Only race the Ardennes every year
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Sounds pretty sad to celebrate that...
I hope he'll ruin your celebration by winning on Sunday!
A Timeline of Alejandro Valverde in La Flèche Wallonne - Mur de Huy Performances - Lanterne Rouge
Alejandro Valverde is the king of La Flèche Wallonne, having won the race a record five times. The steep Mur de Huy (1km, 11.2%) finish perfectly suits Valverde's ability to produce high 3 minute power at the end of a hilly 4-5 hour race. After the 2022 season, Valverde is retiring (allegedly)...
lanternerouge.com.au
Well, he suddenly became one of the hottest favourites in Liege. Looks like it wont rain. He can win in a sprint against most of those guys apart from Wout, Iød also like him to drop Alaf. And how about a solo??
Think the age was showing today. The flat sprint is also largely gone.
He's corrected last year mistake when he took the lead with 1km to go. Today he was in the middle of the group and got boxed.
A bit of a disappointing way to finish his story with this race.
His 7th place was only his 10th best result here (11th if you count 2010).
His 7th place was only his 10th best result here (11th if you count 2010).
Good result, but with Pogacar and Alaphilippe out, it feels like more could've been possible. From my perspective, he was way too passive in the end, but maybe he didn't have the legs to do more.
Still competing on a very high level is simply incredible. Two very good results from him in the races, that has been his playground for many years.
Yeah, decent result but not a good ride. I expected more after 2nd at Fleche. He basically didn't do nothing all day, he just rolled in as 7th.
The race simply doesn't suit him due to the 10km flat run in. He's never beating Van Aert or Evenepoel in a sprint and they're not dropping on the climbs in order for there to be a select group of weaker sprinters he can beat.
He turns 42 today. Happy congratulations.
Not beating Evenepoel in a sprint?! I think he could beat him with one leg.
Van Aert was dropped on RaF, even though the climb was not ridden super hard. It's true that the previous profile suits him more, but with good legs he can make a selection here too with only a handful of riders, and old Valverde could finish it.
I actually think we'd need young Valverde for that
I think we'd need the old Valverde, which is the young Valverde
Happy birthday to the cycling legend, Alejandro Valverde! Feliz Cumpleaños!!!
Yeah, the flat run-in is pretty much terrible for Valverde these days. He'd beat anyone in that group in his 20's, maybe apart from Van Aert, but his explosivity on flat roads is all but gone..
I would guess Valverde‘s average performance (all disciplines, climbing, sprint and so on) has decreased ca. 2% compared to his peak, and might be similar to when he started his career.
98% in 2002, 100% in 2005-2015, 98% in 2022.
I dream of him doing the same as Rebellin did: I hope Alejandro goes on riding as an UCI rider for the next 25 years: WT until age 45, PCT until 60, CT until 67. That would be perfect, and he could return to the amateur category aged 67.
Maybe he would even win 1.1 races aged 60…
98% in 2002, 100% in 2005-2015, 98% in 2022.
I dream of him doing the same as Rebellin did: I hope Alejandro goes on riding as an UCI rider for the next 25 years: WT until age 45, PCT until 60, CT until 67. That would be perfect, and he could return to the amateur category aged 67.
Maybe he would even win 1.1 races aged 60…
On eurosport FR, they said Valverde took the KOM of today's climb. I can't find it on strava, is it correct ? is it hidden ?
He took it on a recon a couple days ago. He wasn't going full gas.
The segment is 'visegrad Castle full climb'. He averaged 320w for 10 minutes.
So, is he riding for 2nd or 3rd today to wear the points or KOM jersey tomorrow?
Another great ride from the old man.
Top 10 likely. Even a top 5 not out of the question.
Top 10 likely. Even a top 5 not out of the question.
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