airstream said:
purito has no proper attacking experience, excluding piani resinelli 3k raid. he was competing against a priori the strongest climber in the race and often to catch contador was really really hard for him (besides cuitu negru i think).
perhaps - though the only way to gain experience is to do the thing in which one is inexperienced. it is through cumulative experience that one learns their limitations. once those limitations are known - it is *possible* to learn to push past them.
airstream said:
but anyways you'd offer him attack contador, without feeling necessary strength? it's really stupid and just retroactive thinking based on what we've watched today which is not represéntative for the whole race. «if i can predict future, i’ll live in vegas». sadly, purito can't do that, unlike his critics.
yes, i'd say attack contador -not every stage, mind you - just attack when it is not expected for no other reason then...he can. might not work, might work - one never knows unless one tries. then, when riding on terrain he KNOWS he owns...be as merciless.
my thinking has little to do with strength necessary to make and sustain an attack, nothing to do with tactical stupidity, and less than nothing to do with any of the vuelta's stages prior to today.
it has everything to do with having the heart and mind of a champion, with being willing to risk everything to win., with NOT riding for second or third or top 10, and with, far more often than not, racing to win instead of racing to not lose.
i understand that there are sponsors to please in order to mainain funding, and that sometimes that in itself requires a less risk strategy in order secure a high placing which in turn ensures the folks paying the bills getting their money's worth.
i have no after-the-stages criticisms of purito. not even a "why didn't he respond to contador's attack in stage 17? i mean...50 kilometers out, with his team...50 kilometers out, how is even contador going to sustain an attack that is going to knock me (purito) out of red, let alone gain more time thani cannot get back on saturday, which finishes on a mountaintop on ramps that are MY territory???
tactics are often like theories: they look and work great on paper. however: tactics and reality are often kilometers/minnutes apart.
in the "how will win the vuelta" poll after stage 17, i voted for contador. my head told me "purito," but my heart - or more truthfully, my knowing contador has the never give up heart of a champion - told my head to take a hike.
i am not an armchair cycling tactician. i am definitely not a "know evey nuance of every pro cyclinst geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeenious. i am someone who, as the result of following pro cycling for more than 40 years, knows ennough that every rare once in a while, cyclng is gifted with a rider for whom the race is NEVER over until it is over. that is why while i would never have bet on contador to win after stage 17, i would not bet against him or proclaim 'his race is over,'.
the physically strongest man does not always win. sometimes the psychologically stronger rider can neutralize of render ineffective advantages of the phsically stronger rider. in that part of the sport we love, no one - NO ONE presently riding - comes close to contador.
that is why i did not - and until he shows otherwise willl i ever - think "ah, well...he's tired. just doesn't have it...guess alberto will ride for and be content with second place."
apologies to all for such a bllitheringly long post, bordering on fanyboyism if i may say so myself. it's just that, well...i have unceasing admiration for true champions.