Volta a Catalunya 2012 *Spoilers*

Tusher

Gulp.
A 137 mile training ride. And is that snow at the side of the road?

frenchfighter

inkyfingers

I guess one of the few good things about being banned for cheating and having no team is that you get to wear whatever you like, even better you have time to design your own range of naff clothes with your name and "logo" on them. We've already had Livestrong, now it can be "Steakstrong" or maybe "Accountants Own".

rick_chasey

I would genuinely love to know what kit pros would LIKE to wear.

Even guys like Contador presumably still get kit sponsorship deals, even out of competition on a ban.

Judging by amateurs, you'd think they'd all only wear assos and rapha.

inkyfingers

Rick Chasey wrote:

I would genuinely love to know what kit pros would LIKE to wear.

Even guys like Contador presumably still get kit sponsorship deals, even out of competition on a ban.

Judging by amateurs, you'd think they'd all only wear assos and rapha.

Wiggins would like to ride wearing a Parka

Cav would wear a very shiny Italian suit

Oscar Friere would wear a scruffy pair of jeans because he forgot to bring his best clothes

Andy Schleck would wear his favourite spiderman pyjamas

frenchfighter

The jersey, made by Sportful, bears the logo of the Contador Foundation and is inscribed messages of support sent by fans during the last few months.

FYI
The Alberto Contador Foundation support research into brain strokes. It also supports younger cyclists.
http://albertocontador.org/fundacion-co ... fundacion/

We are a nonprofit foundation that has two distinct main objectives:
OBJECTIVE 1: Ciclying promotion
1.1 In general, any activity that promote, encourage, disseminate and develop cycling.
1.2 Distribution of bicycles in disadvantaged areas.
1.3 To improve the knowledge and awareness of the society about cycling as a source of health.
1.4 Promote the regular use of bicycles as a means of locomotion and transport.
OBJECTIVE 2: Fight against stroke
2.1 Raise awareness in the general population and health authorities about the enormous health impact of stroke.
2.2 Improve knowledge than the general population has of stroke, especially what are its symptoms, preventive measures and how to act when it occurs.
2.3 Assist to patients with stroke for having a better neurological care.
2.4 In general, any beneficial activity to raise awareness of the stroke.

Thanks for your support and interest.
Alberto Contador Velasco

No further comments from me are necessary.

inkyfingers

Frenchie, I'm sure the aims of the foundation are very genuine, but you have to understand why as cycling fans we might be just a little bit cynical when it comes to a prominent cyclist which setting up charitable foundations named after themselves.

The part that irks me slightly is that by having the foundation's logo on the jersey as well as messages from his fans he's blurring the lines between the charity and his own personal cause.

frenchfighter

He was likely given the jersey, didn't commission it etc. That foundation has been around for a while, not just a few months.

This foundation is not so similar to livestrong.

There is no way Contador is using this for his own means.

Either way I'd prefer a charitable organisation that has some close connection to the rider than no foundation.

--

Video of Contador talking about the jersey (and looking stylish and in superb form on the bike):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otK44lgxUos

Monty Zoncolan

Did anyone else have the misfortune to record any of the stages on Eurosport HD? The last three days all had the final few kilometres cut off through poor time scheduling.

inkyfingers

Monty Zoncolan wrote:

Did anyone else have the misfortune to record any of the stages on Eurosport HD? The last three days all had the final few kilometres cut off through poor time scheduling.

Basic rule of recording anything on Eurosport, always record the program after the one you want as well.

To be fair it's not always Eursosports fault, sometimes they just cycle more slowly than expected. Also one stage at Catalunya was delayed by a road accident.

greasedscotsman

inkyfingers wrote:

Monty Zoncolan wrote:

Did anyone else have the misfortune to record any of the stages on Eurosport HD? The last three days all had the final few kilometres cut off through poor time scheduling.

Basic rule of recording anything on Eurosport, always record the program after the one you want as well.

To be fair it's not always Eursosports fault, sometimes they just cycle more slowly than expected. Also one stage at Catalunya was delayed by a road accident.

Doesn't the latest Sky recorder carry on recording? That's what the engineer told me when he installed it a couple of weeks ago. If the program overruns or is delayed, the box will adapt to this and still record.

inkyfingers

frenchfighter wrote:

He was likely given the jersey, didn't commission it etc. That foundation has been around for a while, not just a few months.

This foundation is not so similar to livestrong.

There is no way Contador is using this for his own means.

Either way I'd prefer a charitable organisation that has some close connection to the rider than no foundation.

--

Video of Contador talking about the jersey (and looking stylish and in superb form on the bike):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otK44lgxUos

Not trying to start an argument Frenchie, but in the video he says he designed the jersey with the manufacturer.

Looking around the website it's part fan site and part charity website (and that's a small part), I would feel more comfortable if the two things were kept seperate. You say it's different to Livestrong and that he's not using it for his own means, but what makes you say this...it looks like a very similar set up to me (albeit less polished).

I am all for famous people using their fame to raise money for good causes, but there needs to be a clear line between the activities of the charity and the promotion of the person. As somebody who works with charities on a day to day basis in my professional capacity I also feel that people setting up endless new charities is rather inneficient and often has a fair amount of ego attached to it. It would probably be far more effective if he leant his support to charities that are already active in those areas whose set up costs have already been paid, would allow more money to go directly towards their charitable aims. You only have to look at a list of UK charities, there are countless charities all doing roughly the same thing, all paying for their own buildings, staff to administer them, websites, advertising etc.

I'm not just making this point about Contador, he may be a cheat but I get the feeling he's a decent guy really but i'm a very cynical person.

roypsb

Monty Zoncolan wrote:

Did anyone else have the misfortune to record any of the stages on Eurosport HD? The last three days all had the final few kilometres cut off through poor time scheduling.

Yep - same problem for me too! Will take the advice offered and record the programme immediately afterwards in future.

frenchfighter

Inky, fair points and in the main I agree with you. There should be some Charity conglomerates rather that itsy bitsy here and there as is very cost inefficient and not as trust worthy.

Contador is certainly a good guy and a humble one. Liking stylish kit doesn't mean you aren't.

Also, one of his brothers has a severe brain disease (I do not remember the name of the common issue) and so has a personal link to the charity (as most do I guess). He has spent much time looking after him when he was younger and even now. Like I say he has been doing this a long time and I strongly doubt this is a promotional thing.

He has an incredible amount of fans and I am sure they are keen to see the sort of thing on the website, even if Contador is not the man behind it. He cares a lot about his fans (obv you can be cycnical about this).

Re being on the same site - as this foundation is not publicised, I guess the best way to bring it to people's intentions is to place it where people will go (his site). As far as I can remember, the site has been heavily redesigned this year and the foundation link wasnt obvious (I heard of it via other means).

Re him designing, I don't understand Spanish, and I assume he means they contacted him and he said this colour that colour. He may have contacted them instead about it, but I don't know.

mfin

inkyfingers wrote:

Frenchie, I'm sure the aims of the foundation are very genuine, but you have to understand why as cycling fans we might be just a little bit cynical when it comes to a prominent cyclist which setting up charitable foundations named after themselves.

The part that irks me slightly is that by having the foundation's logo on the jersey as well as messages from his fans he's blurring the lines between the charity and his own personal cause.

+1 ...but also blurring the lines when he is a convicted doper.

He put no effort into clearing puerto links properly with DNA permissions.

Also, the non-profit side of things, well, there's so many charities where individuals profit through high wages/expenses or self-promotion which raises their profile and hence likelyhood of being sought out for commercial contracts and associations.

Monty Zoncolan

inkyfingers wrote:

Monty Zoncolan wrote:

Did anyone else have the misfortune to record any of the stages on Eurosport HD? The last three days all had the final few kilometres cut off through poor time scheduling.

Basic rule of recording anything on Eurosport, always record the program after the one you want as well.

To be fair it's not always Eursosports fault, sometimes they just cycle more slowly than expected. Also one stage at Catalunya was delayed by a road accident.

They can put a man on the moon, etc etc.

Tusher

His younger brother has cerebral palsy.

Leaving the steak issue aside, (if possible) Alberto appears to have a loyal and pleasant personality. I admire his devotion to his family (although I do think that sacking or sidelining big bro Fran could have been advantageous to him) and his home town of Pinto, and he never made a big hue and cry about his own brain cavernoma, just quietly got on with it, but his fund raising just seems more honest than Livestrong. And any man who cares for his budgies must be ok.


And yes, before it's pointed out, I know that Tyler Hamilton is a very, very, very nice man. And so's his twin.