Will Contador Be Juiced Up Again Upon His Return

[jilbiker]

more likely the performance dropoff can be attributed to the fact that he was no longer under the protection of bruyneel (and therefore the uci). he knew he would have no advance warnings of tests, etc...

one of the reasons the dopologists cannot claim even playing field.

interesting point, I think about all the ex-USPostal, ex-Bruyneel riders that have been caught and there is definitely a trend. FrankS was probably thrown under the bus, next time don't cross JB and company....chuckle.

 

[Galic Ho]

excellent post.
only that there is some circularity in the argument that Dirty is such an attacking rider. We have no idea how much of his attacking strength is down to the quality of his program. It's plausible to assume that there are at least a couple of guys out there craving to attack Contador-style, but who simply aren't able to do so because their steak is only medium rare, whereas Dirty eats his well-cooked.
Granted, Dirty is on average more attacking than, say, Armstrong was, but there are other reasons for that: the GTs AC has won all developed differently than the ones LA has won. Dirty never had the team around him that Lance had, so Dirty was always compelled to be more attacking than Lance was.
I very much doubt that, if AC had a team like USPS or Sky around him, he would be as attacking as he is now.

I am reading today there is a new test for HGH.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/howman-welcomes-hgh-test-talks-hamilton-and-uci

Maybe if to go with that there was a full body hemoglobin test then we'd really see how much of Contador's on road form is down to doping. I still think a great deal of it is instinctive. I think the potency and duration of his attacks are the only thing affected by doping. He'd still attack clean, it just wouldn't be as powerful. It may still be effective, but that is all relative to every other rider in the peloton and their cleanliness or doping at a set time.

Contador rode two GT's with Armstrong around. 2007 Tour, Lance was in the car during his final chrono. Was the last year Disco was a sponsor. He had a lot of support that year from Popo. Leipheimer was on the team as well. Most attacking Tour I have ever seen. If Armstrong had of raced, the team would have raced differently. Then in 2009. The plan was to pull Lance around France. Kloden, who had superior form gave up his ambitions to help Lance. Had Horner raced and Levi not fallen off, I think Armstrong would have been beaten there as well. Note even when the team plan was in play, one lone rider stood up to Lance and Bruyneel.

Contador's attacks on Verbier and Arcalis were the only interesting thing in the race apart from the final ITT. We have seen how LA races a GT whilst Contador is in the peloton. Your description of Armstrong is accurate, but Contador still attacked the man. Had he not, he'd have lost the Tour. Lance was 0.2 seconds off yellow after the TTT. The coup de etat almost succeeded. Had Lance not sat up early, he'd have been in yellow instead of Cancellara and Contador would not have been entitled to attack.

As for Sky. I disagree. They wouldn't need the train. He'd just ride like he does now, like in the Vuelta and before. The reason Wiggins and Armstrong's GT goals manifest in trains and boring racing is because they cannot physically win any other way. I have thought for a long time now, that if Contador raced for Sky, they'd be a lot more liked among fans, because the train would go. Heck, with Contador on the team, I'd wager there would be room for Cavendish and that is because of how Alberto rides versus Wiggins and Froome.

Same goes with Rodriguez, Samu, Valverde and Evans. They are all at the end of the day, doping removed, better riders than Armstrong or Wiggins. They can get the job done alone. And they do it all year. Take away the support, Wiggins armor is gone. That's why these guys are more liked by hardcore fans. They get their hands and shoes dirty, by doing it themselves. No train is needed.

 

[Cookster15]

I think the potency and duration of his attacks are the only thing affected by doping. He'd still attack clean, it just wouldn't be as powerful. It may still be effective, but that is all relative to every other rider in the peloton and their cleanliness or doping at a set time.

I agree with this. Yesterday's surprisingly poor Worlds TT result for Contador also deserves comment in this thread - loosing 2:30 and getting overtaken by Martin. Early in the Vuelta, we were being told AC was lacking a bit due to lack of racing miles. Now he has the Vuelta behind him that isn't an issue. Instead now he is tired?? Dope (or lack of) definitely seems to be having some impact since the 2011 Giro and the subsequent ban. Yes the Vuelta was raced hard but we're talking AC here. Based on his past he should have been firing for the Worlds TT after the Vuelta IMO. Then again, maybe he was just saving himself for Sunday?

 

[airstream]

to be honest, i expected to see weaker contador. it's not the matter of purito, all about contador. true, he continued his doping procession albeit it's not that brazen as before suspension. i refuse believing in clean cycling in gts. so if we assume that doping gives about 3-4 % power, no clean rider couldn't have beat valverde and purito cos 3% at such a high level is a gulf. on the other hand, contador really has no choice. as soon as he gives up doping, everyone (if these people still exist) will understand how his victories were gained. 7 fingers in madrid convinced me this guy will bluff untill getting popped. to him, wins are by far more important than reputation and he has no fear.

 

[happychappy]

Who are the twelve Apostles of the Clinic?

Which one is Judas?

Judas = Joe Papp.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Alberto doesn't seem the same anymore... did he stop doping?

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Alberto doesn't seem the same anymore... did he stop doping?

Did Basso stop doping?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Did Basso stop doping?

I have no idea

 

[airstream]

Did Basso stop doping?

No. Doping gives too much that a rider could win a GT being clean especially after a ban.

 

[Ferminal]

Did Basso stop doping?

He never started...

 

[airstream]

He never started...

Yes, a poor guy did not manage.

 

[The Hitch]

Alberto doesn't seem the same anymore... did he stop doping?

Hopefully for Tour of Oman - yes.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

He never started...

I set myself up for that one.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Hopefully for Tour of Oman - yes.

They're doping the whole year through right?

 

[The Hitch]

They're doping the whole year through right?

Probably in training and in the off season, but it would be pushing it to bring product into the actual race. Im not saying they dont, but ffs you might as well try the training races clean. I mean doping a week before is still doping, but in the gt you might be able to take it a bit further.

 

[the asian]

Probably in training and in the off season, but it would be pushing it to bring product into the actual race. Im not saying they dont, but ffs you might as well try the training races clean. I mean doping a week before is still doping, but in the gt you might be able to take it a bit further.

This. No BBs in Oman.

 

[jamesmasters]

I predict Contador will test positive again this year. He is clean at the moment but this race will have showed him that he has no hope of being top dog without EPO and needs to get back on it as soon as possible. The way Froome accelerated away from him, he honestly looked like he was going backwards.

 

[the sceptic]

Sky have found something that the rest of the peloton doesnt know about yet. It wont be possible to beat them without going back to Lance levels of doping.

 

[Caruut]

I predict Contador will test positive again this year. He is clean at the moment but this race will have showed him that he has no hope of being top dog without EPO and needs to get back on it as soon as possible. The way Froome accelerated away from him, he honestly looked like he was going backwards.

1. Why would he be so foolish as to test positive?

2. What reason do you have to believe that EPO was Bertie's secret beforehand?

3. If the camera followed Froome, then of course Bertie looked like he was going backwards.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Sky have found something that the rest of the peloton doesnt know about yet. It wont be possible to beat them without going back to Lance levels of doping.

nah, there are no new methods. This is LA version 2. Sky operates with big budget and a bit of help from Hein. Simple.

Sure the other teams will need to dope in order to compete, but not to levels where eyes will bulge out of the head.

 

[The Hitch]

nah, there are no new methods..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nd13ARuvVE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Are pros using this?
Cassani: the bloke who gave us this said so.

The way froome can't ride then suddenly accelerates away from.contador. Didn't have time to inject epo..but pressing a button requires less.time.

Still kudos for.managing the first 5k on his own.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nd13ARuvVE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Are pros using this?
Cassani: the bloke who gave us this said so.

The way froome can't ride then suddenly accelerates away from.contador. Didn't have time to inject epo..but pressing a button requires less.time.

Still kudos for.managing the first 5k on his own.

lol, however Cassani probably knows a thing or two about some of the older pros in the peloton hence his "subtle" approach.

Riis of '96 would have made Froome look like a donkey today.

 

[ElChingon]

I predict Contador will test positive again this year. He is clean at the moment but this race will have showed him that he has no hope of being top dog without EPO and needs to get back on it as soon as possible. The way Froome accelerated away from him, he honestly looked like he was going backwards.

Nice Foot Sleeve Stringy Contraption.

 

[del1962]

Sky have found something that the rest of the peloton doesnt know about yet. It wont be possible to beat them without going back to Lance levels of doping.

This is a Contador thread, no Sky talk please

 

[sniper]

I predict Contador will test positive again this year. He is clean at the moment but this race will have showed him that he has no hope of being top dog without EPO and needs to get back on it as soon as possible. The way Froome accelerated away from him, he honestly looked like he was going backwards.

this is possible.
with Riis increasingly damaging the clean image of cycling, Dertie might indeed be comparatively high on the UCI hitlist.