserved. Instead he had JB order Popo and Zubeldia to work to increase the advantage. I guarantee you won't see that happen in 2010 if Lance misses a break and three of his teammates make the break (say Levi).

That may be true... but if Levi makes the break with say... Rast and Popovych, it would seem to be the correct strategic move for the helpers to relay for Levi... just like it was the correct move to relay for Lance this past year.

Egos aside... if you have more then one rider who can contend in the GC and they can gain time... a DS should try to gain as much as possible.

Any Milram guys there with Gerdeman should have been busting their butts too.

 

[manolo]

... if Levi makes the break with [others] it would... be the [align=right] move... to [help] Levi... just like it was [align=right] to relay for Lance... if you have more than one rider who can contend in the GC and they can gain time... [you] should try to gain as much [time] as possible.

I guess you're right. I guess personailities and competitiveness of those involved play a lot into how the move is perceived. Cancellara made that break, but he wasn't considered a contender for the GC, but, my guess is that if Frank Schleck had made the break and Andy hadn't, Andy would have supported Frank's ambitions and supported any support any Saxo Bank riders provided in the break for him, and vice versa.

I don't recall Contador sounding off in anger, but Armstrong's comments, "[Contador] still has a lot to learn", or something like that, were probably something that no other teammate in the peloton would have pointed out to their teammate. So I guess I can't argue with the logic that it was the right thing to do. But, obviously, in my mind, Armstrong should have just shut up about it (the gain and the strategy) and wait for his pedals to do any talking.

 

[thehog]

http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/other/article203749.ece

Liggett already believes Contador can't win 2010. Liggett of course is an independent source and is not paid by Armstrong inc.