What can make Contador lose the Giro?

[Elminutobueno]

What do you think?

 

[taiwan]

Lots of attacks from early in stages seperating him from his team and making him work. Some major bad luck on a crucial stage. That's about it. TBH even if people gain time on him, he'll get yet more back on the hardest stages where the gaps are big. Clearly he'll be very hard to beat.

[edit] Oh there's a poll.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

an accident or a clinic issue, nothing else, no Rujano for sure...

 

[Ryaguas]

a crash... but I'm praying for the security of all riders... I just dont want any more riders to crash...

 

[Zerak-Tul]

..Lose*

 

[Highlander]

I think that the rest of the peloton's only chance is if Contador gets bored and decides to jet over to California to win the only GT that he is lacking. Now that it has been postponed by at least one day, who knows

 

[Elminutobueno]

Ups, thanks Zerak-Tul. Can a mod change this?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

 

[spalco]

Only something clinic-related or freakishly bad luck - and by that I mean something far worse than dropping a chain or having a flat tire at an inopportune moment. He might lose two minutes in one stage but if he does he'll take it back again whenever he wants.

 

[greenedge]

Failing after a rest day like Cadel. That is the definitive answer. All the others are true but not likely

 

[jens_attacks]

bad day or crash.

 

[rhubroma]

Crash, bad day crisis, medical issues. Which is how it works for all top contenders in his advantageous position.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Anyone can have a bad day, and a bad day in some of these stages could mean a loss of 5-10 minutes (like Ullrich in '98 TDF). With Contador it's unlikely, but possible. A truly epic Giro would have AC losing over 5 minutes on stage 13 and then riding brilliantly to make it all back in the final week

 

[R.0.t.O]

It's early days yet. Of course he's the overwhelming favourite but the stages to come are so tough that crazy things could still happen. Anyone can have a bad day and if it comes on 14 or 15 he could lose lots of time.

 

[El Pistolero]

Funny thing is, in this Giro, not a single breakaway has succeeded.

 

[hrotha]

I still think Contador might not be superior in long-distance attacks. Problem is, everybody is so scared of him very few people have tried that tactic. The way he rides, when he attacks he takes advantage of his unmatched explosiveness to accelerate and create a gap early on, then maintains it more or less till the finish. One on one, on the last climb of the day, only the best Candy has proved he can match him. Contador might also be superior in long-range, endurance duels, hell, he probably is, but it's the card Scarponi and Nibali have to play.

That said, Jesús Hernandez's performance on the Etna is not good news for anybody outside of Saxo.

 

[El Pistolero]

I still think Contador might not be superior in long-distance attacks. Problem is, everybody is so scared of him very few people have tried that tactic. The way he rides, when he attacks he takes advantage of his unmatched explosiveness to accelerate and create a gap early on, then maintains it more or less till the finish. One on one, on the last climb of the day, only the best Candy has proved he can match him. Contador might also be superior in long-range, endurance duels, hell, he probably is, but it's the card Scarponi and Nibali have to play.

That said, Jesús Hernandez's performance on the Etna is not good news for anybody outside of Saxo.

Tour de France 2007. Contador was attacking from 40km out in a stage. Only brought back because of a flat tire.

 

[hrotha]

Tour de France 2007. Contador was attacking from 40km out in a stage. Only brought back because of a flat tire.

Completely different circumstances.

 

[El Pistolero]

Yes, but it shows he isn't afraid of doing it from far out and isn't going to be dropped if they decide to do so. Besides in this stage, it was always going to come down till the final ascend of the Etna.

Wouldn't expect much before the Zoncolan in stage 14 as well.

The final mountain stage looks to be a dangerous one. Everyone will be tired and GC already long decided probably. I wonder what they'll do there.

 

[will10]

Funny thing is, in this Giro, not a single breakaway has succeeded.

That's cos it's the first week, typically not many breaks succeed in the first week.

I think looking at the parcours, this week and next a lot more breaks will go to the finish.

 

[Finbouy]

I think he'll be unable to unclip whilst track standing and land on his left knee.

Other than that it's done deal now.. I know it's a bit too soon and my heart wants Garzelli/Scarponi/His Nib's/Kruz up there but honestly, can you see him failing now?

Riis'll be chuffed to bit's for sure.

 

[veganrob]

Only a bad crash. He has proven his consistency many times in GT's. There won't be a bad day to kill him. He is also smart. Last year TdF he was obviously not on his best game and still won. Never mind the clen, Andy was charged also. He knows how to win without a strong team. Astana? hah. He didn't even use them yesterday. They will still be fresh when the racing gets tough.

 

[simoni]

Difficult to imagine him losing it on the road. The idea of people ganging up on him isn't credible to me - he was on his own in '09 and it didn't seem to make any difference.

CAS will be the ones he'll be worried about. If they confirm a ban then he lose his results from this year.

 

[Cimber]

Crosis decent after an early attack on the accent isolating Contador.

I am talking about the road win ofc. Ofc CAS can take away the title but thats not until end of June and noone will really enjoy winning it that way.