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

[KyoGrey]

Just incredible. His season planning seems perversely directed towards discovering the limits of his inmense motor.

He is going to end the season riding nearly 100 days.

This is some unprecedented type of performance for a modern cycling capo, I wonder if he is able to cope the whole Vuelta without mega-cracking. I don't know, maybe he even rides Lombardia and Worlds.

He should definitely not go to Qatar, but Lombardia? Heck ya.

I am so intrigued by this. He is taking it to a whole other level.

I myself have the feeling that, unlike other top pro riders, Valverde doesn't follow a defined strict planification during the season or has anybody around that acts as a De Jongh for Contador or a Patxi Vila for Sagan.

He just rides naturally into top form during February/March and then on and on and on tackling races in accordance to Unzué's interests. He has a nebolous notion that the Ardennes suit him, that he likes to be in the Tour & Vuelta, but thats it.


Maybe I'm wrong, and he knows exactly what he is doing every year, but that it's how it feels.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Whats certain is preparing for certain and very few races - shame on you Nibali! - isn't his thing. Imagine if he did RvV on top of this in an Olympic year!

You can argue thats also whats biting in him in ass sometimes, but man, thats why I love him. A true racer. Now imagine if he actually did great. Its plausible, we are talking about Valverde here.

Edit: And I cant stress enough of how much more impressive this is than what Adam Hansen is cooking with.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Just incredible. His season planning seems perversely directed towards discovering the limits of his inmense motor.

He is going to end the season riding nearly 100 days.

This is some unprecedented type of performance for a modern cycling capo, I wonder if he is able to cope the whole Vuelta without mega-cracking. I don't know, maybe he even rides Lombardia and Worlds.

He should definitely not go to Qatar, but Lombardia? Heck ya.

I am so intrigued by this. He is taking it to a whole other level.

I myself have the feeling that, unlike other top pro riders, Valverde doesn't follow a defined strict planification during the season or has anybody around that acts as a De Jongh for Contador or a Patxi Vila for Sagan.

He just rides naturally into top form during February/March and then on and on and on tackling races in accordance to Unzué's interests. He has a nebolous notion that the Ardennes suit him, that he likes to be in the Tour & Vuelta, but thats it.


Maybe I'm wrong, and he knows exactly what he is doing every year, but that it's how it feels.

I think he knows what he's doing and learned it from experience.
I remember 2005. He changed teams and was going to do the classics for the first time. I was ready to place a bet on him because I was sure he had the build to do well there.

I didn't because Etchavarrí said he had peaked in February, was exhausted at this point and wouldn't be able to do anything. He didn't feature in any of the classics that week.

So yeah I'd say he learned and now he knows what he's doing

 

[Breh]

Re:

Edit: And I cant stress enough of how much more impressive this is than what Adam Hansen is cooking with.

Who the fck cares? Nobody is claiming Adam Hansen to be some kind of demi-god.

 

[KyoGrey]

Re:

Whats certain is preparing for certain and very few races - shame on you Nibali! - isn't his thing. Imagine if he did RvV on top of this in an Olympic year!

You can argue thats also whats biting in him in *** sometimes, but man, thats why I love him. A true racer. Now imagine if he actually did great. Its plausible, we are talking about Valverde here.

Edit: And I cant stress enough of how much more impressive this is than what Adam Hansen is cooking with.

I think Arredondo has a point, though: this kind of efforts are the kind that dig in deep in his chances to extend his career post 2017.

However it is worth the challenge: with a 3rd in Giro, a 6th in Tour, it's a golden opportunity to make another top 10 in the Vuelta, which is the GT that suits him better by far.

OTOH, I would like that he centered his 2017 season (final season?) exclusively on the classics and only the Vuelta to be fresh in September/October.

Something of this style:

- Valencia
- Murcia
- Het Volk
- Tirreno
- San Remo
- Flanders + pre-Flemish races
- Ardennes classics
- ¿Frankfurt?
- ¿California?

[BIG REST]

- San Sebastián
- Burgos
- Vuelta
- Lombardía
- Worlds


I mean. After 2016, another podium spot in a GT doesn mean ****.

However, a 1st Lombardia, a 4th Lieja, a 5 Flecha, a 1st Amstel or even a 2nd Vuelta or a 1st Worlds would add value to his palmarés.

 

[elfed68]

He's old school, before the days of rider's specialising he'd have been another Hinault.

 

[Gigs_98]

Afaik the route of 2017 will be relatively easy. If he really wants to win the WC he probably has to ride until 2018.

 

[SHAD0W93]

1st off. I hope he doesn't physically exert himself so he can still win and compete the following 2 years.
2nd. I hope he gets a top 10 and then wins GDL. That would make this a epic year.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

The guy is just completely nuts.

The team is making sure he's not riding at top level for another 2 years. Anyone can see the guy is tired. Protect him please!

Your certain skepticism to any Valverde-related stuff makes it even better better. I can always rely on you on this stuff, Arredondo.

Lets see how good he will be first. Valverde will much rather race his home GT than having a little better shot at Lombardia. I can respect and applaud that.

If you like to be in the mix, for sure.

If you a true winner, it's a stupid decision. A 6th place in La Vuelta will not make his palmares more impressive. Not at all. But winning a Canadian classic does. Because winning is what counts, if you're a champion like Valverde. They guy has so much talent. He just uses it in the wrong way, especially this year.

He already *** up the Olympics because of the way he rode (riding the Tour for a GC and not like Nibali did, chasing a stage).

 

[DBotero]

I don't care much about the Canadian classics or Lombardia but riding La Vuelta is ridiculous.He was looking very tired already,he should be resting now.If he wanted to ride La Vuelta why the *** he did the Giro
He's crazy but let's see how he'll end up.Hopefully this will not have a major negative effect over his performances next year.

 

[jens_attacks]

valverde can recover in vuelta better than elsewhere, he was always strong in his home grand. it's called home turf advantage
at least one stage win and top 6 for sure.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

The guy is just completely nuts.

The team is making sure he's not riding at top level for another 2 years. Anyone can see the guy is tired. Protect him please!

Your certain skepticism to any Valverde-related stuff makes it even better better. I can always rely on you on this stuff, Arredondo.

Lets see how good he will be first. Valverde will much rather race his home GT than having a little better shot at Lombardia. I can respect and applaud that.

If you like to be in the mix, for sure.

If you a true winner, it's a stupid decision. A 6th place in La Vuelta will not make his palmares more impressive. Not at all. But winning a Canadian classic does. Because winning is what counts, if you're a champion like Valverde. They guy has so much talent. He just uses it in the wrong way, especially this year.

He already **** up the Olympics because of the way he rode (riding the Tour for a GC and not like Nibali did, chasing a stage).

He will garner a lot of attention and recognition through the Vuelta, especially if he performs well and top-10s. Its a huge feat and something to be remembered - a win in some Canadian classic won't. He probably doesn't care about them. He loves the Vuelta and the Vuelta loves him!

Considering Lombardia is the only race he would be interested in post Vuelta, and considering the has 2 top-10s this year, this is the right thing to do IMO. Especially for the spectacle of it. From a fan's perspective, I would much rather watch him through 21 days in La Vuelta, his home race, than one day in Lombardia.

 

[Moviestar]

Re: Re:

The guy is just completely nuts.

The team is making sure he's not riding at top level for another 2 years. Anyone can see the guy is tired. Protect him please!

Your certain skepticism to any Valverde-related stuff makes it even better better. I can always rely on you on this stuff, Arredondo.

Lets see how good he will be first. Valverde will much rather race his home GT than having a little better shot at Lombardia. I can respect and applaud that.

If you like to be in the mix, for sure.

If you a true winner, it's a stupid decision. A 6th place in La Vuelta will not make his palmares more impressive. Not at all. But winning a Canadian classic does. Because winning is what counts, if you're a champion like Valverde. They guy has so much talent. He just uses it in the wrong way, especially this year.

He already **** up the Olympics because of the way he rode (riding the Tour for a GC and not like Nibali did, chasing a stage).

He wants to be in the history books with 3 top-10 Grand Tour GC placings in the same year. Only two men have achieved that so far.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Yeah, its one of the cases where a 5th or 8th actually will mean a lot. Its incredible, especially in this day and age.

 

[joe_papp]

Re: Re:

The guy is just completely nuts.

The team is making sure he's not riding at top level for another 2 years. Anyone can see the guy is tired. Protect him please!

Your certain skepticism to any Valverde-related stuff makes it even better better. I can always rely on you on this stuff, Arredondo.

Lets see how good he will be first. Valverde will much rather race his home GT than having a little better shot at Lombardia. I can respect and applaud that.

If you like to be in the mix, for sure.

If you a true winner, it's a stupid decision. A 6th place in La Vuelta will not make his palmares more impressive. Not at all. But winning a Canadian classic does. Because winning is what counts, if you're a champion like Valverde. They guy has so much talent. He just uses it in the wrong way, especially this year.

He already **** up the Olympics because of the way he rode (riding the Tour for a GC and not like Nibali did, chasing a stage).

He will garner a lot of attention and recognition through the Vuelta, especially if he performs well and top-10s. Its a huge feat and something to be remembered - a win in some Canadian classic won't. He probably doesn't care about them. He loves the Vuelta and the Vuelta loves him!

Considering Lombardia is the only race he would be interested in post Vuelta, and considering the has 2 top-10s this year, this is the right thing to do IMO. Especially for the spectacle of it. From a fan's perspective, I would much rather watch him through 21 days in La Vuelta, his home race, than one day in Lombardia.

Agreed!

Valverde is a Spaniard riding for a Spanish team sponsored by a Spanish brand that's a subsidiary of a huge multinational that also happens to the second largest corporate entity in Spain (behind only Santander group). This could make for a grand spectacle and I'm thrilled that we'll see AV in GT action one more time this year.

I've never been a huge fan of the Vuelta, but I'll definitely watch it every day now to follow Don Alejandro's performance.

 

[Angliru]

Re: Re:

Double posting.

 

[Cannibal72]

Re: Re:

The guy is just completely nuts.

The team is making sure he's not riding at top level for another 2 years. Anyone can see the guy is tired. Protect him please!

Your certain skepticism to any Valverde-related stuff makes it even better better. I can always rely on you on this stuff, Arredondo.

Lets see how good he will be first. Valverde will much rather race his home GT than having a little better shot at Lombardia. I can respect and applaud that.

If you like to be in the mix, for sure.

If you a true winner, it's a stupid decision. A 6th place in La Vuelta will not make his palmares more impressive. Not at all. But winning a Canadian classic does. Because winning is what counts, if you're a champion like Valverde. They guy has so much talent. He just uses it in the wrong way, especially this year.

He already **** up the Olympics because of the way he rode (riding the Tour for a GC and not like Nibali did, chasing a stage).

He will garner a lot of attention and recognition through the Vuelta, especially if he performs well and top-10s. Its a huge feat and something to be remembered - a win in some Canadian classic won't. He probably doesn't care about them. He loves the Vuelta and the Vuelta loves him!

Considering Lombardia is the only race he would be interested in post Vuelta, and considering the has 2 top-10s this year, this is the right thing to do IMO. Especially for the spectacle of it. From a fan's perspective, I would much rather watch him through 21 days in La Vuelta, his home race, than one day in Lombardia.

I'm pretty sure Valverde already has quite a bit of 'attention and recognition', especially in Spain, it being his home country and all. If, after well over a decade competing at the top level in Spain and around the world, people haven't heard of him yet, an anonymous top 10 in his umpteenth Vuelta is probably not worth very much. From Movistar's point of view, meanwhile, I doubt that their commercial considerations played a great deal in the decision; they also have very profitable and large concerns in Latin America, and they've got their Colombian superstar in the GC race. Valverde doesn't need an ego boost, he needs a palmares with Lombardia on it, and he's running out of time. (To be fair, matching Geminiani and Nencini would be a real achievement.)

 

[Angliru]

Re:

Yeah, its one of the cases where a 5th or 8th actually will mean a lot. Its incredible, especially in this day and age.

He should be talking to Carlos Sastre. He has little a bit of experience completing multiple grand tours in one year, having done it 10 consecutive years till the end of his career.

 

[hfer07]

Got to say I admire Alejandro's determination & courage to be part of La Vuelta, after such busy schedule already in his legs. We all know and love his competitiveness & capacity to race steadily at the top level all year round - but he's pushing his own limits further this time

Obviously he's going for stage wins, and perhaps help Nairo, but I hope Alejandro forgets any podium ambitions and do a great show.

 

[Red Rick]

I think it's possible for a rider to top 10 3 GT's in one year, but I don't think it's possible while also peaking for the ardennes and a one day race in the middle between the Tour and the Vuelta. He does have a high base level and no habit of being in gruppetto's. We'll see how he does

 

[Mr.White]

Don Alejandro honored by La Vuelta. He's wearing No.1!

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Don Alejandro honored by La Vuelta. He's wearing No.1!

XoXo

 

[joe_papp]

Nice bit of deflection by Contador ahead of the Vuelta salida...

Contador points to Valverde as key favourite for Vuelta

Tinkoff leader plays down his own chances, refuses to reveal his 2017 team

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-points-to-valverde-as-key-favourite-for-vuelta/

Alberto Contador(Tinkoff) has insisted that although the spotlight at the start of the Vuelta 2016 is very much on himself, Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Chris Froome (Team Sky); in his opinion Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) is as much as a key overall favourite for the final grand tour of the season.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Nice bit of deflection by Contador ahead of the Vuelta salida...

Contador points to Valverde as key favourite for Vuelta

Tinkoff leader plays down his own chances, refuses to reveal his 2017 team

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-points-to-valverde-as-key-favourite-for-vuelta/

Alberto Contador(Tinkoff) has insisted that although the spotlight at the start of the Vuelta 2016 is very much on himself, Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Chris Froome (Team Sky); in his opinion Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) is as much as a key overall favourite for the final grand tour of the season.

I don't know if I should smile or be sad, haha. What the ***. :lol:

 

[Valv.Piti]

Lets hope he is right, tho. Maybe he knows something that we won't... but after his showing last year, where he didn't even rode the Giro (he went much deeper in Le Tour, tho), I don't think we should got our hopes too much up. I hope for top-10 and at least one stage!