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

[DFA123]

Good to see Valverde put everything on the line for Quintana today, as a team mate should do. Him attacking the peloton and shelling pretty much the entire Sky team was one of the crucial factors in the break staying away with such a big advantage.

Pretty impressive recovery after absolutely imploding yesterday - but we knew about that already.

 

[DBotero]

I didn't really expected him to recover so fast.Now that Quintana got this Vuelta wrapped up maybe Valverde can try to win a stage.

 

[DFA123]

There might be an internal team battle yet. Quintana is getting dangerously close to taking the points jersey from Valverde!

 

[SHAD0W93]

So close to another top 10, 1'50" off. Would have been amazing if he got it though his attempt at all 3 GTs was good and destroyed Sastre's 2 attempts.
Hopefully he steals the points jersey again but Felline might have it all wrapped up.

 

[Mr.White]

It will be hard to get the jersey, Felline is a bit faster than him I think, but he'll try. No jersey, no stage win, no top 10, someone would say that this Vuelta was a failure, but I think that his effort will be long remembered and that overall it was a good Vuelta for him and of course great for the team

 

[Red Rick]

He was clearly worse than in the Tour, but there's no shame in that. Still a great effort. But what impressed me the most wasn't his riding, it was the way he lead the team. Yesterday you could see perfectly that Valverde was the one pulling the strings, and him teering his own teammates a new one was a sight to behold.

 

[yaco]

An awesome ride by Valverde - And successfully guided the tactics of the team.

 

[hrotha]

I'm amazed that Valverde's fans aren't up in arms about his ridiculous racing program and lack of proper objectives this year.

 

[Thepirateisgood]

Re:

I'm amazed that Valverde's fans aren't up in arms about his ridiculous racing program and lack of proper objectives this year.

But htat is why he's so great. Race everything, and win some!

Surely in a sport being so held up with "specialists", he just says F U - don't he?

Great cyclist, no matter

Edit: I would like to see Contador in the same role as Valverde in the next few years. It would win me over even more.

 

[liamito]

What now? End of season?

 

[Asero831]

Lombardia.
He has a chance

 

[DBotero]

Insane season for Valverde.Starting at the end of January and keep going until September,while doing all the 3GT's.He might be crazy enough to do Il Lombardia too :lol:
Anyway i expect him to be back to his usual schedule next year.A FW/LBL double like in 2015 would be great.

 

[hfer07]

More of Don Alejandro for two more years

I hope he's down for Il Giro

 

[Billie]

Hopefully next year he won't have to do le Tour to domestique for Quintana. It's a waste of racedays. Peak for Ardennes+Giro then some rest and great last 3 months.

 

[yaco]

Valverde should just do the Giro and Vuelta - Quintana has enough support for the TDF.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Valverde should just do the Giro and Vuelta - Quintana has enough support for the TDF.

I disagree. Him peaking for the Tour is exactly the rider Quintana needs. No post Giro Poels or Landa will bring him back with a smile on his face. He could still be there when Froome is alone. That, and his value as a team captain and ability on any terrain from hills to high mountains. I don't believe Valverde can win the Giro. I think Movistar with their 4 podiums in the last 4 TdF's need to win it. Valverde in good shape is a domestique no team depth can make up for

 

[hrotha]

Lol at the idea of Valverde as a road captain, calling the shots and deciding the tactics.

Regardless, he's too good to waste as a domestique. It'd be as if, back in the day, Giant had told Degenkolb to not care too much for the classics, but rather to make sure he's there to lead out Kittel.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

I'm amazed that Valverde's fans aren't up in arms about his ridiculous racing program and lack of proper objectives this year.

Riding and finishing high the 3 GT's in itself is an objective, don't you think?

 

[Mr.White]

I think he'll return to his "classic'' season, Ardennes, Tour, Vuelta, Worlds. Also think he'll ride MSR and Ronde

 

[Cookster15]

Re: Re:

Valverde should just do the Giro and Vuelta - Quintana has enough support for the TDF.

I disagree. Him peaking for the Tour is exactly the rider Quintana needs. No post Giro Poels or Landa will bring him back with a smile on his face. He could still be there when Froome is alone. That, and his value as a team captain and ability on any terrain from hills to high mountains. I don't believe Valverde can win the Giro. I think Movistar with their 4 podiums in the last 4 TdF's need to win it. Valverde in good shape is a domestique no team depth can make up for

This. Movistar should go all out to win the Tour next year - forget consolation prizes like the Giro. With Valverde in hopefully peak shape for the Tour and Poels and Landa allocated to Giro duty Froome is going to have his hands full managing Nairo in July. Just Do it.

 

[hrotha]

Re: Re:

I'm amazed that Valverde's fans aren't up in arms about his ridiculous racing program and lack of proper objectives this year.

Riding and finishing high the 3 GT's in itself is an objective, don't you think?

For a better version of Adam Hansen, maybe. But Valverde should be winning Olympic golds and Giri di Lombardia.

 

[Netserk]

If I was him, I'd race something like (warm-up) - Strade - Catalunya - Pais Vasco - Ardennes - Romandie - Suisse - Nationals - San Sebastian - Burgos - Vuelta - Worlds - Italian fall classics

 

[Valv.Piti]

The problem with that program would be he didn't get to lead a GT since Quintana most likely will do the double again. From my POV, I quite like it as it means he will have lots and lots of opportunities for winning GCs, stages and classics, but I donøt think he will do it. Im 95% that he at least will do one of Giro and Tour, but his schedule is kinda up in the air which makes it interesting going forward.

 

[KyoGrey]

Re:

If I was him, I'd race something like (warm-up) - Strade - Catalunya - Pais Vasco - Ardennes - Romandie - Suisse - Nationals - San Sebastian - Burgos - Vuelta - Worlds - Italian fall classics

Yes! Perfect calendar (except for maybe Romandie - too close with Lieja).

It's imperative for Valverde to roundup his palmares with races that he should've won during his career: País Vasco, Amstel, Worlds & Lombardía.

And of course peaking for his totem races Ardennes and Vuelta can only be a good thing.

In this day and age, the important thing for him is to WIN races, not just making good placings.

 

[IndianCyclist]

He is guaranteed one bad day in the mountains in GTs as seen in 2016. He should be focusing on one day races and week long stage races plus Vuelta at the end. It is a waste for him to work for Quintana while maintaining his GC ranking and in the end not doing justice to either goals.