- Jun 27, 2013
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No, too many races to do well at the Ardennes. Adding Flanders with its travelling and weather is what makes it overkill
Or so he said
Or so he said
- Oct 14, 2017
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Re:
Ok. He raced Dwars last year GP Miguel Indurain instead of Flanders, and still did well overall in the Ardennes. I just don't see this really being much different.
I really think this is more him, just being typical of himself in downplaying his chances that he has gotten so very good at doing.
GuyIncognito said:
Ok. He raced Dwars last year GP Miguel Indurain instead of Flanders, and still did well overall in the Ardennes. I just don't see this really being much different.
I really think this is more him, just being typical of himself in downplaying his chances that he has gotten so very good at doing.
- Oct 14, 2017
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Re:
Interestingly enough I think Val.Piti and I both came up with something similar to this as what we thought his calendar would look like. We just both would prefer to swap UAE for Andalucia. (My guess is he's racing UAE because they are offering a huge bonus/entry fee for him to be there.)
GuyIncognito said:
Interestingly enough I think Val.Piti and I both came up with something similar to this as what we thought his calendar would look like. We just both would prefer to swap UAE for Andalucia. (My guess is he's racing UAE because they are offering a huge bonus/entry fee for him to be there.)
- Nov 16, 2013
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Re: Re:
I think you're right regarding him downplaying his chances but riding Flanders is infinitely more taxing than the Induráin race.
But if he could recover from close to collapse in the Vuelta to Worlds-conquering shape in two weeks, he'll probably be okay in the Ardennes (Amstel is of course two weeks later than Flanders).
Koronin said:
I think you're right regarding him downplaying his chances but riding Flanders is infinitely more taxing than the Induráin race.
But if he could recover from close to collapse in the Vuelta to Worlds-conquering shape in two weeks, he'll probably be okay in the Ardennes (Amstel is of course two weeks later than Flanders).
Re: Re:
I fully understand your post - The fact is every WT team is riding the UAE tour, while Valverde is the defending champion.
Koronin said:
I fully understand your post - The fact is every WT team is riding the UAE tour, while Valverde is the defending champion.
- Apr 12, 2015
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Combining the Flemish classics and Ardennes shouldn't really be a problem for a super-fit rider like Valverde. But when you add a lot of stage races (where you target the GC) too, it's starts to become very hard challenge. Even for the most experienced rider of them all.
- Oct 14, 2017
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Re: Re:
I agree Flanders is more taxing than the Indurain race. However, this is Valverde we're talking about. The same person who said last summer no problem going for stages and overall at la Vuelta and still being ready for the Worlds. Plus we're talking about a rider whom everyone knows can recover in a short period of time. Of course we're talking about a rider who's made downplaying his chances in races where he's the favorite an art form.
tobydawq said:
I agree Flanders is more taxing than the Indurain race. However, this is Valverde we're talking about. The same person who said last summer no problem going for stages and overall at la Vuelta and still being ready for the Worlds. Plus we're talking about a rider whom everyone knows can recover in a short period of time. Of course we're talking about a rider who's made downplaying his chances in races where he's the favorite an art form.
- Sep 11, 2016
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C'moooooooon, the guy had a race today and his thread is down near the bottom! Got to keep up with the Remco's. :lol:
- Oct 14, 2017
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wheresmybrakes said:
LOL, Some of us have jobs without any real access to the internet. Also remember if we commented on this thread everytime Alejandro finishes in the top 5 let alone top 10 this thread would be a lot longer than it currently is. As of right now he's had 4 races and finished top 10 in all 4 of those races.
Re:
Maybe, but compared to others probably not being in top form either that probably wont matter much. If that would be case.
But I can agree he might have peaked a little bit too early last year. Especially in time for AGR, Fleche and LBL. He looked like he might have been 1-2% off in those races. Kinda hard to tell though with him, but remember thinking that. Even though he was still very much there in all three races.
Blanco said:
Maybe, but compared to others probably not being in top form either that probably wont matter much. If that would be case.
But I can agree he might have peaked a little bit too early last year. Especially in time for AGR, Fleche and LBL. He looked like he might have been 1-2% off in those races. Kinda hard to tell though with him, but remember thinking that. Even though he was still very much there in all three races.
- Oct 14, 2017
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It's ok if he's just a little off form at this point in the season. I agree he peaked a bit too early last year, however I also think it was somewhat intentional on his part because of that injury and he didn't know what he was going to be able to do when he came back. So peaking a little too early last year was understandable. He should be a little off of that form this year. However, his little off form is usually better than a lot of others little off form simply because he doesn't seem to have the big difference between his peaks and his not peak. As it's unlikely anyone is really peaking for these races, he'll be fine and still could win.
- Oct 14, 2017
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Re:
You'll find that there is a group of us here who have been following him for years and do have a very good idea in watching him race what level he is near or at.
Here's another thing, he said in an interview a couple weeks ago that his plan was to not be as close to peak to start the season as he was last year because of needing to be able to race through May this year. So he needed to start this season at a bit lower level than he did last season. Here's the thing with Valverde. It is very hard to tell when he's near peak or at peak as for him there really isn't much if any difference. There is a small difference in his racing when he's off peak. When he's just in race shape is when there is a big difference.
Eli said:
You'll find that there is a group of us here who have been following him for years and do have a very good idea in watching him race what level he is near or at.
Here's another thing, he said in an interview a couple weeks ago that his plan was to not be as close to peak to start the season as he was last year because of needing to be able to race through May this year. So he needed to start this season at a bit lower level than he did last season. Here's the thing with Valverde. It is very hard to tell when he's near peak or at peak as for him there really isn't much if any difference. There is a small difference in his racing when he's off peak. When he's just in race shape is when there is a big difference.
- Jun 6, 2017
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He messed up a little yesterday, took the wrong wheel and he wasn't in first 2-3 spots coming into that double turn, but he had the strength and the speed. He managed to close that gap to the first three, and I think it would be tight if it was him instead of Trentin on Greg's wheel.
- Sep 11, 2016
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Re:
I have an anniversary this morning, the 17,781st time of getting up in a morning. I win!
tobydawq said:
I have an anniversary this morning, the 17,781st time of getting up in a morning. I win!
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