newhero
Reged: 23/09/2008
Posts: 253
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Alberto Contador has now won all the Grand Tours, and in the shortest timescale so far, so is he the best or the best of a poor bunch?
If you believe the hype he could be asked to ride for Mr Armstrong next year, despite the fact that Lance did not even attempt to win more than one Grand Tour in the same season despite dominating the TDF.
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bfergie
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 3637
Loc: Sticks ,Scotlandshire
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He is not the best nor is the best of a poor bunch, he is the best grand tour rider at the moment, It's unfair to call the rest "poor" , out of every generation there is always a dominent rider, it's his turn!
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I now accept PAYPAL!!!!
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newhero
Reged: 23/09/2008
Posts: 253
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I was only thinking of the Grand Tours. I dont think Contador will realy go on to greatness unless he wins one or more of the cycling "monuments" and the world road race champs.
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bigoldsideofham
Reged: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2283
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Hero, I may be wrong but i cant recall lance making any kind of bid to win the other tours??? Vuelta was a for Herras and there was no interest in the giro.
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Bluebeard
Reged: 27/03/2008
Posts: 522
Loc: Brixton innit
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Interesting enough to note that Contador has only once so far failed to win a Grand Tour he participated in.
I'm not a huge Contador fan, but on the point of greats and otherwise, the almighty heralded Armstrong never won a Monument, before or after he decided to try in one stage race a year - his closest were the Fleche Wallone and San Sebastian before the cancer hit. Similarly Indurain, (and Pantani  ) also failed to win a Monument.
Anquetil, as far as I can see from wiki, only ever won one. And by the same rational, had Kelly failed to win the Vuelta, should we scratch him from the list of the great cyclists?
It seems that since the days of Lemond, Hinault, Fingnon, Kelly, etc, that pro cyclists are generally divided between the GC stage-racers and the one-day specialists. Cancellara is one of the better current one day cyclists, can even nick the odd three stage job, should wipe Contador out in any monument when on form. It is highly unlikely that he'd stay in the top twenty beyond the first three mountain stages of a grand tour, while this is where Contador starts to wake up.
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You can take a bike to water but you cannot make it drink
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Dazzricles
Reged: 24/08/2008
Posts: 621
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If we totted up on the basis of points for tours and classics I wonder how far ahead Merckx would be over any one since?
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Bluebeard
Reged: 27/03/2008
Posts: 522
Loc: Brixton innit
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Too right. The best everyone else can aim for is second.
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You can take a bike to water but you cannot make it drink
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TheMightyThor
Reged: 13/06/2006
Posts: 204
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Contador might have won the Tour, but I'd like to see him take on Hutch on a dual carriageway.
The King? Don't make me laugh. Until he's got up at the crack of dawn to ride in a lorry's slipstream up and down a major trunk road, he'll never be the king in my eyes.
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newhero
Reged: 23/09/2008
Posts: 253
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Bigoldie, That was exactly my point, Lance, great though he was, never even attempted to win two grand tours in the same season. Or attempt even the Tour and world RR double.
Thats why Contador must rank fairly highly in the current climate of micro specialisation.
Im not realy a fan of Contador, but winning two three week races in the same season is a good start.
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bigoldsideofham
Reged: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2283
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Not so, ive never tried to eek out a career as a buger flipper in macdonalds- that doesnt mean im not capable of it. It just holds no interest for me! Look at Lances most important sponsors - nike / trek (when trek were a little known company)discovery/usps. They have a huge american market but the only selling point was the tour de france (in main because of Le monde's achievements). Lance is a savvy guy. The cash rolls in when you win the tour, nike happy, trek happy,usps happy,discovery happy = lance happy.
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daveno7
Reged: 04/03/2007
Posts: 647
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he is the man for the tours but this is what we know he does best - he is still young but would you omit sunshine for the pave of belgium? - he hasnt anything to prove at the moment i feel but as a grand tour rider he just might get demoralised by the armstrong brigade and bruyneels posturing...
despite what he has said in the spanish press i expect him to stay with astana( would you bother ? ) with a salary increase but more uncomfortably he doesnt seem to eye to eyes with leipheimers efforts(too much!) - could and will be interesting
contador - a great rider - roll on
daveno7
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cycleNoodle
Reged: 24/09/2008
Posts: 3
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He is very good but not the best, I dont think you will see him consistently winning tours for years to come for instance. I have a lot of respect for him though and as long as he is clean he has a good future ahead of him.
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Paul Beales
www.cyclenoodle.com
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newhero
Reged: 23/09/2008
Posts: 253
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Bigoldie. I love the analagy of the burger flipping. I will use the same excuse to my riding mates " I could have won the Tour, It just I didnt bother to ride it".
Ha. Love it.
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bigoldsideofham
Reged: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2283
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I thank you!! (im here all week)
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Bryan48
Reged: 28/07/2008
Posts: 99
Loc: Co Cavan .Ireland
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Yes indeed I'm sure the Spain will erect s monument to Contador soon!!!!!!!
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