For the better part of the 2009 cycling off season, Alberto Contador's status as a member of the Astana cycling team was in question. Contador, undoubtedly the world's best stage racer, watched from the sidelines during the off season as Lance Armstrong plucked many of Astana's strongest riders off the team to form the new Radioshack cycling team. Once the most feared stage racing team in the world, by the end of 2009 Astana was looking a shell of its former self.
Contador meanwhile, through his lawyers tried to negotiate a release from his Astana contract, but to no avail. Like it or not, Contador was forced to ride out his contract with Astana for the 2010 season. And with so few sure-fire domestiques on the team, the 2010 season was looking to be one of transition for Contador as he tempered expectations behind a far weaker team.
Then however, a funny thing happened. Astana began signing solid support riders. First it was Oscar Peirero, 2006 Tour de France winner and staunch support rider to Alejandro Valverde at the Caisse d'Epargne team. Then Paolo Tiralongo signed up, another strong add for Contador in the grand tours and stage races. Finally, David De La Fuente, the mountain goat formerly of the Footon-Servetto squad boarded the Astana ship. Add to this the presence of Alexander Vinokourov, and suddenly Contador's support structure looks far more solid than originally thought.
The team strength of Astana was on full display this past week at the Volta Ao Algarve, where Contador was able to win the overall and a stage win en route to a very impressive season debut. Not only did the Spaniard win a tough stage three mountain top finish, but he showed well in the ITT. Further, he was well-supported as he defended the leader's jersey, as both De La Fuente and Daniel Navarro rode very strongly in his support.
Although it is still very early in the 2010 cycling season, Alberto Contador's prospects at winning a third Tour de France title in July look pretty good. He is clearly the best individual climber in pro cycling, and assuming the rest of his teammates can stay upright and healthy throughout the early season, the Spaniard will head into the Tour as the number one favorite. Contador's Astana team meanwhile, once thought to be a disadvantage, seems to be shaping up to be a strong team at this early point in the season.
Defending the yellow jersey at the Tour de France is a much different task that at the Volta Ao Algarve, but nevertheless Contador will be pleased with his team's performance at this early point in the year. Astana will be able to take away a big boost of confidence after Algarve, as they continue to gel as a unit ahead of July. For Contador's opposition, his and his team's performance at Algarve is cause for chagrin. Alone Contador is a very tough rider to beat, but with a competent team behind him, he'll be nearly unbeatable come July.
Posts
2 comments:
I think we're going to find out how successful a grand tour rider can be if he has a weak team to support him. AC is a terrific tour rider, of that there is no doubt. But since cycling is an individual sport won by teams, I have serious doubts about his TDF prospects. I, for one, don't put much stock at all in Pereiro and Tiralongo. (Frankly, I just don't know what to make of Vino as a tour support rider, assuming that the powers that be let him ride.) Even if Astana all are at their best in July, that's just not much support, and doesn't compare to Shack, Sky and Liquigas.
But I confess to having more interest in this year's tour than in any tour for many years. I can't wait. I hope that they all come to the race in full power and good health. I want an epic.
I don't think Astana is quite as weak as Michael says. They seem to be at moment to be a good team but not a great one. More importantly though is that they are all working in the same direction, which wasn't always the case with Lance on board. A good team with a singular focus will have better chances than a great one with divided focus. Luquigas with their multiple GC talents, should have won a major tour by now and haven't. Contador primarily needs help on the flats and lower mountains, because no one is leaving him in the higher mountains and can likely use other teams around him to this purpose. No one is going to work with Lance so he can win another tour. Lance no longer unbeatable in the high mountains and the Schlecks can't TT their way out of a paperbag. It should be a good year for TdF.
Post a Comment