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

[Ruudz0r]

Flanders is not certain yet.

"We're still thinking about racing Flanders or not - it would be quite a different race for me, on roads I don't really know much, and it might add some risks to my racing schedule, that's why we're not 100% certain. If I don't ride there, I'll be competing in Estella, Rioja and Amorebieta before Amstel, Flèche Wallonne and Liège”.

(From the team website)

 

[Arredondo]

It's quite useless for him to ride Flanders, because he won't finish in the top-10 of course. He eventually will blown away by the specialist on Kwaremont.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Valverde might pull out of RVV after seeing what happened today at GW.

But I hope he mans up and joins the party.

 

[ICEROCK]

I am just amazed how consistent AV is. Sadly he can never pull through a good Tour.

 

[jaylew]

No Bala at RVV or Pais Vasco. Racing GP Miguel Indurain tomorrow, though.

 

[DBotero]

Close but no win again Still 2 more races in which he might do something wrong and maybe win one of them

 

[Mr.White]

He rode good race, couldn't do much different

 

[SeriousSam]

He's in very good form. Bodes well for Liege and FW.

 

[Red Rick]

Think he's the main favourite to win FW

 

[Irondan]

Re:

Think he's the main favourite to win FW

He's the oddsmakers favorite. For very good reason, he's on serious form right now. It's only a matter of time before he hits the top step.

 

[hrotha]

Plus Flèche is the hardest race to screw up tactically.

 

[Rollthedice]

Re:

He's in very good form. Bodes well for Liege and FW.

As usual. Peaking for certain races is not his specialty, he's always ready.

 

[Irondan]

Re:

Plus Flèche is the hardest race to screw up tactically.

Where there's a will there's a way...

 

[Mr.White]

11th podium in Ardennes races for Valverde, including 4 wins. Tying him for second all time with Frans Verbeeck, Boogerd and Rebellin, only behind Merckx who has 15. With that 3rd place in Liege 2010 he would be alone in 2nd

 

[SeriousSam]

Add that to his 5 worlds medals and this is unparalleled consistency in hilly races, really. It's a shame he doesn't win more often.

 

[The Hitch]

Ive been commenting on Valverdes 1 day podium streak for years now and year in year out he just keeps adding to it. Its absolutely remarkable how every Major 1 day race (monuments or worlds) he podiums (2nd or 3rd) and 90% of lesser 1 day races the same.

Don't think its that bad for him though. At the end of the day coming 2nd/3rd in every one day race still gets him very good money, possibly highest prize money year in year out in the peloton. And its not like he doesn't have tons and tons of wins to make him feel better about all the podiums including 2 monuments and a gt.

 

[Rollthedice]

Re:

Add that to his 5 worlds medals and this is unparalleled consistency in hilly races, really. It's a shame he doesn't win more often.

In the worlds he's definitely turning into Jimmy White of cycling.

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

Add that to his 5 worlds medals and this is unparalleled consistency in hilly races, really. It's a shame he doesn't win more often.

It's 6 actually..

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re:

Add that to his 5 worlds medals and this is unparalleled consistency in hilly races, really. It's a shame he doesn't win more often.

I invoke Michael Boogerd, the mighty second.

AGR (1998 to 2007) : 4 - 1 - 2 - 9 - 3 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 5
LBL (1998 to 2007) : 5 - 2 - X - 5 - X - 3 - 2 - 3 - 5 - 6

There's also three podiums in Lombardia.

Post-ban Valverde is the proud successor of the Dutchman.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re: Re:

Add that to his 5 worlds medals and this is unparalleled consistency in hilly races, really. It's a shame he doesn't win more often.

I invoke Michael Boogerd, the mighty second.

AGR (1998 to 2007) : 4 - 1 - 2 - 9 - 3 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 5
LBL (1998 to 2007) : 5 - 2 - X - 5 - X - 3 - 2 - 3 - 5 - 6

There's also three podiums in Lombardia.

Post-ban Valverde is the proud successor of the Dutchman.

No, the proud successor of Boogerd would have to be someone who is also a great classics rider and also decent but not great mountain climber who also can't time trial or descend very well, also isn't explosive, is skinny instead of muscular, blonde and pale with a mouth full of teeth....

Man, that's incredibly specific. We'll never find anyone....

......

......

......

 

[Jancouver]

Good ride by Piti. That being said, it seems that Kwiat is perhaps his successor and younger version on Valverde and we may expect similar results from the flowerboy?

 

[trevim]

Re:

He rode good race, couldn't do much different

Yeah it's easy to bash on Alejandro but I don't see a realistic way that could gave him the win today. I hope he takes some initiative in LBL instead of waiting for a sprint for placings

 

[Asero831]

He took a chance when we bridge over to Phil and MM but they would not let him go.

 

[DBotero]

Re:

Good ride by Piti. That being said, it seems that Kwiat is perhaps his successor and younger version on Valverde and we may expect similar results from the flowerboy?

Yep seems like the only one with enough qualities to follow Valverde's way.He's got the ITT as a plus but his climbing skill need improvements to be able to challenge the GC on GT's.

 

[Angliru]

Re: Re:

Add that to his 5 worlds medals and this is unparalleled consistency in hilly races, really. It's a shame he doesn't win more often.

I invoke Michael Boogerd, the mighty second.

AGR (1998 to 2007) : 4 - 1 - 2 - 9 - 3 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 5
LBL (1998 to 2007) : 5 - 2 - X - 5 - X - 3 - 2 - 3 - 5 - 6

There's also three podiums in Lombardia.

Post-ban Valverde is the proud successor of the Dutchman.

I'd say he's way above being what you describe him as if you take into account that he's also up there in weeklong stage races during the course of the season and in at least one grand tour also making his presence felt. He's a rare treasure, at least for me. I've enjoyed watching him race over the course of his career.