How am I a dick? If this is your only effort at a retort, then you are definitely coming up short.
And these orders were?
that is great. But the goal is to win the tour, not get 3 people on the podium.
getting 3 people on the podium would have unbelievable, but it isn’t a neccesity.
The implication from the velonews article (and others and observations) has nothing to do with whether he is trying to win - of course he is. It is more that he not a “team player” and acts on his own, even against his director sportiff’s recs. I’m no Lance groupie, but he was and had a very strong team each year he won as he was a strong “team” player (often paying out “Lance money” as well since he knows the team helps him win).
that’s certainly true. That said, Lance was always the undisputed leader on the team, had a very close relationship with the DS and had a very, very strong hand in selecting the riders who were supporting him in those tour wins. In short, the situations really aren’t analogous at all.
After all, here’s a direct quote from Armstrong, c/o Cyclingnews: “I remember the years when I was the leader of my team and if someone even remotely considered their own individual interests, we would have sent him home the next day. I don’t want to be that guy.”
that’s great, and he’s certainly been the perfect teammate since Verbier. Prior to that, he was clearly ‘that guy’. It’s understandable that Contador is, then, racing a different race than Lance did during his Tour wins.
I’m not saying that Contador’s attack was a smart move, particularly since it appears he wasn’t doing it to set up Kloden. That said, questioning his motives (as many are doing) is silly. His motive is to win, and given the team dynamic (which is VASTLY different than the realities Armstrong was dealing with), he’s making the choices he thinks he needs to make. Remember, the decision on Arcalis ended up being a good one. Today’s decision ended up a little differently…
For the most part, I have to agree with your assessment so no retort is necessary from me. I just have seen numerous posts of yours today and find that most of them have been pretty abrasive and arrogant and your name is fitting. That’s all.
“Getting lots of question why AC attacked and dropped Kloden. I still haven’t figured it out either. Oh well.”
The above was copied from LA’s Twittter page.
Obviously you were not an English Literature Major and your parent’s must have failed in teaching you humility.
Nonetheless…it seems to me that there are more fans for LA than AC and that LA has done more for the sport of cycling within the past 2 1/2 weeks than AC will ever. LA has given everyone, not just cycling fans and/or Americans a reason to cheer for cycling again…after all, it’s all those European’s that keep getting popped for doping while trying to keep up with us Americans 
So, you’re saying it’s better for AC to win by 5-6 minutes, even if no other Astana podium, than to win by 2 - 3 minutes and help as much as he can to ensure other steps have Astana aboard. Johan thinks your strategy sucks…and he’s not American. lol
“patriotic bullshit”? Nice, very nice.
Ah … you are making far to many assumptions. Since you are a typical anonymous poster, we can just assume you are French?
trackieCLM posted a “dream TdF” podium a few days ago on this primarily AMERICAN forum (hey, we invented triathlon, slowman this site and the wetsuit, etc.) and most did not have it full of 'Mericans. I didn’t (although I could only imagine Zabriskie’s antics if he managed it) LOL!
Abrasive? Maybe.
Arrogant? No way. In contrast to the majority, yes. I have to laugh at people’s complaint of contador and his ‘team player’ abilities. How can a man be a better team player than to win the tour?
I think some people may take issue with Contador not following team plans (depending on who you believe). According to JB, it wasn’t planned for Contador to attack on Verbier and it wasn’t planned for him to attack today, either. Maybe that’s what people are alluding to by saying he’s not a good teammate.
Personally, I think that there was either just a miscommunication with Kloden today or Contador thought Kloden would follow. I don’t think Contador intended to distance himself from his teammates - it just turned out that way.
Giving JB the benefit of the doubt, I think he was upset about the move, not because he wanted Lance or Kloden to podium, but because if Contador were to faulter, he’d be assured that someone else from Astana would likely win (which should be his first priority - loyalty to the team, not to any one individual). Now the Schlecks are sitting second and third and if Contador faulters, it’s not as likely for Astana to win the Tour.
I believe that contador and astana should be worried about winning and not concerned about getting the top 3 places.
Bruyneel may not be an American, but he is basically the giggolo for one.
If he is not French…perhaps he is still struggling with the green card being revoked along with trying to decipher the deportation papers…
Abrasive? Maybe.
Arrogant? No way. In contrast to the majority, yes. I have to laugh at people’s complaint of contador and his ‘team player’ abilities. How can a man be a better team player than to win the tour?
Well, we can go back just a few years to another American, Greg LeMond, waiting for and helping Bernard Hinault (when he likely could have won) for that example …
Perhaps. Whatever Contador did has worked, he is in Yellow. Let’s hope that he has the ability to stay there. Ventoux will be an amazing stage.
I look forward to Contador racing next year on a “regular” team. One without Kloden/Armstrong/Popo, etc. I think he will be somewhat exposed. Make no mistake, the guy is awesome, but rare is the GT winner that did not also have a very good team (see Cadel).
As for what he did, he had every right to do it, but that still doesn’t make it a good move. Kloden has carried this team and Contador this tour (Cancellera and Kloden have earned huge points in my book this tour…both have been pure nails for their teams).
oh and if Lance screwed his teammate out of a podium spot without advancing himself, it would be a dick move. Bottom line, much like the Garmin push to spoil the Hincapie yellow, it was just a pure dick move. Just call it and move on.
I must say, despite who anyone is rooting for, all this Astana drama has made the Tour a lot more interesting. Can’t wait until Ventoux.
good points roady. Yes, VERY different team dynamics (as would any team with a 7 time TdF winner on it would be). I’ll probably enjoy watching Contador climb next year even more on (enter Spanish team name here) - love to watch him dance on the pedals as much as watching Cancellara mash out TTs.
hilarity.
Now tell me how contador could be a better teammate than by winning the Tour.
…And takes heat for not towing Kloden and Armstrong along with him.
You haven’t been paying attention, have you? That’s not what he’s taking “heat” for…
He’s being asked to reduce his chance at yellow in order to help teammates in the GC.
No. His attack didn’t *improve *his chances and actually increased his risk of losing the GC…and, in the process, he managed to screw up his own teammate’s GC chances. THAT’S why he’s getting “heat”. It was clearly a dumbass move. The only people it ended up helping was the Schlecks. Nice.
look, obviously contador didn’t mean to drop kloden. how many times did he look around to see where he was?
so far, from a tactical perspective, contador has done everything right to win the tour.