Comments on: Versus’ War on Contador

By: Jack Daniels

Jack Daniels — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 20:07:59 +0000

I actually hoped Contador would eventually join Caisse D’Epargne, especially after their Vuelta show-off, but it seems those stubborn kazakhs just kept him. Anyway, my theory is very simple: if Cadel Evans managed two second places with such “extraordinary” team support, I’m fairly sure Contador could win it all by himself.
Just after the Tour, it was all “well, Armstrong broke his collarbone, wasn’t in top form” yada yada yada, “let’s see next year, when he’ll have a year of racing in his legs, perfect preparation for the Tour” blah blah blah. Some people are just forgetting he’s 38. At this age, he’ll be up there with the best, just like this year, but he won’t be on the top step of the podium (maybe not even on the podium).

P.S. Though I still hope Simoni, aged 38, will still be able to win atop the Zoncolan.

By: frankielof

frankielof — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 06:43:09 +0000

Don’t get me wrong, I can barely stomach Contador and that stupid pistolero crap, but I just can’t see anyone seriously contending with him in a Grand Tour for quite some time. CycleSport magazine recently had an article claming that Andy Scheck will be his biggest rival in ‘10 and beyond. He might be, but I don’t see him being anything but this generations Poulidor and unfortunetly Contador is this generations Anquetil.
I think Armstrong will have a good tour, but again the third step of the podium will be best we see. If he couldn’t use his mind games on Contador while they were teammates and Johan was doing his best to will Lance into Yellow, there is no way he can do it now. Astana maybe weaker than last year, but this guy is one savvy rider and he is the best climber and one of the best time trialist.

By: cosmo

cosmo — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 23:01:56 +0000

@hammt, @euro trash, @M I think it may be that Versus and the American media are keenly aware of who pays the bills.

Also, the Schlecks can be confusing to American audiences because there are two of them, and they look similar, but they aren’t twins.

Lance has been called many things, but “wise” is a new one on me. That said, I will give Joe Parkin a nod in that Lance is much more experienced than Contador.

It’ll be interesting to see if Armstrong can parlay his “wisdom” into good performances at the Classics this year. He raced them through ‘03 and despite always being in the moves couldn’t ever seem to close the deal.

By: rainbow

rainbow — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 07:47:15 +0000

I walked into the bookstore today to find Lance 02 or the 2nd coming or something, fresh on the shelf. I bought fishing ‘Knots,Rigs,Baits and 10 year old Burley’, coz it stunk less.

By: hammt

hammt — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:49:25 +0000

my gosh finally someone can see how much of a dick lance really is and what fanboys vs are to this a hole. Contador is gonna kick ass again and still be humble exactly the kind of champ Americans cant stand. I used to be a huge LA fan by the way hmm no longer a zombie

By: bikechik

bikechik — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:07:07 +0000

Thank you.

By: M

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:50:07 +0000

While I am looking forward to this cycling season, it will be frustrating listening to everyone trying to capitalize off of LA this year. Its becoming more and more obvious that the two “leaders” at Ego Shack have such massive self-esteem issues that if they can’t physically beat someone they have to verbally attack. This might have to be the year of Pandora audio with Tour video.

By: lalahsghost

lalahsghost — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:37:23 +0000

I believe he is speaking of Contador’s networking skills. I don’t mean that Conty sucks at tweeting, but with real people. Teams are Teams out on the course, but think about how many riders would possibly be in the LANCE team versus the CONTADOR team.

Examples media states:
The tour breakaway w/ lance & w/o contador in ‘09 regardless of the facts.
Astana team members jumping ship after “USPS/Disco” leaves.
There are a lot of Americans in the peloton this year.

We all know there is a bit of national pride when it comes to little favors in the peloton.

I also wouldn’t put it past Lance to get buddy buddy with old team members still. He’s a smooth networker with that kind of jazz, no?

caisse d’epargne – they would help contador, no? maybe?
I feel if it benefitted their team too, CSC, Garmin, Sky, and Columbia would team up with Radio Shack. It wouldn’t surprise me at all.

By: dirty_juheesus

dirty_juheesus — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:27:52 +0000

If conditions are right in 2010, the TdF has the Schleck brothers (two of them), Contador, and Armstrong in contention for the podium.

If conditions stay this way through the early stages then the boring set-tempo-until-the-end-of-the-stage will be the tactic of choice for Team Armstrong on critical stages.

I think the smart Director Sportif with a budget near Team Armstrong’s has a TdF team organized as a set-tempo-until-the-end-of-the-stage team. Astana looks like that’s what it has. We know the Schleck boys can ride tempo in the TdF with the very best.

I hope it will be an interesting race. The 2009 edition had great climbs too early in many stages. I look forward to watching the northern stages where cobbles/weather should be factors as well as the usual climbing stages.

By: Michael K

Michael K — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:15:14 +0000

@euro trash: What these people know is that Vs’s ratings for the Tour fell substantially after Lance’s retirement. So rather than do more to build on the core cycling viewership and help casual viewers gain an appreciation for the sport sans LA, they’re throwing all their chips in on Lance and American jingoism. They know who pays the bills.