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

[Valv.Piti]

Contador isn't exactly too good to race for minor placing either. Thats just a stupid tag he has gotten because he somehow hasn't finished on the podium of GT without winning it, mainly because he simply was too bad in TdF 13 and 15 + Vuelta 16.

Tommeke doesn't give a *** howeever.

 

[DFA123]

Great to add Pais Vasco to his palmares. You could see how much it meant to him at the end. High mountains, short climbs, sprints, time trials - he's doing it all this season.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Wicked! Beat Contador relatively comfortable on that last rolling section. Thought it would be closer when I saw how Bertie was going, but man, this is stuff for the legends.

 

[Velolover2]

Froome's greatest rival in the Tour with a tired Quintana from the Giro?

Valverde's TT have also got a lot better in recent years.

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

Great to add Pais Vasco to his palmares. You could see how much it meant to him at the end. High mountains, short climbs, sprints, time trials - he's doing it all this season.

Still needs to prove his worth on the cobbles.

 

[Arredondo]

Re:

Froome's greatest rival in the Tour with a tired Quintana from the Giro?

Valverde's TT have also got a lot better in recent years.

If he's really able to challenge Froome at Le Tour, it's gets ridiculous

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Froome's greatest rival in the Tour with a tired Quintana from the Giro?

Valverde's TT have also got a lot better in recent years.

It looks like he probably is the biggest threat to Froome. But I think that says as much about the poor level from the other contenders, as it does about Valverde's form. He'd still need a minor-miracle (a big split or a crash) to surpass Froome at the Tour I think.

The Vuelta on the other hand...

 

[Carols]

Bala Invincible and evergreen!

 

[LaFlorecita]

Congratulations. Incredible performance.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re: Re:

Van Avermaet has the best season so far, then Valverde, and then Gilbert. And that could easily turn in Valverde's favor if he wins Pais Vasco. 8 wins, 5 WT, easily tops what Gilbert did, no matter how epic his Ronde win is. It's still a Monument, not freaking Tour de France! Kwiatkowski won one, and won Strade Bianche in pretty dominant fashion, by that logic he would be equal to Gilbert. But he isn't. Every result matter. His 2nd places in E3 and DDV also matters. Dwars door Vlaanderen was won by his teammate because of his presence, that counts too. Counting only wins is a little bit childish I think, this sport is much more than that.

Only losers are satisfied with second or third places.

Kwiatkowski has had the second best season so far.

A Monument is much more prestigious than a one-week stage race. Otherwise someone like Richie Porte would have a comparable palmares to Philippe Gilbert.

Wait, what? How is Driedaagse De Panne and Flanders better than Strade Bianche and Milano-Sanremo? Surely Kwiatkowski's season is better than Gilberts at this point.

 

[Moviestar]

Not having raced P-N has benefited him. He looked very fresh here. What a beginning of the season for him, undoubtedly his best so far.

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

Van Avermaet has the best season so far, then Valverde, and then Gilbert. And that could easily turn in Valverde's favor if he wins Pais Vasco. 8 wins, 5 WT, easily tops what Gilbert did, no matter how epic his Ronde win is. It's still a Monument, not freaking Tour de France! Kwiatkowski won one, and won Strade Bianche in pretty dominant fashion, by that logic he would be equal to Gilbert. But he isn't. Every result matter. His 2nd places in E3 and DDV also matters. Dwars door Vlaanderen was won by his teammate because of his presence, that counts too. Counting only wins is a little bit childish I think, this sport is much more than that.

Only losers are satisfied with second or third places.

Kwiatkowski has had the second best season so far.

A Monument is much more prestigious than a one-week stage race. Otherwise someone like Richie Porte would have a comparable palmares to Philippe Gilbert.

Wait, what? How is Driedaagse De Panne and Flanders better than Strade Bianche and Milano-Sanremo? Surely Kwiatkowski's season is better than Gilberts at this point.

Because Flanders is much more prestigious than Milan-San Remo. Kwiatkowski won Milan-San Remo by wheelsucking Sagan. Gilbert won the Ronde van Vlaanderen in a 56km solo. He also became the first rider since Michele Bartoli to win both the Ronde and LBL in his career.

Strade Bianche is also overrated on this forum. It's too young to be called a classic.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

Van Avermaet has the best season so far, then Valverde, and then Gilbert. And that could easily turn in Valverde's favor if he wins Pais Vasco. 8 wins, 5 WT, easily tops what Gilbert did, no matter how epic his Ronde win is. It's still a Monument, not freaking Tour de France! Kwiatkowski won one, and won Strade Bianche in pretty dominant fashion, by that logic he would be equal to Gilbert. But he isn't. Every result matter. His 2nd places in E3 and DDV also matters. Dwars door Vlaanderen was won by his teammate because of his presence, that counts too. Counting only wins is a little bit childish I think, this sport is much more than that.

Only losers are satisfied with second or third places.

Kwiatkowski has had the second best season so far.

A Monument is much more prestigious than a one-week stage race. Otherwise someone like Richie Porte would have a comparable palmares to Philippe Gilbert.

Wait, what? How is Driedaagse De Panne and Flanders better than Strade Bianche and Milano-Sanremo? Surely Kwiatkowski's season is better than Gilberts at this point.

Because Flanders is much more prestigious than Milan-San Remo. Kwiatkowski won Milan-San Remo by wheelsucking Sagan. Gilbert won the Ronde van Vlaanderen in a 56km solo. He also became the first rider since Michele Bartoli to win both the Ronde and LBL in his career.

Strade Bianche is also overrated on this forum. It's too young to be called a classic.

Achieving something in your career (which also includes other years) doesn't say anything about this season.

Both Kwiat and Gilbert are having a great season, but Kwiat won 2 big classics. Gilbert 1.

 

[burning]

Re: Re:

Van Avermaet has the best season so far, then Valverde, and then Gilbert. And that could easily turn in Valverde's favor if he wins Pais Vasco. 8 wins, 5 WT, easily tops what Gilbert did, no matter how epic his Ronde win is. It's still a Monument, not freaking Tour de France! Kwiatkowski won one, and won Strade Bianche in pretty dominant fashion, by that logic he would be equal to Gilbert. But he isn't. Every result matter. His 2nd places in E3 and DDV also matters. Dwars door Vlaanderen was won by his teammate because of his presence, that counts too. Counting only wins is a little bit childish I think, this sport is much more than that.

Only losers are satisfied with second or third places.

Kwiatkowski has had the second best season so far.

A Monument is much more prestigious than a one-week stage race. Otherwise someone like Richie Porte would have a comparable palmares to Philippe Gilbert.

Wait, what? How is Driedaagse De Panne and Flanders better than Strade Bianche and Milano-Sanremo? Surely Kwiatkowski's season is better than Gilberts at this point.

Because Flanders is much more prestigious than Milan-San Remo. Kwiatkowski won Milan-San Remo by wheelsucking Sagan. Gilbert won the Ronde van Vlaanderen in a 56km solo. He also became the first rider since Michele Bartoli to win both the Ronde and LBL in his career.

Strade Bianche is also overrated on this forum. It's too young to be called a classic.

Achieving something in your career (which also includes other years) doesn't say anything about this season.

Both Kwiat and Gilbert are having a great season, but Kwiat won 2 big classics. Gilbert 1.

Hey, Kwiat become the first rider to win Amstel, E3, WC, and Milan-San Remo since 1873 or something like that, he is having the best season.

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

Van Avermaet has the best season so far, then Valverde, and then Gilbert. And that could easily turn in Valverde's favor if he wins Pais Vasco. 8 wins, 5 WT, easily tops what Gilbert did, no matter how epic his Ronde win is. It's still a Monument, not freaking Tour de France! Kwiatkowski won one, and won Strade Bianche in pretty dominant fashion, by that logic he would be equal to Gilbert. But he isn't. Every result matter. His 2nd places in E3 and DDV also matters. Dwars door Vlaanderen was won by his teammate because of his presence, that counts too. Counting only wins is a little bit childish I think, this sport is much more than that.

Only losers are satisfied with second or third places.

Kwiatkowski has had the second best season so far.

A Monument is much more prestigious than a one-week stage race. Otherwise someone like Richie Porte would have a comparable palmares to Philippe Gilbert.

Wait, what? How is Driedaagse De Panne and Flanders better than Strade Bianche and Milano-Sanremo? Surely Kwiatkowski's season is better than Gilberts at this point.

Because Flanders is much more prestigious than Milan-San Remo. Kwiatkowski won Milan-San Remo by wheelsucking Sagan. Gilbert won the Ronde van Vlaanderen in a 56km solo. He also became the first rider since Michele Bartoli to win both the Ronde and LBL in his career.

Strade Bianche is also overrated on this forum. It's too young to be called a classic.

Achieving something in your career (which also included other years) doesn't say anything about this season.

Both Kwiat and Gilbert are having a great season, but Kwiat won 2 big classics. Gilbert 1.

Strade Bianche isn't a big race, let alone a classic.

And even on this forum it's clear which race people gravitate towards the most:

Milan- San Remo thread: 34 pages of discussion
Ronde van Vlaanderen thread: 60 pages of discussion

The monuments aren't equally prestigious.

1. Roubaix
2. Ronde
3. LBL
4. MSR
5. Lombardia (I personally rate it higher than MSR though, but I'm being objective here)

 

[frisenfruitig]

Strade is not a big classic (yet) though. Prestigious for sure, but not a classic!

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Van Avermaet has the best season so far, then Valverde, and then Gilbert. And that could easily turn in Valverde's favor if he wins Pais Vasco. 8 wins, 5 WT, easily tops what Gilbert did, no matter how epic his Ronde win is. It's still a Monument, not freaking Tour de France! Kwiatkowski won one, and won Strade Bianche in pretty dominant fashion, by that logic he would be equal to Gilbert. But he isn't. Every result matter. His 2nd places in E3 and DDV also matters. Dwars door Vlaanderen was won by his teammate because of his presence, that counts too. Counting only wins is a little bit childish I think, this sport is much more than that.

Only losers are satisfied with second or third places.

Kwiatkowski has had the second best season so far.

A Monument is much more prestigious than a one-week stage race. Otherwise someone like Richie Porte would have a comparable palmares to Philippe Gilbert.

Wait, what? How is Driedaagse De Panne and Flanders better than Strade Bianche and Milano-Sanremo? Surely Kwiatkowski's season is better than Gilberts at this point.

Because Flanders is much more prestigious than Milan-San Remo. Kwiatkowski won Milan-San Remo by wheelsucking Sagan. Gilbert won the Ronde van Vlaanderen in a 56km solo. He also became the first rider since Michele Bartoli to win both the Ronde and LBL in his career.

Strade Bianche is also overrated on this forum. It's too young to be called a classic.

Achieving something in your career (which also includes other years) doesn't say anything about this season.

Both Kwiat and Gilbert are having a great season, but Kwiat won 2 big classics. Gilbert 1.

Gilbert is a one trick pony as well. Both wins in the same way. Get away while the other big names are inattentive - drop a few lesser riders on a climb - then solo to the finish. All while riding for easily the strongest team in the race. Valverde has a greater variety to his wins than that. Kwiatkowski the most impressive results though; he's beaten sprinters in the sprinters monument, and beaten puncheurs at their own game in Strade. Both wins also without an especially strong team.

 

[burning]

Re: Re:

Only losers are satisfied with second or third places.

Kwiatkowski has had the second best season so far.

A Monument is much more prestigious than a one-week stage race. Otherwise someone like Richie Porte would have a comparable palmares to Philippe Gilbert.

Wait, what? How is Driedaagse De Panne and Flanders better than Strade Bianche and Milano-Sanremo? Surely Kwiatkowski's season is better than Gilberts at this point.

Because Flanders is much more prestigious than Milan-San Remo. Kwiatkowski won Milan-San Remo by wheelsucking Sagan. Gilbert won the Ronde van Vlaanderen in a 56km solo. He also became the first rider since Michele Bartoli to win both the Ronde and LBL in his career.

Strade Bianche is also overrated on this forum. It's too young to be called a classic.

Achieving something in your career (which also included other years) doesn't say anything about this season.

Both Kwiat and Gilbert are having a great season, but Kwiat won 2 big classics. Gilbert 1.

Strade Bianche isn't a big race, let alone a classic.

And even on this forum it's clear which race people gravitate towards the most:

Milan- San Remo thread: 34 pages of discussion
Ronde van Vlaanderen thread: 60 pages of discussion

LMAO

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=31126

This proves that De Gendt was the best rider in 2016.

 

[frisenfruitig]

Re: Re:

Strade Bianche is also overrated on this forum. It's too young to be called a classic.

Achieving something in your career (which also included other years) doesn't say anything about this season.

Both Kwiat and Gilbert are having a great season, but Kwiat won 2 big classics. Gilbert 1.
Strade Bianche isn't a big race, let alone a classic.

And even on this forum it's clear which race people gravitate towards the most:

Milan- San Remo thread: 34 pages of discussion
Ronde van Vlaanderen thread: 60 pages of discussion

The monuments aren't equally prestigious.

1. Roubaix
2. Ronde
3. LBL
4. MSR
5. Lombardia (I personally rate it higher than MSR though, but I'm being objective here)

How have you come to this ranking though? Seems entirely subjective to say Roubaix is above the RVV or LBL to me.

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

Gilbert is a one trick pony as well. Both wins in the same way. Get away while the other big names are inattentive - drop a few lesser riders on a climb - then solo to the finish. All while riding for easily the strongest team in the race. Valverde has a greater variety to his wins than that. Kwiatkowski the most impressive results though; he's beaten sprinters in the sprinters monument, and beaten puncheurs at their own game in Strade. Both wins also without an especially strong team.

Sky had their entire team intact in one line right before the Poggio.

Since when is Strade Bianche a puncheur's only race? It has always been a race with a mixture of cyclists, and it suits Kwiatkowski a lot, otherwise he wouldn't have won it twice already.

Gerrans also won MSR.

How is Gilbert a one-trick pony? He won 3/5 Monuments, was on the podium twice in a fourth one and won the WC.

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

LMAO

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=31126

This proves that De Gendt was the best rider in 2016.

No, that proves a freak accident involving the Tour de France leaders garners a lot of attention and discussion. Besides, nobody will question the fact that the Tour is the biggest race in cycling.

As far as I'm aware, nothing of the sort happened in MSR and the Ronde.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Strade Bianche isn't a big race, let alone a classic.

And even on this forum it's clear which race people gravitate towards the most:

Milan- San Remo thread: 34 pages of discussion
Ronde van Vlaanderen thread: 60 pages of discussion

The monuments aren't equally prestigious.

1. Roubaix
2. Ronde
3. LBL
4. MSR
5. Lombardia (I personally rate it higher than MSR though, but I'm being objective here)

Let's analyze this the right way. I remember a wise man on here once said that Google hits was the best way to compare status.

Ronde Van Vlaanderen - about 1 million
Milano Sanremo - well over 3 million
Strade Bianche - about 3 million

Sorry, Phil. Looks like you just won a parrochial race around some farm tracks, compared with Michal's global blockbusters.

 

[burning]

Re: Re:

Gilbert is a one trick pony as well. Both wins in the same way. Get away while the other big names are inattentive - drop a few lesser riders on a climb - then solo to the finish. All while riding for easily the strongest team in the race. Valverde has a greater variety to his wins than that. Kwiatkowski the most impressive results though; he's beaten sprinters in the sprinters monument, and beaten puncheurs at their own game in Strade. Both wins also without an especially strong team.

Sky had their entire team intact in one line right before the Poggio.

Since when is Strade Bianche a puncheur's only race? It has always been a race with a mixture of cyclists, and it suits Kwiatkowski a lot, otherwise he wouldn't have won it twice already.

Gerrans also won MSR and LBL.

How is Gilbert a one-trick pony? He won 3/5 Monuments, was on the podium twice in a fourth one and won the WC.

Well, looks like LBL is a useless race.

No, that proves a freak accident involving the Tour de France leaders garners a lot of attention and discussion. Besides, nobody will question the fact that the Tour is the biggest race in cycling.

As far as I'm aware, nothing of the sort happened in MSR and the Ronde.

This just proves that measuring importance of a race with number of posts is useless.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Can you go debate that elsewhere? Its not really that relevant to Valverde IMO.

I wrote in this thread 2 weeks ago after Catalunya if I was crazy if I thought Valverde actually could win TdF this year. Now, its not likely he will, but stranger things have happened..

 

[Velolover2]

Re: Re:

The monuments aren't equally prestigious.

1. Roubaix
2. Ronde
3. LBL
4. MSR
5. Lombardia (I personally rate it higher than MSR though, but I'm being objective here)

Which classics will you rank as 6th, Pistol?

Gent-Welegen used be a race most riders would like to win, not just a "warm-up race to De Ronde/Roubaix".. I'm seeing more people having Amstel and Fleche Wallone as their targets.

GW is never a real target anymore. And that's a shame.