rousseau

URL numbers as code for forums is too arcane for me. Moderators, please feel free to move this to the pro cycling forum.

The races have been over for weeks and/or days. I can understand consternation over same-day spoilers, but the Volta ao Algarve was in February, fer christ's sake!

zazenzach

don't be so naive dude.

99% of athletes are on gear or doping in some fashion. its pretty much been that way since atleast the 70's

graehm obree (sp?) and the other few cyclists that never cheated has repeated the same thing time and time again.

nixternal

I don't want to be, but seeing as they are removing pictures of a girlfriend in bibs in the hot-or-not thread cuz it might inflict pain on a child, I didn't want to let all the children know that their cycling hero is nothing more than a doper The whole plasticizer thing is what makes me say he is guilty as sin, and he could have possibly taken out blood when there were just some trace amounts left. Or he ingested it on his off day, which wouldn't make sense with CB, and used a blood transfusion to try and cover it up. Hell, the more I think about it really, the more I say he is guilty as sin.

On another note, US taxpayers are in well over a few million dollars now hoping to prove that Lance doped. :/

Nick Bain

just got some of these. notice the signature.

TMonk

Can we just agree that they're all on dope?

Having said that I like Contador he is exciting to watch and isn't a ******bag like Lemond and Armstrong (at times). He isn't as likeable as Andy but he is more exciting and as others have mentioned a better tt'r.

coasting 

didn't he use some illegal beef or something like that?

Kind of Blued

I like his youthful energy, willingness to attack, and his "dancing" climbing style.

Regardless, I don't like him. I think it's because he doesn't speak English and his large "chicklet-esque" teeth scare me.



That said, I've been watching as many ProTour races as I can so far this year and haven't seen him yet. Is he riding non-UCI/ProTour races until the drama is cleared up? I thought he was cleared by the Spanish Federation thingy?

nixternal

colombo357

Dood. His watch is upside down and his helmet straps look ridiculous!

Moontrane

Armstrong won 2 classics, a WC RR, podiumed twice at LBL - a monument - and all those other GTs and shorter tours.

Nice to see Contador at La Fleche and LBL last year. Hope he comes back and takes a few of the Ardennes races over the next few years - he's capable - and goes for a WC. Until he does, he's on track to "only" be one of the best GT riders.

Carbon Unit

There is something annoying about Contador. I can't quite put my finger on it but I think I would like to see him get his butt kicked.

zazenzach

oh god lol

but yeah, agreed with everything said

guadzilla

I am a big fan of Contador - possibly one of the best GT riders of our era. To me, his TdF win last year is probably more impressive than the 09 win, b/c last year, he was obviously *not* in good form and was suffering like a dog. And still managed to win.

And after reading his tweets and Facebook updates, I find him a very, very classy guy.

Velonews indicates that the Spanish Federations' results are actually quite well reasoned. A few other athletes this past year have been cleared of similar charges as well. So I am hoping this CAS appeal is merely a matter of due process and this whole thing is put to a rest soon.

A three way contest between Contador, Basso and Schleck for the TdF - isnt that going to be an absolute treat for cycling fans?

Mansram01

Zero tolerance... And plasticizers too??? 1 + 1 still equals, 2 right?

NathanC

+1

Out of the GC guys, Andy Schleck is so much more likable.

guadzilla

Team LAY-O-pard, OTOH, gets my ******bag radar pinging.

ADSR

He just has this way about him that says he expected to win. I never get the impression that he's grateful. If he lived where I do he'd be in a frat, drive a sweet lifted pickup with black rims, wear Ed Hardy, and yell "******" at cyclists.

Also I swear if I ever see him do that pistol salute in real life I'm taking that finger home with me.

surgeonstone

Yeah...that salute IS the thing that turns me off.

guadzilla

Read his tweets and FB updates? All he does is thank his team and his fans. Repeatedly.

AndyK 

I agree about something annoying about him. Like that kid in HS that always got 100's on tests, and blew the curve for the rest of us! Hard to like.

ultraman6970

Agree with andyk... my problem with contador is that he doesnt have the spark that hinault, lemond, armstrong or EM had... to just say "i'll crush you the next stage" and just go in solitary to just prove a point. His attacks are all measured, tasteless. Even Vino has more courage than contador, some vino attaches are simply amazing. His wins arent that spectacular as cancelara's for example (hope you guys saw the last race), i never seen AC doing stuff like that and it sucks. The wins are tasteless in my opinion.

2ndGen

And he still won a TDF.


For all those that don't like his "style"...

guadzilla

For real? Did you watch the 2009 TdF when he ripped the legs off pretty much EVERY other rider in the race on the climbs? You talking about the same Contador who, until last year, was always considered an impetuous, instinctive rider and not "strategic" enough (a charge started by Lance)?

I dont care if people like/dont like him... but some of the arguments I've heard are just incorrect. Hey, if you arent going to like him, do so for the right reasons (he looks funny, he's one of those darker-hued, non-English-speaking funny furrigners, he's got a stupid victory salute, etc. etc).

Edit - Winning. It isnt just for Charlie Sheen.

V.

2ndGen

Q, it's like "not" liking Obama. People don't know why, they just don't like "that" feller (despite him being on Team Sheen).

+1.

And, I always saw him as raw. He doesn't fit the "pro" mold. He gets slammed for winning.
So? Good! Keep winning, keep their teeth gnashing. Everybody loves/hates a winner.

And, for whatever was wrong with him last year, I remember him giving up one stage to Andy.
I SAW it in his face when he looked at him and turned the power off and let Andy take it.
(Maybe because of Andy's earlier mishap with his chain, whatever.)
But I don't have to be a cycling afficionado to recognize a little class.

I'd love to see him and Ivan (B.) go at it in a sprint.
To me, Al looks like he might not be great in any one discipline, but just damn good in all of them.

I love to see those power racers that just pull away from the others when
THEY decide it's time like a locomotive and leave them in the dust wheezing.

He's relatively young, he's still growing, he's got heart.

I_Like_Bike

I really like both, but I was pulling for Andy last TdF. I have to say that I like Contador's humbleness in interviews and even when Lance had negative things to say to him he still spoke of Lance positively.