Contador's schedule

rick_chasey

For Contador the Ardennes mean Waloon arrow and LBL. So no enormous loss, but I enjoy seeing big GC ridefs giving one dayers a good go.

dave_1

I hope he gives up doping so we can see where he stands. He had an echo positive (fuente's words of warning to to Tyler)...the guy is a total liar and invisible to me in any results this year

Pross

OCDuPalais wrote:

He's scared of JTL

Isn't everyone? I read on some blog called intheGC or summit that he's the most exciting rider ever to come into cycling and will win everything in the next few years

LeicesterLad

Pross wrote:

OCDuPalais wrote:

He's scared of JTL

Isn't everyone? I read on some blog called intheGC or summit that he's the most exciting rider ever to come into cycling and will win everything in the next few years

That sounds like a really good blog.....

Richmond Racer

LeicesterLad wrote:

Pross wrote:

OCDuPalais wrote:

He's scared of JTL

Isn't everyone? I read on some blog called intheGC or summit that he's the most exciting rider ever to come into cycling and will win everything in the next few years

That sounds like a really good blog.....

In shockingly non-JTL-related news...I enjoyed your post on PK btw

micron

Contador going down the race less train more route just likecarmstrong, eh?

LeicesterLad

Richmond Racer wrote:

LeicesterLad wrote:

Pross wrote:

OCDuPalais wrote:

He's scared of JTL

Isn't everyone? I read on some blog called intheGC or summit that he's the most exciting rider ever to come into cycling and will win everything in the next few years

That sounds like a really good blog.....

In shockingly non-JTL-related news...I enjoyed your post on PK btw

Thanks.

frenchfighter

micron wrote:

Contador going down the race less train more route just likecarmstrong, eh?

Not really. There are a lot of races in between. He is also likely to race the Vuelta.

And he will go into all of the looking for the win or at least to test himself hard.

Lance's palmares outside of the Tour are pitiful.

Pross

Lance's palmares are pitiful full stop, won nothing after 1998 after showing some promise with a win in the worlds and Fleche plus a Tour stage win as a youngster. One of these riders that never lived up to their early potential by the look of it

LeicesterLad

Pross wrote:

Lance's palmares are pitiful full stop, won nothing after 1998 after showing some promise with a win in the worlds and Fleche plus a Tour stage win as a youngster. One of these riders that never lived up to their early potential by the look of it

ddraver

Very good sir!

micron

Pitiful? Or piti.ful?

micron

Frenchfighter: I agree re: AC attitude to racing - he always turns up to win. Be interesting to watch this season - as someone commented he won the vuelta between his ears, not by making his mountain attacks stick. I hope there's an opportunity to see him and wiggins go Mano a Mano just to contrast their 2 very different styles and approaches to preparation

frenchfighter

Absolutely agree re Wiggins vs Contador. Not sure it will happen when they are both peaking though so may be slightly skewed.

I only hope he does up ended racing the Vuelta, even it is to go for stage wins or polka dots (unlikely I know).

The Vuelta last year he had half his legs given he had no racing prior just some hardcore training. Will see him at full strength this year.

rick_chasey

The more I think about that Vuelta stage, the more I think JRod lost it rather than Contador won it. Sure it was daring but he lost so much of the time gained on the final climb 》one that wouldn't suit JRod anyway. Tactic paid off since JRod was rubbish that day.

Macaloon

I think fighting spirit* is Contador's most admirable characteristic. Post-Giro, possibly injured, probably going to lose (and facing an almost inevitable ban), he still magnificently gambled the house on the 2011 Alpe stage.

I think it's possible to hold views like this while acknowledging that he has a doping conviction and participated in a farcical attempt to avoid responsibility.

*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0W__FNIGwA Just one example sorry 'bout P&P

Pross

If you're looking for a rider who always turns up to win then surely Wiggins last year is the man for you?

Macaloon

No question. From the 2012 Vuelta, Wiggins was awesome. It's worth a look back at the "Can Wiggins win Tour" threads - peaking too early, can't survive 3rd week, will crack under pressure, a diesel not a coupe... - for perspective on how few believed he would do it. And I think that much of the abuse being hurled at Sky is down to their temerity at proving so many people wrong - "Clean British Tour Winner in 5 years".

I was just pointing out that despite Contador's flaws (trying to avoid a ban the biggest IMO), I can't help admiring his extravagant balls.

ddraver

Pross wrote:

If you're looking for a rider who always turns up to win then surely Wiggins last year is the man for you?

Home run for you!

nathancom

Macaloon wrote:

I can't help admiring his extravagant balls.

That makes it sound like his stones are painted purple and covered in gold brocade...

Being doped up makes it a whole lot easier to look effortlessly superior especially when he undoubtably has a top class engine naturally.

feltkuota

nathancom wrote:

Macaloon wrote:

I can't help admiring his extravagant balls.

That makes it sound like his stones are painted purple and covered in gold brocade...

Being doped up makes it a whole lot easier to look effortlessly superior especially when he undoubtably has a top class engine naturally.

Certainly a different spin on meat and two veg.

Macaloon

nathancom wrote:

Macaloon wrote:

I can't help admiring his extravagant balls.

That makes it sound like his stones are painted purple and covered in gold brocade...

Being doped up makes it a whole lot easier to look effortlessly superior especially when he undoubtably has a top class engine naturally.

Cycling's Liberace? Was thinking more about willingness to risk complete failure (rather than settle for top 5), than his flamboyant style on the bike which I agree may be 'enhanced'.

frenchfighter

He will miss Criterium International which is annoying:

“Severe weather suffered in these races with cold and rain most of the days have affected the health of the Saxo-Tinkoff leader,” read the statement. “Alberto Contador, along with Bjarne Riis and team doctors have decided that the best thing to do right now is to recover quietly to resume training as soon as possible.”

Pross

Thought he preferred it cold and usually struggles in the summer with allergies?

frenchfighter

He does in terms of how his legs and lungs respond. Doesn't matter how much talent you have, you can still pick up a cold.

skylla

frenchfighter wrote:

He will miss Criterium International which is annoying:

“Severe weather suffered in these races with cold and rain most of the days have affected the health of the Saxo-Tinkoff leader,” read the statement. “Alberto Contador, along with Bjarne Riis and team doctors have decided that the best thing to do right now is to recover quietly to resume training as soon as possible.”

So this is where our Heavyweight Champion's training in snow and icy conditions doesn't pay off then? You think he would be used to a bit of cold and rain by now!

inkyfingers

Froome for the win then.

We all get ill.

frenchfighter

Contador is racing FW and LBL.

RichN95.

frenchfighter wrote:

Contador is racing FW and LBL.

Making sure that Kreuziger doesn't get any ideas above his station.

joelsim

I can't believe anyone thinks AC doesn't dope. Really? Have you been living in a cave?