Is Contador THAT hated in U.S

[Rocksteady]

As another American, I will say I don't cheer for Contador, but don't hate him either. I prefer to cheer for other Americans (Vandevelde, Farrar, Zebriski, Horner, Leipheimer and yes even Armstrong) and other American/British teams. After that, it tends to be English speaking riders (Aussies, Brits, and others) just because I can understand what they are saying. I am also jaded by superstars. I always worry they will end up getting caught for doping like so many do.

So to recap, I will cheer for Contador when he is racing against no English speaking teams or riders and when he has been thoroughly tested (Lance like) and still comes up clean. Until then, he will be a good racer, just not my favorite.

PS: Note that I never said anyone was or wasn't medically enhanced, just that they are good enough not to get caught. That’s where I draw the line.

 

[red_flanders]

So to recap, I will cheer for Contador when he is racing against no English speaking teams or riders and when he has been thoroughly tested (Lance like) and still comes up clean.

You're suggesting that Lance has been thoroughly tested and Contador hasn't? Can you elaborate on the differences in how they've been tested?

I'm not aware of any difference.

 

[Kellys Big Sprocket]

Its a sad day when the word "hate" is used in professional cycling and peopel trying to stir it up have toooooooo much time on their hands in my opinion. Lets call it be healthy rivilary. It has been seen throughout the decades.

 

[Rocksteady]

You're suggesting that Lance has been thoroughly tested and Contador hasn't? Can you elaborate on the differences in how they've been tested?

I'm not aware of any difference.

I'm relatively new to cycling so please correct me if I'm wrong but my impression was that Lance was the most tested cyclist... Ever. Tested way more than the normal elite cyclist. Since I've not heard anything about Contador being tested to an insane amount, I assumed (that word will kill me someday) that he was tested at a normal amount for an elite cyclist. So my point is that since there has been no major controversy about a clean AC, he is tested less.

 

[red_flanders]

I'm relatively new to cycling so please correct me if I'm wrong but my impression was that Lance was the most tested cyclist... Ever. Tested way more than the normal elite cyclist. Since I've not heard anything about Contador being tested to an insane amount, I assumed (that word will kill me someday) that he was tested at a normal amount for an elite cyclist. So my point is that since there has been no major controversy about a clean AC, he is tested less.

That, IMO, is simply a fabrication of Lance's PR. I have never, ever, as many times as he's said that, seen facts which back that up.

He never raced enough to be tested all that often, and if he was tested more than others out of competition, I've not seen any evidence of it. He actually claims to be the "most tested athlete ever" which is demonstrably false.

Being new to cycling, I will offer my opinion that getting your cycling information through Lance or Paul and Phil (versus) is like getting your news from one very, very biased outlet. It's a PR machine built to sell the Lance brand. Truth is a rare component of that machine's output.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I'm relatively new to cycling so please correct me if I'm wrong but my impression was that Lance was the most tested cyclist... Ever. Tested way more than the normal elite cyclist. Since I've not heard anything about Contador being tested to an insane amount, I assumed (that word will kill me someday) that he was tested at a normal amount for an elite cyclist. So my point is that since there has been no major controversy about a clean AC, he is tested less.

Testing is somewhat irrelevant if it cannot detect the very elements it is designed to observe. It's like looking for the Horsehead nebula with binoculars.

 

[Rocksteady]

Being new to cycling, I will offer my opinion that getting your cycling information through Lance or Paul and Phil (versus) is like getting your news from one very, very biased outlet. It's a PR machine built to sell the Lance brand. Truth is a rare component of that machine's output.

I appreciate the info but in my experience, If white and black are the options, grey (or gray if you prefer) is always the right answer. I agree that getting info from one place is bad, but excluding that one source is usually just as bad.

And VS is the only station I get and Liggett makes me laugh so I will continue to watch it.

 

[BikeCentric]

I'm relatively new to cycling so please correct me if I'm wrong but my impression was that Lance was the most tested cyclist... Ever. Tested way more than the normal elite cyclist. Since I've not heard anything about Contador being tested to an insane amount, I assumed (that word will kill me someday) that he was tested at a normal amount for an elite cyclist. So my point is that since there has been no major controversy about a clean AC, he is tested less.

Truth is sprinters get tested more than Lance because they win more races. Guys like Zabel, Cipo, and Freire were getting tested more than Lance back in the day. Last year Cav was probably tested most, this year Greipel.

 

[kurtinsc]

I respect Contador's ability and marvel at how he rides... but frankly I'd like him more if he were a bit more of a showoff.

I don't know why... it doesn't match what I look for in people I want to associate with personally... but I've always enjoyed watching riders who show off a bit. I liked watching Ricco pre-drugs... he'd almost seem to taunt people when attacking. I did like "the look" from Lance... saying without words "I'm going to beat you... right NOW!". I like a lot of what I've seen about Hinault (didn't watch him in person). And I like Cav's arrogance as well.

To be honest, if Contador went to the first climb of the tour... pedaled up next to Lance and said out loud "Let's go Fatso", then took off up the road... I'd join his fan club in a heartbeat.

 

[franciep10]

I'm relatively new to cycling so please correct me if I'm wrong but my impression was that Lance was the most tested cyclist... Ever. Tested way more than the normal elite cyclist. Since I've not heard anything about Contador being tested to an insane amount, I assumed (that word will kill me someday) that he was tested at a normal amount for an elite cyclist. So my point is that since there has been no major controversy about a clean AC, he is tested less.

I understand that you're knew to the sport but that is just a myth by Lance PR machine, Lance is probably tested about average with the rest of the peloton
riders who win a lot of races are tested more than the average rider in the peloton

 

[red_flanders]

I appreciate the info but in my experience, If white and black are the options, grey (or gray if you prefer) is always the right answer. I agree that getting info from one place is bad, but excluding that one source is usually just as bad.

And VS is the only station I get and Liggett makes me laugh so I will continue to watch it.

Oh I watch Versus--and I'm really, really glad that the Lance Effect has allowed them to make enough money to televise it. But you have to accept that the Lance Effect also means they aren't going to bite the hand that feeds them. There are so many other sources of cycling news and opinion that offer useful insight into race tactics and what's really happening. I encourage you to seek those out, your enjoyment cycling will be much richer for it.

 

[Rocksteady]

Oh I watch Versus--and I'm really, really glad that the Lance Effect has allowed them to make enough money to televise it. But you have to accept that the Lance Effect also means they aren't going to bite the hand that feeds them. There are so many other sources of cycling news and opinion that offer useful insight into race tactics and what's really happening. I encourage you to seek those out, your enjoyment cycling will be much richer for it.

Exactly why I am on here instead of RadioShack/Versus website. Thanks to all for the new info.

 

[BikeCentric]

I respect Contador's ability and marvel at how he rides... but frankly I'd like him more if he were a bit more of a showoff.

I don't know why... it doesn't match what I look for in people I want to associate with personally... but I've always enjoyed watching riders who show off a bit. I liked watching Ricco pre-drugs... he'd almost seem to taunt people when attacking. I did like "the look" from Lance... saying without words "I'm going to beat you... right NOW!". I like a lot of what I've seen about Hinault (didn't watch him in person). And I like Cav's arrogance as well.

To be honest, if Contador went to the first climb of the tour... pedaled up next to Lance and said out loud "Let's go Fatso", then took off up the road... I'd join his fan club in a heartbeat.

Here we have insight into the mind of a fanboy. They are infatuated with the alpha-male personality type for some reason. Natural sheeple. Followers, not leaders.

 

[Beech Mtn]

I'm relatively new to cycling so please correct me if I'm wrong but my impression was that Lance was the most tested cyclist... Ever. Tested way more than the normal elite cyclist. Since I've not heard anything about Contador being tested to an insane amount, I assumed (that word will kill me someday) that he was tested at a normal amount for an elite cyclist. So my point is that since there has been no major controversy about a clean AC, he is tested less.

Nope, Lance is not even the most tested American cyclist. Heck, he's not even the most tested cyclist named Armstrong. (Kristin has way more tests than Lance.) Take a look here for some data:
http://www.usada.org/what-we-do/testing-statistics/athlete-test-history.aspx

Then when you consider how few races Lance actually competed in each year, his testing numbers look even less.

 

[Eyjafjallajokull]

To be honest, if Contador went to the first climb of the tour... pedaled up next to Lance and said out loud "Let's go Fatso", then took off up the road... I'd join his fan club in a heartbeat.

I thought it would be funny last year if Contador said as he went past Armstrong "hey, Pops!"

 

[thehog]

Nope, Lance is not even the most tested American cyclist. Heck, he's not even the most tested cyclist named Armstrong. (Kristin has way more tests than Lance.) Take a look here for some data:
http://www.usada.org/what-we-do/testing-statistics/athlete-test-history.aspx

Then when you consider how few races Lance actually competed in each year, his testing numbers look even less.

I just had a look at th data on the website. Shocking. Barely 1-3 tests per year. This does not include UCI tests but with only the Tour to test it really doesn't stack to the worlds most tested athlete.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I respect Contador's ability and marvel at how he rides... but frankly I'd like him more if he were a bit more of a showoff.

I don't know why... it doesn't match what I look for in people I want to associate with personally... but I've always enjoyed watching riders who show off a bit. I liked watching Ricco pre-drugs... he'd almost seem to taunt people when attacking. I did like "the look" from Lance... saying without words "I'm going to beat you... right NOW!". I like a lot of what I've seen about Hinault (didn't watch him in person). And I like Cav's arrogance as well.

To be honest, if Contador went to the first climb of the tour... pedaled up next to Lance and said out loud "Let's go Fatso", then took off up the road... I'd join his fan club in a heartbeat.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

You'd figure he'd get a huge following from the God/Guns crowd here. I think S. Palin should be his #1 fan. Oh, wait.. He's not white though. Forget it.

In what way is Contador not white? Spaniards are Caucasians. Except for pure-bred Basques, and they are also demonstrably white.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

In what way is Contador not white? Spaniards are Caucasians. Except for pure-bred Basques, and they are also demonstrably white.

He's not white because he doesn't look like a normal 'murrican. Like see here.

Plus he drives one of them furrin' cars. Not a truck.

 

[Eyjafjallajokull]

Contador is a lot tougher than he looks. I think Armstrong said in an interview at the end of last year how impressive it was that all the hostility in the team and the deathly silence at dinner the night after he unexpectedly attacked, actually made him tougher rather than putting him off. Mentally he is as hard as nails.

Like most sportsmen he does have a bit of temper, like when he swung at the bare chested runners at the side of the road on the Verbier. He's not to be messed with.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Wigans had a great comment at the Tour last year. He said when Contador attacked "Everybody had the fear of God in them."

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

In what way is Contador not white? Spaniards are Caucasians. Except for pure-bred Basques, and they are also demonstrably white.

Ha, not over here. Speaks no English and the same language as them there boarder jumpers. People that don't live here don't understand how dumb U.S. society has become, that's why nobody outside of cycling in the U.S. would even care about Alberto. When Miguel won his 5 tours, nobody knew, or care to know about him either. Same thing with the so excitable Sastre. He won the TDF, really?

 

[Bicicleta]

RE: The hating Contador question: I grew up in Spain and came to the US to go to college and stayed. I can read the cycling articles in Spanish, French and Italian. I thought Contador was ok back when he won PN - but at the time I was loosing interest in many Spanish cyclists after OP. I was happy to see someone other than him win today - its good to see Cadel attaking. But believe me - I would have been even happier if it had been Nibali blast past Contador.

If you read the forums in Spain, many hate Lance there, so I don't see the big deal if some people want to hate AC here.

 

[issoisso]

In what way is Contador not white? Spaniards are Caucasians. Except for pure-bred Basques, and they are also demonstrably white.

The Hollywood effect. A lot of americans think latin europeans look like dark South Americans, because that's who plays latin european characters in american Films and TV

The same way that if you go to south america, a lot of people think all europeans and north americans are blond, because mostly blond actors play european/north american characters on south american TV and Film.

It's called the Coconut Effect. Ever noticed how most people have no idea real coconuts are soft and green? They're used to seeing fuzzy brown coconuts on TV.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Ha, not over here. Speaks no English and the same language as them there boarder jumpers.

But those there border jumpers are often white too.