tobydawq said:The year where he murdered the entire field with a 7 kilometre attack on a long climb in Ruta del Sol? Allright.Koronin said:tobydawq said:He has gone from winning many races to top 5'ing many races. Of course that is not a massive drop in performance if you look at it physiologically, and he isn't way, way, way, way off form.
They say he aims to time his form for a bit later in the year. But he has never done that before and I have my doubts about if he can win something big this year. But he turns 39 in less than three weeks and this had to happen sometime.
He did once, which was 2016. Yet his form was still better than it is right now.
The only reason this isn't his worst season is because in 2002 he didn't win a single race.
At this point I have my doubts he's going win anything else this year the way he's been racing big or not.
And he really hasn't been as bad this year as you keep saying. Maybe you should rewatch his Abu Dhabi stage win. That is NOT something a lot of people can do and shows that he is still going very strongly.
That won't happen because no one in the peloton will let him get into an early break.Velolover2 said:The race was too easy for him compared to last year and he is not in peak shape. The climbs wasn't even raced optimally.
He might be okay in Ronde but he has to go in a somewhat early break. Doesn't have a chance for podium or even top 10 but we could still get a nice show from him.
He is a big name but I'm not sure the likes of Sagan, GVA and Stybar will respond. They have to watch out for each other.Koronin said:That won't happen because no one in the peloton will let him get into an early break.Velolover2 said:The race was too easy for him compared to last year and he is not in peak shape. The climbs wasn't even raced optimally.
He might be okay in Ronde but he has to go in a somewhat early break. Doesn't have a chance for podium or even top 10 but we could still get a nice show from him.
Velolover2 said:He is a big name but I'm not sure the likes of Sagan, GVA and Stybar will respond. They have to watch out for each other.Koronin said:That won't happen because no one in the peloton will let him get into an early break.Velolover2 said:The race was too easy for him compared to last year and he is not in peak shape. The climbs wasn't even raced optimally.
He might be okay in Ronde but he has to go in a somewhat early break. Doesn't have a chance for podium or even top 10 but we could still get a nice show from him.
What do you think is his best tactics? He need an advantage before the second and third Oude Kwaremont. I'd go on the steep Kanarieberg. The hill that suits him the most.
You wouldn't have thought they would have let Gilbert in a break two years ago, either.Koronin said:Velolover2 said:He is a big name but I'm not sure the likes of Sagan, GVA and Stybar will respond. They have to watch out for each other.Koronin said:That won't happen because no one in the peloton will let him get into an early break.Velolover2 said:The race was too easy for him compared to last year and he is not in peak shape. The climbs wasn't even raced optimally.
He might be okay in Ronde but he has to go in a somewhat early break. Doesn't have a chance for podium or even top 10 but we could still get a nice show from him.
What do you think is his best tactics? He need an advantage before the second and third Oude Kwaremont. I'd go on the steep Kanarieberg. The hill that suits him the most.
I don't think they'll let him get out in the break. I think the Kanariegberg is his best hope of doing something.
Lequack, That's a nice photo. I really like the rainbow stripes on the black jersey. The colors really stand out on it.
I can just imagine what those Bora guys are thinking at the moment "LOL, make the most of it dude, it's the only time you'll be in front during this race!"Lequack said:Nice photo from today:
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tobydawq said:You wouldn't have thought they would have let Gilbert in a break two years ago, either.Koronin said:Velolover2 said:He is a big name but I'm not sure the likes of Sagan, GVA and Stybar will respond. They have to watch out for each other.Koronin said:That won't happen because no one in the peloton will let him get into an early break.Velolover2 said:The race was too easy for him compared to last year and he is not in peak shape. The climbs wasn't even raced optimally.
He might be okay in Ronde but he has to go in a somewhat early break. Doesn't have a chance for podium or even top 10 but we could still get a nice show from him.
What do you think is his best tactics? He need an advantage before the second and third Oude Kwaremont. I'd go on the steep Kanarieberg. The hill that suits him the most.
I don't think they'll let him get out in the break. I think the Kanariegberg is his best hope of doing something.
Lequack, That's a nice photo. I really like the rainbow stripes on the black jersey. The colors really stand out on it.
wheresmybrakes said:I can just imagine what those Bora guys are thinking at the moment "LOL, make the most of it dude, it's the only time you'll be in front during this race!"Lequack said:Nice photo from today:
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Maybe he is happy with the way he is riding at the moment and has specific targets in mind to go for the win. Give him time, he'll come good for you and all will be forgiven.
Hmm, looks like he got a tip from Eddie M. that the key to winning this race is frequent saddle adjustmentsKoronin said:A couple of pictures from today's training ride. He looks happy and looks to be enjoying himself.
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Hmm, looks like he got a tip from Eddie M. that the key to winning this race is frequent saddle adjustmentsKoronin said:A couple of pictures from today's training ride. He looks happy and looks to be enjoying himself.
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Hmm, looks like he got a tip from Eddie M. that the key to winning this race is frequent saddle adjustmentsKoronin said:A couple of pictures from today's training ride. He looks happy and looks to be enjoying himself.
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For a rider like valverde, the heightened chance of crashing and ruining his entire season is way too high to merely get some mileage in this race. He'll be looking to do wellwheresmybrakes said:He is only riding this race because of the jersey he is wearing. He knows he's no chance. Suppose he's getting some mileage in his legs though.