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

[hfer07]

Vala showing once more why he's the best all rounded cyclist of his generation

 

[Der Effe]

Vala showing once more why he's the best cyclist of his generation

Fixed that for you

 

[Fernandez]

Valverde feels at home in spain

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Valverde feels at home in spain

Instant love for that pic!

Seriously tho, what is your guys honest take on Valverde winning the Vuelta? I feel its possible, its still early, but possible. If Andorra doesnt kill him, he can seriously win this. Apart from Froome, he probably also is the best TT'er among the favs?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Vala showing once more why he's the best cyclist of his generation

Fixed that for you

Aaaaand your are so right my friend. Sorry for the double post, but I needed to quote this separately.

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

Valverde feels at home in spain

Instant love for that pic!

Seriously tho, what is your guys honest take on Valverde winning the Vuelta? I feel its possible, its still early, but possible. If Andorra doesnt kill him, he can seriously win this. Apart from Froome, he probably also is the best TT'er among the favs?

And why not. The guy finished SIX TIMES on the podium, he can surely win. If Froome and Nairo aren't on top of their game, and I think they're not, he has a fair chance

 

[Rollthedice]

Re: Re:

Valverde feels at home in spain

Instant love for that pic!

Seriously tho, what is your guys honest take on Valverde winning the Vuelta? I feel its possible, its still early, but possible. If Andorra doesnt kill him, he can seriously win this. Apart from Froome, he probably also is the best TT'er among the favs?

I can't see who can beat him. Nibali has gone home and I think he was the only potential threat from Astana. Froome has no business here, it would be ridiculous to show some alien stuff after winning Le Tour and spending the time until Vuelta riding crits and drinking Belgian beer. Quintana is Valverde's gregario here. Is there anybody else? I don't think so. Andorra will be the test.

 

[jsem94]

Valverde is pretty certain for the podium imho. If he can continue to rack up the bonus seconds on stages like these too, it will be hard to take anything away from the man. He has plenty of experience riding the Tour-Vuelta double too. He can definitely win.

 

[Jspear]

I definitely think he has a very good chance of winning. I still think Quintana will be stronger in the "bigger" mountain stages. We'll see if Valverde can limit his loses on those days. Besides that the only one who has a chance (imo) is Froome. I'd say right now they are all equal favorites....we'll know more later.

 

[jaylew]

As much as I'd like to see him win, I have my doubts. I'm just not yet convinced that he's going to be one of the top 1-2 climbers in the hardest mountain finishes, and I think that's what it's going to take,

 

[Moviestar]

With his victory Movistar also has a virtual lead over Sky in the WT teams classification. Too bad Jesus Herrada crashed out recently, he seemed to be in great shape. He could do great things in the Canadian classics/Plouay.

 

[joe_papp]

Since we all (more or less) seem to be Valverde fans (nice to connect w/ some other folks who like and appreciate the guy, btw, as most cyclists and journalists I meet & talk to in the flesh (English-speakers) seem to loathe Valverde and think he's the anti-Christ), let me ask you something:

If Valverde doesn't finish on the podium in the Vuelta (never mind win the GC), are you going to be disappointed in him, or feel let-down (assuming the non-podium finish is not the result of some misfortune like accident or illness)? Not on a personal level, since that would be ridiculous, but more like your initial gut reaction as a fan... Will you be like, "¿Bala - Por quéeeeeeeeee?"

If he got caught doping, or buying a race result like Vino, then I'd be disappointed in the guy and think he was a real jerk (even if just for getting caught). But if he can't get podium in the Vuelta, I'd be more like, "Meh." idk...I try not to get overly invested in any rider or athlete/celeb/public figure. But that doesn't mean I'm blasé about Valverde.

Anyway, if anyone has a response, feel free to post it.

 

[BigMac]

I wouldn't. I think that at this point in his career he's got nothing left to prove on Spanish soil, and certainly not to us fans. I for one would be left thinking that if he didn't manage to podium, it was because he couldn't.

Cheers.

 

[nobilis]

Since we all (more or less) seem to be Valverde fans (nice to connect w/ some other folks who like and appreciate the guy, btw, as most cyclists and journalists I meet & talk to in the flesh (English-speakers) seem to loathe Valverde and think he's the anti-Christ), let me ask you something:

If Valverde doesn't finish on the podium in the Vuelta (never mind win the GC), are you going to be disappointed in him, or feel let-down (assuming the non-podium finish is not the result of some misfortune like accident or illness)? Not on a personal level, since that would be ridiculous, but more like your initial gut reaction as a fan... Will you be like, "¿Vala - Por quéeeeeeeeee?"

If he got caught doping, or buying a race result like Vino, then I'd be disappointed in the guy and think he was a real jerk (even if just for getting caught). But if he can't get podium in the Vuelta, I'd be more like, "Meh." idk...I try not to get overly invested in any rider or athlete/celeb/public figure. But that doesn't mean I'm blasé about Valverde.

Anyway, if anyone has a response, feel free to post it.

I would be of course disappointed, especially if he doesn't win, because podium at the Vuelta, he's done that so many times. But that disappointment will go if he manages to win the Worlds and/or Lombardia.

 

[Arredondo]

Get disappointing in a rider because he falters/doesn't get the result he wants?

Come on. Are you a fan or not? You guys are even lucky, because Bala is the most regular and one of the most succesfull riders since his suspension. Imagine if you are fan of a rider who loses big races more dramaticaly/more often

 

[Red Rick]

Used to be a fan when I first started watching, no I'm kinda bipolar about him. Was glad he won the ardennes but really mad he podium'ed the Tour.

 

[KyoGrey]

I would only be disappointed with el Bala if he finishes the season without riding Lombardia (could happen-when he finishes the Vuelta he will be over 80 race days this season).

Up to to this point; great Strade Bianche, multiple stages and should have won Catalonia, the Ardennes double, Tour podium...2015 is Valverde's Dream Year.

 

[Carols]

I wouldn't be at all disappointed if he doesn't win the Vuelta, slightly disappointed if he doesn't podium. It's been a very long and productive year for Bala and he has shined multiple times. The only real disappointment would be if he doesn't get WT #1 again because he'd have to really mess something up for that to happen. I can always count on Bala to give me a good race and that is all one can ask .

 

[joe_papp]

Re:

...Come on. Are you a fan or not? You guys are even lucky, because Bala is the most regular and one of the most succesfull riders since his suspension. Imagine if you are fan of a rider who loses big races more dramaticaly/more often

hah! good point.

imagine being a fan of Nibali this year. Oh the agony...

 

[gunara]

...Come on. Are you a fan or not? You guys are even lucky, because Bala is the most regular and one of the most succesfull riders since his suspension. Imagine if you are fan of a rider who loses big races more dramaticaly/more often

hah! good point.

imagine being a fan of Nibali this year. Oh the agony...

No, Arredondo means lose races directly to/because of Valverde like you know who

 

[Fernandez]

I expect him to fight for podium/win in this Vuelta and also in Lombardia. I dont know about the Worlds this year. And about to be dissapointed with him, its something that happen sometimes with him, because he is so talented that you are always expecting him to win everything.

 

[Taxus4a]

The problem for him is that the rain will start soon here in Spain,

 

[Scarponi]

Where would you rate a Tour/Veulta podium? Would have to be one of the best achievements of the last 10 years

 

[burning]

Where would you rate a Tour/Veulta podium? Would have to be one of the best achievements of the last 10 years

Sastre already did that I don't think that people rated it that much highly, it was definitely impressive though.

 

[Amazinmets87]

Tour podium, vuelta win would be spectacular