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

[lartiste]

I assume, he will try to ride again as many GT as possible. It is clear, that his motivation is passion to race. With other motivation and other schedule, he can still achieve better result but in my opinion he is now enjoying to compete, probably he understands, that there is not really much time for him to compete left.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

I assume, he will try to ride again as many GT as possible. It is clear, that his motivation is passion to race. With other motivation and other schedule, he can still achieve better result but in my opinion he is now enjoying to compete, probably he understands, that there is not really much time for him to compete left.

Agree with this. All this projecting that he should target this or win that is at odds with how he races. He is the kind of rider that lives in the moment - who loves to compete and be in the action year round. He just loves racing and riding his bike. He's always been like that. He's not the kind of rider whose main goal is to build the most impressive palmares possible to look back at when he retires - meaning peaking for just one or two months per season and turning up with no chance in other races.

 

[liamito]

Did he already confirm he will do Lombardia?

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

Did he already confirm he will do Lombardia?

No, but I think he'll ride, along with Quintana. Movistar wants to secure their World Tour 1st place

 

[Asero831]

No Lombardia for Don Alejandro?
He's not in the start list

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

No Lombardia for Don Alejandro?
He's not in the start list

Unfortunately no, neither is Quintana tho and he travelled back to Europe supposedly to ride Lombardia. With Movistar's emphasis on the WT Im pretty surprised, but lets see.

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

No Lombardia for Don Alejandro?
He's not in the start list

Start list where?

 

[liamito]

Re: Re:

No Lombardia for Don Alejandro?
He's not in the start list

Unfortunately no, neither is Quintana tho and he travelled back to Europe supposedly to ride Lombardia. With Movistar's emphasis on the WT Im pretty surprised, but lets see.

I am also surprised, especially because on the same day he is part of the preselection for Qatar. That would not be the case if he already finished his 2016 season.

 

[DFA123]

I guess he is just leaving it until a last minute decision. See where his form is during the next week and if there is any point in him turning up - must be on the edge of burnout so it would make sense to look at it day to day.

 

[Arredondo]

He made a mistake to ride La Vuelta. I already said it before that race.....

 

[liamito]

Re:

He made a mistake to ride La Vuelta. I already said it before that race.....

For us it might look as a mistake, but I am sure he does not regret it.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

He made a mistake to ride La Vuelta. I already said it before that race.....

For a little shot at Il Lombardia? Im sure he enjoyed himself in La Vuelta and I did as well. I think its all he cares about at this point, enjoying the last years.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

He made a mistake to ride La Vuelta. I already said it before that race.....

For a little shot at Il Lombardia? Im sure he enjoyed himself in La Vuelta and I did as well. I think its all he cares about at this point, enjoying the last years.

Come on. Little shot. He would have been the big favorite for Lombardia with good amount of rest + good legs. You know that too.

He can ride all the races he want. But his 2nd part of the season just has been disappointing. Not good for a big champion like Bala. The Vuelta just has been a useless GT for him. Even if he would have got that top-10 in GC. At this point of his career, it's just about filling holes on his palmares. Not riding as much as you can without specific goal to target (and reaching your peak shape at that moment).

 

[Valv.Piti]

I meant to write a little better shot at Lombardia.

I don't agree at all with it being a useless GT if he did a top-10. Such a feat is pretty extraordinary. But yes, he has done that (and the Tour) which has compromised his chances at Juegos and Lombardia. Can't have everything.

 

[Arredondo]

Re:

I meant to write a little better shot at Lombardia.

I don't agree at all with it being a useless GT if he did a top-10. Such a feat is pretty extraordinary. But yes, he has done that (and the Tour) which has compromised his chances at Juegos and Lombardia. Can't have everything.

But that's way too easy. His big goal was Río. Then you need to act/race like it is your big goal.

Trust me, he can be competitive all year AND be at 100% at the biggest races. He just fucks his own chances for some stupid goals (top-10 in all GT's, i mean: really?). What's better to you: top-10 in all GT's? Or Oympic Champion? In order to win big, you need to hold back a little bit and risk something.

What's the point of trying to achieve things which are not really memorable, while you can potentially win still missing milestones in your career like Lombardia, Worlds or Olympics?

 

[Mr.White]

He messed up his season a little, I agree. But I also think it was a good year, not great, but quite good. He won Fleche, he was great at the Giro, and he had a memorable GT triple. And as far as Lombardia concerns, I think he will ride, and I think he can still achieve good result. If the race explodes to pieces on the climbs, he hasn't got much of a chance due to his tiredness and not so good climbing legs atm. But if that's not the case, he has a decent shot. There's a long descent and a flat part before Bergamo, and last hill suits him down to the ground.

 

[liamito]

Vai Balla

 

[Asero831]

He will be riding Milano-Torino. Looks like he's racing Lombardia afterall

 

[Valv.Piti]

Perfect, this means he will ride Lombardia.

 

[liamito]

.@alejanvalverde causa finalmente baja mañana en #MilanoTorino, por leve indisposición y en precaución. @jcastroviejo, su reemplazo.

 

[Arredondo]

Forget Lombardia

 

[joe_papp]

What a satisfying season for Don Alejandro.

Thoroughly enjoyed cheering for him this year, and I hope he can win some more in 2017 (and not just podium )

 

[Arredondo]

I have to give him credits for the way he rode today. Didn't expect he would be that strong. Still you could see he was tired, but incredible mental toughness and dedication.

Curious to see if he can win big races next year too. And if he will be a little bit wiser in terms of target his races.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Yeah, it was obvious that once the best climbers went, he had no chance. Rode a smart race and 5th-6h was the maximum he could get out of the race today. Some argue that big champions don't or shouldn't care about placings like those, but that's nonsense. You do the best you with whats available and there really isn't much left at this point.

Still, he would have had good chances to actually win on an easier course all things considered.

 

[Mr.White]

He messed up his goals this year, a little... First he wanted to ride De Ronde, than he changes his mind because of the Giro. Then he supposed to ride Le Tour as a support for Quintana and maybe hunting some stages. He even announced that he'll be losing time in the first week, but he ended up 6th on GC and seemed even stronger than Quintana. Then at the main target (along with Giro) of the year, he was clearly fatigued, because of the way he rode Tour. Then he decides to ride Vuelta (a 3rd GT of the year!!!), against the laws of logic, while he probably should build form slowly and target Canadian classics and try to reach peak form in Lombardia. He seemed like a rider without a plan, like a rider who could ride whatever he wants and whenever he wanst. And that's why I like this guy!