I fear for Saxo Bank.

[LaFleur]

I seriously don't understand those Spanish domestiques. They never go in the breaks, the stage wins or whatever. All they do is carry water bottles and drop raincoats to the cars. Atleast other ones have their chance to shine, they never get that. How do they find the motivation to do this every single day?

 

[Ramira]

I seriously don't understand those Spanish domestiques. They never go in the breaks, the stage wins or whatever. All they do is carry water bottles and drop raincoats to the cars. Atleast other ones have their chance to shine, they never get that. How do they find the motivation to do this every single day?

In the case of Contador's domestiques the answer to that question is quite simple: A massive bonus at the end of the tour. Believe me you can buy some fun stuff with what those guys earn if he wins a GT.

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

CONTADOR TO ME IS BUFFLING-BEWARE OF THE SPANIARD IN COMING STAGES.......
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-says-his-knee-is-feeling-better

He is cycling's very own Richard Nixon.

Q: How can you tell Contador is lying?

A: His lips are moving.

 

[No_Balls]

CONTADOR TO ME IS BUFFLING-BEWARE OF THE SPANIARD IN COMING STAGES.......
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-says-his-knee-is-feeling-better

Yes, very good news. I guess there are still some more room for improvement, and troubles with knees is nothing you mess around with, it can really affect your performance. But the report from today was a bit sunnier then the eternal dark from yesterday.

I also suspect it was not so serious which L´Equipe trumpeted out.

Nice pic with Marianne on that link btw.

 

[JohnNordin]

Danny N was pretty strong last year on the hills, escorted AC up some serious climbs, and - as the poster above indicated - he was as far down the standing last year as this. So I expect they will be there. As for the Giro - AC was alone much of the climbs there as well - I thought it was odd but maybe even then his support riders were saving themselves.

In any case AC seems to have a lot of experience riding alone on the mountains. Or rather, that he can use riders from other teams and can shadow other contenders. Cadel and Andy block the wind as well as Danny N does, eh?

It's not ideal, I guess, but AC is pretty self-possessed and in command of his emotions. He'd be much better at going with minimal support than others.

I admit he has his "job of work" as P&P say, cut out for him, and I won't be surprised if I have to start rooting for Cadel at some point.

 

[lancaster]

I seriously don't understand those Spanish domestiques. They never go in the breaks, the stage wins or whatever. All they do is carry water bottles and drop raincoats to the cars. Atleast other ones have their chance to shine, they never get that. How do they find the motivation to do this every single day?

cash helps. but i think he'd still have loyal domestiques if the competition was amateur.

professional pride for a job well done. mutual respect.

 

[No_Balls]

I seriously don't understand those Spanish domestiques. They never go in the breaks, the stage wins or whatever. All they do is carry water bottles and drop raincoats to the cars. Atleast other ones have their chance to shine, they never get that. How do they find the motivation to do this every single day?

Sometimes, riding with your friend and compatriot, creating history in the sport is motivation enough. AC values loyal domestiques who he can easily communicate with and for those guys riding with a talent like Contador must be inspiring. Just ask Richie about this pattern.

I have never got the impression that AC needs that much domestiques in the mountains, he can do the work pretty much of his own it seems. Not as much as shelter on the flat though.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I seriously don't understand those Spanish domestiques. They never go in the breaks, the stage wins or whatever. All they do is carry water bottles and drop raincoats to the cars. Atleast other ones have their chance to shine, they never get that. How do they find the motivation to do this every single day?

Dani Navarro won a stage of the Dauphiné last year. Jesús Hernández is one of Contador's best friends, and has been his training partner for years.

Both of them finished in the top 20 of the Vuelta when racing for a leaderless Astana in 2009.

 

[richwagmn]

BTW I had noticed that on several stages Contador is without helpers the last 10k-ish. Apparently thats also something Horner has noticed:

“I think he looks the strongest still,” Horner said. “The problem is, he’s by himself a whole lot. He looks really strong at the finishes. He’s doing a lot of work by himself. So maybe that could take some energy away from him. But he still looks like he has the best form of all the favorites."

http://velonews.competitor.com/2011...ays-contador-still-looks-really-strong_182389

I wonder about this too. I don't recall seeing a GC rider with less support than AC has this year. Why is his team not around him?

 

[Cimber]

I seriously don't understand those Spanish domestiques. They never go in the breaks, the stage wins or whatever. All they do is carry water bottles and drop raincoats to the cars. Atleast other ones have their chance to shine, they never get that. How do they find the motivation to do this every single day?

Hernandez and Navarro are only focussing on helping in the mountains. All they do are trying to save as much energy untill then.

I remember taht Jesus has said that he find no better motivation than giving it 100% for his captain.

 

[Cimber]

I wonder about this too. I don't recall seeing a GC rider with less support than AC has this year. Why is his team not around him?

It was supposed to be the job of Tosatto and Noval on the flat stages. Clearly they havent been good enough. For the mountains the team look ok, but for the flat stages its been really bad.

Riis really made a mistake by nok having a guy like Cooke in the team. He could have been awesome for Contador in the first week.

 

[El Pistolero]

To be fair, Tossato was very good for Contador in the Giro.

 

[Cimber]

To be fair, Tossato was very good for Contador in the Giro.

He was. And he would have been good in the Tour if he hasnt been used in the Giro. He is just worn out after doing the cobbled classics and the Giro first.

Noval on the other hand has no real excuse. He has just been one big disappointment. He should have been replaced by Cooke.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

It was supposed to be the job of Tosatto and Noval on the flat stages. Clearly they havent been good enough. For the mountains the team look ok, but for the flat stages its been really bad.

Riis really made a mistake by nok having a guy like Cooke in the team. He could have been awesome for Contador in the first week.

contador didn't want cooke in his team but noval. you don't here contador complaining right?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

To be fair, Tossato was very good for Contador in the Giro.

yeah but he's worn out. he also rode very good spring

 

[Cimber]

contador didn't want cooke in his team but noval. you don't here contador complaining right?

And thats a problem. It was Contadors choice, when it should have been Riis's really. But thats how it is with the big hot shots. But I am disappointed that Noval couldnt time his form better for the Tour riding for his good friend Contador.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

And thats a problem. It was Contadors choice, when it should have been Riis's really. But thats how it is with the big hot shots. But I am disappointed that Noval couldnt time his form better for the Tour riding for his good friend Contador.

of course not, contador is the one winning races so he should decide. has nothing to do with bigshots but with being the leader and feeling the best you can by having the riders around you that you want. contador has never failed in a gt so he should be given anything he wants

 

[Jan the Man]

of course not, contador is the one winning races so he should decide. has nothing to do with bigshots but with being the leader and feeling the best you can by having the riders around you that you want. contador has never failed in a gt so he should be given anything he wants

I don't agree with Ryo on a lot of things but on this one I agree.

When you have a big leader it's important to take into account who he will feel most comfortable with both on and off the bike. Yes ability on the bike comes into play when deciding on a team however a lot of the tour is spent on transfers around dinner table relaxing. You need your leader to feel comfortable with those around him.

Clearly Contador feels comfortable having Navarro, Noval and Hernandez around him in the races that matter. I susepct that they for example would be able to read him best and would be able to give him motivation when perhaps he's having a bad day mentally with his knee etc.

I still think Saxo will be ok come the mountains. CAS, Navarro and Hernandez are all very very solid mountain domestiques.

 

[Sylvester]

I completely agree. Moreover, Noval has been doing this job for ages and most likely knows what he's doing, while Cooke is not at all used to being a domestique for a possible GT winner.

 

[dlwssonic]

And thats a problem. It was Contadors choice, when it should have been Riis's really. But thats how it is with the big hot shots. But I am disappointed that Noval couldnt time his form better for the Tour riding for his good friend Contador.

Noval has been terrible for the past few years. being one of the flat domestiques in saxo, he dropped during the TTT very early.

 

[Bala Verde]

Noval has been terrible for the past few years. being one of the flat domestiques in saxo, he dropped during the TTT very early.

Perhaps, but he only has to prove he his worth his salary from tomorrow on. Has there been info on him being injured or sick?

 

[dlwssonic]

Perhaps, but he only has to prove he his worth his salary from tomorrow on. Has there been info on him being injured or sick?

I admit I dont know much about noval. But i thought he was a domestique for the flats not the mountains.

 

[Bala Verde]

I admit I dont know much about noval. But i thought he was a domestique for the flats not the mountains.

Sorry mixed him up with Navarro.

 

[Angliru]

I seriously don't understand those Spanish domestiques. They never go in the breaks, the stage wins or whatever. All they do is carry water bottles and drop raincoats to the cars. Atleast other ones have their chance to shine, they never get that. How do they find the motivation to do this every single day?

Amets Txurruka (sp), Rui Costa, Luis Leon Sanchez from last year with Caisse d'Epargne, David Arroyo at last year's Giro. What sport have you been watching? As far as Saxo Bank, the domestiques are supposed to be there to support Contador, that is their sole role, which is understandable when you have a rider with his record in the grand tours. They realize and accept their roles.

 

[Cimber]

Who ever picked the team its been horrible for the flats. And with a better team for the flats he might have been able to avoid some of the crashes and maybe even the time loss.

Riis admits it now and several "experts" also states that it might be the worst team for the flats that "team Riis" have ever had in the Tour, and that it has cost alot of energy for Contador.

http://www.sporten.dk/cykling/et-af-de-daarligste-riis-hold-nogensinde

http://www.sporten.dk/cykling/riis-erkender-sit-holds-svaghed

http://www.sporten.dk/diverse/riis-giver-sine-ryttere-skylden-for-fejl

(all in Danish so u need to translate)

I am sure they will do very well in the mountains but whenyou have a rider like Contador you really need riders to be able to take control in all terrain. And in that regard it doesnt really matter who chose the team; whoever did it surely messed up in some regard.

If it was so important for Contador to have a crappy Noval with him, so be it. But then maybe a worn-out Tosatto should have been replaced by someone stronger. Whatever the reasons have been the outcome has been shockingly bad, even if they will be stellar in the mountains, and even if he ends up winning despite that fact.