View Full Version : Contador vs Rasmussen: trash talking and shoulder checks
Seems that yesterdays 'words' have lingered a bit.
Anybody else catch Contador lean into Rasmussen today? It was like Poulidor and Anquetil. :D
http://www.cyclinghalloffame.com/riders/pics/Anquetil-Poulidor.jpg
deyendznyr
07-23-07, 02:32 PM
I think these two probably hate each other but realize they need each other at this point. They're both afraid of Evans in the TT and need to put the hurt on him.
By the way, how can they trash talk to each other? I thought Contador only spoke spanish?
Lithuania
07-23-07, 02:34 PM
i thought this was awesome and seeing it happen two days in a row was great. If they managed to finish 1 and 2 at the end I would be very pleased.
I think these two probably hate each other but realize they need each other at this point. They're both afraid of Evans in the TT and need to put the hurt on him.
By the way, how can they trash talk to each other? I thought Contador only spoke spanish?
I think Ras's wife is from Mexico, so I'm thinking he may know how to speak Spanish.
deyendznyr
07-23-07, 03:15 PM
I think Ras's wife is from Mexico, so I'm thinking he may know how to speak Spanish.
That makes sense.
Of course, Dickhead is probably universal.
El Diablo Rojo
07-23-07, 03:56 PM
How much do you wish you could even 'talk' at that point let alone 'trash talk'. I find it amazing that these guys are on the freak'n limit and are still able to hold a conversation. And yes I thought the whole thing was great theater!!!!
I really don't know why but I really want someone to drop MR. I was screaming at the TV..go go go! I wanted Contador to crack him like an egg. For no good reason I'm not a big fan of the Chicken.
deyendznyr
07-23-07, 04:02 PM
what leads you to believe that they "hate each other"?
i guess you've never traveled.
Mmm. Hate's probably the wrong word. More like, sick of looking at each other, knowing that the other has the opportunity, and skill, to take the yellow jersey and the money/fame/prestige that goes with it.
Yes, Botto, I've made it out of NYC and the USA on more than one ocassion. I understand your point.
deyendznyr
07-23-07, 04:04 PM
How much do you wish you could even 'talk' at that point let alone 'trash talk'. I find it amazing that these guys are on the freak'n limit and are still able to hold a conversation. And yes I thought the whole thing was great theater!!!!
I really don't know why but I really want someone to drop MR. I was screaming at the TV..go go go! I wanted Contador to crack him like an egg. For no good reason I'm not a big fan of the Chicken.
About your Avatar...
Are those fake?
-VELOCITY-
07-23-07, 04:08 PM
I didn't see today's stage but I did see yesterday's when they had that little exchange. Based on the body language I was it appeared that Rasmussen asked Contador to do some pulling and Contador was not willing to do it. At least that's what it appeared to look like to me.
geneman
07-23-07, 04:27 PM
... For no good reason I'm not a big fan of the Chicken.
Agreed. Something about MR strikes me as arrogant. He's like that 110 lb weekling in high school who thought he was the $hit. Perhaps his doped up arse makes him the $hit, but you don't have to be arrogant about it. Especially not when you're a weakling.
Mark
wow, there are a lot of dollar signs in my post.
deyendznyr
07-23-07, 04:32 PM
For no good reason I'm not a big fan of the Chicken.
Some of the comments he's made about his teammates really gives you insight into his personality. He said something the other day about one of his teammates (Menchov?) not being able to get his "ass" up the mountain. Nice!
mcoomer
07-23-07, 04:35 PM
I don't care if they were trading their favorite recipes for marinara sauce. I was just glad to see that someone attacked the yellow jersey. There were coming up that last climb and Leipheimer, Contador, and Popovych were all just sitting there in that group and letting Rasmussen ride his own pace. Rabobank and Discovery each had three men in that group. Discovery needed to work together and force the issue and instead they were riding like sheep. If you don't want to win I suppose that's fine but in that case you shouldn't be in the field. That's why I like to watch Vino so much. His attacks aren't always the best tactical decisions but he does what he knows and it makes for exciting racing.
Millar's comments made a reference to Rasmussen's house in Mexico so I think he must speak a little Spanish. (But if I were him, I'd yell at AC in Danish. Probably sounds harsher.)
raptor3x
07-23-07, 05:16 PM
Agreed. Something about MR strikes me as arrogant. He's like that 110 lb weekling in high school who thought he was the $hit. Perhaps his doped up arse makes him the $hit, but you don't have to be arrogant about it. Especially not when you're a weakling.
Mark
wow, there are a lot of dollar signs in my post.
You were a football player or wrestler in highschool, weren't you.
curveship
07-23-07, 05:42 PM
Some of the comments he's made about his teammates really gives you insight into his personality. He said something the other day about one of his teammates (Menchov?) not being able to get his "ass" up the mountain. Nice!
Probably payback for last year's stage 16, the one where Floyd lost so much time. Rasmussen was under instructions to stay with Menchov to protect him for the final climb. Rasmussen said F U to his teammates and took off on his solo KOM flier. Menchov ended up losing two minutes, which put him out of contention. So no surprise that Menchov is less than enthusiastic about supporting RM.
Come to think of it, why are the Rabobank guys working so hard for RM? Not like he's done much for them in the past.
I didn't like RM before that stage, but after it, I can only wish him ill. Every good drama needs a villain, right? At this point, I'm rooting for anyone that can kick his self-centered likely-doping ass down the mountain.
I'm a fan of AC. It would be great to see him win.
roadgator
07-23-07, 07:05 PM
i dont care who wins, i just want to see attacks.
The so called "GC contenders" are just snoring their way up a mountain waiting for contador to drag Ras off with him.
So what if you cant make it stick. go down fighting. Contador hasn't shaken Ras yet, but he keeps chipping away and i believe he'll finally do it wednesday, while the rest of them just ride safe and lame.
vic32amg
07-23-07, 07:16 PM
Probably payback for last year's stage 16, the one where Floyd lost so much time. Rasmussen was under instructions to stay with Menchov to protect him for the final climb. Rasmussen said F U to his teammates and took off on his solo KOM flier. Menchov ended up losing two minutes, which put him out of contention. So no surprise that Menchov is less than enthusiastic about supporting RM.
Come to think of it, why are the Rabobank guys working so hard for RM? Not like he's done much for them in the past.
I didn't like RM before that stage, but after it, I can only wish him ill. Every good drama needs a villain, right? At this point, I'm rooting for anyone that can kick his self-centered likely-doping ass down the mountain.
yeah It's not like they will get some HUGE $$$BONUS$$$ if they win the tour. I mean Boogyman is there for the free Gels and drinks.. if it weren't for that he would crawl back into his cave..
Here in the states many see it as one man winning the race but internationally the team is the winner. Also there is always much $$$$$$$ attached to the winner and his team.
FrankBattle
07-23-07, 07:18 PM
I hope Contador takes time out of Rasmussen on Wednesday. Though I think The Chicken will be able to respond.
I don't like Rasmussen. I don't know why. I think he is ugly. He looks like an alien. Talented little bugger though.
SunSwingsLow
07-23-07, 07:36 PM
What I REALLY like about Contador is that he didnt take **** from Ras on stage 14 and showed some anger and a little bit of a nasty streak. I think his attacks on Ras were more of a psychological punishment than a physical one. Those may pay dividends as Ras stresses out tommorow and on stage 16 about how hard the attack is going to come from Contador.
I think i have a man crush :o
You're just jealous because he's not fat. :D
totally :rolleyes:
http://www.nychoke.com/images/shockey.jpghttp://www.le-tour.fr/AA_IMG/rasmussen.jpg
PepsiMan
07-23-07, 08:13 PM
who thinks wednesday's stage is determined by who between the two gets the better transfusion on the rest day?
also, re: the nasty streak of contador, maybe that's what bruyneel was referencing when he said he saw some of lance in contrador.
FrankBattle
07-23-07, 08:17 PM
by contrast, Levi is "nice," or at least not "nasty." some might argue that he's a wuss. He isn't going to win the tour. Ever.
Winners in the last 18 years have all had some nasty in them.
SunSwingsLow
07-23-07, 08:23 PM
by contrast, Levi is "nice," or at least not "nasty." some might argue that he's a wuss. He isn't going to win the tour. Ever.
Winners in the last 18 years have all had some nasty in them.
All elite winners have that streak in them.
CCFISH81
07-23-07, 08:38 PM
The only Spanish and French I speak is trash talk..... :) Not entirely true, but close.
Why does everyone seem to think AC is chipping away at MR? There is that posibility that AC is killing himself, you know.
Go Chicken!
Why does everyone seem to think AC is chipping away at MR? There is that posibility that AC is killing himself, you know.
Go Chicken!
because the OLN coverage lead us to believe that MR was hurting. :)
he did seem to be all over his bike at the end even though he matched all the AC moves.
later.
Because MR had a little trouble closing the gap. MR was hurting, but AC was to. MR defended like a champ. Stage 16 should be good.
Richard
FrankBattle
07-23-07, 09:16 PM
One thing top winners learn is how to psyche out competition. Most recent example was LA. He can lure challengers into thinking he is not [as] tired .. it's the stoic face for LA. For AC, it's his body language. Even when he's hurting, he seems to be as spritely on the bike as when he is fresh.
Was MR hurting? Well, he did not respond as quick as he did yesterday, so it is quite possible and it did appear so. To be fair, AC did not attack quite as strong as he had yesterday, though he did it more frequently; so, was he hurting as well? I'm sure of it!
To be completely fair, the climbing today was harsher .. and longer. Any mortal would feel some discomfort. Isn't it about who can suffer the longest?
vic32amg
07-23-07, 09:45 PM
post race interviews MR said he was put into difficulty and almost gave up but decided that it was possible to hold AC's wheel. I think AC will gap MR on 16 but not by much. Perhaps not enuff to hold to the fin. Those intervals on the Climbs today by AC was pretty amazing tho. I think Andy Schleck will have a tough time next year trying to keep with that. . . . Alberto Contrador is the truth. .. Levi is a clown.
It looked like the last couple of attacks by AC in Schloogopolis were blocked a little by the motorcycles and the crowds. He couldn't put a lot of space between he and MR because he would run up against the motorcycles.
richard_dupp
07-23-07, 09:55 PM
i dont care who wins, i just want to see attacks.
You'll see more of them here than on the tube.
geneman
07-24-07, 05:16 AM
You're just jealous because he's not fat. :D
Dude ... that's not cool when you make fun of me and my family. Sure, we've got a weight problem, but who can resist those delicious American snacks?
http://www.moonbattery.com/archives/obese.jpg
my sisters
Mark
(But if I were him, I'd yell at AC in Danish. Probably sounds harsher.)
Incorrect. An angry Dane sounds like he has a potato in his mouth.
superslomo
07-24-07, 07:40 AM
Reading the cycling news coverage it seemed like Rasmussen was getting creamed by Contador. I got home, saw the tivo footage and... not so much the same thing at all. He seemed fine, other than missing the initial burst.
Anytime someone gets attacked 6 times, it's going to be tough on both parties. It seemed like a big deal was made about contador making a "psychological attack" or whatever horse**it, but if you were him, wouldn't you feel like you just could not shake the guy in yellow? I don't know that he had any more than he showed yesterday. If he had, wouldn't he have tried to jump much, much, much earlier?
imnotclever
07-24-07, 07:43 AM
So did MR psyche out AC yesterday by showing he could keep up or did Cont psyche out AC by his repeated attacks?
And what about stage 8? Where was AC when MR decided to solo the last 3 climbs. Wed's stage looks a lot like that one.
Cromulent
07-24-07, 07:48 AM
So did MR psyche out AC yesterday by showing he could keep up or did Cont psyche out AC by his repeated attacks?
And what about stage 8? Where was AC when MR decided to solo the last 3 climbs. Wed's stage looks a lot like that one.
Probably a little bit of both, but Contador looks like he's having fun. Rasmussen does not.
IIRC, and I'm not sure that I do, they let MR go off to get KOM points thinking that it wouldn't be this hard to shake the yellow jersey off his shoulders. Contador doesn't seem remotely interested in the King of the Mountains jersey. And back in stage 8, it's possible that Contador was still working for Levi. Now, as Johan put it, he's free to do whatever he wants.
skinnyone
07-24-07, 07:52 AM
I think Rasmussen responded to Contador pretty well.. Sure he was all over the bike but have you seen AC accelerate?.. Its unbelievable the kick he gets when he gets out of the saddle.. Probably the fastest I have seen anyone go uphill and MR matched that.. Endostory..
Now had he attacked earlier on in the climb the outcome might have been different..
roadwarrior
07-24-07, 07:55 AM
About your Avatar...
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maddyfish
07-24-07, 07:56 AM
So did MR psyche out AC yesterday by showing he could keep up or did Cont psyche out AC by his repeated attacks?
And what about stage 8? Where was AC when MR decided to solo the last 3 climbs. Wed's stage looks a lot like that one.
He was probably supporting Levi, that was back when Levi WAS the team leader.
Levi should be carrying water for AC now.
How about Levi set a high steady pace for as long as he can, with Popo, Hincapie, supporting, launching AC at Chicken? Since Levi is too gutless to actually win.
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