All the hysteria about AC ‘attacking his own team mates’
Its never been a team - merely a breeding ground for huge egos
When LA announces he is forming a team and taking the DS and most of the star riders with him what’s AC meant to do apart from look out for number 1
There was no need to announce it this week - LA is big enough news that he could announce it post tour and there would still be massive global attention
In fact in the post tour vacuum, maybe more press would be generated
Secondly, AC did one attack which killed his own team mate but then was defensive. On the descent and the flat run in he certainly was not driving the trio to put more time into his team mates
I really feel sorry for AC
He is amazing to watch and is clearly the best rider in the world
But without the PR machine behind him he is being perceived as a terrible team mate/traitor etc
Madness !
Completely agree, but you have to remember, most of the outcry is from those loyal to Lance so there are still a lot of people who appreciate what AC is doing.
The irony of course is the AC is labelled selfish and a non-team player but few are saying the same about Lance, making HIS BIG ANNOUNCEMENT to take the spotlight from AC.
Lance is the best teammate Alberto never had, and Kloden seems to do all his work to help Lance, not Alberto.
AC’s job is to win the Tour, not to protect Lance’s position. It’s pretty clear that JB and Lance are trying to start a different team, and who can blame AC for considering going to a Spanish team and getting the leadership and focus his talent deserves.
AC has the race won, JB is trying to get as many podium spots as possible, and the AC attack shed his OWN team-mate instead of letting the Schlecks tow them in. Kloden is probably not too enamored with the tactics either. It was pretty obvious that AC realized right away that he screwed the pooch.
Completely agree, but you have to remember, most of the outcry is from those loyal to Lance so there are still a lot of people who appreciate what AC is doing.
The irony of course is the AC is labelled selfish and a non-team player but few are saying the same about Lance, making HIS BIG ANNOUNCEMENT to take the spotlight from AC.
Ummm…no. Most of the outcry is from people who understand that Contador’s tactical blunder didn’t actually help his position, and exposed him to more risk than was necessary.
It’s not so much about personalities, it’s about “dumbass-ness”…it was NOT a tactically astute move. As his DS told him from the car, he didn’t need to attack to win the Tour today. Attacking just exposed him to risks of losing the tour that were unneccesary.
I’d be saying the same stuff about any other of the riders (Armstrong included) if they pulled the same crap. Dumbass is as dumbass does.
The race is won? hmmm…interesting perspective considering the day before the champs elysees, the stage finishes with the climb up Ventoux…
You betting against AC for the overall?
…and who can blame AC for considering going to a Spanish team and getting the leadership and focus his talent deserves.
If AC ends up on a team typical of the Spanish teams of late, I wouldn’t expect much more out of him than what we’ve seen from the likes of Valverde and Mayo in the TDF. He’ll be down a couple of minutes before they hit the first mountains next time.
I don’t think AC appreciates just how kick ass the team he currently rides for actually is…despite any controversy.
**It’s not so much about personalities, it’s about “dumbass-ness”…it was NOT a tactically astute move. As his DS told him from the car, he didn’t need to attack to win the Tour today. Attacking just exposed him to risks of losing the tour that were unneccesary. **
But the race isn’t over yet so how do you know?
I’ve never seen so many experts with so much of the Tour to ride…which is why I think it is more a personality issue.
The odds are clearly in his favour. But the race isn’t won. There is a long time trial tomorrow, a climb up the Ventoux the next day, and 2min (or 5min after the long TT) can be lost very quickly that last day…a crash, a flat, a mechanical issue during the TT, etc…
Completely agree, but you have to remember, most of the outcry is from those loyal to Lance so there are still a lot of people who appreciate what AC is doing.
The irony of course is the AC is labelled selfish and a non-team player but few are saying the same about Lance, making HIS BIG ANNOUNCEMENT to take the spotlight from AC.
Ummm…no. Most of the outcry is from people who understand that Contador’s tactical blunder didn’t actually help his position, and exposed him to more risk than was necessary.
It’s not so much about personalities, it’s about “dumbass-ness”…it was NOT a tactically astute move. As his DS told him from the car, he didn’t need to attack to win the Tour today. Attacking just exposed him to risks of losing the tour that were unneccesary.
I’d be saying the same stuff about any other of the riders (Armstrong included) if they pulled the same crap. Dumbass is as dumbass does.
Thank you. At least one person on this thread understands grand tour stage racing. Leipheimer as armchair quarterback from Santa Rosa said it was a dumb move because it made him much more vulnerable. Plus, it screwed Kloden out of a nearly sure stage win. Kloden could have outsprinted the Schelps in his sleep. Instead AC put himslef at risk while screwing a person that has worked for him on all the mountains.
Contador doesn’t listen to his team director. Brunyeel said don’t attack. That is dumb and selfish.
Actions are judged on results. So let’s take a peek at the results of ACs attack:
Cost Astana stage win.
Gave up 2 podium spots.
Exposed self to risk on stage by isolating himself.
Gave up tactical advantage on stage.
Gave up tactical advantage on Ventoux stage.
Gave up leverage to gain sponsors for '10 team.
Cost himself vis a vis ability to recruit teammates for '10 team.
Actions are judged on results. So let’s take a peek at the results of ACs attack:
Cost Astana stage win.
Gave up 2 podium spots.
Exposed self to risk on stage by isolating himself.
Gave up tactical advantage on stage.
Gave up tactical advantage on Ventoux stage.
Gave up leverage to gain sponsors for '10 team.
Cost himself vis a vis ability to recruit teammates for '10 team.
Wrong.
LA announced before the tour even started (around the time of the Giro) that he wanted to start a team and would make more of an announcement about it at the end of the tour.
AC has not announced that he is starting a team. There are rumours the Alonso (F1 driver) wants to start a team and is Spanish and would like AC on his team if he starts it. AC is under contract to Astana through 2010 so unless they let him go he is not starting or going to a team. If you say his team was started before LA/JB because Vino said they are out before stage 1 and he i swelcome to stay. That would be Astana not AC’s team .
Contador is amazing as a rider, but I would love to see what he and lance would do if they were on rival teams. It is clear that lance is holding back to help his whole team. Lance used his teammates differently in the past when he was the leader. He took care of them after the races (mostly financially) and he made it clear how valuable his teammates were to him. Contador is a punk. But, I will admit he is an amazing rider. Would I want him on my team-NO. WOuld I be afraid of him if he wasn’t on my team, YES.
He made a terrible decision today, and I hope he pays for it tomorrow and Friday.
I still say he wins.
I think he is screwing the team up because he knows he is gone after this year.
DID ANYBODY ELSE NOTICE HIS WINK TO SOMEONE WHEN HE ACCEPTED THE YELLOW JERSEY AFTER THE RACE? It seemed to come in the same direction that Frank Shleck gestured toward his brother. Hmmm.
I read that Contador asked Johan about attacking, and that Johan said to ask Kloden. According to this article, Kloden said to go fo it. I’m not quite sure if Contador’s move was a jackassy as most seem to think. Ultimately, it may have been a tactical error and a bad team move, but if Kloden okayed it, why not try to drop the brothers?
Very sound analysis, let’s take a look at all that is wrong with it:
Cost Astana stage win – Um Contador could have easily taken it if he felt like it.
Gave up 2 podium spots – Let’s see the tour is not over and the’ll be back there tomorrow after the TT.
Exposed self to risk on stage by isolating himself – Technically correct but he did it because he was trying to pull Kloden, so is it his fault Kloden cracked after telling him they should go?
Gave up tactical advantage on stage – Not really. You have the best climber in front with other climbers. How many time have you seen this with Lance after all his domestiques cracked? Dozens.
Gave up tactical advantage on Ventoux stage – WTF? Are you on crack?
Gave up leverage to gain sponsors for '10 team – WTF? Are you on crack part deux? That’s all set for next year so I’m not sure you know what you are talking about.
Cost himself vis a vis ability to recruit teammates for '10 team – Again, this a joke. People want to ride with a winner. If the cash is there, the best in world will be there as well.
Thanks for that thoughtful list however. You do realize the decision to go ran though JB and he gave it the green light if Kloden wanted to go. Surely with all that at stake he would have said “over my dead body”.
The odds are clearly in his favour. But the race isn’t won.** There is a long time trial tomorrow, a climb up the Ventoux the next day,** and 2min (or 5min after the long TT) can be lost very quickly that last day…a crash, a flat, a mechanical issue during the TT, etc…
Tomorrow’s flat. Ventoux on Saturday.
AHHH…Tomorrow is Thursday! This is what happens when you’re in between jobs, you don’t know what day it is…didn’t even notice there was a day between the TT and the Ventoux…duh…thanks for correcting me.