discussion!!! contador

[jobiwan]

A what if? If you were Contador and knew you had great from for 1 stage of those that remain in this years Tour, what stage would you select to use it?

Stage 20. His form is obviously good enough to do damage control in the mountains. If he had great form in the Time Trial such as in '09, he could do some serious damage. Hypothetically of course.

 

[ggusta]

A what if? If you were Contador and knew you had great from for 1 stage of those that remain in this years Tour, what stage would you select to use it?

Great Form? Like Great Contador Form? 18 of course. It may not win him the tour, but it will put his stamp on an otherwise forgettable tour and get him a podium spot probably. I love to watch the legend grow. And the haters just go berserk.

Oh how I would love to watch Andy crack like those little china dolls in that glass cabinet that we could never run past because the shaking might tip over one of mom's heirloom treasures!

 

[Jeanne]

That picture... He looks hurting.

 

[Cimber]

Contador says he is feeling better and think he will be ready for the Alps. He also says that the Schlecks need to make up their mind about who they will ride for, as thats their only chance to take enough time on Tommy V and Evans
http://ekstrabladet.dk/sport/anden_sport/motorsport/formel_et/article1588385.ece
(in Danish)

Riis also think and hopes that Contador will be better in the alsp. But he also says that no matter what they will have to attack and risk it all, even if Contador isnt getting better.

 

[Angliru]

thats one of the things with this tour.

if contador wins rider will see that is possible racing all season long at a good level and still achieve your goals, they may also be tempted to have several goals per season. all this would be a comeback to the good days of cycling.

if andy wins its a win for the super peak style of race that armstrong used and that honestly disgusts me

I don't think the outcome is going to change anyone's approach/prep for the Tour. They'll all continue to do whatever works regardless of what Contador and Andy's prep/race schedules are.

 

[iZnoGouD]

I really hope his form will improve and he can give these Schleck a good lesson
if he doesn't win i want basso to win it, he deserves it

 

[Carols]

No Tour today, so I just watched the last 10km of the Mt Etna (Giro tappa 9). All I would like to see right now is that fluid, efficient, seemingly effortless pedaling style at least once in this tour. If it comes on a MTF and he has it for the ITT, he can still podium. Unfortunately he'll drop Cadel and possibly drag Andy close enough to Cadel so Andy can finish ahead of Cadel

But Alberto has more guts, heart, determination and panache then all the rest of them put together!

 

[LaFlorecita]

No Tour today, so I just watched the last 10km of the Mt Etna (Giro tappa 9). All I would like to see right now is that fluid, efficient, seemingly effortless pedaling style at least once in this tour. If it comes on a MTF and he has it for the ITT, he can still podium. Unfortunately he'll drop Cadel and possibly drag Andy close enough to Cadel so Andy can finish ahead of Cadel

But Alberto has more guts, heart, determination and panache then all the rest of them put together!

Yay! I love him!

 

[warmfuzzies]

I hope Contador will attack - there needs to be a top-notch rider to force the selection amongst the 12 strongest.

 

[il_pirata]

Contador?

I'm confused as to why so many people are confident that Contador will gain form in the Alps. Yes for Andy, as his peak for the year is now, whereas the effects of a Giro will really take their toll in the 3rd week of a second Grand Tour surely?

 

[jens_attacks]

il pirata was getting better and better while tour progressed in '98.is the same with alberto,he's not finished.

 

[il_pirata]

il pirata was getting better and better while tour progressed in '98.is the same with alberto,he's not finished.

Unfortunately I was only six back then, my love spawned from highlight reels!

I really don't know what to expect, maybe he'll just stagnate and let Evans wheelsuck to the top step (not that he should do anything differently)

 

[icefire]

il pirata was getting better and better while tour progressed in '98.is the same with alberto,he's not finished.

Has Andy ever been invited for a meal at Ulle's?

 

[fixedgear]

il pirata was getting better and better while tour progressed in '98.is the same with alberto,he's not finished.

I thought he was good from the start? He gained time in almost all the mountain stages beginning with stage 9 I believe. Plus, we now know that he had a little extra 'help'.

My guess is that AC will maybe have one attack in him which will gain him 20 or so seconds. He's too tired from the Giro to comeback and win. Probably move up a couple spots on GC but not podium.

 

[Angliru]

I'm confused as to why so many people are confident that Contador will gain form in the Alps. Yes for Andy, as his peak for the year is now, whereas the effects of a Giro will really take their toll in the 3rd week of a second Grand Tour surely?

Well my fear is that just as his injuries heel, primarily his knee from injuries sustained from his multiple crashes, he will feel even more fatigued as a result of his Giro participation. At the same time he's obviously able to maintain a pretty high level of performance/form which matched with his determination IMO will get him on the podium but I fear his deficit from being held up in that early crash is just too much to overcome. If all of this had occurred in a year with him not having won such a grueling Giro then I would be much more confident but this year there are just too many obstacles at this point.

 

[No_Balls]

I'm confused as to why so many people are confident that Contador will gain form in the Alps. Yes for Andy, as his peak for the year is now, whereas the effects of a Giro will really take their toll in the 3rd week of a second Grand Tour surely?

I count on this factors:

1) He is maintaining a pretty high competitive standard for his problems/obstacles this far.

2) He is looking better from stage to stage going uphill. There is none downward curve to see. His statements post-race confirms what we see on television.

3) According to himself, he is feeling better and better.

Of course, the possibility of a total collapse is always there, but now i don´t see it. He is not that kind of rider. But a champion. Things could have been different if Schlecks have benefited from it in the early mountain stages, but as he has going through the pyrenees pretty much in touch with the others, i think he will gain mentally from that.

 

[BYOP88]

I count on this factors:

1) He is maintaining a pretty high competitive standard for his problems/obstacles this far.

2) He is looking better from stage to stage going uphill. There is none downward curve to see. His statements post-race confirms what we see on television.

3) According to himself, he is feeling better and better.

Of course, the possibility of a total collapse is always there, but now i don´t see it. He is not that kind of rider. But a champion. Things could have been different if Schlecks have benefited from it in the early mountain stages, but as he has going through the pyrenees pretty much in touch with the others, i think he will gain mentally from that.

If only Contador hadn't lost 1'14 on stage 1, if he hadn't then he'd be the firm favourite for the win.

 

[Pantani_lives]

If Contador says he's feeling good, he must be feeling bad. If he was really feeling good, he would say he's feeling bad. Or maybe he's just honest. Or maybe it's double bluff: he's telling the truth assuming that everyone will think he's lying.

 

[hfer07]

If Contador says he's feeling well, he must be feeling bad. If he was really feeling well, he would say he's feeling bad. Or maybe he's just honest. Or maybe it's double bluff: he's telling the truth assuming that everyone will think he's lying.

he's been honest- there are no inconsistencies in what he's said about his form so far....

 

[El Pistolero]

If Contador says he's feeling well, he must be feeling bad. If he was really feeling well, he would say he's feeling bad. Or maybe he's just honest. Or maybe it's double bluff: he's telling the truth assuming that everyone will think he's lying.

He never said he was feeling bad at the Giro. Well, he only had one bad day at the Giro is what he said. We can only guess which stage.

 

[No_Balls]

If only Contador hadn't lost 1'14 on stage 1, if he hadn't then he'd be the firm favourite for the win.

A big "if" here but i agree with you and it troubles my mind. The fourth victory could be in his grasp without this "1.14" despite what has happened after. Now it only looks a little bit tougher.

If Contador says he's feeling well, he must be feeling bad. If he was really feeling well, he would say he's feeling bad. Or maybe he's just honest. Or maybe it's double bluff: he's telling the truth assuming that everyone will think he's lying.

I have thought so too I remember before the Giro when he said he was "unsure" about his form and we at that point was a bit worried. At this Tour he has been very honest about the conditions. He also seems much more clever in the mental war now (the Riis-effect probably).

 

[The Hitch]

He never said he was feeling bad at the Giro. Well, he only had one bad day at the Giro is what he said. We can only guess which stage.

Candidates

Stage 7 : distanced by Scarponi Kreuziger and 1 or 2 others. Lost 2 seconds. He was actually DISTANCED!!!

Stage 14: Zoncolan: Didnt win. Amazingly, he didnt win!!!
Also had a stake shoved in his face. Unlike other stages, never showed that he could win the stage, people just assumed he was within his limit. Booed by idiots.

Stage 15: He didnt win. Looked awesome but said afterwards that it was the most difficult day in the saddle of his entire life.

Stage 19: Outsprinted at the finish by Tiralongo.

 

[El Pistolero]

Candidates

Stage 7 : distanced by Scarponi Kreuziger and 1 or 2 others. Lost 2 seconds. He was actually DISTANCED

Stage 14: Zoncolan: Didnt win. Amazingly, he didnt win. Also had a stake shoved in his face. Unlike other stages, never showed that he could win the stage, people just assumed he was within his limit. Booed by idiots.

Stage 15: He didnt win. Looked awesome but said afterwards that it was the most difficult day in the saddle of his entire life.

Stage 19: Outsprinted at the finish by Tiralongo.

I'm thinking stage 7. But he didn't lose time there Hitch.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Stage 19: Outsprinted at the finish by Tiralongo.

Why ruin the post with fishing?

 

[BYOP88]

Candidates

Stage 7 : distanced by Scarponi Kreuziger and 1 or 2 others. Lost 2 seconds. He was actually DISTANCED!!!

Stage 14: Zoncolan: Didnt win. Amazingly, he didnt win!!!
Also had a stake shoved in his face. Unlike other stages, never showed that he could win the stage, people just assumed he was within his limit. Booed by idiots.

Stage 15: He didnt win. Looked awesome but said afterwards that it was the most difficult day in the saddle of his entire life.

Stage 19: Outsprinted at the finish by Tiralongo.

HAHAHAHA thanks for the laugh, great finish to your post.