"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - P-N Alberto Contador pedal "problem"

Does anyone know what was the issue with Alberto Contador's pedal near the end of Paris-Nice? I swear just as the camera cut to him I heard a loud click then he looked to be pedalling toe down at a weird angle and the cleat released. I haven't seen any discussion of the details in the media.

I'm just curious... it looked like he was riding Look Keo pedals (which I also ride) and I've been carefully watching the cleat's teflon inserts to see if they're going to come loose.

Nothing really to discuss. He just pulled out. It happens on occassion. I remember it happening during a bunch sprint at the TDF a couple years back.

I played it back on the Tivo frame by frame and it looked like he twisted his heel out just enough to cause the pedal to release. It was a very scary moment, no doubt!

my biggest crash to date on the bike is when i pulled out of my left pedal while powering up a short climb in a waaay too big gear. it happened sooooo fast cause all your weight is shifting downwards and thats the direction i went flying off in

It happens all the time. It's just lucky a camera caught this example.

What an amazing save though! Did you see how his back wheel popped up in the air?

What an amazing save though! Did you see how his back wheel popped up in the air?


Good bike handling.

Would've scared the bejeezus out of the blokes behind.

Good bike handling.

Would've scared the bejeezus out of the blokes behind.

Plus if I had been in Contador's place, I'd probably have needed to throw away those shorts after the race.

Plus if I had been in Contador's place, I'd probably have needed to throw away those shorts after the race.

heck, i about had to change my shorts just watching it happen to him! :eek:

What an amazing save though! Did you see how his back wheel popped up in the air?

Yup! That was an amazing save. I was impressed!

anybody have a link to a clip of this? I don't get OLN...

Nothing really to discuss. He just pulled out. It happens on occassion. I remember it happening during a bunch sprint at the TDF a couple years back.

Stage 1, 2003 TdF.

Stage 1, 2003 TdF.

Jose Enrique Gutierrez - Kelme. I still cringe thinking about it... look at my avatar (Tyler's x-ray)

I believe Erik Zabel had a serving of the Double Nut Crunch (and I don't mean ice cream) after he popped out of his pedal during a field sprint in the Tour de France several years ago. I don't recall the stage or which year, but I do remember him clearly fish tailing across the road in the middle of the pack, but miraculously keeping the bike upright.

anybody have a link to a clip of this? I don't get OLN...



You'll see it in the final gallop of your local cat 5 crit this weekend....


:D

You'll see it in the final gallop of your local cat 5 crit this weekend....


:D

Yeah, they won't make the nice save though, which is what i want to see...

Yup! That was an amazing save. I was impressed!

If I remember right he went to put his foot down on the road then changed his mind. I wonder if he was clever enough to be conscious of potentially damaging the cleat...?

i think he did put his foot down, i think paul sherwyn might have even said something about it, but i could be wrong....ill have to check my tape. not like it matters either way, it was a great save.

I have seen it happen... it can be very nasty... nasty indeed!

For a very limited time... (http://12.203.169.252/contador.avi) Not the fattest pipe in the world, so be patient. File is a 8MB DivX AVI.

thanks for posting the clip . . . wicked bike handling skills for the awesome recovery

For a very limited time... (http://12.203.169.252/contador.avi) Not the fattest pipe in the world, so be patient. File is a 8MB DivX AVI.

I'll mirror it for you for a while. I've converted it to MPEG and it's not 3.2 MB.

http://www.foosoftware.com/video/contador.mpg