Contador is back!
#1
cycling fanatic
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,162
Bikes: Cannondale T800
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Contador is back!
I haven't been on this forum for a while, partly because Rogers Sportsnet broadcast Tirreno-Adriatico and Paris Nice with a 1-day delay and I was afraid of spoilers. I am surprised to find that there has been no mention of Tirreno-Adriatico, and that is probably because of spotty TV coverage in USA. If you didn't see it, you missed some fantastic stages. Contador was his old self and beat Quintana by 1 second on stage 4, then dropped him on stage 5, and others, to eventually win the race by 2:05.
Looking forward to Milan-Sam Remo on Sunday but even more to Volta a Catalunya starting Monday. The Volta has Contador, Froome, Quintana, Uran, Rodriguez, Tejay, Horner, etc. Should be great. Sportsnet will again be a day delayed so, please, no spoilers.
Looking forward to Milan-Sam Remo on Sunday but even more to Volta a Catalunya starting Monday. The Volta has Contador, Froome, Quintana, Uran, Rodriguez, Tejay, Horner, etc. Should be great. Sportsnet will again be a day delayed so, please, no spoilers.
#2
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 46
Bikes: 2010 Cannondale Supersix Hi-Mod, 1987 Centurion Ironman Expert, 1984 Trek 520, 1981 Peugeot beater
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Stage 5 of TA was quite a race. It was good to see Contador in his old form.
#3
cycling fanatic
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,162
Bikes: Cannondale T800
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Rogers Sportsnet did not air Milan-San Remo and never posted a reason. I forgive them because I am grateful that they show a lot of cycling, but it is bush-league to not even have an announcement.
I watched the final 3 minutes on Steephill and it seems it was not an exciting race.
I watched the final 3 minutes on Steephill and it seems it was not an exciting race.
#5
self propelled lifer
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Manitoba
Posts: 557
Bikes: 1962 Dawes Galaxy; 72 Gitane Interclub;73 Peugeot PR10;78 Torpado Luxe;73 Grandis; 81 Raleigh/Carlton Comp; 85 Bianchi Stelvio; 87 Bianchi Brava; 73 Bottechia Special; 1969 or70 Bob Jackson
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
7 Posts
I've never been a fan of Contador the man but I have to admit to a grudging respect for his racing style. He's willing to go for it himself rather than hiding behind his teammates for 95% of the race
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Above ground, Walnut Creek, Ca
Posts: 6,682
Bikes: 8 ss bikes, 1 5-speed touring bike
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
you have to admire the guy's willingness to work, at any rate. in yesterday's Volta a Catalunya stage, a sprinters stage, he came in sixth, as a result of some intense effort near the end, with little chance of gaining anything on the GC leader.
he's a pretty canny strategist too.
#7
Senior Member
agreed...
you have to admire the guy's willingness to work, at any rate. in yesterday's Volta a Catalunya stage, a sprinters stage, he came in sixth, as a result of some intense effort near the end, with little chance of gaining anything on the GC leader.
he's a pretty canny strategist too.
you have to admire the guy's willingness to work, at any rate. in yesterday's Volta a Catalunya stage, a sprinters stage, he came in sixth, as a result of some intense effort near the end, with little chance of gaining anything on the GC leader.
he's a pretty canny strategist too.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 5,982
Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease Carbon Deore 11, 2020 Salsa Warbird GRX 600, 2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX disc 9.0 Di2, 2020 Catrike Eola, 2016 Masi cxgr, 2011, Felt F3 Ltd, 2010 Trek 2.1, 2009 KHS Flite 220
Liked 3,394 Times
in
2,111 Posts
#10
Senior Member
And do you seriously believe he wasn't doping with Team Astana? Do you seriously believe he hasn't been doping for the past at least half decade?
If the UCI and professional cycling want to prove they do want to keep competition clean, they should give Contador lifetime ban and retroactively remove all his wins from 2006 onward. Screw him. As long as he's riding, pro cycling will be tainted.
Personally I don't care if cyclists dope. I think Lance Armstrong is hands down the best cyclists of my lifetime. I believe even if Froume and Wiggins were doping, they wouldn't be as good as Armstrong. But if you're going to have rules, enforce them. No exceptions, no special treatment. It should be zero tolerance. If you don't have zero tolerance then the competitors will always believe there is a chance they will get away with it and continue to compete and just think, I have to dope better.
I suspect Contador is just doping smarter.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 5,982
Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease Carbon Deore 11, 2020 Salsa Warbird GRX 600, 2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX disc 9.0 Di2, 2020 Catrike Eola, 2016 Masi cxgr, 2011, Felt F3 Ltd, 2010 Trek 2.1, 2009 KHS Flite 220
Liked 3,394 Times
in
2,111 Posts
I hate to see yet another thread (much less another rider/race/year/etc) hijacked to debates about doping. Your sentiment is acknowledged Zymphad and I know that many agree with you. But as we watch these races, we can't erase from the screen or the road the guys we think are cheaters. They are there on the road and one can't help but root for or against them and note who is strong and who isn't. Cheating or no, Contador is a remarkable resilient competitor. I don't usually root for him - there are others I prefer. But he has skills and he has guts.
#12
Senior Member
I hate to see yet another thread (much less another rider/race/year/etc) hijacked to debates about doping. Your sentiment is acknowledged Zymphad and I know that many agree with you. But as we watch these races, we can't erase from the screen or the road the guys we think are cheaters. They are there on the road and one can't help but root for or against them and note who is strong and who isn't. Cheating or no, Contador is a remarkable resilient competitor. I don't usually root for him - there are others I prefer. But he has skills and he has guts.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 5,982
Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease Carbon Deore 11, 2020 Salsa Warbird GRX 600, 2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX disc 9.0 Di2, 2020 Catrike Eola, 2016 Masi cxgr, 2011, Felt F3 Ltd, 2010 Trek 2.1, 2009 KHS Flite 220
Liked 3,394 Times
in
2,111 Posts
I'm not arguing what's right and wrong - I'm just telling you how I feel when I'm watching.. I can't watch every race keeping track of who's legit and pretending the other ones aren't there because 3 years from now their result will be voided. Making sure the racers are legit is UCI's job and if they aren't doing it right, then shame on them. But my job is either to enjoy watching the race or to say it's all a crock and do something else with my leisure time.
Years ago I stopped watching pro football when I decided that the prevent defense was a conspiracy by the NFL to make games more exciting. I lost interest. I'm not at that point with bike racing. Maybe you are.
Last edited by MinnMan; 04-07-14 at 10:27 PM.
#14
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,476
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Liked 894 Times
in
458 Posts
Seriously? You think that an NFL head coach, who is measured on wins and losses, and is subject to termination from a highly lucrative job at any time, would call a defense for the purpose of allowing the other team to get back in the game and potentially win?
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 5,982
Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease Carbon Deore 11, 2020 Salsa Warbird GRX 600, 2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX disc 9.0 Di2, 2020 Catrike Eola, 2016 Masi cxgr, 2011, Felt F3 Ltd, 2010 Trek 2.1, 2009 KHS Flite 220
Liked 3,394 Times
in
2,111 Posts
After watching with great excitement the spectacular drives that invariably happen in the last couple of minutes of close games, I began to feel manipulated. And I note that those coaches get paid millions of dollars as severance when they are fired.
But this is not the place to debate the NFL. You are free to believe what you like, as am I. Just like we can harbor or ignore suspicions of doping.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 1,690
Bikes: Serotta Nove
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yea but if you magically removed all drugs from the face of the Earth one rider would still have an advantage in strength, resiliency and recovery. Failing a failed drug test you run what you brung. The topic is beat to death. I still fail to understand why some folks get so emotional about it.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
thechemist
"The 33"-Road Bike Racing
5
10-18-14 02:31 PM
JAX_11
"The 33"-Road Bike Racing
33
09-20-12 08:06 AM