Stick a fork in Alberto Contador

[Jamsque]

Because he is DONE! BANG-BANG!

So, what next for the greatest stage racer of the post-Lance era? Obviously no Vuelta for him. Will he ride the Giro next year? Will he win the Tour next year?

 

[ericthesportsman6]

He'll focus on the Tour next year.

 

[Parrulo]

he will ride the tour next year and if he has his giro form i honestly haven't seen any1 in this race who can put a fight to him.

 

[Jamsque]

I think he might go for the Tour-Vuelta next year, a much more achievable goal I think.

This is assuming he isn't banned, of course.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

Probably go for the Tour-Vuelta double next year. Might depend on the route of the Giro next year tho. But I can't see him risking not winning the Tour a second time.

 

[Phoenix23]

I think what everyone is missing is that Contador did the Giro this year because he was afraid the CAS would ban him before the TDF. If they had done so, the entire season would have been a wash for him, whereas this way even if he is banned by the CAS, he does have a Giro win and possibly a Tour top 5.

 

[roundabout]

he will ride the tour next year and if he has his giro form i honestly haven't seen any1 in this race who can put a fight to him.

Scarponi is the second best stage racer in the world.

 

[bicing]

Here at the TDF he's done.

But remember back 2 months ago he won the most difficult GT profile of all time in a commanding manner. He is still the boss of GT's. He is still the definition of good racing: attacking to win, riding aggressively, exciting the fans. He is still one of the greatest of all time.

 

[Kwibus]

I think he might go for the Tour-Vuelta next year, a much more achievable goal I think.

This is assuming he isn't banned, of course.

This.

And he will own the TdF again.

 

[sulgpallur]

i hope he is allowed to ride next year and makes winning comeback on TDF + maybe Vuelta then

 

[jobiwan]

Contador's retribution in coming Tours will be immense.
I hope he can race next year, he'd be the favorite!

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

AC without giro legs would and bad luck would have won this race already.

Next year- barring he is not banned- wins no problemo.

 

[BYOP88]

I think what everyone is missing is that Contador did the Giro this year because he was afraid the CAS would ban him before the TDF. If they had done so, the entire season would have been a wash for him, whereas this way even if he is banned by the CAS, he does have a Giro win and possibly a Tour top 5.

No I think he agreed to do the Giro, before clen-gate.

 

[Old&slow]

He'll focus on the Tour next year.

He we will likely be suspended next year. He might ride it again in 2013 or 2014. His focus on the Tour next year will be likely watching it on TV.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Tour + Vuelta next year.

 

[Cobblestones]

He tried the Giro/Tour double just to see whether it's possible or not. So we now know, it's not. Kudos though for trying it. There's no need for trash talking him.

 

[hfer07]

would have been good to see him winning-or perhaps being the runner-up, but nobody can deny that at least he committed to this challenge that nobody has done it since Pantani-and that takes a lot of character. looking the bright side? He won the Giro & hopefully he'll be allowed to ride next year

 

[ericthesportsman6]

He we will likely be suspended next year. He might ride it again in 2013 or 2014. His focus on the Tour next year will be likely watching it on TV.

Were assuming that he won't be. Try reading the thread.

 

[thirteen]

He tried the Giro/Tour double just to see whether it's possible or not. So we now know, it's not. Kudos though for trying it. There's no need for trash talking him.

+1

and kudos for him hanging in there to try, even after the time penalty and crashes probably made it evident that it wasn't going to be, he never gave up.

 

[titan_90]

He tried the Giro/Tour double just to see whether it's possible or not. So we now know, it's not. Kudos though for trying it. There's no need for trash talking him.

+1

He said that he has won all the GT's and that he needed new motivation and went for the Giro/Tour double, that is commendable IMO.

 

[Parrulo]

No I think he agreed to do the Giro, before clen-gate.

he did. zomegnan said contador had agreed to ride this year's giro before last years tour.

 

[No_Balls]

A bit disappointed (no melancholic) right now. But the Tour/Vuelta would be a possibility or Giro-Tour depending on the route, although i am not so sure he will do it.

At least i can comfort myself that that time gap at stage one was meaningless.

 

[Berzin]

Riis has always been of the mind that someone can pull of the Giro-Tour double. I hope now he understands that it is not possible.

Taking away the fact that Contador's form clearly wasn't there and he had injuries during the first week, I hope he comes back to the Tour next year without doing the Giro.

 

[BYOP88]

Riis has always been of the mind that someone can pull of the Giro-Tour double. I hope now he understands that it is not possible.

Taking away the fact that Contador's form clearly wasn't there and he had injuries during the first week, I hope he comes back to the Tour next year without doing the Giro.

I always thought that he was against it(or was it that he didn't rate Basso) and didn't think it could be done.

 

[marioni]

AC without giro legs would and bad luck would have won this race already.

Yes, I think so too.