Contador takes swipe at the TDF/ASO

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Comments

  • DaveyL
    DaveyL Posts: 5,167
    I think it's too early to make a call, we'll need to see how he performs in future GTs. At Paris-Nice, he was trailing Rebellin and had to attack. The TdF was kind of strange as he inherited the race lead late on, but he did launch a few attacks on some of the mountain stages - one in the Pyrenees springs to mind where he and the Chicken were duelling. I seem to recall he lost a bit of time on the first mountain stage due to a mechanical, and maybe early on in the Alps it wasn't clear who was leading the team, as Leipheimer was up there on GC as well. In hindsight it's easy to be clear about who the leader was.

    I was going to say that this Giro had a lot of TT-ing, but I guess the total kilometres of TT-ing probably doesn't exceed last year's tour (in the case of ITTs anyway).
    Le Blaireau (1)
  • secretsqirrel
    secretsqirrel Posts: 2,123
    Could I point out that, just possibly, Contador had no more to give, and that a 'stinging' attack was just too much to ask this time?

    He relied heavily on his team mates and the follies of his oponents tactics. He was vulnerable, and clearly beatable.

    If Ricco had had the same support and 'people' skills the race would have been his.

    I actually admire Di Luca, he is a guy who rides with 'fire in his belly', which eventually burnt out. But he tried.

    It was not a great spectacular win for Contador, but in the end he had the grit to carry it off. He lost the battles but won the war, and if it wasn't pretty enough for some people then, tough.

    It was an absorbing race, and the guy who got around the course in the least amount of time won. End of story!
  • moray_gub
    moray_gub Posts: 3,328
    micron wrote:
    Guess you buy the myth then MG? That Dertie was at 80% and did it all on lettuce and water and no training and a cracked elbow to boot?

    Indurain always took his responsibility as a rider - you only have to watch old footage of him to see that - he didn't have to rely on collaborations with several other teams. And he always managed to win stages.

    Sorry, but I cannot ever see Contador climb as brilliantly as he did in his early career again now that he has this 'winning formula' - and that I think is very sad. If riding 100% defensively, never attacking and never getting off the wheel shows class then cadel Evans must be the classiest rider in the sport :roll:

    But each to their own, eh? Guess i just have different expectations from a GC rider to you MG.

    Oh come on every great GT rider in the history of the sport has relied other teams at some point in their career Big MIg was no differerent as was lance just as Guido Trenti Anyway. obviously you think Bertie was at 100% and did not have abroken bone in his arm well you know best i suppose , all the evidence points to him being under par as he states he hadnt started his mountain training yet it was only last year he was climbing brilliantly so i dont know what you mean by this earlier in his career stuff. Sometime riding defensively is all you can do and this was one of those occasions it says a lot for him he still won the race as i say he has class in abundance to pull that off. GTs are won in many different ways and he has won two if his in different ways he may now go the Vuelta and attack and win there what will you say then ? In an ideal world all GT wins would be by the winner blasting off on fausto Coppi like solos and winning stages by 15 mins but we dont live in an ideal world unfortunately

    cheers
    Mg
    Gasping - but somehow still alive !
  • moray_gub
    moray_gub Posts: 3,328
    donrhummy wrote:
    micron wrote:
    I think professional racing must be in a poor state if Contador is truly the greatest GT rider in the sport - especially after his pitiful display at the Giro. If that's the way a grand champion races these days then the sport really has lost its way.

    You mean as opposed to it's glory days in 1990 when Greg Lemond won the TDF without winning a single stage? :roll: :roll: :roll:

    Just because he didn't win a single stage doesn't mean he didn't ride a tough, hard fought, intelligent, great race. Remember that he soundly beat the other GC guys in the TT's (because Giro riders tend to be more mountain-oriented given the insane mountain stages) but there were a few TT specialists who did a little better. And he rode quite strong in the mountains but there happened to be a guy (Sella) who simply rode like a Rasmussen on a mission there but was destroyed in the TT's. Not winning a stage simply means there were some specialists in each area. Remember the GC is not all about being the best at everything but about being the cumulatively-best at many things.


    Excellent post.

    cheers
    MG
    Gasping - but somehow still alive !
  • moray_gub
    moray_gub Posts: 3,328
    micron wrote:
    I feel sorry for you those of you that feel this was a performance worthy of a Grand Champion - you are obviously fully paid up members of the Astana cult because you swallow their BS hook line and sinker :lol:

    Bet you had an unhealthy hatred for Discovery Channel as well .

    cheers
    MG
    Gasping - but somehow still alive !
  • Arkibal
    Arkibal Posts: 850
    Moray Gub wrote:
    donrhummy wrote:
    micron wrote:
    I think professional racing must be in a poor state if Contador is truly the greatest GT rider in the sport - especially after his pitiful display at the Giro. If that's the way a grand champion races these days then the sport really has lost its way.

    You mean as opposed to it's glory days in 1990 when Greg Lemond won the TDF without winning a single stage? :roll: :roll: :roll:

    Just because he didn't win a single stage doesn't mean he didn't ride a tough, hard fought, intelligent, great race. Remember that he soundly beat the other GC guys in the TT's (because Giro riders tend to be more mountain-oriented given the insane mountain stages) but there were a few TT specialists who did a little better. And he rode quite strong in the mountains but there happened to be a guy (Sella) who simply rode like a Rasmussen on a mission there but was destroyed in the TT's. Not winning a stage simply means there were some specialists in each area. Remember the GC is not all about being the best at everything but about being the cumulatively-best at many things.


    Excellent post.

    cheers
    MG

    agreed.
  • Arkibal
    Arkibal Posts: 850
    Moray Gub wrote:
    micron wrote:
    I feel sorry for you those of you that feel this was a performance worthy of a Grand Champion - you are obviously fully paid up members of the Astana cult because you swallow their BS hook line and sinker :lol:

    Bet you had an unhealthy hatred for Discovery Channel as well .

    cheers
    MG

    Isn't that obvious???
    micron has shown us what he/she has- a micro brain, obsessed about everything involving LA, JB, USP/Disco/Astana/Contador.....
    Man, that's not healthy.........
    Go and join whatever cult helps you micron, CF is a good start! :twisted:
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    Arkibal wrote:
    micron has shown us what he/she has- a micro brain, obsessed about everything involving LA, JB, USP/Disco/Astana/Contador.....
    Man, that's not healthy.........
    Go and join whatever cult helps you micron, CF is a good start! :twisted:

    There you go again.
    First accusing both Micron and me of being obssessed with doping, while starting a thread on the ASO's tough guidelines for Tour testing, having just posted another dope driven message.

    Now, on the strength of MG suggesting Micron, might have disliked Discovery, he has an obssessive hatred of all things JB.

    Judging by the number of threads and text, that this family tree generates, there is a an obssession here, but it certainly isn't of hatred.

    When you start adopting a position on a forum, which through it's nature, relies on the exchange of free dialogue, by asking someone to go elsewhere, constructive debate goes out of the window.
    You seem to be asking for a climate whereby it is somehow illegal to question anything regarding JB et al.
    Now, that's a dictatorship. That's really obssessive.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,549
    Arkibal wrote:
    Isn't that obvious???
    micron has shown us what he/she has- a micro brain, obsessed about everything involving LA, JB, USP/Disco/Astana/Contador.....
    Man, that's not healthy.........
    Go and join whatever cult helps you micron, CF is a good start! :twisted:
    Is there really a need to resort to personal insults? You may not like what someone posts but it's best to have a constructive discussion with them about it or simply not get involved in that particular discussion.
  • secretsqirrel
    secretsqirrel Posts: 2,123
    Discussion on the forum has become very polarised in a way I don't recall happening prior to around the beginning of May this year.

    Sure, there has always been disagreements and the usual banter. But there has usually been an element of mutual respect, because we enjoy the sport of cycling.

    But just lately there has been an increase in name calling (fanboys? that one is new to me), and generally getting people's backs up. It is not on to dismiss a person's point of view by accusing them of belonging to a JB worshipping cult, just because they might have something positive to say about a particular team. On this forum, at least, there has always been a healthy scepticism regarding the Bruyneel/Armstrong legacy.

    For goodness sake, I have seen Iainf being accused of being an Astana 'fanboy', and a UCI supporter! Most of us are aware that no-one is out of scope of his scrutiny, and critique.

    Unfortunately this takes away from the fact that contributors to this forum tend to be knowledgeable, dedicated and capable of careful analysis. I've learned a lot, from reading this site long before joined up. Don't spoil it!

    Now where is the emoticon with a Halo? :wink:
  • moray_gub
    moray_gub Posts: 3,328
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    Arkibal wrote:

    You seem to be asking for a climate whereby it is somehow illegal to question anything regarding JB et al.
    Now, that's a dictatorship. That's really obssessive.


    Arkibal can speak for himself but for me you gotta admit there are certain posters in here who are consumed with rage when it comes to JB et al . Some of the criticism Astana gets quite frankly borders on the absolute ridiculous. Each to their own of course and posters are well entitled to hold that opinion but other posters are also well entitled to cast critical comment.

    cheers
    MG
    Gasping - but somehow still alive !
  • timoid.
    timoid. Posts: 3,133
    andyp wrote:
    Arkibal wrote:
    Isn't that obvious???
    micron has shown us what he/she has- a micro brain, obsessed about everything involving LA, JB, USP/Disco/Astana/Contador.....
    Man, that's not healthy.........
    Go and join whatever cult helps you micron, CF is a good start! :twisted:
    Is there really a need to resort to personal insults? You may not like what someone posts but it's best to have a constructive discussion with them about it or simply not get involved in that particular discussion.

    Agreed. Lets not get personal here.

    I have to say that I thought Contador's performance was classy. He was clearly only 80% there and had a gimped elbow and still hung tough. Its one of the great GT performances. Admittedly not one to set the pulses racing, but an extraordinary feat nonetheless.

    I would been more displeased had he raced away from everyone like an extra terrestrial.
    It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    Yes, indeed.
    Let's hope that as the Tour approaches, we can debates the merits of those present and not continue to speculate on what might have been.
    It will soon be time to put this whole Astana, Disco, LA, JB, AC, haters/lovers thing on the back burner.

    Let's also hope for a worthy winner and plenty of excitment along the way.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • moray_gub
    moray_gub Posts: 3,328
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    Yes, indeed.
    Let's hope that as the Tour approaches, we can debates the merits of those present and not continue to speculate on what might have been.
    It will soon be time to put this whole Astana, Disco, LA, JB, AC, haters/lovers thing on the back burner.
    .

    Sure but when the tour is under way people are always going to speculate what would have happened if so and so was there etc etc, thats what debate is all about. Put parameters in place about what folk can and cannot discuss and you are stifling debate.

    cheers
    MG
    Gasping - but somehow still alive !
  • flattythehurdler
    flattythehurdler Posts: 2,314
    The lad is employed to win, not to cycle in a manner considered exciting by the likes of us. if I was paying the bills I would encourage him to cycle in whatever way required to win the GT's. Give him a break (as long as the playing field is level at the top) ((sort of))
    Dan
  • secretsqirrel
    secretsqirrel Posts: 2,123
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    It will soon be time to put this whole Astana, Disco, LA, JB, AC, haters/lovers thing on the back burner.

    I think you instigated that one yourself Blaze

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