The "Contador Best Ever?" thread got me thinking about this. Does AC race for the win too much?
You rarely see him doing a race for training, and when he does, he still is in the mix for the win or a stage win. There has been some debate about whether AC was weaker this year, Schleck stronger, or both. Did AC possibly dig too deep, too much this year?
I know he doesn't race as much as some, but his race days for this year, 2009 (through the Tour), and 2008 are right in line with most GT contenders.
Every race Contador has done in the last 3 seasons:
2010
TdF - 1st
Dauphiné - 2nd
Liège - 9th
Flèche - 3rd
Castilla y Leon - 1st
Critérium International - 15th(with a 2nd in the TT)
Paris-Nice - 1st
Volta ao Algarve - 1st
2009
TdF - 1st
Dauphiné - 3rd
Spanish TT Championships -1st
Pais Vasco - 1st
Castilla y Leon - 2nd
Paris-Nice - 4th
Volta ao Algarve - 1st
2008
Worlds - DNF
Vuelta - 1st
Clasica Ciclista a los Puertos - 2nd
Olympic TT - 4th
Olympic RR - DNF
Clasica San Sebastian - 26th
Giro - 1st
Pais Vasco - 1st
Castilla y Leon - 1st
Murcia - 3rd
Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana - 6th
Trofeo Soller - 66th
Trofeo Cala Millor - Cala Bona - 41st
Pretty much all quality. I guess you could point to the Worlds and Olympic races, but those are raced a bit differently as most of us know.
You really have to go back to Feb of 2008 to find a race where he is just content to get the miles in. Not saying it's a bad thing - I love that about the guy, but is he starting to reach a point where it's detrimental to his primary goals? In the last 4 seasons he's won 9 stage races to go along with 5 GTs which is almost twice the amount of stage races LA won during his 7 year reign.
With almost all the GT guys you see them finishing in the middle of the pack at a bunch of races that aren't primary goals. Valverde is the only other recent GC guy I can think about who raced at the front of pretty much every race. Next closest would probably be Cadel and I certainly think it's hurt him at times.
You guys think he can continue to race this way and still win GT's or is he going to have to go the traditional (new) route? Maybe he's the only guy currently talented enough to be able to pull it off?
You rarely see him doing a race for training, and when he does, he still is in the mix for the win or a stage win. There has been some debate about whether AC was weaker this year, Schleck stronger, or both. Did AC possibly dig too deep, too much this year?
I know he doesn't race as much as some, but his race days for this year, 2009 (through the Tour), and 2008 are right in line with most GT contenders.
Every race Contador has done in the last 3 seasons:
2010
TdF - 1st
Dauphiné - 2nd
Liège - 9th
Flèche - 3rd
Castilla y Leon - 1st
Critérium International - 15th(with a 2nd in the TT)
Paris-Nice - 1st
Volta ao Algarve - 1st
2009
TdF - 1st
Dauphiné - 3rd
Spanish TT Championships -1st
Pais Vasco - 1st
Castilla y Leon - 2nd
Paris-Nice - 4th
Volta ao Algarve - 1st
2008
Worlds - DNF
Vuelta - 1st
Clasica Ciclista a los Puertos - 2nd
Olympic TT - 4th
Olympic RR - DNF
Clasica San Sebastian - 26th
Giro - 1st
Pais Vasco - 1st
Castilla y Leon - 1st
Murcia - 3rd
Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana - 6th
Trofeo Soller - 66th
Trofeo Cala Millor - Cala Bona - 41st
Pretty much all quality. I guess you could point to the Worlds and Olympic races, but those are raced a bit differently as most of us know.
You really have to go back to Feb of 2008 to find a race where he is just content to get the miles in. Not saying it's a bad thing - I love that about the guy, but is he starting to reach a point where it's detrimental to his primary goals? In the last 4 seasons he's won 9 stage races to go along with 5 GTs which is almost twice the amount of stage races LA won during his 7 year reign.
With almost all the GT guys you see them finishing in the middle of the pack at a bunch of races that aren't primary goals. Valverde is the only other recent GC guy I can think about who raced at the front of pretty much every race. Next closest would probably be Cadel and I certainly think it's hurt him at times.
You guys think he can continue to race this way and still win GT's or is he going to have to go the traditional (new) route? Maybe he's the only guy currently talented enough to be able to pull it off?