Contador Conquers Mortirolo - English
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ย. 2024
- Alberto Contador's legendary climb of the Mortirolo on Stage 16 of the 2015 Giro d'Italia. English commentary by Rob Hatch and Sean Kelly.
Soundtrack: "Hellraiser/Action" by Raven.
Video Footage Courtesy Eurosport. No copyright infringement intended. I make no claim to ownership.
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www.cyclingnews...
Contador fights back on Mortirolo to extend Giro d’Italia lead
"Cycling isn't mathematics," Alberto Contador said after crossing the line in Aprica, and he wasn't wrong, certainly not after a stage so enthralling that the extension of his overall lead at this Giro d'Italia to more than four minutes felt like something of an afterthought. "These are the kind of stages that people remember."
Stalled by a puncture shortly after passing through the finish line at Aprica for the first time, Contador was forced into a frantic chase as Katusha and Astana pushed the pace up front, and he had to claw his way back up to the leaders alone on the mighty Mortirolo. Once that remontada was complete, Contador then dropped Fabio Aru (Astana) six kilometres shy of the summit, only to be in turn distanced by the Sardinian's teammate Mikel Landa on the final climb the finish.
...
Contador began the Mortirolo 52 seconds down on the leading group, which was whittled down to just Landa, Aru and Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo) after the opening kilometres of climbing. As the gradient stiffened, Contador began to dance past dropped rider upon dropped rider with disquieting ease, prompting inevitable comparisons with Marco Pantani's comeback on the climb to Oropa at the 1999 Giro.
The Spaniard was some way short of matching Pantani's time of 43 minutes up the Mortirolo in 1994 (or, indeed Ivan Gotti's 1996 record of 42:40), but he scaled the climb far quicker than anyone else here, making light work of its 18% slopes to clock 45:07 for the 11.85 kilometres, with only Kruijswijk and Landa within a minute of his mark on the ascent. "I thought about the difficulty ahead of me. I knew that I couldn't afford any more mechanical problems or a hunger knock," Contador said.
By the time Contador edged back up to the leaders with more than seven kilometres left to climb, Aru was already began to flag, and he was distanced irretrievably when the pink jersey accelerated shortly afterwards. Only Kruijswijk and Landa could follow, with the Dutchman performing the vast majority of the pace-making thereafter.
At the summit, they led Aru by 1:52, an advantage that grew once more as they climbed again towards the finish at Aprica...
"As for Landa maybe he abandoned his leader a little bit but everyone does his own race," Contador said pointedly in his press conference afterwards. "For me, Kruijswijk did great work and under normal circumstances, I would have given him the stage win but everybody has his own interests and I respect that."
Landa now climbs to second place in the overall standings, 4:02 down, while the flagging Aru drops to third, a further 50 seconds back. Contador was sparing when asked to assess the young Basque's prospects. "Landa is going very strongly in this Giro," he said. "We'll have to see how he does in some other races, but he has a good future."
Asked to revisit Astana's forcing following his wheel change, Contador reached for a diplomatic response, remembering, perhaps, his own attack on Andy Schleck's yellow jersey in similar circumstances at the 2010 Tour de France. "I knew that in that situation, the most likely scenario was exactly what happened. I'm not here to debate whether it was right or wrong," he said.
But would Contador acted as Aru did had their roles been reversed? "Today I don't think Aru is happy," he said simply. In that instance at least, the arithmetic of the results sheet speaks for itself.
I still can't quite believe how he pulled this off. It's actually insane. I watch this every so often just to remind myself how incredible a ride it was.
This is one of the best rides i have ever seen. For me this is the greatest climb of a mountain ever in the cycling history. The fact that ALL other favorites got 1 minute on Contador in the start of the climb and Alberto is just dancing up one of europes hardest climbs like it was a 4% hills. It is so beautiful to watch all the riders respect him so much as the legend he is and was at the time already. So many riders wanted to help the Maglia Rosa and Contador because of the status he got.
Wow chills... cycling will never be the same
Been following cycling since the days before Contador (like Armstrong versus Ullrich). I remember seeing this particular stage of the Giro live. Never have I seen a more spectacular effort by any rider, at any time, than this one. What is sometimes forgotten is that Contador struggled to the finish (over still more mountains) of the Giro that year, even though he was the final winner. Such was the cost of the effort he put forth that day. He then struggled in the Tour as well. In short, following this heroic day, I am convinced that he paid for months afterwards. It is because of this day that I am convinced that Contador is the greatest of all cyclists to ever compete. The only thing he could not do was compete on long, flat time trials. But put a bump in the middle, and he was untouchable.
He won flat time trials and won many Grand Tours because he was one of the three best in almost every time trial stage
Same! I was watching this live on the day it happened and I remember my mouth just being wide open! I use this as motivation to exercise myself.
Still mortirolo record is owned by Ivan Gotti
It was an epic grand tour alberto was so special it reminded me so much of 2012 vuelta fuente de stage where he attacked and got help from tiralongo whom he giftred a giro stage. I remember thinking of that same scenario as anton pulled his fellow spaniard to amador his own team mate given the bad luck of the flat and hitting base flat out this climb was one of the ost incredible performances. I remember 89 tour swung back and forth but something about GT in big mountains. It was wild giro tinkoff weren't letting anyone get in break and riding flat out so by the mountains Contador was isolated felt like whole giro and astana would have armada if I remember Basso left with his health.
After this stage and an epic TT from contador it still felt uneasy and sure enough like you said the finestre especially the gravel section with contadors out of saddle style didn't suit him at all and seemed to struggle for traction. You knew after watching this there was no way he could do double too many kilojoules used but another of most thrilling GT's I remember loved contador's win or bust style he won several GT's and never podiumed it was win or bust :)
One of the greatest cycling performances of all time. Absolutely incredible.
Insane standing effort, mostly out of the saddle! My legs are hurting just watching.
thats his style. I would get out of breath in like a minute doing that
I keep comming back to watch this stage so many times..!!! El pistelero you cannot be replaced..!!
Delighted to hear Sean Kelly commentating. One of my hero's.
Bloody hell. This is magic. Never seen anything like this before.
Him and Pantani. Mirror.
gt isolated almost theatrically on such brutal climb...such class. On opposite end of spectru one day bruta fabian cancellara E3 and those days they an arked i just totally isolated and took on field and buried them. bot so motivating deoending on training terrain. I loook likeparody miicing their style and cadence...true masters :) agree !00% riveting the motivation !!! cheers
It's amazing how before Contador would pass a rider who was remnant of the break, they would willingly pace Contador a little bit or as much as they can.
What makes this one of the great rides ever ? He did it on his own with no teammates. I will always remember him for this ride and the Angliru at last years Vuelta.
Awesome.
yes but he won many grand tours more or less on his own ,legend
9:47 "Contador looking majestic, as he usually does"
13:33 "Compare that or contrast that to the style of Alberto Contador still looking as gracious as ever on those pedals"
nice commentary...
Amazing. My fav rider of all time. I enjoyed every second. I’m not watching cycling so much since he left the sport. One and only, rider with a big balls
Couldn't agree more!
some of the most epic gladiator cycling battle of the 21st century
Thank you for uploading this. Contador defines awesome here.
An incredible ride. Viva Alberto!
Gracias Alberto
probably one of the best race ever ! Contador this fcking beast !!!
L Armstrong said this was the TOUGHEST climb he has ever had
And for the FIRST and ONLY time
I BELIEVE HIM
Contador for me you Will always be the bedst .
once in a generation rider, the jack nicklaus of cycling
agree to disagree. iow, No.
if you've won all grand tours more then once, you're probably one of the top 15 best riders of all time
I say Marco Pantani fits descriptio more but Alberto was good.
Who is this Jack ? All we know is Jordan,Gretzky, Bolt,Karelin, people who are playing games where heart rate does not exceed 60 do not get the privilege of being in this group!
two years on and we still havent seen a thing like it. Mortirolo is tomorrow in the giro so who knows :)
For the others was about surviving but for Alberto was about winning .
Great climb +He is,nice to see as he pedals 😊
Yea
this is amazing, one of the best race which i so in my life. Alberto showed his class hi is amazing rider one of the kind. Landa is very good but he has to wait for Fabio so we can't know what he has hi the legs. On the end i mast say Alberto is the best. I have great respect for Alberto
contador el mejor del siglo 21 y uno de los mejores de todos los tiempos.
its just majestic to watch how he technically clim that mountain.
Superb commentators. I shall watch British Eurosport from now on.
Almost hard to believe Landa was once Arus domestique.
Best race in 2015
that stage was just beyond the imagination!
wow best riding ALBERTO
Este Giro fue buenísimo, con Landa y Aru atacando a muerte. Contador estuvo genial.
Truly amazing act , by A.C.
Kinda neat to see all of the riders from other teams help contador a little bit. Not sure though if it's respect for contador or just not liking Astana.
Turk3YbAstEr it was the only movie star rider helped gor 3km
Fantastic Alberto Contador!! Best of ther World!!
Did I just hear Sean Kelly call the climb Motorola?
Yes. Sean Kelly is an idiot.
wash your mouth out
That's just his beautiful accent
Time?
hahaha Im dying xD
I don't know but Contador's climbing form is just so smooth man... other rider's out of saddle climb is just too rigid compare to Contador's.
Awesome El Pistolero. I was very unhappy, when he announced end of the career last year. He was maybe last of the old generation of cyclists, which can ride on they own. Can you imagine for example Chris Froome to do this alone, without domestics, like Landa or Kwiatkowski. I can't. Maybe Valverde is also the old generation but it is different type of rider.
With Contador you are right, that he did most it on his own, but dont dream of the good old days. US Postal, Telekom, later Astana (if the COntador Armstrong rivalry would have not appeared they would have been dominant as fuck) ... always the dollars.
froom did it
13:49 Aru making S's on the road trying to breathe and Landa drying his glasses...perhaps stronger man is this Giro.-
And two years later he's the strongest in Le Tour.
Man's is a beast, I do believe he has the potential to be a legend of cycling...
lol
Beautiful!
Great stuff. Thanks for posting.
My Hero, He is the Best in the world!!
wow wow wow , best climb ever , monster of climbs
Alberto is the best...
My mouth couldn't close up for days after watching the live broadcast. I thought he was riding a bike...
Can you imagine if he road with Team Ski,this type of natural talent and Team Ski's budget. Best ever!!!
this is why i love and respect contador~~my favorite cyclist forever~~especially after watching 2022 Tour de France stage 18
Great riding
Grande Alberto
Isn't was really battle be among Albero Contador and Fabian Aru. Just riding to top of the climb.
Bertie the great, climbing God of cycling
13:07 He goes dancing on the bike. legend
Anyone know how many watts he was averaging? He blew by the stragglers that were probably doing 350 watts at least. My guess is 425 with bursts to 600.
i think up around 400+ would be very likely. I think FTP wise ,at his best he was at 430ish watts based on an insta picture he published (once he had retired).. Huge amounts of power for anyone, so for rider of his weight/size it's an utterly outrageous power output... which you would expect for a rider of this calibre.
Climbing Mortirollo is like descending to Hell!!!
EPIC EPIC EPIC STAGE!!! also very bad choices by Astana
EPIC
Alberto est tres fort il a la classe unique
Long live Contador!
Put on the original of " action " by Sweet.
+Nigel Bennett Thanks! Never realized it was a cover. Awesome.
Tributo primer Tour Alberto Contador: th-cam.com/video/0lPkbwtGyUg/w-d-xo.html
Dancing on the Paddles making it look so easy
viva Alberto***********"***!!
Look I know there's a lot going on here but 28:49 can we talk about this man
this stage cost him tour de france 2015.
***** two crash in two days. That's simple. try ride with that condition , you'll know best. :)
he gets older, you know?
achievetnem that was 2016
I think so too, he was really good in this giro... but probably attacked a bit too much :(
The one who tried to slipstream Contador when he did the attack at Mortirolo. Ended up ...
19.40
Contador
ATTACKS
Landa lost the Giro to wait for Aru.
He was too far behind Contador in the GC, but he would've been like 30 seconds behind Contador in the end
The legendary pink man
What gears was he using??
Fabio Aru not giving up though lot of credit
Esa hazaña más nunca ce volver a a ver lo q hiso Contador pedalear y empujar a su compañero hasta q dijo yo los alcanzó y así fue el único q sube parado en su visi
What's that thing on the back of Landa's bike?
+slimjimihendrix A little mudflap: in wet days mud can rise from the rear wheel up to the shoulders
+slimjimihendrix Some riders used to cut out of a drinks bottle to make a little mudflap which they'd tape beneath the saddle.
+slimjimihendrix Ass saver
Gps tracker
+Rob Ware good one haha
Ganito din Sana Livestream nila snow badua
Cycling vlogger over here
El pistolero
contador high af but i love it
Aveva il motorino qui, si vede...
Contador Pantani
Who was the Greatest Climber?????
Full time roided pantani was a different animal
Anyone know what happaned with Nairo quintana?
Chris Mad Nairo Quintana*
Elio Imagine thanks.
Chris Mad i think he is preparing himself for "le tour de france"
Contador, il destrutore
wtf 28:48 wearing
15:38 "having done what he's done, having come backs where he's come." -et al 2015
I ll do all the greatest up-hill....but this anonimous cicling-no profit.
we got 13 sick people who dislike this
28 😔
28.20
BORAT
et voit de vrai écrire un commentaire pare se que ses bien le vélo mercie
Comment tu écris ?!
contador ganopor ser el mejor no el mas fuerte porque no tenia casi equipo una etapa mas de alta montaña y ese giro se lo llevaba landa o Aru claro por lo de jefe.
ja dor le vélo person écrit un cométaire sofe moi
Is this doping?
unlikely judging by how much he suffered in the tour, also, the times of the riders on the climb in 2015 were significantly slower than those of the riders who rode in the 90s and early 2000s
DontTouchTheWatch show me the proofs please
Everybody is doping...
Carl-Emil Høg Hansen yeah you're drugged too
Kylo VIV Every single guy in top 20 is drugged.
The best climber of all the cheaters.
I'm g
Im actually better than Contador and I would have easily won this stage... I just CHOSE to stay in the sofa wanking and eating cheetos
Epic battle! The commentators are ruining it.
12:30 this bald man teach contador fast in few sec how to live in this life and his hand gest was amazing 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣