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

[Blanco]

Some 3 minutes down on Sosa, half of Movistar: Bala, Mas, Verona and Pedrero.

 

[Koronin]

I suspect the full lock down in Spain did have an affect at least on some of the guys. Valverde even said during the lock down there were days he didn't bother with the rollers or trainer. He hates both and during the lock down there were days he just didn't see any reason to bother with either one.

 

[Asero831]

Mo MSR and Lombardia? Wonder if he is really going all-in for the Worlds

 

[Blanco]

Mo MSR and Lombardia? Wonder if he is really going all-in for the Worlds

Yes, Worlds, Ardennes, Vuelta... Classic Valverde.
Although I regret for missing two Italian Monuments, he hasn't got the form atm.

 

[Kaptain Kool]

I think the Dauphine course is good for him. Although he hasn't been good in high mountains, he's been fine in the medium mountain/hilly terrain.

I hope Movistar actually rides for stages in the Dauphine and Tour instead holding everything back to preserve Mas's tenuous 9th in GC. They have very few riders who can get results this year even in smaller races, less so with Prades injured.

 

[skippo12]

I cannot remember a GT where Valverde lost time on purpose to hunt stages. Even when he isn´t good enough to contend he usually just tries to hang on as long as possible. Usually it works out and he sneaks into the top 10 or at least top 15 in the 3rd week.

 

[Red Rick]

I remember browsing through Valverde's 2012 Tour results and I couldn't seem to find where the hell he lost the 40 minutes lol.

 

[Koronin]

Mo MSR and Lombardia? Wonder if he is really going all-in for the Worlds

That was known back in June when Unzue, Valverde, Mas, and Soler had a zoom press conference and laid out the plans for all three of their leaders. Valverde specifically said his plan is Burgos, Duaphine, National Championships, Tour, Worlds, LBL, Vuelta although he may not go to LBL depending on if he thinks he can hold form long enough for everything after the Tour or not.

 

[Koronin]

I cannot remember a GT where Valverde lost time on purpose to hunt stages. Even when he isn´t good enough to contend he usually just tries to hang on as long as possible. Usually it works out and he sneaks into the top 10 or at least top 15 in the 3rd week.

He never has. His personality and mentality won't allow him to. He was supposed to lose time in 2016, 2018, and 2019 to go stage hunting and never could bring himself to do it.

 

[RedheadDane]

He never has. His personality and mentality won't allow him to. He was supposed to lose time in 2016, 2018, and 2019 to go stage hunting and never could bring himself to do it.

And now I just imagine him sitting near the back of the favourite group, looking around, knowing that according to the plan he should drop out of the group. But then...
Nope! Not happening.

 

[Nirvana]

I remember browsing through Valverde's 2012 Tour results and I couldn't seem to find where the hell he lost the 40 minutes lol.

He was crap in the mountains, he rode the time trial like a tourist and sinked in the echelons even more than the following year.

 

[Blanco]

Given how many mountain stages ends up in a sprint nowadays, it's a real shame Bala is off form...

 

[Kaptain Kool]

It's also a shame that he'll be wasting so many days this season riding mountain stages. Hopefully, it pays off with late season results and, hopefully, there will even be a hilly Worlds. But it seems like a waste when he could be competitive in other types of races.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Yes, at this stage winning a Tour stage seems hard against the favourites, even though lots of finishes seem to favour him this year. He will need to give up the GC to go for glory in stages and this year might just be the year where he realises that the competition is very stiff and he is 40 years old. He will be flying in the Vuelta as usual though, Im pretty sure of that and thats enough for me.

 

[Red Rick]

Yes, at this stage winning a Tour stage seems hard against the favourites, even though lots of finishes seem to favour him this year. He will need to give up the GC to go for glory in stages and this year might just be the year where he realises that the competition is very stiff and he is 40 years old. He will be flying in the Vuelta as usual though, Im pretty sure of that and thats enough for me.

I imagine a few of the stages that suit him are actually very hard to predict in if it's gonna go to the break or not

 

[Blanco]

Showed some signs of form today...

 

[Koronin]

It appears he's racing himself into form. With is goals later (hopefully we'll get those races) it actually makes sense for him to race himself into form.

 

[Blanco]

Getting into break would be nice tomorrow.., especially if Roglic doesn't start. It could be a real madness on the road.

 

[tobydawq]

Look who's suddenly alive!

 

[Asero831]

He has to be the favorite for the Nationals

 

[Koronin]

He has to be the favorite for the Nationals

I agree. I'm not sure what that says about the state of Spanish cycling. A not in good form 40 year old being the favorite to win another national title.

 

[Koronin]

After today's stage

 

[Blanco]

I guess another top 10 in Le Tour is on horizon, and then all guns blazing in Ardennes and Vuelta. It's a pity for the Worlds though...

 

[Koronin]

Unfortunately Valverde seems to be in a very bad place mentally right now. I suspect it's a combination of things (change with parts on the bikes, being locked at home for 2 months etc). From this interview it's very evident that he's extremely discouraged and very unhappy.

Valverde: "A día de hoy, no seguiré tras 2021" - Ciclo21

"Esperemos que durante el Tour podamos, por lo menos, encontrar alguna victoria de etapa"

www.ciclo21.com

 

[Amazinmets87]

2017 Bala would have been a favourite on this year's world course. How does the new course alter his TDF plans, if at all?