Contador to leave Astana if Lance joins?
09-23-08, 11:03 AM
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Contador to leave Astana if Lance joins?
https://sports.espn.go.com/oly/cyclin...ory?id=3604414
His comments about Levi sound pretty snarky. Levi was pretty forthcoming about Alberto being the leader during the Vuelta.
His comments about Levi sound pretty snarky. Levi was pretty forthcoming about Alberto being the leader during the Vuelta.
09-23-08, 11:10 AM
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Can't say that I blame him, though he should be more appreciative of Levi. If he feels threatened by him, maybe he should work on his TT a little more
09-23-08, 11:15 AM
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It's not like he smoked Levi in his tour win, and sure as heck didn't do it this time. Yes he's younger and has more upside, but he hasn't exactly left Levi in the dust either. Not to mention both of those wins were with the team in support of Contador rather than Levi.
Honestly, with a worthy team in support of Levi, I'd take my chances. He isn't getting any younger though.
Honestly, with a worthy team in support of Levi, I'd take my chances. He isn't getting any younger though.
09-23-08, 11:20 AM
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Contrast Contadors to Levi's comments:
https://www.velonews.com/article/83115
As far as trying to win the stage, that’s not as important as the overall. If there’s a breakaway and we’re missing the stage victory but move ahead in the GC, it’s no big deal. The team is just focused on protecting Alberto and getting him to the bottom of the Angliru in good order. Once we’re on the Angliru, it will be every man for himself.
https://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008...evi_leipheimer
Despite winning a stage and leading the race, he was echoing these sentiments after stage nine. "I am still riding for Alberto Contador," he said. "He has an acceleration uphill like nobody else. You can see that when he attacks. Maybe only a good Valverde can follow him then. We still have the mountains in Asturias to come and the time trial in Navacerrada. He won the Tour and the Giro and is the best climber in the world."
https://www.velonews.com/article/83115
As far as trying to win the stage, that’s not as important as the overall. If there’s a breakaway and we’re missing the stage victory but move ahead in the GC, it’s no big deal. The team is just focused on protecting Alberto and getting him to the bottom of the Angliru in good order. Once we’re on the Angliru, it will be every man for himself.
https://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008...evi_leipheimer
Despite winning a stage and leading the race, he was echoing these sentiments after stage nine. "I am still riding for Alberto Contador," he said. "He has an acceleration uphill like nobody else. You can see that when he attacks. Maybe only a good Valverde can follow him then. We still have the mountains in Asturias to come and the time trial in Navacerrada. He won the Tour and the Giro and is the best climber in the world."
09-23-08, 11:21 AM
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09-23-08, 11:21 AM
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I'm just surprised that espn actually has a cycling page. Here's the velonews version:
https://www.velonews.com/article/8352...with-armstrong
Contador's comments towards levi are harsher.
The reporter asked who is the biggest wheel-sucker, Leipheimer or Cadel Evans?
“Uff, mmm, the truth is, I wouldn’t know what to say …,” Contador said, leaving it with a smile.
https://www.velonews.com/article/8352...with-armstrong
Contador's comments towards levi are harsher.
The reporter asked who is the biggest wheel-sucker, Leipheimer or Cadel Evans?
“Uff, mmm, the truth is, I wouldn’t know what to say …,” Contador said, leaving it with a smile.
09-23-08, 11:26 AM
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https://sports.espn.go.com/oly/cyclin...ory?id=3604414
His comments about Levi sound pretty snarky. Levi was pretty forthcoming about Alberto being the leader during the Vuelta.
His comments about Levi sound pretty snarky. Levi was pretty forthcoming about Alberto being the leader during the Vuelta.
09-23-08, 11:32 AM
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09-23-08, 11:44 AM
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Which part was rumor and which part was fact?
Stage 13 to L'Angliru:
100% in agreement that Contador deserves to be a sole team leader...also 100% in agreement that he threw Levi under the bus with his comments...pretty classless thing to do. I'm on the record as not being impressed with Levi's willingness and ability to pull but to say he got no help sounds prima dona'ish.
Stage 13 to L'Angliru:
Germany's Andreas Klöden did major work on the Corda and its descent to keep teammate Contador safe. The 33 year-old, second in the 2004 Tour de France, pulled off at 10 kilometres remaining of the Alto de l'Angliru. He turned the work over to José Luis Rubiera with the gap to Kern at one minute. Contador sat second wheel, one ahead of teammate Leipheimer. 'Chechu' Rubiera hammered over the easier portions of the climb, before the walls of 21 percent.
Leipheimer came to the front for the tricky gradients. He led Contador and Caisse's Astana through kilometres 6.5 to 7.5 of the Angliru. His work thinned it down to Valverde and his trusted teammate, Rodríguez. Tour de France champion Sastre was out the back with his chances of wining the Vuelta up in smoke with more than six kilometres remaining.
After Leipheimer pulled off at six kilometres, Valverde and Contador set out to take advantage of Sastre's loss. Spanish Champion Valverde moved to the front for a spell, even if looked the weaker of the rivals.
Contador put the final polish on the Astana show of strength, while Leipheimer was marking Sastre some 30 seconds down the road. The winner of the 2006 Tour and 2007 Giro fired a deadly attack with 3500 metres remaining, some of which touched 21 percent gradient.
Leipheimer came to the front for the tricky gradients. He led Contador and Caisse's Astana through kilometres 6.5 to 7.5 of the Angliru. His work thinned it down to Valverde and his trusted teammate, Rodríguez. Tour de France champion Sastre was out the back with his chances of wining the Vuelta up in smoke with more than six kilometres remaining.
After Leipheimer pulled off at six kilometres, Valverde and Contador set out to take advantage of Sastre's loss. Spanish Champion Valverde moved to the front for a spell, even if looked the weaker of the rivals.
Contador put the final polish on the Astana show of strength, while Leipheimer was marking Sastre some 30 seconds down the road. The winner of the 2006 Tour and 2007 Giro fired a deadly attack with 3500 metres remaining, some of which touched 21 percent gradient.
Last edited by Dubbayoo; 09-23-08 at 11:55 AM.
09-23-08, 11:45 AM
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I did not realize that direct quotes are rumors:
“He pulled a little (at Angliru), but Valverde attacked very early and dropped him,” he said. “It was a delicate situation (at Fuentes de Invierno). If I was alone with Mosquera, I would have let him win, but considering how things were, it was important to take the bonuses.”
The reporter asked who is the biggest wheel-sucker, Leipheimer or Cadel Evans?
“Uff, mmm, the truth is, I wouldn’t know what to say …,” Contador said, leaving it with a smile.
“He pulled a little (at Angliru), but Valverde attacked very early and dropped him,” he said. “It was a delicate situation (at Fuentes de Invierno). If I was alone with Mosquera, I would have let him win, but considering how things were, it was important to take the bonuses.”
The reporter asked who is the biggest wheel-sucker, Leipheimer or Cadel Evans?
“Uff, mmm, the truth is, I wouldn’t know what to say …,” Contador said, leaving it with a smile.
09-23-08, 12:06 PM
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Which part was rumor and which part was fact?
Stage 13 to L'Angliru:
100% in agreement that Contador deserves to be a sole team leader...also 100% in agreement that he threw Levi under the bus with his comments...pretty classless thing to do. I'm on the record as not being impressed with Levi's willingness and ability to pull but to say he got no help sounds prima dona'ish.
Stage 13 to L'Angliru:
100% in agreement that Contador deserves to be a sole team leader...also 100% in agreement that he threw Levi under the bus with his comments...pretty classless thing to do. I'm on the record as not being impressed with Levi's willingness and ability to pull but to say he got no help sounds prima dona'ish.
Me thinks the young man needs to learn a wee bit of humility. It seems to me that Levi was working for him plenty and that AC possibly may not have finished ahead of him if he hadn't been...
My liking of AC is starting to slide a bit.
09-23-08, 02:28 PM
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Contador probably isnt making any friends in the pelaton with comments like those above. Levi is very well liked, and as far as I could tell worked very hard for AC to win. I understand that with Armstrong in the stable, Contador may want to leave, but imagine if Armstrong came back very strong as a superdomestique with Levi for AC. No one in the world could beat them.
09-23-08, 02:32 PM
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Contador probably isnt making any friends in the pelaton with comments like those above. Levi is very well liked, and as far as I could tell worked very hard for AC to win. I understand that with Armstrong in the stable, Contador may want to leave, but imagine if Armstrong came back very strong as a superdomestique with Levi for AC. No one in the world could beat them.
09-23-08, 02:42 PM
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Armstrong has made it very clear that he's coming back to win, not be AC's superdomestique. Not that AC isn't unstoppable now, though.
09-23-08, 02:49 PM
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I guess Alberto really wants to do the TdF next year...? Basically, he could have the choice of Vuelta and Giro, or TdF.
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09-23-08, 02:51 PM
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Contador has won all three, something Lance never did.
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09-23-08, 02:52 PM
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Indeed. Honestly, that's how I thought they were going to work it out, Contador guns for the other two, Lance for the TdF.
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09-23-08, 03:05 PM
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I think Contador's proven he can win the two lesser tours handily. But there are still doubters who say an absentee Rassmussen gifted him '07. Besides, who cares how many Giros and Vueltas you win if you only win one Tour?
09-23-08, 03:12 PM
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I'd like to see LA on Astana vs AC on some other team, if AC thinks he's that good. It wouldn't be a good move for Astana to let AC go for one year though.
09-23-08, 03:34 PM
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Hell, I'll leave Astana if Lance joins.
09-23-08, 03:40 PM
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09-23-08, 03:46 PM
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Actually, I think that would be a fun race to watch, too.
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