Alejandro Valverde Discussion Thread

[maxmartin]

Seems like a trend, even Thibaut had one.
So why not one more
Please discuss away.

 

[cineteq]

He needed one, thanks!

 

[maxmartin]

very good ITT from him today, can he put CF or JR under pressure in the coming mountains? Will he fade like CF due to the Tour effort? Too bad, lost 50 seconds on the crash, otherwise this Vuelta will be even more exciting if it is already not enough for the fans

 

[cineteq]

very good ITT from him today, can he put CF or JR under pressure in the coming mountains? Will he fade like CF due to the Tour effort? Too bad, lost 50 seconds on the crash, otherwise this Vuelta will be even more exciting if it is already not enough for the fans

In the Tour he was not a GC rider after the Metz massacre. Except for the stage he won, I don't think he did a massive effort to finish the Tour, thus it was more like training. So I expect him to battle it out all the way to Madrid.

 

[Carols]

He is finding his true post suspension form...and I'm loving every second of it! Hopefully the form holds. Real shame he lost that 50 secs in the crash

 

[Angliru]

Unfortunately, I see Valverde fading in the mountains due to his many race days since his return. Unless he held something back during the Tour once he saw that he couldn't ride with best, which I suspect he did, then he and Froome may be comisserating with one another while Contador and Purito dance away into the clouds. In my ideal scenario he's able to maintain his form till the end and finishes on the podium. It's a shame he lost so much time on the crash and had to expend valuable resources in minimizing the damage. Otherwise he'd likely be in the race lead right now. Still his performance bodes well for his future in the grand tours and the hilly classics, likely making many of his detractors quite unhappy.

 

[SafeBet]

I'm also convinced he'll fade.
Never trusted him as a GT rider, don't think he's consistent enough over the three weeks. Of course he might prove me wrong.

Still glad he's back to great form. He could be a factor in the Worlds.

 

[Telmisartan new]

I'm also convinced he'll fade.
Never trusted him as a GT rider, don't think he's consistent enough over the three weeks. Of course he might prove me wrong.

Still glad he's back to great form. He could be a factor in the Worlds.

I think Movistar knew Cobo wouldnt challenge and protected Valverde from unnecessary pressure coming into the race, looks to me like he's in the form of his life, i think he'll podium.

 

[sartoris]

If it wasn't for the shameful SKY attack when he fell down, he'd be leading the race. I hope he can attack on the stages to come and leave Froome far behind where he belongs and always should have belonged if it wasn't for blo*dy swimming coaches and hard training.

And Valverde and Contador are my two favourite cyclists to win the Vuelta.

 

[The Hitch]

Already exists

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=15811

 

[Cyivel]

I have some respect for brother Alejandro, not as much as some other riders but he is up there on my respect list.

 

[maxmartin]

Already exists

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=15811

I searched your post, just want to have a thread with a proper title.

 

[ElChingon]

Yes Valverde is back on fire, sure not in 1st (yet? maybe) but still on all the attacks as usual. His podium chances at this years's (2012) Vuelta are pretty good but he'll need to crack JRod and or Froome to do it.

 

[The Hitch]

I searched your post, just want to have a thread with a proper title.

All "discussion threads" had proper titles once, before a mod just changed them all to "discussion thread" because of some trolls.

 

[Cyivel]

Sick if trolls

 

[maxmartin]

Valverde might stamp his authority on tomorrow's short uphill finish. Judging by his ITT result, he seemed lost majority time to AC on downhill.

 

[ILovecycling]

I hope that Piti can limit his losses to Purito today on Mirador.It looks to much steep for him,but he is riding superbly.I love that he is back.In 2013 will be a factor even more!

 

[maxmartin]

not bad showing by him today
expect more in the big mountains

 

[ILovecycling]

It is possible that Piti could be better than Purito n Froomey in real mountains?So Piti for podium or even 2nd?
If he is like Basso ,Im curious what he will do second season after his suspension

 

[maxmartin]

It is possible that Piti could be better than Purito n Froomey in real mountains?So Piti for podium or even 2nd?
If he is like Basso ,Im curious what he will do second season after his suspension

I am still suspicious about JR's long climbing ability. I think Valverde can drop both JR and CF. And Valverde has the one of the best if not the best sense of tactics.

 

[movingtarget]

I am still suspicious about JR's long climbing ability. I think Valverde can drop both JR and CF. And Valverde has the one of the best if not the best sense of tactics.

I have never liked Valverde but credit where it's due. He has ridden very well and without his crash, the race would be even more interesting at this stage. To me Froome is the one looking vulnerable but he is a fighter as shown in last year's Vuelta. I just think he was fresher in last year's Vuelta.

 

[maxmartin]

AV did pretty good, as I predicted to drop CF, but surprised JR is climbing so well. Seems it will be AV and CF battle for third, AC and JR battle for first.

 

[Forunculo]

AV has better legs at the moment, he did the Tour calm unlike Froome who had to work hard

 

[LaFlorecita]

alejandro valverde ‏@alejanvalverde
En helicóptero con 3 cracks: @albertocontador , @chrisfroome y @nicholasroche

 

[maxmartin]

are they plotting secretly in the helicopter how to get rid of JR?
And I curse SKY for those lost 55 seconds!!!!!