Teams & Riders He's coming home!!!! Alejandro Valverde comeback thread.

[RattaKuningas]

Great result by Valverde. What a pity that he lost so much time in one Dolomite stage.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Next goals: "My next big objective from now is mainly the Rio Olympics. We will go to the Tour in order to support Nairo Quintana. I want to make it clear, from this very moment, that I will be losing time on the first week and take things easier so I can help Nairo out and give my best in the mountains. Also, if it's possible and it doesn't compromise the team's goals, I'd like to chase some stage wins or make it into the break and help the team from there. Our motto for the Tour remains the #SueñoAmarillo, winning the Tour with Nairo at last, and then, the Rio Games."

Really good and classy statement. I honestly feared that he would give the GC a shot, say, if he didn't lose any time come the Pyrenees. This approach definitely is the best for himself, Quintana and the race itself.

Good on him. That makes it Landa, Majka, Valverde and Majka, at least, of the Giro big guns playing supportive roles for their respective captains. Apart from Il Squalo, I suppose - I think he has a lot to prove to Contador, if you get my drift.

 

[huge]

Aru is hoping for Nibali to say something similar

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Aru is hoping for Nibali to say something similar

Hopefully, that won't happen and if it will, Nibali will lie straight to his face.

 

[Tonton]

Re:

Aru is hoping for Nibali to say something similar

Ain't gonna happen .

Good for Valverde. And nice of him to clean the air before the likes of me question his agenda for the Tour . That's class: if he goes 100% for Nairo, watch out. He needs to, when you see Sky's likely line-up.

Stage+Podium: Don Alejandro got himself a nice month of May.

 

[CheckMyPecs]

@Valv.Piti: The Giro is now over, Valverde didn't win and, as per the terms of our avatar bet, you can now pick a picture of Mollema or Ten Dam covered in spit of your choosing and wear it as your avatar for a week.

 

[SafeBet]

Valverde and Nibali chasing stage wins from the breaks in the third week is gonna be fun.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Valverde and Nibali chasing stage wins from the breaks in the third week is gonna be fun.

Shaping up to be a spectacular Tour in terms of quality. The best GC-riders not present will be Chaves and Krujswijk, it seems.

 

[Nirvana]

He'll return to the Giro next year?
On twitter he wrote "ci vediamo l'anno prossimo".

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

He'll return to the Giro next year?
On twitter he wrote "ci vediamo l'anno prossimo".

Probably. Its very good news!

The Don knows Quintana is the man now and is making space for Quintana. Can only respect that - he also seemed to enjoy this Giro very much so why not come back for the 100th Giro?!

 

[Nirvana]

Giving that Quintana will be the sole leader in France he should skip the Tour next year and divide the season in three parts:
1)Early season races untill Tirreno or Milano-San Remo
2)Ardennes + Giro
3)Vuelta + Worlds + fall classics

 

[SevenTimeTdfChamp]

Valverde is probably the best road captain you could possibly have

 

[phanatic]

Re:

Valverde and Nibali chasing stage wins from the breaks in the third week is gonna be fun.

How is the Tour playing out in your mind that they will not be riding all out for Q&A in the third week against a typically faltering Froome and mystery Bertie? If Froome has the lead, his team has no need to chase, and he would be protected by his opponents strongest help being out of reach.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Valverde is probably the best road captain you could possibly have

Most definitely. He says he wants to target a stage at some point, but most importantly, help Nairo to win.
#SueñoAmarillo

 

[Arredondo]

Targeting a stage in the third week and helping Nairo is difficult however. I just don't see Bala working for him 100%. And why should he? A champion like Bala needs to ride his own race.

But if he solely focus on helping Nairo, it's a deadly combination.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Targeting a stage in the third week and helping Nairo is difficult however. I just don't see Bala working for him 100%. And why should he? A champion like Bala needs to ride his own race.

But if he solely focus on helping Nairo, it's a deadly combination.

I don't think it will be difficult. Throw him in a couple of breaks and if Nairo doesn't need him before the last climb and if the break is let go, just ride for the win. Kinda similar to what Visconti did in this Giro, just more loyal, hopefully.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

Targeting a stage in the third week and helping Nairo is difficult however. I just don't see Bala working for him 100%. And why should he? A champion like Bala needs to ride his own race.

But if he solely focus on helping Nairo, it's a deadly combination.

I don't think it will be difficult. Throw him in a couple of breaks and if Nairo doesn't need him before the last climb and if the break is let go, just ride for the win. Kinda similar to what Visconti did in this Giro, just more loyal, hopefully.

The question of the century

 

[Valv.Piti]

I'm confident he will. He won't just blindly stage hunt like Visconti did - I lost a bit respect for him this Giro.

 

[Arredondo]

Re:

I'm confident he will. He won't just blindly stage hunt like Visconti did - I lost a bit respect for him this Giro.

One thing we know for sure: if Bala will hunt for stages, he will do it with the best glasses available

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

I'm confident he will. He won't just blindly stage hunt like Visconti did - I lost a bit respect for him this Giro.

I think Visconti rode according to the instructions of the team car. If there was a mistake, then it's Chente and Jaimerena to blame.
As for Bala as a team player, there's no one better if he's fully dedicated. He brought and gifted many victories to his teammates and friends, only Contador comes close in the current peloton. I think his primary mission is going to be to help Nairo, no matter what. And then, if circumstances permit, he could target some stage wins.

 

[DBotero]

I think he'll work for Quintana but how hard it will remain to be seen.His target is after it so he'll not be able to dedicate completely considering he already has a Giro in his legs.I don't believe he'll go into the breaks,winning a stage from the favorites group is a possibility if conditions are favorable.This Quintana version looks like the strongest ever and I'm sure Valverde will do his best to not compromise his chances by chasing stage wins.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

I'm confident he will. He won't just blindly stage hunt like Visconti did - I lost a bit respect for him this Giro.

I think Visconti rode according to the instructions of the team car. If there was a mistake, then it's Chente and Jaimerena to blame.
As for Bala as a team player, there's no one better if he's fully dedicated. He brought and gifted many victories to his teammates and friends, only Contador comes close in the current peloton. I think his primary mission is going to be to help Nairo, no matter what. And then, if circumstances permit, he could target some stage wins.

How about his years with Balears and Caisse? I know he did it the last couple of years.

I think Purito did a lot too for Moreno in their Katusha time.

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

I'm confident he will. He won't just blindly stage hunt like Visconti did - I lost a bit respect for him this Giro.

I think Visconti rode according to the instructions of the team car. If there was a mistake, then it's Chente and Jaimerena to blame.
As for Bala as a team player, there's no one better if he's fully dedicated. He brought and gifted many victories to his teammates and friends, only Contador comes close in the current peloton. I think his primary mission is going to be to help Nairo, no matter what. And then, if circumstances permit, he could target some stage wins.

How about his years with Balears and Caisse? I know he did it the last couple of years.

I think Purito did a lot too for Moreno in their Katusha time.

Well he was lot younger back then... Agree on Purito though

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

I'm confident he will. He won't just blindly stage hunt like Visconti did - I lost a bit respect for him this Giro.

I think Visconti rode according to the instructions of the team car. If there was a mistake, then it's Chente and Jaimerena to blame.
As for Bala as a team player, there's no one better if he's fully dedicated. He brought and gifted many victories to his teammates and friends, only Contador comes close in the current peloton. I think his primary mission is going to be to help Nairo, no matter what. And then, if circumstances permit, he could target some stage wins.

How about his years with Balears and Caisse? I know he did it the last couple of years.

I think Purito did a lot too for Moreno in their Katusha time.

Well he was lot younger back then... Agree on Purito though

I was just thinking how his relationship with Purito was back then, and how many wins he 'gifted' to him: i know Burgos 2009 was a example of great 'sharing the spoils'.

God, i miss that time

 

[Valv.Piti]

The best thing I remember about Purito and Valverde was when they both were holding on for dear life on Angliru in 2008. I think it was the first I really acknowledged him as a superb rider.