Does Contador have what it takes, MENTALY, to be a consistant champion??

[shouldawouldacoulda]

well hes got 44 racing days so far this season and i dont think he ll have more than 50 by the end...hes winning a lot but 50 racing days a year is a joke...especially if you compare him to the riders of 70s,80s,90s

ofc you cant blame him,its just the way cycling is now

Yes, I agree with this. Modern team leaders race about 60-70 ish days a season. Which is a lot less than the 100-120 (or more) of years gone by. But comparative to his peers (other modern team leaders who are GC riders). He wins far more than any of them.

We'll see if he packs it in after 50 race days this year too.

Yes I know he has won races this year and came 3rd in fleche.... but i think most of wins arent so impressive... winning the prologue of the dauphine and some other small stage races I dont think is that great..... of course the big thing is the tdf and winning this makes contador is a great rider but so far he is far behind the real legends and I dont think he will ever get there... and i dont think he will make a big effort to win the spring classics...I think he is just going to carry on going for the win in paris nice and the tdf and win a few smaller races in preperation each season..... I think he's going to end up with a worse record than armstrong... which is hardly an insult...would be nice if he does go on and win a load of races though.

I disagree that he will start a singular focus on the Tour. Contador needs to win, that is his mentality. I think we will see him go for another GT double. Likely the Tour + Vuelta. Maybe not this year, but I think he will do this.

Aren't all races that aren't the Tour, Giro or Vuelta small by your arguments? Just curious... because I see Contador's wins and near wins this year as having been in some pretty big races. I mean other than the Giro, what could he have added to his season? He did the classics (and rode well), he did Paris-Nice (and won), he did the Dauphine (and won a stage).

Do you expect him to turn himself into a cobbled classics rider too? Perhaps clone himself so he can win Tirreno and Paris-Nice at the same time?

I'm not sure what you expect of him to merit being considered a big champion?

He's 27, he's won five grand tours. I think he is well on his way to surpassing Armstrong's palmares. I think he has done enough already to be considered one of the greatest riders of all time - only one other rider in history has won as many GT's as him by his age. Only four riders in history have won all 3 GTs.

Of his 10 wins this year, only 3 were in small races (as you'd say), or in other words races that weren't classed .HIS, .PT or .GT. So, 70% of his victories are in races that are historically the monuments of the sport.

 

[La Pandera]

those years are gone forever,in todays peloton its impossible to do giro/TdF or Tdf/vuelta and do it on podium...too many riders are specializing on number of races while in merckxs years they were riding pretty much whole year...i think the last rider to do two grand tours back to back clean (?) was indurain

i d say giro/vuelta is possible though

I don't think a Tour/Vuelta podium in one year is impossible. I believe either Sastre, Menchov or Evans either did it already or came awfully close.

Yep Indurain was the last do it successfully (Tour/Giro) and win both the first 2 years that he won the Tour. Of course Pantan was the last to do the Tour/Giro double (1998).

 

[La Pandera]

those years are gone forever,in todays peloton its impossible to do giro/TdF or Tdf/vuelta and do it on podium...too many riders are specializing on number of races while in merckxs years they were riding pretty much whole year...i think the last rider to do two grand tours back to back clean (?) was indurain

i d say giro/vuelta is possible though

I believe Contador could do a Tour/Vuelta double, podium in the Vuelta and win the Tour if he had a limited race schedule to avoid burning out. Contador's season begins usually at Paris-Nice where he tries for the win. Maybe using those races for training and building form would allow him to be able to extend his season beyond the Tour. Contador's problem is that he has difficulty doing that. We've seen at the Dauphine where even though he's not really there for the win he still pushes himself. I think as the years progress he will get a better measure on rationing his efforts and altering his schedule to work towards having something left for the Vuelta. I hope.

 

[La Pandera]

Do you guys bother to go and read results before you post here? I think it was @Dekker_tifosi in another thread who suggested the same.

If you look at CQRanking from this year Contador has won 10 races already. He is the second (or third) winningest rider of the season (after Greipel, and depending if you want to include Mcann who is a continental team-based rider racing predominantly on the Asia Tour). He has been winning races since his first race of the season. He came 3rd in Felche Wallone and 9th in Liege-Bastogne-Liege -while helping Vino win- in his first year ever racing in the classics.

Contador is a renaissance champion. He's of the old mold, he races with grinta, he wins from the season start to the season's end. Like Merckx did, like Hinault did, like Jalabert did, like Kelly did.

He is f*king fantastic for the sport, and we're lucky to have a new GT champion like him. Sure beats the way Armstrong went about it. And I can't wait to see him battling Schleck for the next few years. And I like Schleck too, you can like them both you know.

Agree 100%.

 

[henryg]

He's 27, he's won five grand tours. I think he is well on his way to surpassing Armstrong's palmares. I think he has done enough already to be considered one of the greatest riders of all time - only one other rider in history has won as many GT's as him by his age. Only four riders in history have won all 3 GTs.

Of his 10 wins this year, only 3 were in small races (as you'd say), or in other words races that weren't classed .HIS, .PT or .GT. So, 70% of his victories are in races that are historically the monuments of the sport.

Exactly

But when facts that we don't like get in the way we can just make stuff up. The wins were easy, the wins were tainted, the wins don't count, everyone riding now sucks. On the internet any ones fantasy can equal reality, at least in their own minds.

Back in the real world a rider who compiles a record of Palmares like Contador has done at his age is in a select group of greats already. Contador has the admiration of his competitors and ex pros like Hinault, Riis and many more, he can live without the approval of some anonymous internet armchair quarterbacks who resent his success.

 

[saganftw]

I don't think a Tour/Vuelta podium in one year is impossible. I believe either Sastre, Menchov or Evans either did it already or came awfully close.

Yep Indurain was the last do it successfully (Tour/Giro) and win both the first 2 years that he won the Tour. Of course Pantan was the last to do the Tour/Giro double (1998).

well why i think you cant do TdF/vuelta is not so much because of sporting issues but because of whats coming after TdF (ofc in contadors case winnning TdF) sponsor,parties,politicians want to suck you for popularity

evans,menchov could do it because they didnt win TdF,actually sastre proves me wrong in 2008 but thats very rare

 

[JohnNordin]

Doesn't matter what Alberto does. In their eyes he's always about to crack or unable to follow someone up a climb or about to stab someone in the back, or about to attack his own teammates, about to be dropped, et cetera.

Word. So true.

 

[Anonymous]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-elated-but-admits-he-struggled

He suffered today, he showed that he panics and acts reckles under pressure (not the first time)...

He's a great rider(he won me over this year),but is he strong enough to cope with the ever mounting pressure...? Or will Schleck, a Basso, or a Menchov get the better of him in the near future??

Cycling just got interesting

 

[La Pandera]

Lance didn't win the Giro,Vuelta, because he concentrated on the Tour... Conti would have done the same in 2008 if not for the ban...

This year Conti proved that he isnt tough enough to win another GT in the same year as a Tour...

He's gona pull a Lance in the next few years, though will never be as good as the original...

I'm personally equally impressed with Indurain's record as Armstrong's. In the first 2 years that he won the Tour, he also won the Giro both years. That in additon to a World TT championship and silver medal (or bronze) in the WC road race in Columbia riding for that year's WC, Abraham Olano vs. Pantani who completed the podium. Not the same years I believe as his Tour/Giro double but impressive nonetheless.

 

[hrotha]

I'm personally equally impressed with Indurain's record as Armstrong's. In the first 2 years that he won the Tour, he also won the Giro both years. That in additon to a World TT championship and silver medal (or bronze) in the WC road race in Columbia riding for that year's WC, Abraham Olano vs. Pantani who completed the podium. Not the same years I believe as his Tour/Giro double but impressive nonetheless.

Additionally, in 1991 he was 2nd in the Vuelta before winning the Tour. He only stopped riding two GTs per year in 1995, after his defeat in the 1994 Giro (where he was still 3rd).
(Just noticed a small error in your post. Indurain won the Tour in 1991-95 and the Giro in 1992-93)

 

[La Pandera]

well why i think you cant do TdF/vuelta is not so much because of sporting issues but because of whats coming after TdF (ofc in contadors case winnning TdF) sponsor,parties,politicians want to suck you for popularity

evans,menchov could do it because they didnt win TdF,actually sastre proves me wrong in 2008 but thats very rare

Sastre proving my point that it's been done in recent times.

I agree the Tour winner obligations and the close proximity of the start of the Vuelta to the end of the Tour makes it quite difficult. Sastre deserves much respect for his accomplishment.

 

[La Pandera]

Additionally, in 1991 he was 2nd in the Vuelta before winning the Tour. He only stopped riding two GTs per year in 1995, after his defeat in the 1994 Giro (where he was still 3rd).
(Just noticed a small error in your post. Indurain won the Tour in 1991-95 and the Giro in 1992-93)

Thanks for the correction!

 

[SlantParallelogram]

Define "consistent". I would say that Lance Armstrong was not a consistent "champion" because he only would focus on winning one race. Although he did win that particular race consistently.

 

[saganftw]

Sastre proving my point that it's been done in recent times.

I agree the Tour winner obligations and the close proximity of the start of the Vuelta to the end of the Tour makes it quite difficult. Sastre deserves much respect for his accomplishment.

yeah sastre is one of a kind,he can maintain very good form for long period of time,even gets better as tour progresses...i dont know if other riders can do it,maybe contador can try but that would be at risk that he fades away and kinda screw his resume

 

[Belokki]

yeah sastre is one of a kind,he can maintain very good form for long period of time,even gets better as tour progresses...i dont know if other riders can do it,maybe contador can try but that would be at risk that he fades away and kinda screw his resume

he burned his body out though...he needs to retire. he deserves a rest.

 

[El Pistolero]

Contador's stage race accomplishments at the age of 27:

Tour de France: 1st (2007,2009,2010)
Vuelta a Espana: 1st (2008)
Giro d'Italia: 1st (2008)
Paris-Nice: 1st (2007,2010)
Tour of the Basque country: 1st (2008,2009)
Vuelta a Castilla y León: 1st (2007,2008,2010)
Volta ao Algarve: 1st (2009,2010)
Dauphine: 2nd+2 stage wins+ points classification (2010)

Lance Armstrong's stage race accomplishments at the age of 27:

Wielerweek van Lombardije: 1st (1991)
Giro d'Italia: 4th (1998)

----

^ Says enough

 

[Belokki]

Giro d'Italia: 4th(1998)

----

^ Says enough

Lol...idiot. he raced the Vuelta, other than that

1992
1st Stage 6 Settimana Bergamasca
1st Stage 4a Vuelta a Galicia
1st Stage 2 Trittico Premondiale
1st First Union Grand Prix
1st Overall Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic
1st Stage 2
2nd, Züri-Metzgete
1993
1st World Road Race Champion UCI Road World ChampionshipsAT THE AGE OF 22!!
1st US National Road Race Champion
1st Stage 8 Tour de France
1st Overall Tour of America
1st Trofeo Laigueglia
1st Thrift Drug Classic
1st Overall Kmart West Virginia Classic
1st Prologue
1st Stage 1
2nd Overall Tour du Pont
1st Stage 5
3rd Overall Tour of Sweden
1st Stage 3
1994
1st Thrift Drug Classic
1st Stage 7 Tour du Pont
2nd Liège–Bastogne–Liège
2nd Clasica San Sebastian
1995
1st Stage 18 Tour de France
1st Clásica de San Sebastián
1st Stage 5 Paris–Nice
1st Overall Tour du Pont
1st Mountains Classifaction
1st Stage 4
1st Stage 5
1st Stage 9
1st Overall Kmart West Virginia Classic
1st Stage 4
1996
1st Overall Tour du Pont
1st Stage 2
1st Stage 3b
1st Stage 5
1st Stage 6
1st Stage 12
1st La Flèche Wallonne
2nd Liège–Bastogne–Liège
2nd Overall Paris–Nice
1998
1st Sprint 56K Criterium
1st Overall Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt
1st Overall Tour de Luxembourg
1st Stage 1
1st Cascade Cycling Classic
...and 4th at the VUELTA!
where was Conti at the age 22?

 

[shouldawouldacoulda]

well why i think you cant do TdF/vuelta is not so much because of sporting issues but because of whats coming after TdF (ofc in contadors case winnning TdF) sponsor,parties,politicians want to suck you for popularity

You have a very valid point here.

If there is something that will keep Contador away from racing more this year (or future years) and winning a Vuelta or World Championship in the same year-- he will inevitably win another TDF-- it will be external obligations like the ones you describe.

But I would also say that because he does have the mentality of a great champion... he may brush aside some of these obligations until the end of season to continue to race. We'll see.

Remember too, he's Spanish - not American - so his main fan-base in Spain will be supportive if he declines to be too public and expresses a goal to try and win the Vuelta.

He won't be under as much pressure as Armstrong to go do Nightline interviews and the Oprah show. His fans and public will support him if he decides to focus on sporting objectives in lieu of a more public media-centric post-Tour schedule.

About his only sponsors who might not would be his American material supplies like Specialized, SRAM and Giro. I could see them putting a lot of pressure on him to show up at the Vegas trade show ... and race in 'cross Vegas', go to strip clubs and party the night away at the infamous Sinclair Imports partay -- emmm oh wait, no, that's where Lance is gonna be

 

[BYOP88]

Lol...idiot. he raced the Vuelta, other than that

1992
1st Stage 6 Settimana Bergamasca
1st Stage 4a Vuelta a Galicia
1st Stage 2 Trittico Premondiale
1st First Union Grand Prix
1st Overall Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic
1st Stage 2
2nd, Züri-Metzgete
1993
1st World Road Race Champion UCI Road World ChampionshipsAT THE AGE OF 22!!
1st US National Road Race Champion
1st Stage 8 Tour de France
1st Overall Tour of America
1st Trofeo Laigueglia
1st Thrift Drug Classic
1st Overall Kmart West Virginia Classic
1st Prologue
1st Stage 1
2nd Overall Tour du Pont
1st Stage 5
3rd Overall Tour of Sweden
1st Stage 3
1994
1st Thrift Drug Classic
1st Stage 7 Tour du Pont
2nd Liège–Bastogne–Liège
2nd Clasica San Sebastian
1995
1st Stage 18 Tour de France
1st Clásica de San Sebastián
1st Stage 5 Paris–Nice
1st Overall Tour du Pont
1st Mountains Classifaction
1st Stage 4
1st Stage 5
1st Stage 9
1st Overall Kmart West Virginia Classic
1st Stage 4
1996
1st Overall Tour du Pont
1st Stage 2
1st Stage 3b
1st Stage 5
1st Stage 6
1st Stage 12
1st La Flèche Wallonne
2nd Liège–Bastogne–Liège
2nd Overall Paris–Nice
1998
1st Sprint 56K Criterium
1st Overall Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt
1st Overall Tour de Luxembourg
1st Stage 1
1st Cascade Cycling Classic

where was Conti at the age 22?

WOW that is an impressive palmarès, case closed Armstrong IS the greatest person in the entire history of the world. I mean Merckx, Hinault et all never ever ever won the Sprint 56K Criterium or the legendary Kmart West Virginia Classic.

 

[Belokki]

WOW that is an impressive palmarès, case closed Armstrong IS the greatest person in the entire history of the world. I mean Merckx, Hinault et all never ever ever won the Sprint 56K Criterium or the legendary Kmart West Virginia Classic.

they never did win the greatest race 7 times either...

 

[hrotha]

WOW that is an impressive palmarès, case closed Armstrong IS the greatest person in the entire history of the world. I mean Merckx, Hinault et all never ever ever won the Sprint 56K Criterium or the legendary Kmart West Virginia Classic.

Come on, Armstrong had a very good palmares all things considered. He was a great classics rider.

I'm not impressed with those Tour du Pont wins though. Okay, 1996 was pretty impressive (I don't know about 1995), but that still doesn't say a lot about Lance's tour-winning abilities.

 

[BYOP88]

they never did win the greatest race 7 times either...

Indeed they didn't but they won the other GT's and monuments which makes their palmarès more impressive than Lance's.

 

[hrotha]

they never did win the greatest race 7 times either...

You probably know this already, but... back in the day, the TdF wasn't the only race that mattered. If they had focused on the Tour, people like Merckx could easily have won a gazillion TdFs, but that would have made their palmares weaker.

 

[saganftw]

pls stop comparing LA and contador,both are different

LA was pretty much classics guy,huge talent ,got cancer at 24 he missed his 24-27 years

AC is stage race guy,huge talent,winning pretty much every stage race he participates

thats like comparing bettini to ullrich

 

[Belokki]

Indeed they didn't but they won the other GT's and monuments which makes their palmarès more impressive than Lance's.

blah blah blah

GT Value:

TDF= Gold
Giro= Silver
Vuelta= Bronz