How many GTs could Contador win?

[42x16ss]

His career isn't defined by one race though is it. So the GT record from Merckx is more important imo. The only people who say Lance (and many people believe he is the greatest especially in non cycling regions) is the greatest are those whose knowledge of cycling is based on Phil and Paul.

Considering that he is the only elite ITT and climber of the GT contenders he will gain time in Time trials. Then again at 3 or 4 years from now, we don't really know how good he will be.

I agree that the TdF carries far too much weight and that certain cyclists have their palmares overestimated due to success in July. I just want to see the reactions from all of the LA chamois sniffers....

 

[jordan5000]

I agree that the TdF carries far too much weight and that certain cyclists have their palmares overestimated due to success in July. I just want to see the reactions from all of the LA chamois sniffers....

Armstrong won plenty of races before 1996 and had podiums in some classics or one day races (maybe even a win), oh and he was also world champion.

 

[42x16ss]

True, but from 1999 on he won the TdF x 7, Dauphine x 2, TdS x 1 and........





That's it

 

[spanky wanderlust]

True, but from 1999 on he won the TdF x 7, Dauphine x 2, TdS x 1 and........





That's it

many pro cyclists would consider that a pretty good career. i sure would.

 

[spanky wanderlust]

Contador is one of the best in hilly classics. But flat time tials he struggles.

yes. he loses to people like tony martin and fabian cancellara. but he equals cadel and leipheimer and vino. and he blows the doors off of andy schleck and purito.

contador feasts on the tt because he is a complete rider. someone above said that he needed a gt without a whole lot of tt kms and i think that is silly. makes me wonder if we have been watching the same races.

 

[spanky wanderlust]

as for the op, well, if he triples every year until he is 40, he'd have like 37 wins. but i don't think that is realistic.

i'm going with 27 gts at the end, conservatively. i mean, he's only human.

in all seriousness, anything less than 13 will be a major letdown.

 

[42x16ss]

many pro cyclists would consider that a pretty good career. i sure would.

It's an incredible career! Just a little one dimensional..... unlike Contador's

That's the point people have been making for a while now

 

[Gingerale]

if banned, he'll come back more determined than ever. that's alberto.

either way he'll match or break lances record. total of 12 GT wins.

 

[spanky wanderlust]

It's an incredible career! Just a little one dimensional..... unlike Contador's

That's the point people have been making for a while now

i don't know about this point people have been making or about this 'one-dimensional' business.

but yes, contador is amazing.

and on this point i have something to say: to me, it's not about how many gts you win or blah blah blah... but more about how artfully you can spin pedals on a bike at the highest level. i'm not even sure myself what this means. except that, when contador rides away from the best riders in the world on a really steep mountain, i just can't take my eyes off it. as someone who was born and raised on a bicycle, it's indescribably beautiful to me.

 

[Trev_S]

He hasn't ridden that many Grand Tours. Cadel has done 2 GTs a lot in one year, Contador only twice. Even Andy Schleck has entered more Grand Tours than Contador.

Contador has raced in 8 GT
Giro - 08 & 11 (both 1st)
TDF - 05 (31st), 07, 09,10 (all 1st) & 11 (5th)
Vuelta - 08 (1st)


A.Schleck has raced 5.
Giro - 07 (2nd)
TDF - 08 (12th), 09, 10 & 11 (all 2nd)
Vuelta - 09, 10 (both DNF)

 

[ramjambunath]

many pro cyclists would consider that a pretty good career. i sure would.

It's a brilliant career, it's just the fact that he could have won so much more considering the team he had, and though his career will always (and rightfully so) be blighted by clinic material, when on form he was dominant and I always disliked him.

 

[Swabian Lass]

Trouble with LA was that it became boring. "Oh it's July, LA time to win the Tour again." Yawn. As a publicity campaign it was brilliant, for watching the cycling - somewhat less so. I don't want to see Contador go that way, he can achieve much more imo.

when contador rides away from the best riders in the world on a really steep mountain, i just can't take my eyes off it. as someone who was born and raised on a bicycle, it's indescribably beautiful to me.

Now that I can agree with 100%. When you see him kick and ride away it's amazing to watch.

 

[Mich78BEL]

if he gets suspended he might lose 2 victories (at least 1) but even if he doesn't i don't see him winning more then 8/9, he's the greatest GT-rider of his generation but on here he's vastly overrated

 

[Dutchsmurf]

Contador has raced in 8 GT
Giro - 08 & 11 (both 1st)
TDF - 05 (31st), 07, 09,10 (all 1st) & 11 (5th)
Vuelta - 08 (1st)


A.Schleck has raced 5.
Giro - 07 (2nd)
TDF - 08 (12th), 09, 10 & 11 (all 2nd)
Vuelta - 09, 10 (both DNF)

Just because Andy can't be bothered to actually race the Vuelta, doesn't mean his starts shouldn't count. So I do count 7 on your list.

 

[greenedge]

I voted for he won't break either record. I think someone has to challenge him soon. Also i think he will level those records not surpass them.

 

[La Pandera]

Contador has raced in 8 GT
Giro - 08 & 11 (both 1st)
TDF - 05 (31st), 07, 09,10 (all 1st) & 11 (5th)
Vuelta - 08 (1st)


A.Schleck has raced 5.
Giro - 07 (2nd)
TDF - 08 (12th), 09, 10 & 11 (all 2nd)
Vuelta - 09, 10 (both DNF)

Umm, that would be 7 for Andy if you're actually counting fairly. Since his Tour successes, he apparently can't be bothered to compete with any dedication in any other stage races.

 

[Trev_S]

Just because Andy can't be bothered to actually race the Vuelta, doesn't mean his starts shouldn't count. So I do count 7 on your list.

oops sorry my mistake, typo.
7 starts for Andy, 5 finishes.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

if he gets suspended he might lose 2 victories (at least 1) but even if he doesn't i don't see him winning more then 8/9, he's the greatest GT-rider of his generation but on here he's vastly overrated

hard to overrate a guy who doesn't lose when fresh.