Professional Cycling For the Fans - Contador free to go?

Chris Horner reported that Alberto demanded a compatriot be included on the TdF team. One could hardly call him a pundit.

One could hardly call such a demand compelling evidence of insecurity.

That's the argument you should have made the first time.

Chris Horner reported that Alberto demanded a compatriot be included on the TdF team. One could hardly call him a pundit.

So it is insecurity when Alberto wants what almost every other TDF winner has had, at least one countryman on the team. I doubt anyone on this board can name 3 TDF winners who were on a team without any countrymen.

I can right now. I was rather shocked that my first two tries to find one were right. The third I found was a huge surprise. I didn't get to a 4th, but there was one more obvious thing to check.

Oh and of the ones I found none were previous TDF winners.

I made no statement, nor implied a position on, "insecurity". I merely addressed oldbobcat's rather silly assertion that the whole matter of "wanting compatriots" was the fabrication of some announcers.

In fact, I agree that his "wanting compatriots" hardly equates to insecurity, at least in a pathological sense.

I made no statement, nor implied a position on, "insecurity". I merely addressed oldbobcat's rather silly assertion that the whole matter of "wanting compatriots" was the fabrication of some announcers.

In fact, I agree that his "wanting compatriots" hardly equates to insecurity, at least in a pathological sense.

OK,

But it being a story and the spin put on it was the creation of those pundits. You can bet if it was Lance demanding a countryman they would have been complaining that he was entitled to one, and why should he have to even ask, let alone 'demand'.

BTW I went back and finished checking, only 3 TDF winners since WW II have not had a countryman on their team. None were previous winners and one only had one or 2 countrymen in the Tour in total (thus a good chance no Tour quality riders available).

So is Lemond one of the 3? Wasn't he on a french team the first year he won? No clue on the other 2.

So is Lemond one of the 3? Wasn't he on a french team the first year he won? No clue on the other 2.

what were lemond's choices....do you know?

ed rader

You mean choices for teams? Or countrymen to bring with him? In either case, I don't really know. I was fairly young back then and only followed the TdF to the extent it was covered on ABC's Wide World of Sports or NBC. I just remember it seeming like he was kind of an outcast on his team.

So is Lemond one of the 3? Wasn't he on a french team the first year he won? No clue on the other 2.

No Lemond had an American teammate, Andy Hampsten who actually finished 4th.

Of the 3 one is recent and one is did it while doing something that only he and Merckx have done (that involves, but is not limited to the TDF) and one was a shocker for me and a contemporary of Merckx.

You mean choices for teams? Or countrymen to bring with him? In either case, I don't really know. I was fairly young back then and only followed the TdF to the extent it was covered on ABC's Wide World of Sports or NBC. I just remember it seeming like he was kind of an outcast on his team.

It seems the images given to us in the U.S. were rather twisted. We were told the entire team except for Hampsten and Bauer (a Canadian) were working for Hinault. An interview with Hampsten indicates otherwise (though perhaps a feeling like that). Hampsten said He and Bauer were working for Lemond, Hinaults long time Leutenant was working for Hinault, the 2 remaining Frenchmen were working for the team (as in to maximize team results) and the 2 poor swiss riders were confused.

But in his account Hampsten still shows the feeling of division in the team. On one stage (perhaps where he changed his views?) Hampsten had given his all for Lemond and was off the back, he figured his placing was doomed, no help for him. And to his surprise 2 Frenchmen on the team drop back to help pull him back. Afterwards he thanked them and expressed his surprise and hoped they had not created problems for themselfs. The replied something like 'Are you crazy? You are in 4th place that is 70,000 Francs.

Later still I examined the race in detail. I still do not think Hinault was an angel. I think he tried to win, but in a way he could claim he was working for Lemond. He did this by attacking wildly and forcing other teams to chase so Lemond could then counter when everyone was tired. Not his fault if the chase did not pull him back (or so he could claim). That is what he did. The one thing that warmed me to him a bit is there was a point where he was ahead and if he just sat in he would likely have won. He still attacked, and that time the strategy worked as claimed, Lemond gained enough time on him and everyone else to win.

So it is insecurity when Alberto wants what almost every other TDF winner has had, at least one countryman on the team. I doubt anyone on this board can name 3 TDF winners who were on a team without any countrymen.

I can right now. I was rather shocked that my first two tries to find one were right. The third I found was a huge surprise. I didn't get to a 4th, but there was one more obvious thing to check.

Oh and of the ones I found none were previous TDF winners.

My guesses:
Sastre, ESP 2008 - CSC

Riis, DEN 1996 - Telekom (uncomfirmed)
Roche, IRE 1987 - Carrera (uncomfirmed)

There weren't any other Americans on the ADR Tour squad in 1989.

My guesses:
Sastre, ESP 2008 - CSC

Riis, DEN 1996 - Telekom (uncomfirmed)
Roche, IRE 1987 - Carrera (uncomfirmed)

I thought that you were probably correct in choosing Riis in '96 with Telekom; it turns out that Brian Holm was on the team that year.

You were correct in picking Roche as the only Irishman on Carrera's Tour squad in '87. :beer:

Unfortunately I do not have an encyclopedic memory of the Tour. However the web site for the Tour (http://www.letour.fr/2010/TDF/HISTO/us/index.html) has an excellent search engine for the archives. :)

It looks like silence-lotto wants him now...

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/2117/Silence-Lotto-thinks-of-Contador-to-replace-Evans.aspx

I thought that you were probably correct in choosing Riis in '96 with Telekom; it turns out that Brian Holm was on the team that year.

You were correct in picking Roche as the only Irishman on Carrera's Tour squad in '87. :beer:

Unfortunately I do not have an encyclopedic memory of the Tour. However the web site for the Tour (http://www.letour.fr/2010/TDF/HISTO/us/index.html) has an excellent search engine for the archives. :)

Yup. Sastre was also correct. I expect some actually remember that right now. I also thought Riis was a good chance, for the same reason as Roche, not that many Danes or Irishmen. There were a couple of other riders that looked likely, being from small countries, but they actually won in one of the national teams era, so of course they had countrymen.

The third post WW II winner with no countrymen was Luis Ocana. Remember I said one was a shocker.

Gotta love the name of the team in 2010. From the article:

Marc Sergeant, manager for Silence-Lotto - soon to be called Omega Pharma-Lotto, is on the lookout for a new general classification rider now that Cadel Evans has left the team.

Omega = last
Pharma = drug
Lotto = gamble

Who wants to be the GC guy on the "last drug gamble" team? :eek: :lol:

Gotta love the name of the team in 2010. From the article:

Marc Sergeant, manager for Silence-Lotto - soon to be called Omega Pharma-Lotto, is on the lookout for a new general classification rider now that Cadel Evans has left the team.

Omega = last
Pharma = drug
Lotto = gamble

Who wants to be the GC guy on the "last drug gamble" team? :eek: :lol:

Awesome! :lol:

Contador may stay with Astana. http://velonews.com/article/99942/contador-rumored-to-have-big-deal-with-astana

Contador may stay with Astana. http://velonews.com/article/99942/contador-rumored-to-have-big-deal-with-astana

I wonder if Astana is able to assemble a strong squad, if Vinokourov is not allowed in. Would Contador go for the cash or a better chance at glory?

I still think he has a shot winning solo. He TT's well, no one can cover his attacks in the mountains, And he showed he can cover the best attacks from everyone else. All he needs are guys who can haul back breakaways on the flats.

I wonder if Astana is able to assemble a strong squad, if Vinokourov is not allowed in. Would Contador go for the cash or a better chance at glory?
I'd say the glory... I mean whatever Astana can offer him is probably much less than QuickStep or Caisse could. I mean he obviously wants out (see my top three reasons Contador wants out... (http://polkadotvelo.wordpress.com)), but I don't think he'll get his wish. He'll obviously not have much to ride with, but he's so strong I still think he can win. That being said I think Astana will muck it up anyway.

Astana = New Silence Lotto

Astana = New Silence Lotto
As in they'll have a star and no support?

http://www.velonews.com/article/99970/alberto-contador-s-brothermanager-says-he-s-close-to

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-signs-individual-contract-with-specialized

Basso + Contador + Specialized!?

Signed and done deal - Contador for Astana in 2010, probably on Specialized. Basso to follow?
http://www.velonews.com/article/100108/contador-signs-deal-with-astana

It's not final until the UCI rules on Astana's ProTour license. Supposedly the announcement is due tomorrow?

Sounds like the new Astana management is seriously trying to get their act together. It will be interesting to see what kind of team they pull together.

So Specialized has ended its deal with Quik-Step. Guess they're going all out to focus on Contador and whatever team he's going to be in.

So Specialized has ended its deal with Quik-Step. Guess they're going all out to focus on Contador and whatever team he's going to be in.

Quickstep is now on Merckx bikes:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/quick-step-to-ride-merckx-bikes-in-2010