dark_x2012 wrote:
Contador is a beast. Much better thanlast year. I quite liked how Quintana was being gained with every metre.
I'm not quite sure how winning a stage at Tirreno (admittedly I haven't seen it yet) and coming 2nd at the Volta ao Algarve qualifies him as a 'beast' quite yet. Besides, no matter how good he is, he's not getting past Froome at Le Tour.
Don't exclude that yet! Contador had a very bad 2013 season where he only took a stage at the Tour de San Luis, today he beated the best climbers in the world except Froome and Nibali so he still has a chance of winning the tour and he is atleast showing that we should still consider him a GC favourite
The best climbers in the world? Let's see... Scarponi (again, a poor 2013, and will struggle to win the Giro), Porte (still in Sky train mode- rolling along, following but never attacking - and persistently looking as if he's on the back foot), Kiserlovski (GC, anyone...) Kreuziger (teammate, so he doesn't really count), Kwiatkowski (not winning anything anytime soon), Rodriguez (not up to strength), and maybe a lacklustre Uran. Where are the Martins(a Brit, so I had to put that in)? The Valverdes? The on form Evanses and Van Garterens? Wiggins? Whoopdee-doo, Contador beat Quintana. At this stage, it means nothing.
Disclaimer- Most of my posts are me thinking aloud. And most of what I think is rubbish.
Winner of a FIFA Prediction Fair Play Award (a phrase becoming increasingly ironic) "... Because he (me) has a sound tactical mind in general..." jandal7, at 9:30 am GMT on 12th May 2016
dark_x2012 wrote:
Contador is a beast. Much better thanlast year. I quite liked how Quintana was being gained with every metre.
I'm not quite sure how winning a stage at Tirreno (admittedly I haven't seen it yet) and coming 2nd at the Volta ao Algarve qualifies him as a 'beast' quite yet. Besides, no matter how good he is, he's not getting past Froome at Le Tour.
Don't exclude that yet! Contador had a very bad 2013 season where he only took a stage at the Tour de San Luis, today he beated the best climbers in the world except Froome and Nibali so he still has a chance of winning the tour and he is atleast showing that we should still consider him a GC favourite
The best climbers in the world? Let's see... Scarponi (again, a poor 2013, and will struggle to win the Giro), Porte (still in Sky train mode- rolling along, following but never attacking - and persistently looking as if he's on the back foot), Kiserlovski (GC, anyone...) Kreuziger (teammate, so he doesn't really count), Kwiatkowski (not winning anything anytime soon), Rodriguez (not up to strength), and maybe a lacklustre Uran. Where are the Martins(a Brit, so I had to put that in)? The Valverdes? The on form Evanses and Van Garterens? Wiggins? Whoopdee-doo, Contador beat Quintana. At this stage, it means nothing.
If you mean Dan Martin he is registered as Irish and therefore is such.
*Van Garderen
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
You just lost the whole argument by pointing out Wiggins .
At the moment at least Contador is much better shape he was ever last year and is proving that he will make a difference at Tour, will it be good enough to win? Probably no. To get podium? Looks like it. Provide attacks and drama? Hell yes.
dark_x2012 wrote:
Contador is a beast. Much better thanlast year. I quite liked how Quintana was being gained with every metre.
I'm not quite sure how winning a stage at Tirreno (admittedly I haven't seen it yet) and coming 2nd at the Volta ao Algarve qualifies him as a 'beast' quite yet. Besides, no matter how good he is, he's not getting past Froome at Le Tour.
Don't exclude that yet! Contador had a very bad 2013 season where he only took a stage at the Tour de San Luis, today he beated the best climbers in the world except Froome and Nibali so he still has a chance of winning the tour and he is atleast showing that we should still consider him a GC favourite
The best climbers in the world? Let's see... Scarponi (again, a poor 2013, and will struggle to win the Giro), Porte (still in Sky train mode- rolling along, following but never attacking - and persistently looking as if he's on the back foot), Kiserlovski (GC, anyone...) Kreuziger (teammate, so he doesn't really count), Kwiatkowski (not winning anything anytime soon), Rodriguez (not up to strength), and maybe a lacklustre Uran. Where are the Martins(a Brit, so I had to put that in)? The Valverdes? The on form Evanses and Van Garterens? Wiggins? Whoopdee-doo, Contador beat Quintana. At this stage, it means nothing.
If you mean Dan Martin he is registered as Irish and therefore is such.
*Van Garderen
Yes, but he was born in Birmingham, therefore our press have to hang onto his successes like he's a cuddly toy, just in case Sky are done.
Disclaimer- Most of my posts are me thinking aloud. And most of what I think is rubbish.
Winner of a FIFA Prediction Fair Play Award (a phrase becoming increasingly ironic) "... Because he (me) has a sound tactical mind in general..." jandal7, at 9:30 am GMT on 12th May 2016
dark_x2012 wrote:
Contador is a beast. Much better thanlast year. I quite liked how Quintana was being gained with every metre.
I'm not quite sure how winning a stage at Tirreno (admittedly I haven't seen it yet) and coming 2nd at the Volta ao Algarve qualifies him as a 'beast' quite yet. Besides, no matter how good he is, he's not getting past Froome at Le Tour.
Don't exclude that yet! Contador had a very bad 2013 season where he only took a stage at the Tour de San Luis, today he beated the best climbers in the world except Froome and Nibali so he still has a chance of winning the tour and he is atleast showing that we should still consider him a GC favourite
The best climbers in the world? Let's see... Scarponi (again, a poor 2013, and will struggle to win the Giro), Porte (still in Sky train mode- rolling along, following but never attacking - and persistently looking as if he's on the back foot), Kiserlovski (GC, anyone...) Kreuziger (teammate, so he doesn't really count), Kwiatkowski (not winning anything anytime soon), Rodriguez (not up to strength), and maybe a lacklustre Uran. Where are the Martins(a Brit, so I had to put that in)? The Valverdes? The on form Evanses and Van Garterens? Wiggins? Whoopdee-doo, Contador beat Quintana. At this stage, it means nothing.
If you mean Dan Martin he is registered as Irish and therefore is such.
*Van Garderen
Yes, but he was born in Birmingham, therefore our press have to hang onto his successes like he's a cuddly toy, just in case Sky are done.
Really?? Wiggins, Evans, Valverde, Martin? You call that great climbers? Maybe Valverde yes but the rest not anymore. The only riders who are going to show their colours this year are Froome, Quintana, Rodriguez as always and Contador. So he beat two and probably would've beaten Froom today aswel.
dark_x2012 wrote:
Contador is a beast. Much better thanlast year. I quite liked how Quintana was being gained with every metre.
I'm not quite sure how winning a stage at Tirreno (admittedly I haven't seen it yet) and coming 2nd at the Volta ao Algarve qualifies him as a 'beast' quite yet. Besides, no matter how good he is, he's not getting past Froome at Le Tour.
Don't exclude that yet! Contador had a very bad 2013 season where he only took a stage at the Tour de San Luis, today he beated the best climbers in the world except Froome and Nibali so he still has a chance of winning the tour and he is atleast showing that we should still consider him a GC favourite
The best climbers in the world? Let's see... Scarponi (again, a poor 2013, and will struggle to win the Giro), Porte (still in Sky train mode- rolling along, following but never attacking - and persistently looking as if he's on the back foot), Kiserlovski (GC, anyone...) Kreuziger (teammate, so he doesn't really count), Kwiatkowski (not winning anything anytime soon), Rodriguez (not up to strength), and maybe a lacklustre Uran. Where are the Martins(a Brit, so I had to put that in)? The Valverdes? The on form Evanses and Van Garterens? Wiggins? Whoopdee-doo, Contador beat Quintana. At this stage, it means nothing.
If you mean Dan Martin he is registered as Irish and therefore is such.
*Van Garderen
Yes, but he was born in Birmingham, therefore our press have to hang onto his successes like he's a cuddly toy, just in case Sky are done.
Really?? Wiggins, Evans, Valverde, Martin? You call that great climbers? Maybe Valverde yes but the rest not anymore. The only riders who are going to show their colours this year are Froome, Quintana, Rodriguez as always and Contador. So he beat two and probably would've beaten Froom today aswel.
Not Martin "anymore?" He's 27...
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
Jesleyh wrote:
Scarponi, Kiserlovski, Van Garderen?
You call that great climbers?
@Yves
You forget Nibbles there.
Edit:
Oh, and Martin isn't someone for long climbs, just for the hills.
I don't think so. his focus is hills, but so is Purito's.
I agree it's not his best strength, but a lot of his wins have been on long mountains, such as Catalunya and his Vuelta stage.
Whether you agree or not it doesn't make sense to say he isn't "anymore"
Ok well I have to agree on you there, but Purito's speciality is steep climbs, short or long doesn't matter. He is an explosive rider, but Martin isn't. I guess he might have a future as GC rider, but probably not a GT Winner
It was only a matter of time until you replied.
Martin can't ride a GC and won't be a factor in the TdF, in my opinion.
He has his days in the mountains, but for each good day, he has a bad day in the mountains
I have a better idea of how the scoring works on QI then the stats in Shorts DB, everything in it seems so OP that I can't tell what's good and what isn't.
issoisso wrote:
Kreuziger nearly stops, gives up his gap, looks back and gestures to Contador to attack across the gap onto his wheel, Kwiatkowski dying........and Contador just stares at Quintana. Jesus...
Just finished watching replay..yeaah that was also my first reaction..why he wont kill Kiserlowski with that move...and even Porte on that time. Who is still biggest threat to overall. On the mountains ..Contador just follows Quintana..what ever he does.
At the end..Conta was smart..not wasted much energy..getting closer to Kiserlowski..still forcing omega to do all the work tomorrow.
Nice to see Contador back..he seems already more "motivated" then year ago.
Kreuziger was beast today..Strong 6 km breakaway ..still managed to finish with leaders. he is ready for classics and looks more and more like classics and 6 day tour rider (look he's legs)
So many posts about today's stage! Anyway as said above I think Contador is back to a great level again (and smart as he usually is) and showed it after he followed Porte at the final of the stage and showed Quintana a clean pair of wheels. Kreuziger rides like a beast and one of my favourite riders to watch.
Also as said above Porte never seems like a team leader but more of a super domestique and is a follower rather than an attacker, so not very exciting to watch and Dan Martin is a hill climber and not for big tours.
Also good to see Horner finish with the leaders, not sure what the person who said Kwitakowski won't win anything this year is thinking about! Or is he referring to Kwiatkowski as a stage rider which he isn't really?
Edited by Tafiolmo on 15-03-2014 23:05
