Why is Contador never the story?

[nia O'Malley]

And Miguel Indurain.. he spoke no english, I don't seem to remember if he spoke french either..... I heard he was a pretty reasonable rider

He did learn french eventually but was too shy to speak it (it turned into a game that the french journalists tried to make him say something in french every day, and after some years they managed. It was all in good humour). I remember a lot of ink being spilled about it, as it's traditional for a prominent cyclist to learn french (most still do it). Indurain got a pass in France and was forgiven, but he never stirred the same adoration as Roche or LeMond (say), actually. (I think any rider who learns and speaks french in the tour is tacitely given a french psychological passport of a sort. They just get adopted immediately. Listening to the level of cheers, Schleck is the new surrogate french)
The difference there being that of course, french or no french, Indurain was the star, and not ignored or set aside. I do not know about Contador since I am not there anymore. I doubt it is as selective as the american / british coverage, at least I hope it didn't fall that low.

 

[reubenr]

You hit the nail on the head. I rarely find American cycling fans who like riders who aren't fluent in English.

Man in full of it, soon to publish his exhausting survey of American "cycling" fans. I am an American, North American, from the United States, but I like Contador. It doesn't bother me that he can't speak English. I should try to improve my Spanish.

The bottom line is that the media has taken a position that it will be hard to make a superstar out of him because is is not "non-hispanic," doesn't speak English well enough and doesn't give a s*** about being a media darling. Like any one, he likes to be liked, but he doesn't have the same needs as Lance, whose apparent needs are insatiable.

 

[sienna]

I'm watching the Spanish News as we speak. The Spaniards are very happy. His mum is really proud. He comes across as very unassuming and humble.

 

[sienna]

I'm watching the Spanish News as we speak. The Spaniards are very happy. His mum is really proud. He comes across as very unassuming and humble.

A Spanish guy has won some car race as well.

 

[reubenr]

I'm watching the Spanish News as we speak. The Spaniards are very happy. His mum is really proud. He comes across as very unassuming and humble.

So, what's not to like? He seems to be a descent person. Some one for whom we can all celebrate.

 

[El Pistolero]

He did learn french eventually but was too shy to speak it (it turned into a game that the french journalists tried to make him say something in french every day, and after some years they managed. It was all in good humour). I remember a lot of ink being spilled about it, as it's traditional for a prominent cyclist to learn french (most still do it). Indurain got a pass in France and was forgiven, but he never stirred the same adoration as Roche or LeMond (say), actually. (I think any rider who learns and speaks french in the tour is tacitely given a french psychological passport of a sort. They just get adopted immediately. Listening to the level of cheers, Schleck is the new surrogate french)
The difference there being that of course, french or no french, Indurain was the star, and not ignored or set aside. I do not know about Contador since I am not there anymore. I doubt it is as selective as the american / british coverage, at least I hope it didn't fall that low.

I doubt that's true. The reason why so many great cyclists speak French is because French is an important language in some countries. Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg,etc

Do past Tour winners like Sastre, Pereiro, Armstrong, Ullrich and Pantani speak fluent French?

 

[jazzcyclist]

Amen! Even today, whiteness is the ultimate trump card in western societies.

 

[roundabout]

IMO the languages that cyclists speak also have to do with where they're based and where the rode as amateurs.

 

[jaylew]

The fact that his English speaking skills are limited have a lot to do with it. American producers, journalists, executives believe Americans are only capable of rooting for Anglo Saxon English speaking competitors. This is reflected in the highlight reels and overall standings coverage. I do not accept Americans' inability to root for someone like Contador. However, the coverage is a cycle that turns into self-fulfilling prophesy.

Obviously AC is the story elsewhere, but since we are talking about Versus and therefore the U.S., I have to say I mostly agree with this post. It certainly doesn't hurt that Andy looks a bit like many American's gangly teenage son. I don't think that's all of it and obviously everyone doesn't think that way but you can't seriously discuss this topic and omit the appearance and speech factor. Sadly, I've heard enough comments from fellow cyclists to know that's a big part of it.

Seriously though, anyone who's listened to P&P for years can't be surprised at all.

 

[cody_57]

Language Issue?

One would think that Versus would spring for a Spanish language translater. Shoot, they could grab one of the many fans standing around that speak both languages.

Hey, Spanish will soon be the official language of the USA, so Alberto can just speak in his native tongue!

 

[Squares]

dominant on the bike,no off bike issues to talk about,

Yes, he was so dominant on the bike he could only drop Schleck when he dropped his chain. He was so dominant in the time trial that he exceeded everyones expectations and beat Schleck by 2-3 minutes, oh wait, nevermind.

There is also nothing to talk about off the bike given that he was not linked to Operation Puerto in any way... http://www.lemonde.fr/tour-de-franc...iper-au-tour_940003_676968.html#ens_id=940173

Maybe that is why a bunch of people don't like him, they think he should be in the same position as Valv.piti except he has refused to have blood tests done and CONI didn't get anyone to send the blood bags linked to AC to them for testing.

 

[derailleur]

So why is he never the story – even when he wins?

Because he never seems to take advantage of people athletically, he always seems to take advantage of people sneakily.

He attacked his own team in 2009, and attacked the MJ in a traditionally neutralized situation in 2010. In 2007 he backed into the win.

Personally I think he should have attacked on the mountaintop finish a few hundred meters from the line. It could have given his lead more legitimacy, and would have given him a stage win. It might have been howled at as piling on Schleck, but that would have faded quickly and the fact that he was simply faster on the hill would have dominated his image. Instead, he snuck along behind Andy, scowled as they crossed the line, and preserved the lead he's perceived as having stolen.

And if such an attack failed, his image would be in exactly the position it's in now. Laughing on the way to the bank while the people he's neglected and abused plot their revenge.

 

[sienna]

plot their revenge.

Is anyone really that petty?

 

[the vagabond]

Several members of the sheeplike American sports media hail Contador as the new cycling superstar, which isn't negative toward Contador, but simply shows stupidity as regards his accomplishments, and it's no different than it would be if it were Schleck or Lucho Herrera or Eddy Merckx or any other non-American. Winning five GTs is slightly more impressive than winning five major golf tournaments - can you imagine hailing someone as golf's new superstar after his 6th or 7th major?

 

[Boeing]

Because he has the personality of a Barcelona escalator security guard

and as someone said earlier, he has nothing to say, ever. So there is nothing to report but the win and they did report the win.

 

[LoveShack]

I have what I think might be some objective reasons behind what seems like a lethargic response towards El Pistelero's 3rd TdF victory:

-He was a huge favorite to win the TdF before it even began. The odds for him winning were pretty sick, something like 7/4.

-His winning it again surprised almost noone. I did a pre-race questionairre with friends on who they thought would place in this year's TdF, and all 8 of them (including me) had Bertie as our #1. We were all correct. Yawn!

-He didn't have a spectacular Stage win as he did in Stage 15 last year that showcased his exceptional talents. Something always happened in every great stage he completed to take a little glimmer off (finishing tied in time but behind Schleck in 17; The Vino/Rodriguez incident after he dropped Schleck, etc.).

-On a whole, this entire era in sports is starting to suffer from the complete domination from the same handful of people winning their respective sporting events over and over again every year. There isn't much suspense. I am a big fan of Tennis and love playing and watching the sport, but I long for the old days when there was some drama and many contenders to win a Grand Slam.

The past 7 years of seeing Roger and Rafa win 24 of the last 26 Grand Slams in Tennis is boring the hell out of me and making me lose interest in the Sport. When what is projected to happen always happens, the drama and excitement in the path towards the victory is lost.

If Alberto was setting the trend of a dominant cycler winning every year after years of parity, it might be more interesting. But since he is just the latest in a decades worth of dominance by the few in all major sports including cycling, it doesn't seem as special as it might have seemed 10 years ago.

As crazy as it sounds, if Alberto were to lose his "magic" for a year or two and then come back and win it when people had written him off, I bet the interest in his victory (and ensuing ones) and intrigue in his personality would radically increase. As it is, I think most people think he will about 5-10 TdF and we just went through an era of mechanized and suspenseless winning by an individual.

So as people only got real excited with Federer winning another Slam when he got near Sampras' record of 14, maybe the same will be true after AC wins his 6th TdF and starts threatening LA's 7 wins. Number 3 in what is expected to be at least 6 may just seem like a stepping stone in this crazy era of individual dominance.

As it is, people now expect an individual or team to win year after year after year, and when the chosen elite do what they're favored and supposed to do, it isn't something unique or new anymore. If this were to stop being the trend for awhile, and parity and competition were to become the norm, the fascination with projected and manifested domination might pick up again.

 

[flicker]

Alberto Contador is not white enough...Somebody had to say it.

I do not know the area(Madrid) part of Spain. Also Contador seems Moorish,Arabic, Moroccan? I am open minded to all that. I see him as the most incredible cyclist since Merckx. His personality is flawed for someone of his stature in my eyes. Something in his eyes that he shows is evil to me.

 

[Epicycle]

Because he has the personality of a Barcelona escalator security guard

Plus he seems a little smug, if that's not implied in the Barcelona security guard comparison.

That kind of stuff doesn't really bother me but I can definitely see how it blunts his starpower.

 

[Elagabalus]

He attacked his own team in 2009...

Yawn. You've already said too much!

 

[Boeing]

Yawn. You've already said too much!

yes but you have made this thread about him and not the topic

 

[Elagabalus]

yes but you have made this thread about him and not the topic

you speak in riddles ...

 

[Ryaguas]

Something in his eyes that he shows is evil to me.

WTF??? This kind of post are those who freak me out hahahahaha

 

[scribe]

The fact that his English speaking skills are limited have a lot to do with it. American producers, journalists, executives believe Americans are only capable of rooting for Anglo Saxon English speaking competitors. This is reflected in the highlight reels and overall standings coverage. I do not accept Americans' inability to root for someone like Contador. However, the coverage is a cycle that turns into self-fulfilling prophesy.

they tried to put him in some commercial with shrek. It was so bad, I don't even know what product they were pitching. I just wanted to mute out the volume.

 

[Cervelo77]

IMO the languages that cyclists speak also have to do with where they're based and where the rode as amateurs.

A good example is Vino, who speaks excellent French due to his time training in France when younger.

I think Contador is tough for the media to deal with because his English is halting, and his French is not great. Not much for the other-than-Spanish media to work with. He seemed genuinely relieved to have won this one. I think he fully realizes his form wasn't good and that he could have lost.

 

[geosfls]

Nothing?

but schleck is one that lost seconds too bloody spanish guy who exploit his mechanical/bad shifting...after that he said he ll be back with revenge

how can you not like a guy like that,contador has nothing

Nothing but three TDF victories!