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Criterium International - The showdown

Mar 18, 2009
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Except Contador isn't riding :rolleyes:

Every year this race is one of the most exciting in the calendar. Too bad eurosport decided to stop showing it a couple of years ago.
 
Mar 11, 2009
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issoisso said:
Except Contador isn't riding :rolleyes:

Every year this race is one of the most exciting in the calendar. Too bad eurosport decided to stop showing it a couple of years ago.

... except Contador IS riding.

I predict that this showdown will be both over-hyped and anticlimactic in the extreme.
 
A

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thehog said:
Question now - Does Lance have the ball to turn up and face his the one man who can destroy him. Is he man enough?

No. I think LA will switch to Catalunya on the excuse that he needs the additional racing miles.
 
Apr 28, 2009
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If I was Contador I'd want to be in as many photos with Armstrong as possible, to contract the fitness. And then hammer away and drop him.

I can't wait.
 
I'm concerned Lance might get mistaken for a motorcycle cameraman he's so large.

There's going to be a lot of fat jokes flying around the bunch.

"Hey Lance got any donouts in your jersey pocket?!!"

"Hey Lance watch you don't test positive to cream cakes"

Alberto 61kg & Lance at least 81kg now going to be a great photo.
 

Polish

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Mar 11, 2009
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Vino4Ever - Not:(

According to KazakhNeRider, Vino was targeting this race....

Well, this sucks for Vino...unless Alberto will be working for him....

Doubt that, bang bang.
 
Apr 12, 2009
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Well he worked for Levi at the Vuelta Castilla last year but the first stage has a 14 km mountain top finish 6% avg gradient so differences can be made.
 
Mar 18, 2009
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When did Contador change his calendar?

Just last week he was telling teledeporte what he's been saying all season: Catalunya's next, then Pais Vasco

EDIT: ah-hah. I see he posted it today on his website. Apologies for the mistake. He'd been saying it all season, I never thought he'd switch it on short notice.
 
Jul 27, 2009
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3rdWheel said:
I don't think we'll learn anything meaningful from this race.

Oh, I guarantee we won't learn anything meaningful. Still going be funny as hell reading all the excuses from Lance, and maybe getting to see some of those weird facial expressions anytime he's in the vicinity of Contador.
 

Polish

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Mar 11, 2009
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franciep10 said:
Well he worked for Levi at the Vuelta Castilla last year but the first stage has a 14 km mountain top finish 6% avg gradient so differences can be made.


Not sure how Alberto could help Vino win this race...unless Alberto backpedals during the ITT:)

Alberto's decision to ride the Fleche-Wallonne, however, should be cool!
Who else can match Alberto on the final climb up the Mur de Huy?

We may be seeing an "Eddy-like" year this year with Alberto - one in which he WINS half or more of every race he starts. Kind of special.
 
Feb 1, 2010
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Libertine Seguros said:
Doesn't mean the media won't pretend we do.

M Sport said:
Oh, I guarantee we won't learn anything meaningful. Still going be funny as hell reading all the excuses from Lance, and maybe getting to see some of those weird facial expressions anytime he's in the vicinity of Contador.

Yes, certainly the media will stir the drink and we'll see some uncomfortable moments from you know who.
 
Polish said:
Not sure how Alberto could help Vino win this race...unless Alberto backpedals during the ITT:)

Alberto's decision to ride the Fleche-Wallonne, however, should be cool!
Who else can match Alberto on the final climb up the Mur de Huy?

We may be seeing an "Eddy-like" year this year with Alberto - one in which he WINS half or more of every race he starts. Kind of special.

That's my biggest take away from the change.
 
Feb 14, 2010
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The press release. It actually means Contador & Lance will face each other in three races. Sorry, I was caught sleeping again.

:: 16 / 03 / 10 :: Alberto Contador changes his program of competition
Alberto Contador has decided to change his next competition schedule after an analysis by the astana technical staff about his performance in the Tour of the Algarve and Paris-Nice. "I had very good results in the first two races, my preparation is well under way and so we decided to change the calendar, to seek a less wear racing for me and for my team”, said Alberto Contador.


After a Paris-Nice that has been very taxing physically and mentally, Alberto Contador has decided to dismiss both the Volta a Catalunya and the Basque Country Tour. In return, the leader of Astana will ride in the Criterium International (27 and 28 March), in the Tour of Castilla and Leon (14 to 18 April), Fleche Wallonne (April 21) and Liege-Bastogne -Liege (April 25).

“The Criterium is a race that suits my characteristics very well and I also look forward to run because it has much prestige”, said Alberto. “The Tour of Castilla and Leon is a race for what I have a special affection and this year change dates has been good for me and give me the opportunity to go to the classics, where I especially hope to take some experience. I\'m excited to ride there, because they have a special charm, but I realize that there will be more skilled riders than me to fight for victory”.

Alberto Contador finished saying he had decided to “sacrifice Catalonia and the Basque Country because of my preparation, because it is doing very well and do not want to risk exceeded. Also, I\'ll have the opportunity to meet other team riders that will be in the Tour, like Vinokourov”.

After this new program Contador will start a short rest period beginning with the preparation of the Tour de France, before which will ride the Dauphiné Libéré.

http://www.albertocontador.com/prensa.detalle.php?id=331
 

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