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

[Red Rick]

Not sure if old news? But Valverde is continuing beyond 2021

Valverde: "Dit is zeker niet mijn laatste seizoen als wielerprof"

Alejandro Valverde is toch niet aan zijn laatste seizoen als wielerprof bezig. Op de presentatie van Movistar aan het begin van het seizoen liet de Spanjaard nog doorschemeren dat hij aan het eind van 2021 zou stoppen, maar inmiddels heeft hij zijn plannen bijgesteld. Valverde, die in april 41...

www.wielerflits.nl

 

[Blanco]

Yep, he will ride forever!

 

[Koronin]

Not sure if old news? But Valverde is continuing beyond 2021

Valverde: "Dit is zeker niet mijn laatste seizoen als wielerprof"

Alejandro Valverde is toch niet aan zijn laatste seizoen als wielerprof bezig. Op de presentatie van Movistar aan het begin van het seizoen liet de Spanjaard nog doorschemeren dat hij aan het eind van 2021 zou stoppen, maar inmiddels heeft hij zijn plannen bijgesteld. Valverde, die in april 41...

www.wielerflits.nl

I think this is the first time it's been put into an article or interview. However, he's been hinting at this for about 2 to 3 months now. It started with he doesn't want to retire until the fans are back at all the races. Now it's more, I want the fans back and I'm not sure I'm actually ready to retire yet.

 

[Koronin]

It appears Valverde is now the oldest rider to ever finish a stage of the Tour de France either in either 1st or 2nd position.

 

[roundabout]

Is he continuing after the rest day?

 

[Blanco]

I think he'll ride till Luz Ardiden...
Great ride today, but Kuss was little bit stronger. Looking good for the Olympics.

 

[Koronin]

Is he continuing after the rest day?

Apparently. I think he should leave and go to the Olympics tomorrow, but from recent comments it sounds like he's staying. Something about all the injuries to the team.

 

[Blanco]

It appears Valverde is now the oldest rider to ever finish a stage of the Tour de France either in either 1st or 2nd position.

I think Pino Cerami was older some 15-20 days when he won in 1963.

 

[Koronin]

Bottom of the article:

Tercer tiro al poste de Movistar: Valverde flirtea con la historia

Andorra, casa de gran parte del pelotón ciclista, acogía este domingo una de las etapas más emocionantes de la presente edición del Tour de Francia. Tres puertos de primera y uno d

www.marca.com

El murciano, a los 41, es el corredor más veterano que queda primero o segundo en una etapa del Tour. Pogacar, por su parte, no sufrió ante un grupo de favoritos donde tan sólo Guillaume Martin se bajó del carro después de perder tiempo en el descenso del penúltimo puerto.


Basically they are saying he is the oldest.

That's where they mention it. I've seen it said in a couple other places as well.

 

[Koronin]

Here's from La Vuelta Stats on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1414250414237696005

View: https://twitter.com/lavuelta_stats/status/1414250414237696005

 

[Asero831]

He can leave on Friday morning

 

[ice&fire]

According to Patxi Vila, he plans to go until Paris and flight to Tokio next Monday

 

[SHAD0W93]

Tour de France: Valverde chooses second over risking it all to chase victory

'Man, it’s good to win, but it’s more important not to crash' says Movistar rider

www.cyclingnews.com

Your first win since 2012 would have been nice though.

 

[joe_papp]

So how's Valverde looking, guys? I admittedly haven't been following the detailed results...mostly just looking at how my fantasy TdF team is impacted by the stage, and Valverde's not on my team. Has he recovered from injuries suffered in the crash? Was he a credible challenger for the stage win on the day he finished second? Is his continued participation in the Tour in any way jeopardizing his Olympic plans? Does he have any possibility to win the Olympic road race?

Sorry for so many questions, but hope you'll indulge me.

 

[tobydawq]

So how's Valverde looking, guys? I admittedly haven't been following the detailed results...mostly just looking at how my fantasy TdF team is impacted by the stage, and Valverde's not on my team. Has he recovered from injuries suffered in the crash? Was he a credible challenger for the stage win on the day he finished second? Is his continued participation in the Tour in any way jeopardizing his Olympic plans? Does he have any possibility to win the Olympic road race?

Sorry for so many questions, but hope you'll indulge me.

He is looking quite good, I would say. On stage 8, he lost 35 minutes after dropping down from the break because he was freezing. On stage 9, he did well in similar conditions...

And yes, he was a legitimate contender for the stage he was second, but Kuss was a bit stronger, simple as that. He was second best by far, though.

I definitely don't think he has any lingering injuries. I don't know about the jeopardization of his Olympic chances. I still remember 2014 when he was on his knees in the last week of the Tour and couldn't even beat Péraud and Pinot for the Tour podium, and then six days later, he won the Clásica San Sebastián at a canter. I would be surprised if he won but it's not entirely impossible, I guess.

 

[Blanco]

Now go and get that medal, old man!

 

[glassmoon]

Another comeback might be in order...

 

[Salvarani]

Such bad luck. He should have gotten the chance to finish this race and he was looking really good so far. What a shame. I hope he can bounce back once again and that this is not the end. He has showed he can still be competitive this year, can he do it for another season? I hope so.

 

[RedheadDane]

He's gotta! Can't end like this.

 

[Fantastico]

At least he has no fractures according to Movistar Twitter. So he should be able to get back on the bike soon. Maybe he can challenge Lombardia and some more of the Italian classics.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

I don't like the man but seeing this is not very nice for an old man. It could be the best thing for Movistar, now the birds can fly!

 

[Koronin]

Adriano Malori posted today (on his social media account) that he has a hard time believing Valverde won't be back for one more season. He said there is no way the Alejandro he knows will leave the Vuelta for the last time like this.

 

[perico]

It looked to me like he banged his head pretty hard on the tarmac when he went down.

 

[joe_papp]

My heart is broken

 

[Koronin]

Alejandro is having an operation for a crushed plate in his clavicle.