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

[Netserk]

His two most notable wins this season are San Sebastian and Flèche Wallonne. Hardly holocaust yet. Will be holocaust if he wins Worlds (or Lombardia) though.

 

[jaylew]

Agreed. He's had a terrific year but I'd say he needs a big result at Worlds and/or GdL to make it his best year ever.

 

[ILovecycling]

His two most notable wins this season are San Sebastian and Flèche Wallonne. Hardly holocaust yet. Will be holocaust if he wins Worlds (or Lombardia) though.

Agree,not very impressive wins.No monument or gt for rider of his calibre is weak.

 

[Angliru]

Agree,not very impressive wins.No monument or gt for rider of his calibre is weak.

I'd consider winning San Sebastian and Fleche Wallone, a Vuelta podium and 4th or 5th (I can't recall where he finished) at the Tour to be a pretty successful season.

 

[LaFlorecita]

 

[Arredondo]

I'd consider winning San Sebastian and Fleche Wallone, a Vuelta podium and 4th or 5th (I can't recall where he finished) at the Tour to be a pretty successful season.

Not very impressive wins is something else then an unsuccessful season

 

[ILovecycling]

I'd consider winning San Sebastian and Fleche Wallone, a Vuelta podium and 4th or 5th (I can't recall where he finished) at the Tour to be a pretty successful season.

I dont, it lacks one big win imo.

 

[Angliru]

I dont, it lacks one big win imo.

Winning two classics in one season is a good season for Valverde. Your standards are pretty high.

 

[Netserk]

Flèche isn't a classic. If you just mean one-day races, you might as well include his Italian win (and the two small Spanish ones).

 

[icefire]

Flèche isn't a classic. If you just mean one-day races, you might as well include his Italian win (and the two small Spanish ones).

He hasn't raced a classic this year.

 

[BrentonOfTheNorth]

Finished in the top 5 in 10 grand tours now... wow! How many other riders have accomplished this in the past? Purito and Contador have each finished in the top 5 on seven occasions, Indurain 9 times, and Ullrich 8 times.

 

[ILovecycling]

Winning two classics in one season is a good season for Valverde. Your standards are pretty high.

His standards should be high,not mine.He won wt multiple times,so I think its a reasonable expectation.

 

[Angliru]

His standards should be high,not mine.He won wt multiple times,so I think its a reasonable expectation.

...and he's second to Contador this year so far. I just think folks like to rag on Valverde because he appears to be one of the forum's favorite whipping boys.

You don't think his personal standards are high? Just because he often stumbles about in accomplishing his goals doesn't mean his standards aren't high. His execution is his major shortcoming. I'm not sure what you're expecting here.

If you look at his results for this year, I just can't understand where you're coming from with this?

...and as far as I know Fleche Wallone is a classic. It's not a monument.

 

[Angliru]

He hasn't raced a classic this year.

Who is "he"? This is the Valverde thread and he's raced multiple classics this year.

 

[patrick767]

If you look at his results for this year, I just can't understand where you're coming from with this?

No idea. Valverde has had a fantastic season. I do think that next season he should target the Giro and/or the Vuelta though. He seems to be a level below Contador, Froome, Quintana, and Nibali in the GTs, but they may all target France next year. We'll see.

 

[nobilis]

His two most notable wins this season are San Sebastian and Flèche Wallonne. Hardly holocaust yet. Will be holocaust if he wins Worlds (or Lombardia) though.

He almost podiumed in 2 consecutive GTs. I don't know many current riders able to do that.
And everybody talked about Contador and Froome not being in top shape for the Vuelta but they keep forgetting that Valverde had a whole tour in his legs, where he fought for the podium till the last day.

 

[pink_jersey]

He almost podiumed in 2 consecutive GTs. I don't know many current riders able to do that.
And everybody talked about Contador and Froome not being in top shape for the Vuelta but they keep forgetting that Valverde had a whole tour in his legs, where he fought for the podium till the last day.

Purito last year.3rd in TdF and 4th in Vuelta.

 

[phanatic]

Purito last year.3rd in TdF and 4th in Vuelta.

So Purito 2013, Froome 2012 (2nd and 4th) and Bertie 2011 (disputed).
Next year Aru?!

 

[jens_attacks]

so another three years of awesomeness wow!

 

[trevim]

With the rise of Quintana I think that Valverde will come to a point when he simply won't care anymore, attack like a mad men and rides to his true potential. He'll be the most entertaining rider, true to his real great talent.

 

[No_Balls]

Hopefully yes. One always sense that he's holding back or deliberately is backing off due to the bigger picture, in GT that is. I mean, the way he sprinted off Purito on Ancares gave a brief shot of the real Valverde. That was a 'wow'-moment.

 

[Angliru]

His early stage win while riding for Quintana prior to his Vuelta ending crash, was IMO the most impressive performance of the entire Vuelta. To lead the contenders up a climb, respond to attacks and then just ride everyone off of his wheel for the stage win was amazing.

 

[icefire]

Who is "he"? This is the Valverde thread and he's raced multiple classics this year.

If (according to Netserk) Flèche isn't a classic, Valverde hasn't raced any classic in 2014.

 

[Angliru]

If (according to Netserk) Flèche isn't a classic, Valverde hasn't raced any classic in 2014.

Strangely that is what is being said here but they've been curiously silent since those posts were made.

 

[nobilis]

Strangely, some people are ready to change the basic concepts of cycling just to underestimate the performances of Valverde. I don't understand where all that hate is coming from. Let's wait and see for after the Worlds and GdL.