How many GTs could Contador win?

[jordan5000]

Only history will give us the answer. And by the way it's Jacques Anquetil.

Thank you.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Well people here have been saying that he's a better climber (see other thread), so if Armstrong could do it he could too right?

Contador rides races besides the Tour. And by riding, I mean riding for the win.

 

[jordan5000]

He will win one more TDF and 2 more Vueltas

I honestly have to say I can't imagine him not winning another Giro.

 

[jordan5000]

Assuming he won't be banned, I think he could be beat both records.

At 33 years old, he can have 16 GT wins, thus 16 GT podiums, and 8 Tour wins.

I seriously doubt he'll get 8 tour wins before 33, maybe 6 tours, if he goes for the Vuelta he will win it as well.

 

[Forunculo]

Well people here have been saying that he's a better climber (see other thread), so if Armstrong could do it he could too right?

It's a better climber but he belongs to a different era, in 20 years we will see a better climber than Contador.

Contador needs 5 tours to reach 8 and I don't see him cover all 5. Andy gonna win once at least.

However Contador win some Giro and Vuelta and help him to surpass Eddie, my bet is he draw the 7 Tours of Lance but Lance won 7 in a row.

A Tour-Vuelta is very possible with Vuelta director go mad to has Contador in the race

A Giro-Tour... if he has a bit of luck (parcours, not crash, strong team and a perfect programme) But Cadel and Andy will be favourites in Tour

 

[LaFlorecita]

Is a better climber but he belongs to a different era, in 20 years we will see a better climber than Contador.

Contador needs 5 tours to reach 8 and I don't see him cover all 5. Andy gonna win once at least.

However Contador win some Giro and Vuelta and help him to surpass Eddie, my bet is he draw the 7 Tours of Lance but Lance won 7 in a row.

A Tour-Vuelta is very possible with Vuelta director go mad to has Contador in the race

A Giro-Tour... if he has a bit of luck (parcours, not crash, strong team and a perfect programme) But Cadel and Andy will be favourites in Tour

But Cadel is already 34. He won't get any younger as the years go by. And if Contador sticks to his promise, he will ride the Vuelta next year, and not the Giro, so Cadel will be at least 36(!) the year Contador decides to ride the Giro again.

 

[sultanofhyd]

Just because he doesn't ride for RadioShack Contador's prime is not limited to 33 guys.

 

[Forunculo]

But Cadel is already 34. He won't get any younger as the years go by. And if Contador sticks to his promise, he will ride the Vuelta next year, and not the Giro, so Cadel will be at least 36(!) the year Contador decides to ride the Giro again.

Take off Cadel and pick a younger prospect. There are riders like Nibali, Froome, Gesink or a new ones who steps in contention in the future.

If Cadel wins a Tour with 34, Contador too. But I don't see Contador winning 6 Tours in row.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Just because he doesn't ride for RadioShack Contador's prime is not limited to 33 guys.

I'm sure he'll keep winning races after he's become 32-33, but winning Grand Tours is a different thing.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Take off Cadel and pick a younger prospect. There are riders like Nibali, Froome, Gesink or a new ones who steps in contention in the future.

If Cadel wins a Tour with 34, Contador too. But I don't see Contador winning 6 Tours in row.

But he could. He's entering his prime now.

 

[jens_attacks]

i think he will beat all those records

 

[Forunculo]

But he could. He's entering his prime now.

But he will go for doubles we must give credit him for didn't become a new Armstrong riding only July and tried epic goals but at the end he compite againsy a conservative field.

No GT winners like Andy, Wiggins or VdB are allowed by their teams to ride only TdF and have strong structures.

Do you think people who only saw Tour de France are giving credit for his 5th place?

The same with Schlecks podium, many people saw a new Fail in 2nd place and not success at 2nd and 3rd place for Schleck brothers.

I think he is entering his prime too and with a good programme he will repeat the Tour 2009 or Giro 2011 next years in the GT he choose but he started to race hard with 24 and many started with 27. We see at what age he gonna start to decline, even in decline I see him competitive at Vuelta.

We will see some double even a Giro-Tour but his legacy must be a triple and not 8 Tdf

 

[jordan5000]

Contador rides races besides the Tour. And by riding, I mean riding for the win.

True, but he could focus on the Tour-Vuelta so he'd be fresh for the tour.

 

[jordan5000]

I'm sure he'll keep winning races after he's become 32-33, but winning Grand Tours is a different thing.

I actually disagree, Cadel is 34 and won, and Contador is MUCH stronger than Cadel and stronger than Cadel was at Contador's current age, I could see him winning a tour at 35 if he only goes for the tour.

 

[richo36]

I really think he can do the giro-tour double. This year the giro course was crazy. It was that hard tht riders were still struggling come vuelta and yet he managed a top 5 after a pour TTT and crashes. I think for him to do the double tho both giro and tour courses have to suit him. giro has to be a easier course with 1 real mountain stage where he can smash the field and gain his time. Then the tour needs to have no TTT and he needs to have a bit of luck and not crash. If this comes togeather he can do the double. However I dont see the giro making a easy course anytime soon, otherwise it just wont be the giro.

 

[42x16ss]

I actually disagree, Cadel is 34 and won, and Contador is MUCH stronger than Cadel and stronger than Cadel was at Contador's current age, I could see him winning a tour at 35 if he only goes for the tour.

The only thing is that Contador turned pro and started racing the Tour at a much younger age than Evans. Contador had won the '07 TdF, '08 Giro and Vuelta and the '09 TdF at a younger age than when Evans started his first TdF ('05). The human body can only take so much abuse.

Having said that, I hope he wins 7 Tours and matches Armstrong.

 

[Maxiton]

<snip>

We will see some double even a Giro-Tour but his legacy must be a triple and not 8 Tdf

That would truly be awesome. That would exceed even some of the crazy stuff Anquetil pulled off. Or anyone else, for that matter. I think if all his stars are aligned he can get it done, too. Yeah, it would be supremely difficult, but probably not impossible.

 

[saganftw]

when he gets closer to record Vuelta organizers will make a year or two just for him - no flat TT,probably no TTT,angliru etc.

 

[sultanofhyd]

when he gets closer to record Vuelta organizers will make a year or two just for him - no flat TT,probably no TTT,angliru etc.

No flat TT? I think that is exactly what Contador wants.

 

[El Pistolero]

when he gets closer to record Vuelta organizers will make a year or two just for him - no flat TT,probably no TTT,angliru etc.

Contador doesn't need a lesser Grand Tour to be tailor made for him in order to win.

 

[El Pistolero]

The only thing is that Contador turned pro and started racing the Tour at a much younger age than Evans. Contador had won the '07 TdF, '08 Giro and Vuelta and the '09 TdF at a younger age than when Evans started his first TdF ('05). The human body can only take so much abuse.

Having said that, I hope he wins 7 Tours and matches Armstrong.

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.

 

[saganftw]

Contador doesn't need a lesser Grand Tour to be tailor made for him in order to win.

certainly not now...when he s 35 who knows

 

[El Pistolero]

No flat TT? I think that is exactly what Contador wants.

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

 

[Forunculo]

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

If you compare him with Tony Martin yes but with a GC contender he will lost little.

But a TT at the end of a stage race is a gift because his recovery.

 

[ramjambunath]

The only thing is that Contador turned pro and started racing the Tour at a much younger age than Evans. Contador had won the '07 TdF, '08 Giro and Vuelta and the '09 TdF at a younger age than when Evans started his first TdF ('05). The human body can only take so much abuse.

Having said that, I hope he wins 7 Tours and matches Armstrong.

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.