Comments on: Contador stomps on stage 4 of Paris-Nice, takes lead

By: John

John — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 08:13:33 +0000

As far as i know, any athlete that is dominating the sport is automatically accused of doping,for example, Manny Pacquiao and Lance Armstrong

By: AlexBaja

AlexBaja — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:07:08 +0000

I think is very frustrating having doping like a shadow of ghost around the sport you love. Some times I just quit for standing up 5:30 in the morning (Pacific Time) to see the final two or three hours of great races in Europe. I am still get goose bumps when someone try to get rid of the peloton or two or three breakaway partners in difficult conditions. But sometimes I just have that angry feeling because of what cheaters do and stop reading all the lines in the news about cycling. Is just not fare, either for themselves nor for us (public) to do cheating. And then I start thinking about men who do worst things like stealing or killing and showing but nothing of regret, I say well at least people like Bjharne Riis still show they´re humans and show consideration for a better sport. If Lance Armstrong cheated we may never know from his own lips, just because of the entire market around him, they better make him dissapear before he make them loose their money. Lance Armstrong has an arrogant personality he showed many times, and he likes to have revenge. When I read his book he showed some of his annoying arrogance when he described the feeling he had when he walked in yellow close to Cofidis guys. You just know this man didn´t show the right feeling he gotta have, like giving them thanks for what they did. And If Contador´s cheating he gotta buy something really new and undetectable or pay enough money to officials. I think Contador doesn´t have “friends” like Lance (top security men, even expresident Bush, etc.), but I hope he´ll (Contador) have enough for another Tour victory and Lance do the of himself a man of honor again because he fall from the grace of people when he did it to Contador last year Tour the France being so egocentric and divisive not giving him recognition for his triumph. The one who doesn´t give respect to the leaders show nothing but the bad bones he has.

By: O Paco

O Paco — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:27:04 +0000

For sure I know better than you. As for Lance's WC it was an isolated incident and his couple of classics are second rate. On the other hand Contador is amassing an aura of invincibility in almost every HC tour or GT he participates. Only his Paris-Nizas and Tour of the Basque Country are much more prestigious than the whole set of Lance's wins out of the TdF. And he has Giro and Vuelta that Lance will never have.

As for the classics, again it is your knowledge that is lacking. If you were listening to people like Cunego, S. Sanchez, Valverde. They know very well that Contador is not winning Liege;s and things like that because he does not give a damn for the moment, he has other plans. And they have openly stated it.

As for Lemond. His European early seasons were always a complete disappointment. He was the inventor of the 100% dedication to the TdF. It was a shame the way he hang around in the Giro's (in fact many people thought at the time, he should be doped in the TdF) as his regular performance before was well beyond the par of a champion (ot what was considered one until that point), such as Hinault, Anquetil, etc.

By: Rich Wagenknecht

Rich Wagenknecht — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:41:17 +0000

I see. So body size implicates Contador as a doper in the ITT? Well then, how do explain a rider like Lance or Mig being able to climb so well? They CERTAINLY don't have the physique of a climber.See, two can play this game.

By: jesusnieto

jesusnieto — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:49:00 +0000

I HOPE you are wrong. Not because I want to see any of that goofy pistol shooting, but because I want to believe in hard work and outstanding athletic capacity. I want to believe.

By: jkelly

jkelly — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:23:26 +0000

As a cyclist and fan of the sport I have the utmost respect for anyone who is at the top of their game, which AC clearly is. More so than in other sports anyone who excels is bound to be labelled as a 'doper', especially given the negative press that cycling has received in the recent past. However as fans of the sport I think we should be the last people to start accusing athletes at the pinnacle of the their careers. There will always be individuals that surpass everyone else in any given sport; Ali in boxing, Pele in football, Federer in tennis. Examples only, I don't wish to start another discussion. This is down to natural talent and ability, most people can ride a bike, some better than others. But let me ask you this, If every club rider in the country started using EPO would they be riding for Radioshack, Astana, Sky etc next season? I think not.

By: Greg687

Greg687 — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:53:32 +0000

I wish the pacifier had been one time. I can't remember who it was taht did it several times one year…. did the guy have a kid every month? I didn't know Tiger Woods raced bikes…

By: scubasteve

scubasteve — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:45:00 +0000

this comment has what to do with the conversation?? Zabriske is a TT specialist, so I would have to say he performs better and more consistently in tt’s on a regular basis than most in the pro peleton.

By: scubasteve

scubasteve — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:37:06 +0000

Hey velo4eva, your a complete dumb***. you must be joking about the size strength thing. armstrong is only 5' 8 156lbs, but hes good at both tt and climbing. same for a guy named levi, id say hes pretty good at both too, ever heard of him. oh yea, and he is only 5' 7 132 lbs. and now we get to AC, who happens to be around 5' 9 136lbs (cyclingnews even listed him at 5'10). id say he looks pretty fit and muscular even if he is skinny. the guys a pro athlete after all.Ok, now you can go back to punding your logic into our brains. Pshh!

By: velo4eva

velo4eva — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:55:50 +0000

Calm down dude, the pacifier was a one-time thing. But you are right about the pistolero thing. Its just lame and boring. I'm not against creativity, I happen to like Fletcha's bow and arrow salute, its VERY cool. But having a cap made with his pistolero finger on it? Very very gay AC!

By: velo4eva

velo4eva — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:47:08 +0000

No, Contador does not have superior palmares to Armstrong. He has not won a World Championship and he has not won anything close to a one day classic. Don't use the word palmares if you don't know what context to use it in.

Yes, Lance may have hid in a cave later in his career but LeMond never did. Unlike Lance, he rode a full racing calendar like all REAL cyclists should. He rode most of the classics and even finished a high 4th in Roubaix one very muddy year. He also rode all the grand tours.

I'm not impressed with your cycling knowledge Opaco

By: velo4eva

velo4eva — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:39:51 +0000

Amen on the Tommy D thing. I think he is done. He needs to settle into a good domestique roll on a team that will give him some freedom to hunt stages every now and then. Time's up on being a protected rider. He just doesn't have what it takes.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:35:00 +0000

Zabriske outperforms Contador on a regular basis? LOL, I guess that’s why your name is “scuba” steve.

By: velo4eva

velo4eva — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:29:44 +0000

At least I can spell Bettini you know-it-all douche snob.

By: velo4eva

velo4eva — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:25:40 +0000

Pay attention smarty pants, the climbs vs TT discussion is centered around his body size. Contador does NOT have the same body size of LeMond, Indurain, or Armstrong who are much bigger, muscular riders. Hence, that raises the question of a wispy climber that can TT like the big boys. Are you following along now?Ok, now you can go back to pounding your logic into our brains. Pshh!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:08:00 +0000

Uh no. Levi is “shorter” than Contador but doesn’t have the body of a climber. Yes, he can climb well but he is not a pure climber. Levi doesn’t go on the attack, he follows wheels and he does it quite well managing to usually get into the final group. Thats why he has a lot of Top 5 finishes but not a lot of victories. The guys that go on the attack or counter are the guys that usually win ala Lance, Contador, etc.

And yes, Levi can now TT with the best of them. If he would only be more aggresive, I would love to see him emerge from Lance’s shadow. A few Tours of CA and a Tour of Germany are not enough victories for a rider of Levi’s caliber. But if he wants to keep pulling Lance’s train…

By: Greg687

Greg687 — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:32:18 +0000

He is a great athlete. He makes for boring english interviews. He is controversial and egotistical as only the best athletes CAN be.

But, please! Someone! Tell Alberto the "pistol" schtick is incredibly stupid! I skip the photos of him doing it, and I will end the DVR if I am watching a race he wins. This is as bad as the pacifier thing.... what's next, end zone dances? T-shirt launchers?

By: yeomans

yeomans — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:00:01 +0000

My comment above is a reply to Evan. The benefits of recovery can not be overstated. Hinault and Lemond raced more and their training wasn't nearly as honed to specific races like Contador. Anybody who is the best world at anything will make that something look easy.

By: yeomans

yeomans — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:49:24 +0000

Power to weight ratio is beneficial to all cycling events, not just climbing. Cancellara is a freak and he puts out a hell of lot of power to overcome his extra weight. He also has one of the best looking strokes in the sport. Contador also has a great pedal stroke and the most natural out of the saddle style I’ve ever seen. Other than his obvious physical attributes, Contador also presents small silhouette to the wind when time trialing, which could account for his prowess at the event. It is a myth that raw power and time trialing ability are mutually exclusive.

By: theryanexpress

theryanexpress — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:49:00 +0000

When Tiger wins EVERYTHING,oh ,isn't that great.So exciting.When Lance won EVERY TDF,boy isn't this exciting! But bring someone else,and all the Lance nut-suckers cry 'boring,dope. Kinda reminds me of when Indurain won the tours.(note I say tours and not TDF) Mostly it's american (I am one) 'fans when convienent doing this. They know Lance,Levi,George and maybe one or two more,but throw a name like Betini or Fletcha and they look at you like you're from another planet.