I don't think Valverde has a better chance to win. I do believe he has a better chance to top 5. Unsure if that makes sense
- Nov 16, 2013
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You also say he wants the points jersey record, which I don't think is true since he just gifted it to Felline a couple of years ago.
And if you're in contention for the podium, you're most likely also in contention for the win.
Koronin said:
You also say he wants the points jersey record, which I don't think is true since he just gifted it to Felline a couple of years ago.
And if you're in contention for the podium, you're most likely also in contention for the win.
- Oct 14, 2017
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That was 2016 and he was pretty much dead at the end of that race. He's made several comments since that race that he almost abandoned that race on at least two occasions. The stage where he lost around 10 minutes or whatever it was. He said he almost climbed off the bike 3 different times on that climb and the only reason he didn't was the combination of fans on the side of the road and some of the riders from other teams who kept encouraging him to keep riding. He said after that race he has even more respect for Adam Hansen because he has no idea how you can do 3 GTs a year for as long as he has since doing all 3 in one year almost destroyed him.
tobydawq said:
That was 2016 and he was pretty much dead at the end of that race. He's made several comments since that race that he almost abandoned that race on at least two occasions. The stage where he lost around 10 minutes or whatever it was. He said he almost climbed off the bike 3 different times on that climb and the only reason he didn't was the combination of fans on the side of the road and some of the riders from other teams who kept encouraging him to keep riding. He said after that race he has even more respect for Adam Hansen because he has no idea how you can do 3 GTs a year for as long as he has since doing all 3 in one year almost destroyed him.
- Oct 14, 2017
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Re: Re:
I agree with you. I think what we have proven is that a domestique can ride 3 straight GTs in a season for multiple years and do fine, while a GC can't. I still believe that Valverde's attempt proved that it's not possible to do all 3 in one year and get top 10's in all 3 never mind trying to win or podium in all 3. Although the interesting question that will never be answered is: Could Valverde have actually managed the top 10 in all 3 GTs in one year when he was younger? Who knows, esp since as we've seen he's also been a more prolific winner since he hit his mid 30's than he was before and he's always been a prolific winner.
Valv.Piti said:
I agree with you. I think what we have proven is that a domestique can ride 3 straight GTs in a season for multiple years and do fine, while a GC can't. I still believe that Valverde's attempt proved that it's not possible to do all 3 in one year and get top 10's in all 3 never mind trying to win or podium in all 3. Although the interesting question that will never be answered is: Could Valverde have actually managed the top 10 in all 3 GTs in one year when he was younger? Who knows, esp since as we've seen he's also been a more prolific winner since he hit his mid 30's than he was before and he's always been a prolific winner.
- Jun 6, 2017
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I don't think it matters that much to him. It would be nice of course, but I think especially that points jersey has no significance to him at all. Podium ok, especially because of the record, but winning overall here, for him, beats any kind of record by a huge margin.
Koronin said:
I don't think it matters that much to him. It would be nice of course, but I think especially that points jersey has no significance to him at all. Podium ok, especially because of the record, but winning overall here, for him, beats any kind of record by a huge margin.
- Oct 14, 2017
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Re: Re:
Won't argue with that. I also have no problem saying that Contador is the best Grand Tour rider of his generation and he and Indurain are the best two GT riders Spanish cycling has ever produced. Valverde is not at their level in Grand Tours, however he's not that far off as he does have those 8 GT podiums.
Carols said:
Won't argue with that. I also have no problem saying that Contador is the best Grand Tour rider of his generation and he and Indurain are the best two GT riders Spanish cycling has ever produced. Valverde is not at their level in Grand Tours, however he's not that far off as he does have those 8 GT podiums.
- Oct 14, 2017
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He is a much better one day racer then what they were. I actually think he's a bit of a classics specialist that just happens to be extremely good at everything.
Yeah his big weakness, the high altitude. He's talked about that a few times over the past couple of years. He's basically said he knows it's a weakness and there's not much he can do about it. Basically said something about he was born, raised, and still lives at sea level and his body just won't adjust very well to altitude and that at this point in his career it's not worth messing with anymore. So yes if he could handle altitude better a couple of those could be wins and a couple of his top 5/top 10s could have been podiums. Interesting part though is that he may be the one rider in the peloton who is almost as happy with a podium as with a win.
Carols said:Koronin said:
Bala is a Much Better one day racer than either Contador or Big Mig, so there is that. If only he could handle high altitude multi-mountain stages more of those GT podiums would be wins.
He is a much better one day racer then what they were. I actually think he's a bit of a classics specialist that just happens to be extremely good at everything.
Yeah his big weakness, the high altitude. He's talked about that a few times over the past couple of years. He's basically said he knows it's a weakness and there's not much he can do about it. Basically said something about he was born, raised, and still lives at sea level and his body just won't adjust very well to altitude and that at this point in his career it's not worth messing with anymore. So yes if he could handle altitude better a couple of those could be wins and a couple of his top 5/top 10s could have been podiums. Interesting part though is that he may be the one rider in the peloton who is almost as happy with a podium as with a win.
- Jun 6, 2017
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I don't think he's especially happy with podiums, with the exception of that Tour podium. But that was something else, that was personal stuff. He often says that podium is good result, but I don't think he's particularly happy with that, more that he hides his disappointment very well. On the other hand, when he wins, you just see his joy already at the finish line, and after with his teammates and soigneurs. You just see that the man is overjoyed, even today after more than 100 victories...
- Oct 14, 2017
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Re:
Maybe it's more he's not disappointment with podiums, and he's mentioned some of his podium records as things he's very proud of having.
Yes, for someone who's been around or so long and won so much, the pure joy and enthusiasm when he wins is contagious and you can see he still loves wins as much now as he did when he was much younger.
Blanco said:
Maybe it's more he's not disappointment with podiums, and he's mentioned some of his podium records as things he's very proud of having.
Yes, for someone who's been around or so long and won so much, the pure joy and enthusiasm when he wins is contagious and you can see he still loves wins as much now as he did when he was much younger.
- May 13, 2009
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One of the most laudable aspects of Valverde's professionalism is the season-long commitment he makes to winning. Kelly was past his prime when I first got into cycling (though he won the points classification at the Tour that year, the first I followed...1989), but from reading back issues of Winning Magazine (/ Winning Bicycle Racing Illustrated...the classic yellow-framed magazine) I cultivated an appreciation for his consistency. Likewise LeMond, Criquielion [RIP], & Phil Anderson...
In the modern era, Valverde really stands out (as we've discussed here before) for his months'-long competitiveness and the genuine pleasure he seems to take in winning. When he's finally gone from the scene, who will we look to for that Kelly-esque vibe? Sagan is of course amazing, but he lacks the GT GC capabilities Valverde so efficiently exploited. I really feel like it's a bonus at this point every time I can watch Valverde ride (or see his name in the results). The dude raced for KELME, for chrissakes. That was FOREVER ago! lol
In the modern era, Valverde really stands out (as we've discussed here before) for his months'-long competitiveness and the genuine pleasure he seems to take in winning. When he's finally gone from the scene, who will we look to for that Kelly-esque vibe? Sagan is of course amazing, but he lacks the GT GC capabilities Valverde so efficiently exploited. I really feel like it's a bonus at this point every time I can watch Valverde ride (or see his name in the results). The dude raced for KELME, for chrissakes. That was FOREVER ago! lol
- Oct 14, 2017
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joe_papp said:
To add to your comment, Valverde has stated this year he's now definitely racing on borrowed time. Before his injury he had said a few times that his basically year and a half ban greatly extended his career. Yeah, in terms of sports it was forever ago he was at Kelme. His last year with Kelme was 14 years ago. How about another crazy stat. His 2nd year as a pro at Kelme (he raced as an amateur for them for 2 years and turned pro in 2002 with them) in 2003 at 23 years old he put up 15 wins, which is still his highest win total. This year 15 years later at 38 years old he's put up his second most win total at 12 and still has the rest of the Vuelta, the Worlds and most likely Lombardia left to try to add to that number. For a non sprinter he is a highly prolific winner.
- Jul 28, 2015
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The Covatilla probably is the worst climb for him this year considering the bad memories of 2004 and also in 2006 was his worst uphill result despite not losing much time.
Anyway depends on what the team decides to do with him, after the the stage he stated again that the team could decide to put all his eggs on Quintana basket.
Anyway depends on what the team decides to do with him, after the the stage he stated again that the team could decide to put all his eggs on Quintana basket.
- Jun 6, 2017
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He's going to do his own race tomorrow. He's not going to watch or help Quintana. If he hangs on with the best, he's genuine contender for the win. If he drops, he'll help Quintana in the remainder of the race.
Grande win today. He proved once more that he is the king of the uphill sprints.
Grande win today. He proved once more that he is the king of the uphill sprints.
- Oct 14, 2017
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Was out of town today (went to Raleigh, NC for an exhibit that's at the Science museum) so didn't get to see the end of the stage until later. Great win for Alejandro today. He again proved his the most complete rider in the sport. He's also likely the only rider in the peloton that can beat Sagan on that type of finish.
- Oct 14, 2017
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A Spanish reported finally got Alejandro to say today that he does want to win GC at la Vuelta this year. Yes it's in Spanish.
http://laguiadelciclismo.com/carreras/vuelta-a-espana-2018/noticias/alejandro-valverde-quiero-ganar-la-vuelta-pero-esta-muy-dificil/
http://laguiadelciclismo.com/carreras/vuelta-a-espana-2018/noticias/alejandro-valverde-quiero-ganar-la-vuelta-pero-esta-muy-dificil/
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