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

[hfer07]

Don Alejandro doing really well in this Giro I'll be up there in the top 5 if all goes well.

 

[Mayomaniac]

New bike for Valverde

https://twitter.com/x/status/1526435926058094592

View: https://twitter.com/Movistar_Team/status/1526435926058094592?s=20&t=CM7Mx_3Kfg2Lx9M8D7Qfew

Really not my cup of tea, the classic Movistar blue Canyon bike just looks better.

 

[skippo12]

Another impressive attempt not to go for the GC. Finishing first among riders that didn´t belong to the initial 12 men group. Even catching Kelderman. 10th place but more than 9 minutes behind. Can he pull a Guillaume Martin and sneak away on one of the mountain stages?

 

[Kaptain Kool]

The dream scenario would be a 2-rider escape with Jai Hindley. Valverde the stage and Hindley solidly in pink.

 

[Red Rick]

Dropping time to go in breakaways while still going for GC.

At 42, Valverde has unlocked mysteries no lesser man can touch.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Dropping time to go in breakaways while still going for GC.

At 42, Valverde has unlocked mysteries no lesser man can touch.

Let's not forget that Pereiro was his teacher.

 

[skippo12]

The dream scenario would be a 2-rider escape with Jai Hindley. Valverde the stage and Hindley solidly in pink.

Someone has to lead the group. Your scenario would probably create a paradox that ends all life on earth. Or even worse. Empties the bag.

 

[Lequack]

Shame for Valverde today. I think he had the form to stay with the leaders, but got caught in the back split.

 

[Kaptain Kool]

Shame for Valverde today. I think he had the form to stay with the leaders, but got caught in the back split.

I wonder how he approaches the remainder of the race. Stage 19 is probably best for him, with a couple of others OK, too.

 

[Red Rick]

Shame for Valverde today. I think he had the form to stay with the leaders, but got caught in the back split.

Almeida got back.

Valverde dropped 8 minutes. One of those is not like the other.

The age is showing. Nothing to be ashamed about.

 

[Pinot's goat]

Almeida got back.

Valverde dropped 8 minutes. One of those is not like the other.

The age is showing. Nothing to be ashamed about.

I thought he was further behind than Almeida at the start of the climb.

 

[SafeBet]

I thought he was further behind than Almeida at the start of the climb.

He was further behind and I think Almeida was helped by Covi who dropped back from the break.

 

[lenric]

Dropping time to go in breakaways while still going for GC.

At 42, Valverde has unlocked mysteries no lesser man can touch.

it's like playing football manager with 2 save files

 

[Blanco]

I thought he was further behind than Almeida at the start of the climb.

He was.
Almeida was in the 2nd group, 10-15 sec behind.
Valverde was in the 3rd group, at least 40-45 sec behind, plus he had to change the bike at the bottom, that grow to a minute quickly.

 

[Fantastico]

Shame for Valverde today. I think he had the form to stay with the leaders, but got caught in the back split.

Yes, he seemed to be quite strong actually, overtaking and distancing Arensman, Martin etc. who at some point where at least 1 minute in front of him.

 

[Red Rick]

Yes, he seemed to be quite strong actually, overtaking and distancing Arensman, Martin etc. who at some point where at least 1 minute in front of him.

Stronger than the guys behind him yeah, but not as strong as the guys in front of him.

Front group probably did much higher W/kg in the wheel than Valverde did on his own. W/kg estimates for Superga had drafting only save like 0.12W/kg

 

[Fantastico]

Stronger than the guys behind him yeah, but not as strong as the guys in front of him.

Front group probably did much higher W/kg in the wheel than Valverde did on his own. W/kg estimates for Superga had drafting only save like 0.12W/kg

But Valverde basically rode on his own for the last 60 kms. If you cannot save energy on the flat sitting in the wheels, it's clear that you will not push the same W/kg on the climbs as those who can.

 

[Blanco]

Valverde, if he was in the front group, would in the worst case finish with Landa and Bilbao.
He had the legs, but luck wasn't on his side.
He will bounce back in some of the remaining stages, he'll be a protagonist for sure...

 

[Netserk]

he'll be a protagonist for sure...

Like he has been so far?

 

[Red Rick]

But Valverde basically rode on his own for the last 60 kms. If you cannot save energy on the flat sitting in the wheels, it's clear that you will not push the same W/kg on the climbs as those who can.

He was losing buckets of time when it was only Kelderman pacing the front group.

 

[Fantastico]

He was losing buckets of time when it was only Kelderman pacing the front group.

So what? Keldermann could go all out for his teammates, while Valverde had to pace himself until the finish. In the end, they finished together.

 

[tobydawq]

He was losing buckets of time when it was only Kelderman pacing the front group.

Sorry, but this is really lame. Name one person ever in the position Valverde was in yesterday who managed to not lose chunks of time.

 

[Kaptain Kool]

Sorry, but this is really lame. Name one person ever in the position Valverde was in yesterday who managed to not lose chunks of time.

I think their point is that Nibali, who hasn't been competitive outside of Italy in almost a decade, managed to stay in the front group despite Jai Hindley wheelsucking on him for 325km.

 

[Red Rick]

Sorry, but this is really lame. Name one person ever in the position Valverde was in yesterday who managed to not lose chunks of time.

Contador on Mortirolo.

But it's 8 minutes, and he was climbing with guys like Lucas Hamilton adn Guillaume Martin. If he 1 minute back and loses 3'30 or something, then maybe. It was mostly 1 or 2 domestiques pacing at a time at the max anyway.
The only argument that's legit is maybe Valverde stopped trying 100%.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Must feel good so be able to write all this bull... Valverde was strong yesterday, but was unlucky. It is what it is. Change Nibali and Valverde, and Im sure you will see something very similar.