Contador On Wiggins/Froome/Schleck/His Form

LeicesterLad

Not to everyones taste but it's coming up to Contador fanboi season and i'm getting excited - here's latest from the man.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-im-where-i-want-to-be

PS. Contador haters - I know the last quote in the interview is going to make you grumpy - just ignore it

Crozza

Bit worrying that he only talks about a plan put in place 2 months ago - would have hoped it would have been a bit of a longer build up than that

as an aside, in the photos I've seen his own-brand kit looks quite nice, but I've never seen it for sale anywhere...

Daz555

The last comment in the interview is hard to ignore.

frenchfighter

Crozza wrote:

Bit worrying that he only talks about a plan put in place 2 months ago - would have hoped it would have been a bit of a longer build up than that

as an aside, in the photos I've seen his own-brand kit looks quite nice, but I've never seen it for sale anywhere...

The white and blue one?

Alberto Contador’s custom jersey, the one covered with messages of support from fans, is available for purchase now. The many fans who have expressed interest in the Contador Foundation kit can buy it now in specialty shops that carry the Sportful brand, as well as in the best online cycling shops.

Purchases of the jersey, identical to the one Contador has been wearing this year during hard training for his comeback and campaign to win the Vuelta a España, will help to support the charitable initiatives of the Contador Foundation. Part of the profits will go to the fight against stroke, and to promote cycling for young people and as a means of sustainable transportation.
http://albertocontador.org/en/blog/ya-e ... -contador/

Alberto Contador is training in a new jersey, one that he says is “very special to me and more motivating to me than any other.” 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.
Alberto has felt a desire to say thanks to his fans for their warm and unconditional support, so he’s searched out a very special way to that, one that allows him to carry the encouragement of his fans with him at all times. “Your support is helping me to sacrifice even more,” says Alberto, who, with this new jersey, feels more motivated than ever.


The messages have been sent by fans from all over the world to his website, as well as via Twitter and Facebook. They’re printed in four languages – Spanish, English, Italian and French – according to their land of origin. Alberto is especially proud of how much his fans care for him, and wanted to respond in a symbolic manner. “This jersey will make training be not just for me; it will also make it be a way to thank all of you for the great support you’ve given me. Until August 6, when I start riding again,” he says, “this will be my jersey, and it will help me not to train alone.”
http://albertocontador.org/en/blog/albe ... enamiento/

frenchfighter wrote:

Photos:
http://www.steephill.tv/2012/alberto-co ... s/page-01/

6hrs solo over three mountains. Heavyweight.

After topping the Tourmalet, Alberto – who arrived to the applause of a large group of fans – said that it had been "a very long, hard day, because we ended up leaving a little late (at noon), and doing a stage like this gets pretty long when you do it solo."

Alberto emphasized that, during the 6+ hours of pedaling, he had "very good memories when I passed each place. I really liked the experience, plus we had good luck with the weather."

Alberto said that he particularly remembered "the attacks that Andy Schleck and I did on the Tourmalet. FLEX´s idea has left me with a great feeling."

Contador said that he felt very well throughout the day, "very comfortable," he said, "even though I knew I had to pace myself, because these are very demanding climbs," and especially because "I only started preparing for the Vuelta a España two weeks ago. But I'm the kind of rider that doesn't lose much form, and even though there were 4,600 vertical meters, I've been able to do pretty well."

About the three mountains that he climbed today, Alberto indicated that, of course, "the Tourmalet is hardest, because it's the final one and because of the number of kilometers, but it's also the most enjoyable, even though the Marie Blanque is also noteworthy."

Hours of video of the ride: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UClamBSj ... ture=watch

Crozza

hmmm thought there was more a range - I recall seeing some photos of him training on his TT bike and I thought he had it on then

maddog 2

Can't see him doing much in the TdF myself. Shame, because he is good to watch.

Has he won anything outside Spain since he was busted for doping?

frenchfighter

maddog 2 wrote:

Has he won anything outside Spain since he was busted for doping?

2013
http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/ri ... &current=0
2012
http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/ri ... &current=0

slowbike

The beefed-up squad

Got to wonder at the journalists thought processes when he penned the above phrase ...

I'm in two minds about repentant dopers - should they be given a second chance? Even if caught now?
For non-repentant dopers (where its a clear case of doping) they shouldn't be allowed to race again.

Q is, is Contador clean? Was he to blame when he got the doping ban ... because if he was, he's an unrepentant rider .. if not, he's just one unlucky bloke. I'd like to believe him ... but can't quite bring myself to do so.

TBH, I don't give too hoots to who wins TDF - so long as it's a clean rider/team.

Paulie W

Daz555 wrote:

The last comment in the interview is hard to ignore.

I think it's pretty much unforgiveable - at least the way it's presented in the article. The notion that it's what he and those around him think that matters is stunningly arrogant and misjudges how many people view his +ive. He surely needs to recognise that the ban and retrospective removal of his TdF win - even if he genuinely didnt dope - effects the way the world view him and his performances and acknowldege that fact.

lloyd_bower

Paulie W wrote:

Daz555 wrote:

The last comment in the interview is hard to ignore.

I think it's pretty much unforgiveable - at least the way it's presented in the article. The notion that it's what he and those around him think that matters is stunningly arrogant and misjudges how many people view his +ive. He surely needs to recognise that the ban and retrospective removal of his TdF win - even if he genuinely didnt dope - effects the way the world view him and his performances and acknowldege that fact.

The arrogant attitude of convicted doper, are little different to that of Lance Armstrong. Nevermind not being the 2010 tour winner, he should have has many tours in the record book as Armstrong, none. His 2010 effort wasn't his only dope aided effort, the duels with Rasmussen in '07 are laughable.
There's little surprise how much nearer the pack Contador is post is post doping ban. As much chance he'd genuinely didn't dope as Armstrong.

Dorset_Boy

He's consistent - his 7 fingered salute at the end of the Vuelta when he knows that the record books show 5 GTs, and the end of the article comment.

Had the proper evidence been allowed then he'd have had a proper ban, not the half hearted effort he was given.

symo

Not exactly on fire in the criterium though.

TMR

I liked these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szLGtG_yQzo

&

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRpr4hk-z7Y

The speed he arrives at the summit of the Tourmalet is just insane - at least 20 times faster than when I did it

Vino'sGhost

lloyd bower wrote:

Paulie W wrote:

Daz555 wrote:

The last comment in the interview is hard to ignore.

I think it's pretty much unforgiveable - at least the way it's presented in the article. The notion that it's what he and those around him think that matters is stunningly arrogant and misjudges how many people view his +ive. He surely needs to recognise that the ban and retrospective removal of his TdF win - even if he genuinely didnt dope - effects the way the world view him and his performances and acknowldege that fact.

The arrogant attitude of convicted doper, are little different to that of Lance Armstrong. Nevermind not being the 2010 tour winner, he should have has many tours in the record book as Armstrong, none. His 2010 effort wasn't his only dope aided effort, the duels with Rasmussen in '07 are laughable.
There's little surprise how much nearer the pack Contador is post is post doping ban. As much chance he'd genuinely didn't dope as Armstrong.

Yeah he should commit suicide publicly. preferably involving a geared up bull.

How will we expect the next TDF winner to appease your own sense of self importance?

Vino'sGhost

LeicesterLad wrote:

Not to everyones taste but it's coming up to Contador fanboi season and i'm getting excited - here's latest from the man.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-im-where-i-want-to-be

PS. Contador haters - I know the last quote in the interview is going to make you grumpy - just ignore it

Total quality, I hope he kicks ass, hes exciting to watch and he has an air of frailty. Its never a foregone conclusion.

maddog 2

yeah he'd be great if he wasn't a cheat.

mfin

Vino'sGhost wrote:

Yeah he should commit suicide publicly. preferably involving a geared up bull.

That's pushing it a bit far, but I do tend to agree with you.

lloyd_bower

Vino'sGhost wrote:

How will we expect the next TDF winner to appease your own sense of self importance?

Self importance? no, just don't like feeling robbed. I'd much rather watch 'duller' clean contest than 'exciting' Armstrong v Ullrich, Rasmussen v Contador duels.
I'm keen tennis fan too, but if turns out the recent Nadal v Djokovic encounters have been drug fuelled, I'd feel a tad cheated too.

There's rules there for a reason, watching the best doper don't do it for me. To see last year's Olympic road race and Vuelta both won by unrepentant dopers I think was bad for the sport.

Suppose this T-shirt
http://cyclingweekly.ipcshop.co.uk/shop/cycling-t-shirts/marco-pantani-cycling-t-shirts/pantani-protest-cycling-t-shirt---sky-blue rather than highlight another cycling nadir, is some kind of heroic protest?

No doubt Lance could have had a similar shirt designed to the above one, would have been no shortage of similar fan testimonials prior to the USADA findings.