The Strongest Contador?

[Ferminal]

Klöden was supporting Vino, dropped back to help him up to Tignes, his race was effectively over from that point.

 

[airstream]

Klöden was supporting Vino, dropped back to help him up to Tignes, his race was effectively over from that point.

But Klodi was overly strong in the Alps. I remember when he started pushing at Tignes after Savo dropped back. 30 second melted literally after first 500 m of Kloden's pull. By the way, he was a clear #favorite after the Alpes.

 

[William H]

'O7 was probably some of his best climbing, but he didn't have the TTing he had in '09 and he therefore only narowly beat Evans and Leipheimer

 

[uphillstruggle]

2007 but that was a different time.

In 2009 he had one of the strongest teams ever seen in the sport so his team had the pace set as they liked all race. These conditions make optimum performance easier. What's telling is that he he was very dominant in the TT's as well as the mountains.

2011 Giro was the most impressive to watch, mainly because it was day after day of impressive mountain performances. Not sure he would of won by 6 minutes against an in form Andy Shleck though; lets face it an inform frank schleck would have been a better opponent than Nibali, Scarponi and the rest.

There are so many variables mention by everyone already in the discussion the only way to tell would be to get hold of the power numbers but for some reason I don't think we will

 

[Zam_Olyas]

7th febuary.

 

[Red Rick]

Probably 2009, but since i'm a member of the contador gang i voted the last option. It's hard to compare 2009 to 2011, verbier had tailwind, while Etna was longer, flatter and had headwind. It took him like 3 km to get a minute after which Etna got flatter

 

[airstream]

@Airstream: Kloden had crashed in 07, he came second to Cancellara in the prologue so it seemed like he had good form.

The best rode Plateau de Beille by 1'10 faster than Armstrong and Basso in 2004. Seems like Klodi beat his 2004 time but lost more. I wouldn't say his form was bad.

Yeah, he even had fracture in his tail bone as far as I remember.

 

[airstream]

Giro 2011, because he didn't have a comically strong team, and the route wasn't so soft. It's easier to set a VAM record on Verbier after a flat stage than on a steeper climb after four other category 1 climbs or when you're so superior to everyone else you can afford to spend your energy on trying to find ways for your friends to get stages.

Why do the rider need a strong team, if he giggles at laughable tempo set by Lampre and catapults at a 4-5 % Etna section? IMO a team factor is a bit overrated when one is by far stronger than others.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

giro 2011 by far

 

[LaFlorecita]

7th febuary.

What he said

 

[LaFlorecita]

I hope Alberto can come close to tour 2009 or giro 2011 level or maybe even match it, i do not think it is impossible

 

[will10]

I agree with airstream. 2007 was monstrous when you see what numbers Sastre, Evans and Levi were putting down, and getting their *** handed to them by Pistolero and Chicken.

 

[Old School]

I forgot that in '09 he had to beat half his own team and his manager...kinda like LeMond vs. The Badger....tough stuff.

 

[airstream]

I agree with airstream. 2007 was monstrous when you see what numbers Sastre, Evans and Levi were putting down, and getting their *** handed to them by Pistolero and Chicken.

Right. We remember how Contador fired from behind transfused Boogerd who probably could easily get finish in top 10 if he hadn't worked for Rasmussen. While looking that stage, I thought Chicken had even more powerful engine but he just lacked spark to follow immediately. It seemed if the rules had allowed Rasmussen would have thrown his bike away, run and caught Contador.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

I agree with airstream. 2007 was monstrous when you see what numbers Sastre, Evans and Levi were putting down, and getting their *** handed to them by Pistolero and Chicken.

Right... career best performances from a number of high-profile riders, most notably Contador, Rasmussen, Evans and Leipheimer. Also maybe Sastre... that long-range attack in the Aubisque stage with tons of exposed false flat was very impressive, considering he didn't really "crack" and still finished in the top 5 overall.

And then to think it was considered a "weak" edition initially.

 

[orangerider]

Physically, the 2011 Giro. Mentally, 2009 Tour, due to doubt to the constant LA tantrums he had to endure day after day.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

To those who voted for the 2011 Giro... how do you figure? The field was weak and Scarponi almost caught him in the queen stage. I don't think Contador was overly strong on Zoncolan, either.

 

[airstream]

To those who voted for the 2011 Giro... how do you figure? The field was weak and Scarponi almost caught him in the queen stage. I don't think Contador was overly strong on Zoncolan, either.

True. The man was never attacked. Strength is never defined with this fact. Everyone points the parcours somehow. I think the parcours is almost nothing when there is to team that destroy the peloton. The parcours never smashes a rider. NEVER. Only opponents can do that. The 2012 Tour shows it very brightly.

 

[Jason_Mercier]

Yesterday i was watching the Tignes stage of the TDF of 2007 and i have to say i am impressed. The Rasmussen breakway, Moreau attacking from 17 kms to the finish, then Mayo remembering his bests times in Euskaltel, then Valverde... Vinokourov and Klöden pushing in the back group were Menchov or Leipheimer stayed and Gerdemann, the yellow jersey, was suffering... A nice stage. And then the Briançon stage where we could see the Soler exhibition, Valverde breaking the peloton and pushing in the group of the bests climbers like a ****ing crazy guy, then attacking one more time, then Contador surprising all... All since more than 30 kms to the finish if im not wrong... Incredible Alps. The battle Rasmussen-Contador in the Pyrenées... Giro 2010, TDF of 2003 and the TDF of 2007 the bests GTS of the decade.

 

[jens_attacks]

2009 and not just the tour.but i got big hopes for 2013

 

[movingtarget]

To those who voted for the 2011 Giro... how do you figure? The field was weak and Scarponi almost caught him in the queen stage. I don't think Contador was overly strong on Zoncolan, either.

The winning margin on GC, the gifted stages and the ease with which he handled the mountains. I agree that Zoncolan was one of his not so good days and yes the opposition were disappointing. He always looked in control to me.

 

[will10]

Right... career best performances from a number of high-profile riders, most notably Contador, Rasmussen, Evans and Leipheimer. Also maybe Sastre... that long-range attack in the Aubisque stage with tons of exposed false flat was very impressive, considering he didn't really "crack" and still finished in the top 5 overall.

And then to think it was considered a "weak" edition initially.

The battle with Chicken on Peyresourde and Plateau de Beille was immense but my favourite stage of that Tour was the Galibier stage, with Popo up the road. Contador forced everyone to sit up and notice him that day as the race was blown to pieces on what was expected to be a fairly innocuous stage behind a breakaway.

 

[trevim]

To those who voted for the 2011 Giro... how do you figure? The field was weak and Scarponi almost caught him in the queen stage. I don't think Contador was overly strong on Zoncolan, either.

Scarponi was really strong that year and Contador made a lot of tactical mistakes that day that would have cost good minutes to any other rider: he dropped his team mates almost at the top of Giau, attacked with Kruwsjik (where the f*** was he this year by the way?) in Marmolada jus because he couldn't stay put,...

 

[Capablanca and me]

the first GT, after his child born
Giro, Tour 2014

 

[LaFlorecita]

the first GT, after his child born
Giro, Tour 2014

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