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

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

And he did absolutely nothing during the race to increase his own or his team's chance of winning the event. Good old Valverde.

Yeah, he should have attacked on the 2nd last lap. Im surprised to why all the flat roads after the small climbs didn't encourage him (or anyone else for that matter) to do anything before the last lap. :lol:

And what did he do on the last lap?

He sprinted and ended up 5th just barely off the podium. Everyone who finished around him (the rest of the top 10) are actually all faster sprinters than he is. The climbs were not hard enough to drop many of the riders who are faster sprinters than he is. Sagan, Mathews, and Kristoff are all sprinters the last I checked. They all finished in front of him. The other rider who finished in front of him is Navardauskas whom I don't know. How exactly do you expect him to out sprint actual sprinters? He actually came very close to out sprinting both Navardauskas and Kristoff.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

And he did absolutely nothing during the race to increase his own or his team's chance of winning the event. Good old Valverde.

Yeah, he should have attacked on the 2nd last lap. Im surprised to why all the flat roads after the small climbs didn't encourage him (or anyone else for that matter) to do anything before the last lap. :lol:

And what did he do on the last lap?

I know, I know, he would have jeopardised the extremely important 5th place...

You are basically saying that he could have went with Sagan, or some of the other Flanders-specialists who attacked, but decided not to do that....? You are obviously well aware of the fact that it was extremely explosive, cobbled climbs suited for the likes of Sagan and GvA rather than types like Valverde or even more extreme, Rodriguez, so I don't really know what to say. Are you criticising his abilities, racing tactics or really just out for a reaction? Seems like the latter to me since you know cycling.

His best chance was to wait for the last lap. Then to go with the attacks had he been able or simply just stay in the bunch and pray it all came together and he was the fastest. Literally nothing else to do for Valverde and Spain on a course like Richmond, lol.

 

[Red Rick]

Richmond was just a shitty route for Spain and I'm not even sure they had a better bet than Valverde.

He could've tried and he didn't, but I don't even think I blame him. The route was just that shitty.

 

[Netserk]

The main reason he couldn't do *** on the two climbs (or in between them) was because of his poor positional ability. Not that he did much to improve his position, but I grant that is one of his weaknesses. He could however have done something on the climb up towards the finish. Although we didn't get any good pictures of the bunch, it was clear that a few others tried something there. My main point though is that if you really thought it would be impossible to do something else than just trying to outsprint Kristoff and Matthews, he and his team should have invested more in moves before the last lap. The only reason I wrote about this was the celebration of a meaningless 5th place. Really, he has done so much, so it really shouldn't matter at all.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

The main reason he couldn't do **** on the two climbs (or in between them) was because of his poor positional ability. Not that he did much to improve his position, but I grant that is one of his weaknesses. He could however have done something on the climb up towards the finish. Although we didn't get any good pictures of the bunch, it was clear that a few others tried something there. My main point though is that if you really thought it would be impossible to do something else than just trying to outsprint Kristoff and Matthews, he and his team should have invested more in moves before the last lap. The only reason I wrote about this was the celebration of a meaningless 5th place. Really, he has done so much, so it really shouldn't matter at all.

On the final lap 5 of the Spanish riders (all climbers) were standing in front of the fence at the feeding section watching the end of the race on TV with all of us fans. He had no teammates there with him. The two sprinters and Sanchez did the best they could to try to protect him on the cobbles, but he had no teammates by the time they got to the final climb. He was happy with the 5th because he didn't think he could finish top 5 on that course. His teammates whom were literally standing in front of me watching the finish of the race had no idea if it was a good or disappointing finish. Another team that was very evident when watching was the Spanish team was not riding together during the race. They were scattered throughout the peloton. The Polish, Italian, Norwegian, and Belgium teams specifically were riding very well as one unit.

 

[mariposa]

Re:

Thank you, I appreciate you posting them. That course did not suit him at all. As you can see from the pictures we picked a spot where we saw them twice per lap. I will be forever grateful that he came over here to race a course that didn't suit him as it was truly my once in a lifetime opportunity to see him race. He did manage to get a 5th and was so close to a podium.[/

Very nice photos. Well done to your husband for taking them. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I don't recall Valverde celebrating a 5th, or are you talking about the fans? Well, it was a good performance considering the circumstances and thats that. You must also not forget that he was completely spent after the Vuelta that year. Anyways I don't really want to spend more time on that.

Tramuntana is up today, he race very well suited to his characteristics. I don't think he will come out guns blazing since he said he scaled his training down after some tests a couple of months ago, but he is probably still the favourite today. Those who realistically can beat him under normal circumstances would be Moscon, Wellens and maybe Mollema and Brambilla, so the start list isn't that great. But will be be cold and rainy and thats something he doesn't really like. Fingers crossed!

 

[Max Rockatansky]

It looks like it's time for another Nuclear Holocoust.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

I don't recall Valverde celebrating a 5th, or are you talking about the fans? Well, it was a good performance considering the circumstances and thats that. You must also not forget that he was completely spent after the Vuelta that year. Anyways I don't really want to spend more time on that.

Tramuntana is up today, he race very well suited to his characteristics. I don't think he will come out guns blazing since he said he scaled his training down after some tests a couple of months ago, but he is probably still the favourite today. Those who realistically can beat him under normal circumstances would be Moscon, Wellens and maybe Mollema and Brambilla, so the start list isn't that great. But will be be cold and rainy and thats something he doesn't really like. Fingers crossed!

Hey nice prediction!
Haven’t seen it yet but apparently he was aggressive on the climb and so was a little tired in the finale.

 

[Brullnux]

Apparently this injury, perhaps as it has coincided with contador's retirement, has made valverde re-evaluate his career and all of his tactics.

 

[DNP-Old]

He said that he was scared during the descents. Though understandable, it could become an issue.

 

[Samamba]

Re:

He said that he was scared during the descents. Though understandable, it could become an issue.

Wellens said that too. He, Moscon and Valverde were together on the top of the last climb but Valverde couldn't follow them in the descent. He also needed to close a 15 second gap after the second last climb because he wasn't taking any risks on the descent. Understandable, and I don't think it's gonna be a problem when the stakes are higher.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re: Re:

And he did absolutely nothing during the race to increase his own or his team's chance of winning the event. Good old Valverde.

Yeah, he should have attacked on the 2nd last lap. Im surprised to why all the flat roads after the small climbs didn't encourage him (or anyone else for that matter) to do anything before the last lap. :lol:

And what did he do on the last lap?

He sprinted and ended up 5th just barely off the podium. Everyone who finished around him (the rest of the top 10) are actually all faster sprinters than he is. The climbs were not hard enough to drop many of the riders who are faster sprinters than he is. Sagan, Mathews, and Kristoff are all sprinters the last I checked. They all finished in front of him. The other rider who finished in front of him is Navardauskas whom I don't know. How exactly do you expect him to out sprint actual sprinters? He actually came very close to out sprinting both Navardauskas and Kristoff.

Since you guys are discussing that, has anyone ever dug up any images of the sprint for 2nd that day?
As far as I know none exist, but you never know

 

[Koronin]

He said something to the Spanish media when asked right after that race that he was happy with 5th due to the way the course was.

As for his comment today about being scared in the descents he also mentioned something about the rain being a factor. Remember his crash was in the rain, so it's not surprising that he has some fear of racing in the rain that he's going to have to over come. Today was a start of that. I don't think it would have been an issue if they were racing in the dry. I also believe once he has some more racing in the rain under his belt he'll be fine in the rain as well. What I've read in Spanish of his comments about his fear in the descent was that he specifically said that the dangerous conditions of the road led to much of that fear. I do believe as he gets more racing that fear will lesson and he'll return to being one of the best descenders in the peloton.

Valv.Piti, nice prediction as two of those guys you mentioned are the two that did beat him today. From the pictures and video I've seen he looked good. He's always hated cold and rain and because of the crash being in the cold and rain, this might just be a very good thing to help him get over any fear he has because of that crash having been in the cold and rain.

GuyIncognito, Not that I'm aware of. If there is any, it would be a fan who managed to get a picture who was at the finish line.

 

[GraftPunk]

I'm pretty sure given his age and experience, he is thinking a bit more about risk:reward which is totally fair. He's always fun to watch despite his old-guard status.

 

[Tonton]

Re:

He said that he was scared during the descents. Though understandable, it could become an issue.

Should we start a thread: Valverde is the new Pinot ?

Seriously, when your body gets broken like his was, pain, casts, yes it gets to your head i.e. never again.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

The only thing that really matters about his race today is that his leg was working right.

 

[Valv.Piti]

The other riders said Valverde was the strongest yesterday. Just amazing, this man... I really hope he will win today, that would give him even more confidence ahead of the season! So glad he is doing well.

 

[Angliru]

Re:

The main reason he couldn't do **** on the two climbs (or in between them) was because of his poor positional ability. Not that he did much to improve his position, but I grant that is one of his weaknesses. He could however have done something on the climb up towards the finish. Although we didn't get any good pictures of the bunch, it was clear that a few others tried something there. My main point though is that if you really thought it would be impossible to do something else than just trying to outsprint Kristoff and Matthews, he and his team should have invested more in moves before the last lap. The only reason I wrote about this was the celebration of a meaningless 5th place. Really, he has done so much, so it really shouldn't matter at all.

With an obvious axe to grind i guess it's easy to ignore the fact this is a rider returning from a serious injury in the twilight of a stellar career. A fifth place is a major accomplishment when trying to get back to where you were. If some of us here are enthusiastic about a fifth place finish and it's difficult for some to understand why that's a personal issue.

 

[portugal11]

I don't like the way valverde rides but he is a beast and a freak on the bike, I'm wondering how can he be at the top of his game for 15 years and he was 18 months suspended because of clinic issues. Let's see if he is only afraid of descending or if he has fear of sprinting (chaos) too

 

[Koronin]

He sprinted today from the group he was with to get 4th on today's Mallorca stage. I'd say he's not too worried about the sprinting. I'm still of the opinion his fear of descending yesterday was more due to the rain than it was actual descending.

 

[fauniera]

Don't think it is fear. He is simply careful, not taking unnecessary risks in relatively unimportant races.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Does anyone have a video of todays race?

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re:

Does anyone have a video of todays race?

When the highlights air they'll be put here
http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/ciclismo/

 

[rote_laterne]

I was not convinced he could came back as good as before his injury but so far he's the only Movistar rider with results.