Contador trashes Leipheimer!

donrhummy
donrhummy Posts: 2,329
edited September 2008 in Pro race
Wow, I just lost a lot of respect for him. Levi could have won but he rode as the perfect teammate, not attacking on the climb when Sastre was with him because he'd have pulled him up to Contador.

http://www.velonews.com/article/83526/c ... -armstrong
Contador also had some pointed remarks about teammate Levi Leipheimer, who finished 46 seconds back in second place (when asked whether Leipheimer worked for himself or for Contador.)

“I will only say that it’s not normal that someone that is supposed to be working for you finishes less than one minute back in the GC,” Contador said. “If Navacerrada had been 20km more, I don’t know what would have happened.”
...
When asked about the key stages in Asturias, Contador didn’t hold any punches.

“He pulled a little (at Angliru), but Valverde attacked very early and dropped him,” he said. “It was a delicate situation (at Fuentes de Invierno). If I was alone with Mosquera, I would have let him win, but considering how things were, it was important to take the bonuses.”

The reporter asked who is the biggest wheel-sucker, Leipheimer or Cadel Evans?

“Uff, mmm, the truth is, I wouldn’t know what to say …,” Contador said, leaving it with a smile.

Here's another translation of the inerview that makes him sound even worse/more bitter.

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/Con ... 68358.html
During the interview, Contador was asked whether Leipheimer, who finished the Tour of Spain 46 seconds behind the Spaniard, worked for himself or for Contador.

“I'll only say it's not normal that somebody who's worked for you finishes the race less than a minute down,” Contador argued.

“If the final time trial [won by Leipheimer] had been 20 kilometres longer, I don't know what would have happened.”

When it was pointed out that Leipheimer did work for Contador on the Angliru, the Spaniard responded: “yes, but only a little, before [rival Alejandro] Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) attacked and he got dropped.

“At Fuentes de Invierno [the next summit finish, where Contador and Leipheimer followed rival Ezequiel Mosquera (Xacobeo-Galicia) up the road], it was complicated.”

Comments

  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,549
    If Leipheimer had been a genuine rival then Contador would have modified his tactics so let's not start the "Levi would have won" discussion.

    He makes fair points. Having a team mate in 2nd place on GC is complicated and I didn't see Leipheimer doing much in the way of work for Contador.
  • gabriel959
    gabriel959 Posts: 4,227
    As a Spaniard I can say that the first translation is more literal.
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  • timoid.
    timoid. Posts: 3,133
    Agree with Andy. Levi rode for Levi mainly. Which is fair enough given how close he was to Contador.

    I feel sorry for EZ. He should have been left the stage.
    It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.
  • moray_gub
    moray_gub Posts: 3,328
    Timoid. wrote:
    Agree with Andy. Levi rode for Levi mainly. Which is fair enough given how close he was to Contador.

    I feel sorry for EZ. He should have been left the stage.


    I disagree with this he if he wasnt strong enough to win the stage by himself why should he have been left with it ? I reckon EZ went off with intention of gaining time on Sastre the stage win wasnt his priority at that time.

    cheers
    MG
    Gasping - but somehow still alive !
  • sicrow
    sicrow Posts: 791
    So Levi leaving Astana to join up with Lance and Johan then :idea:
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  • victorponf
    victorponf Posts: 1,187
    I think Levi behaved as a gentleman, I don´t agree with Contador........except he just work for himself, but Contador need his help to win? I think not
    If you like Flandes, Roubaix or Eroica, you would like GP Canal de Castilla, www.gpcanaldecastilla.com
  • donrhummy
    donrhummy Posts: 2,329
    sicrow wrote:
    So Levi leaving Astana to join up with Lance and Johan then :idea:

    That was my thought too. :shock:
  • OffTheBackAdam
    OffTheBackAdam Posts: 1,869
    Always a bad idea having two genuine contenders in the same team, no matter what sport!
    Hinault/Lemond
    Senna/Prost
    Remember that you are an Englishman and thus have won first prize in the lottery of life.
  • donrhummy
    donrhummy Posts: 2,329
    OffTheBackAdam wrote:
    Always a bad idea having two genuine contenders in the same team, no matter what sport!
    Hinault/Lemond
    Senna/Prost

    Really? Didn't they win the TDF?
  • calvjones
    calvjones Posts: 3,850
    donrhummy wrote:
    OffTheBackAdam wrote:
    Always a bad idea having two genuine contenders in the same team, no matter what sport!
    Hinault/Lemond
    Senna/Prost

    Really? Didn't they win the TDF?

    I know Prost goes quite well in the Etape, but I'm not sure he's at that level.
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  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    donrhummy wrote:
    OffTheBackAdam wrote:
    Always a bad idea having two genuine contenders in the same team, no matter what sport!
    Hinault/Lemond
    Senna/Prost

    Really? Didn't they win the TDF?
    Senna and Prost? I suppose the average Lance fan would have to look it up on Wiki. :roll:
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • guv001
    guv001 Posts: 688
    What about the Shleck/Sastre situation this summer..
  • moray_gub
    moray_gub Posts: 3,328
    calvjones wrote:
    donrhummy wrote:
    OffTheBackAdam wrote:
    Always a bad idea having two genuine contenders in the same team, no matter what sport!
    Hinault/Lemond
    Senna/Prost

    Really? Didn't they win the TDF?

    I know Prost goes quite well in the Etape, but I'm not sure he's at that level.

    Dunno about that according to some in here a wee bit of EPO turns you into a GT winner .

    cheers
    MG
    Gasping - but somehow still alive !
  • moray_gub
    moray_gub Posts: 3,328
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    donrhummy wrote:
    OffTheBackAdam wrote:
    Always a bad idea having two genuine contenders in the same team, no matter what sport!
    Hinault/Lemond
    Senna/Prost

    Really? Didn't they win the TDF?
    Senna and Prost? I suppose the average Lance fan would have to look it up on Wiki. :roll:

    Are you implying that you somehow have more intellectual capabilities than an average Lance fan ? whatever that may be...........

    cheers
    MG
    Gasping - but somehow still alive !
  • donrhummy
    donrhummy Posts: 2,329
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    donrhummy wrote:
    OffTheBackAdam wrote:
    Always a bad idea having two genuine contenders in the same team, no matter what sport!
    Hinault/Lemond
    Senna/Prost

    Really? Didn't they win the TDF?
    Senna and Prost? I suppose the average Lance fan would have to look it up on Wiki. :roll:

    Jeez, obviously I meant Lemond/Hinault! :roll: Or did you not know they won in 1986?

    And actually, I was a huge fan of Alain Prost but that's a different sport.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    edited September 2008
    donrhummy wrote:
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    donrhummy wrote:
    OffTheBackAdam wrote:
    Always a bad idea having two genuine contenders in the same team, no matter what sport!
    Hinault/Lemond
    Senna/Prost

    Really? Didn't they win the TDF?
    Senna and Prost? I suppose the average Lance fan would have to look it up on Wiki. :roll:

    Jeez, obviously I meant Lemond/Hinault! :roll: Or did you not know they won in 1986?

    You just can't help opening your mouth and putting you foot in it. :oops: The didn't both win in 1986, LeMond did. Hinault's last win was in 1985.
    I know, it's that team thing. Just don't try telling the badger he won the Tour in 1986.
    Lance coming back has obviously got you over excited. Better go and lie down. :wink:
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • donrhummy
    donrhummy Posts: 2,329
    edited September 2008
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    donrhummy wrote:
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    donrhummy wrote:
    OffTheBackAdam wrote:
    Always a bad idea having two genuine contenders in the same team, no matter what sport!
    Hinault/Lemond
    Senna/Prost

    Really? Didn't they win the TDF?
    Senna and Prost? I suppose the average Lance fan would have to look it up on Wiki. :roll:

    Jeez, obviously I meant Lemond/Hinault! :roll: Or did you not know they won in 1986?

    You just can't help opening your mouth and putting you foot in it. :oops: The didn't both win in 1986, LeMond did. Hinault's last win was in 1985.
    Lance coming back has obviously got you over excited. Better go and lie down. :wink:

    LOL, you don't even know the meaning of the original post! It said it was a bad idea for a TEAM to have two leaders. And I pointed out that the TEAM won the TDF with two leaders. So it was NOT a bad thing for a team to have two guys who both want to win the TDF.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    Sorry, you beat me to my edit, so I'll re-post. Slow down!
    I know, it's that team thing. Just don't try telling "the badger "he won the Tour in 1986.

    Oh and another edit. I NEVER said it, though it's true. Check out the original poster. Time for a LOL from me, I think.:wink:
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • donrhummy
    donrhummy Posts: 2,329
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    Sorry, you beat me to my edit, so I'll re-post. Slow down!
    I know, it's that team thing. Just don't try telling "the badger "he won the Tour in 1986.

    Oh and another edit. I NEVER said it, though it's true. Check out the original poster. Time for a LOL from me, I think.:wink:

    Ah, so we were both wrong. Well, LOL's all around then. ;)

    But my point still stands, it can be quite a successful choice for a team.

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