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

[Billie]

Re: Re:

He said in an interview after the stage that when he lost ground at the end of the Glandon was because he was a little bit breathless and he knew the climb was over and he was gonna take the group in the descend, so he took those last meters of the climb to to take some breath. He said he wasnt bad at all. And it must be true because he was clearly in control in the last climb of the day that was a three hard kms long. I think the man is gonna take his podium finally. But anyway, im not liking at all the way Movistar is riding these last stages, I expected more from Quintana.

He might be lying though...

He does that a lot.

 

[joe_papp]

Re: Re:

He said in an interview after the stage that ...

He might be lying though...

He does that a lot.

Says who? CONI?

 

[Arredondo]

Valverde will have a hard time today. Rain and slightly colder temperatures.

And if Nibali really is progressing, he still can take big time. Normally he should be able to get 3.58 on Bala in a Tour.

 

[Billie]

Re: Re:

He said in an interview after the stage that ...

He might be lying though...

He does that a lot.

Says who? CONI?

Taking it easy on a climb before sprinting back at the summit/on the descent.

Not talking about the lying.

 

[SeriousSam]

He can't have been totally cooked because he wasn't dropped in the last climb.

I do expect Nibali, Contador and perhaps even Thomas to go better today and tomorrow. I hope he can hang on.

 

[bala v]

Re:

Valverde will have a hard time today. Rain and slightly colder temperatures.

And if Nibali really is progressing, he still can take big time. Normally he should be able to get 3.58 on Bala in a Tour.

Yeah, normally He gained -4min till now, good luck with that!

 

[SeriousSam]

One more day to survive.

1:24 to Nibali. I hope it's enough, but if Nibali goes strongly tomorrow...

 

[Arredondo]

He will lose his podium. No doubt about that. Nibbles smells blood.

 

[Pantani Attacks]

I hope he loses an hour tomorrow.

 

[DBotero]

Re:

He will lose his podium. No doubt about that. Nibbles smells blood.

He didn't even try to limit the damage.Bad day again or he's toast.He's only hope is that Nibali will crack tomorrow

 

[bala v]

Only hope is what it's left. It will be really hard

 

[SeriousSam]

Nibali did the third best time up the final long climb today, being on his own for so long. He seems to be clearly the 3rd strongest climber now. I hope he suffers for his big effort tomorrow, but it's not looking good for Valverde. What a heartbreak it would be to lose 3rd on the very last climb.

But if Nibali is that much stronger, so be it.

 

[djpbaltimore]

I wonder what the gap would've been if LottoNL/Gesink hadn't pulled for so much of the final climb. I think Nibali will feel some of the effects of today's effort on Saturday and Valverde will hang on to his podium.

 

[Marco Pantani]

Attacking might be the best defence tomorrow.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Look out Valverde

 

[DBotero]

 

[Mr.White]

He is on his own tomorrow, and so is Nairo...

 

[movingtarget]

I am not a big fan of Valverde but I hope he holds onto his place on the podium as he deserves it. Sure Van Garderen had some bad luck but that is racing and illness can happen to anyone. If Froome does not crack tomorrow then I expect the podium to stay the same. Nibali will be tired and Contador already looked tired.

 

[joe_papp]

Re: Re:

He said in an interview after the stage that ...

He might be lying though...

He does that a lot.

Says who? CONI?

Taking it easy on a climb before sprinting back at the summit/on the descent.

Not talking about the lying.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. Thanks for clarifying.

Go Bala!

 

[Angliru]

Knowing how much it would mean to him, especially after just missing it last year, I hope he makes it into Paris on the podium.

 

[yespatterns]

I hope he goes home empty handed. Piti may be the biggest dirtbag on the peleton.

 

[Arredondo]

Nibali rode the fastest ascent of La Toussuire behind Froome and Quintana, after attacking from 60 km out. He's close to his top shape. So i don't see any reason why he should be tired today.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re:

I hope he goes home empty handed. Piti may be the biggest dirtbag on the peleton.

What the? What's that attitude? He's one of the greatest riders of this generation. How exactly is he a dirtbag? I hope he ends on the podium this year, although I'll admit that it would be funny if he narrowly misses out.

Nibali rode the fastest ascent of La Toussuire behind Froome and Quintana, after attacking from 60 km out. He's close to his top shape. So i don't see any reason why he should be tired today.

Agree. He's definitely the third strongest rider at the moment.

 

[Ramira]

I'm a bit conflicted actually, on the one hand I want Nibali on the podium since, unlike Valverde, he's actually ridden aggressively trying to gain time, rather than focus on not losing it. On the other hand if Valverde ends up on the podium, there will be no reason to care about his GC next year, letting Quintana off the leash.

 

[Ramira]

So, seems I was wrong, Valverde is actually attacking, for me he can finish on the podium now, he finally made sure he deserves it.