Will Contador Be Juiced Up Again Upon His Return

[Ferminal]

Contador in the past has been untouchable in the grand tours (including the 2011 Giro). His attacks were so explosive he left everyone else behind, usually putting minutes into the rest of the field. He's been riding very well in the Vuelta, but his attacks clearly are not at the same kind of dominant level they were in the past.

So your analysis is purely subjective based on what happens when he attacks.

 

[Angliru]

After reading some of the Vuelta thread it strikes me how much Contador fans continue to live in denial about his performance. Sure, it is possible Contador is not back to top form due to a lack of race fitness after his six month ban. That being said you have to believe Contador has been training with a vengeance for the Vuelta. Winning this race would be Contador's chance to vindicate himself and continue to argue he has been clean all along and was unjustly suspended.

What seems more likely is we are seeing what a clean Contador looks like. Contador has been very good and still animating the race with aggressive attacks, but has not been able to ride away with the kinds of explosive attacks we have seen from him in past grand tours. I don't think we'll be seeing these kinds of attacks from Contador or anyone else if they are truly riding clean.

It's only been one race so far so time will tell. So far Contador has looked much like other star riders we have seen coming back from suspension (Basso, Vino, Millar etc), still competitive but certainly not at pre-suspension level.

Every other rider that has come back has taken at least 6 months of racing and training to even get close to the same level they were pre-suspension. If you look at most of Contador's grand tour victories, it's not like he was blowing away the opposition in every event. I believe in only 2 of his grand tours did he win with a significant lead and that was the 2011 Giro and maybe the 2009 Tour. 2010 Tour went down to the final ITT and even that had him stressed till the end. It's reasonable to think that he is at less than his best after 6 months away from competition.

Basso took a year to get back to grand tour winning form. Vino hasn't been close to a grand tour podium or even top 5 since his return, with his best results coming in single day events. Millar took seemingly 2 years or more to get in the same vicinity of results as his pre-suspension years.

 

[the big ring]

Every other rider that has come back has taken at least 6 months of racing and training to even get close to the same level they were pre-suspension. If you look at most of Contador's grand tour victories, it's not like he was blowing away the opposition in every event. I believe in only 2 of his grand tours did he win with a significant lead and that was the 2011 Giro and maybe the 2009 Tour. 2010 Tour went down to the final ITT and even that had him stressed till the end. It's reasonable to think that he is at less than his best after 6 months away from competition.

Basso took a year to get back to grand tour winning form. Vino hasn't been close to a grand tour podium or even top 5 since his return, with his best results coming in single day events. Millar took seemings 2 years to get in the same vicinity of results as his pre-suspension years.

To be fair to the other riders returning from suspension and Contador - they typically had 2 actual years off. Contador has only had 6 months: about the time from September worlds to Volta Agarve or similar break. It's quite believable that he has lost less form than someone on a genuine 2 year haitus, given he was racing hard right up until they pinged him for good.

I don't think it's a fair comparison.

 

[Angliru]

To be fair to the other riders returning from suspension and Contador - they typically had 2 actual years off. Contador has only had 6 months: about the time from September worlds to Volta Agarve or similar break. It's quite believable that he has lost less form than someone on a genuine 2 year haitus, given he was racing hard right up until they pinged him for good.

I don't think it's a fair comparison.

I agree. I was merely responding to the post that introduced Basso, Vino and Millar into the discussion. Different circumstances especially with the 3 returning at a more advanced age than Contador. The age difference and the shorter period away from competition could partially explain the difference in their results when they returned.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

+1

The echelons on the flat stage where Valvede crashed were more exciting than the entirety of the Tour.

+1. Completely agree. The Tour was a steaming piece of dung.

 

[ggusta]

He has to be very very cautious or else it's a lifetime ban while the rest are free to continue on with business as usual. He's pedaling with one leg tied behind his back so to speak.

They're all doped.

 

[Big Doopie]

He's pedaling with one leg tied behind his back so to speak.

and no longer with the uci protection that came from being in hog's team.

 

[ggusta]

+1. Completely agree. The Tour was a steaming piece of dung.

Is it appropriate to fuss at people who post in the clinic for discussing the race in the clinic? Kind of says something about the sport when the giant elephant in the room has to sit in the back of the bus.

 

[ManInFull]

This is how I think as well. Either he stopped doping after he tested positive or he's still doping.

Yeah, it's difficult to know. All I know is that it is still shocking to witness his inability to get rid of Purito. However, if more cyclists raced like him, we'd be in for a treat!

 

[ManInFull]

and no longer with the uci protection that came from being in hog's team.

I don't know if others feel that way, but I do. I think he lost the UCI protection in 2011...

 

[Maxiton]

I don't know if others feel that way, but I do. I think he lost the UCI protection in 2011...

He lost it when he decided to defy Hog's orders and go for the win in TdF '09, instead of letting his "teammate" Armstrong have it.

 

[the big ring]

He lost it when he decided to defy Hog's orders and go for the win in TdF '09, instead of letting his "teammate" Armstrong have it.

Now I am wondering if Lancey had money on himself again - ie an SCA-style bonus for an 8th Tour win.

$400k permium vs $5M payout would have been a very sweet deal for a guy not getting paid a salary.

 

[airstream]

Contador is very strong. He's perfoming better than say I personally expected. The fact that he can't drop Purito may be misleading. One should realize Purito was obviously below par in the first 2 weeks of the 2011 Giro. I rather tend to think the 4th extra class climber hit the picture: Alberto, Andy, Froomy and now here is Rodriguez.

Contador could give us more food for thought, but, unfortunately, he never shares his vam data. Ban might make one register on Mapei training center but this did not happen lol )

he has to be very very cautious or else it's a lifetime ban while the rest are free to continue on with business as usual. He's pedaling with one leg tied behind his back so to speak.

They're all doped.

Exactly my thoughts. all but one got caught can not take too much risk any more. That's like a computer game with 2 lives. You was caught once — you used up your luckier life. Unlike the boys with 2, you can't bluff.

 

[Cimber]

After reading some of the Vuelta thread it strikes me how much Contador fans continue to live in denial about his performance. Sure, it is possible Contador is not back to top form due to a lack of race fitness after his six month ban. That being said you have to believe Contador has been training with a vengeance for the Vuelta. Winning this race would be Contador's chance to vindicate himself and continue to argue he has been clean all along and was unjustly suspended.

What seems more likely is we are seeing what a clean Contador looks like. Contador has been very good and still animating the race with aggressive attacks, but has not been able to ride away with the kinds of explosive attacks we have seen from him in past grand tours. I don't think we'll be seeing these kinds of attacks from Contador or anyone else if they are truly riding clean.

It's only been one race so far so time will tell. So far Contador has looked much like other star riders we have seen coming back from suspension (Basso, Vino, Millar etc), still competitive but certainly not at pre-suspension level.

did u really expect Contador to perform 100% after a year without any races? We should save this discussion to the 2013 Tour and see how he performs then.

 

[Lexman]

Why are people saying that this Vuelta (and Tour 2011) is evidence of Contador's decline as a rider? The last time anybody saw him in top form was the Giro. Ranking a Contador who hasn't raced for 7 months (and was fatigued/injured at the Tour) against a peak-form Contador from previous years doesn't make any sense.

yeah indeed

On the other hand i think Purito might get some more attention in the clinic ;-)

 

[Alpehue]

yeah indeed

On the other hand i think Purito might get some more attention in the clinic ;-)

I dont think any of the top 3 riders in the vuelta is especially doped... I think Rod is peaking, and that Contador has "dust" in his engine, as he said himself. Lets see at next years tour.

 

[Walkman]

Every other rider that has come back has taken at least 6 months of racing and training to even get close to the same level they were pre-suspension. If you look at most of Contador's grand tour victories, it's not like he was blowing away the opposition in every event. I believe in only 2 of his grand tours did he win with a significant lead and that was the 2011 Giro and maybe the 2009 Tour. 2010 Tour went down to the final ITT and even that had him stressed till the end. It's reasonable to think that he is at less than his best after 6 months away from competition.

Basso took a year to get back to grand tour winning form. Vino hasn't been close to a grand tour podium or even top 5 since his return, with his best results coming in single day events. Millar took seemingly 2 years or more to get in the same vicinity of results as his pre-suspension years.

forget it....

 

[Cookster15]

did u really expect Contador to perform 100% after a year without any races? We should save this discussion to the 2013 Tour and see how he performs then.

After all the hype on here from AC fans on how he was going to blow this Vuelta field to smithereens you can't blame the OP for thinking this. Everyone's wise now but in June it was different I recall.

 

[ebandit]

?

it will be interesting to see how alberto goes after the rest day

a possible indicator of the type of 'recovery drinks' employed

 

[The Hitch]

Contador looked like a mere mortal as far back as 2011's TdF. One could speculate it was because he burnt himself out by having won the Giro or perhaps he was riding clean for fear of a second positive.

Considering Gadret pulled out of the Tour on stage 1, arroyo on like stage 5 and everyone else decided to skip the tour, i think its very heavily suggestive of the first.

 

[The Hitch]

there's a definite 'he's doping a little but it's ok because the race is exciting' which is a stark contrast to the clinic's reaction to Sky and the Tour.

Didn't Anquetil say that without drugs everyone will ride along at 15km, but with drugs they will be at 25k and entertaining everyone?

Its seems there is a sliding scale of doping acceptability that runs inverse to the style or panache displayed

Contador dopes , like so many others but christ it aint personal. he doesnt claim to do it for clean cycling, he only ever claims to be clean in order to defend his repuation. He just shuts up, puts his head down, takes the drugs, wins the race, cdelebrates with all the other dopers, then goes home and lives his life.

Sky come in, tell the anti doping cycling fans - we have you covered, we will win the tdf for you, and then when the cycling fans ask," but wiggo why do you defend lance if you are anti doping" and wiggins responds - "shut up you ****ing ****ers"
It gets a bit personal.

 

[sniper]

Contador dopes , like so many others but christ it aint personal. he doesnt claim to do it for clean cycling, he only ever claims to be clean in order to defend his repuation. He just shuts up, puts his head down, takes the drugs, wins the race, cdelebrates with all the other dopers, then goes home and lives his life.

Sky come in, tell the anti doping cycling fans - we have you covered, we will win the tdf for you, and then when the cycling fans ask," but wiggo why do you defend lance if you are anti doping" and wiggins responds - "shut up you ****ing ****ers"
It gets a bit personal.

very true. The rants of Wiggins and JV -- previously in the san millan thread -- are in conflict with the high standards they put on themselves. Whenever they are caught by surprise and respond spontaneously (like Wiggo at the press conference or JV in the San Millan thread), they show their real faces and tend to get patronizing and condescending. I don't recall Contador ranting like that. He's not in that club of hypocricy.

 

[Von Mises]

very true. The rants of Wiggins and JV -- previously in the san millan thread -- are in conflict with the high standards they put on themselves. Whenever they are caught by surprise and respond spontaneously (like Wiggo at the press conference or JV in the San Millan thread), they show their real faces and tend to get patronizing and condescending. I don't recall Contador ranting like that. He's not in that club of hypocricy.

Maybe Vaughters went overboard a bit, but your on dancing with "I am just asking questions, connecting dots" was also sign of hypocricy.

 

[meat puppet]

Maybe Vaughters went overboard a bit, but your on dancing with "I am just asking questions, connecting dots" was also sign of hypocricy.

just "human action", right?

gotta say I'm kinda thrilled by the racing, and gotta give it to bert for making the race, but it's the day after and all. taking this for what it is, at least the guy has guts.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Some handles the rest days better.