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

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Apparently Froome gets Velo d'Or. I don't agree on that. I think that man who's name is in the title of this thread deserved it much more. Even if their seasons were some kind of equal, which they aren't in my opinion, the award should go to Don Alejandro as a recognition of his incredible career and consistency throughout the years!

It's about the 2015 season. The 2nd part of Valverde's season was just not good enough i think to win it. if he had won Clasica or Lombardia, he would have surely got it.

What a load of rubbish. In the second half of his season he won the points jersey and a stage in the Vuelta, finished on the podium in the TdF, won the National Road Race title and finished top 5 in San Sebastian, Lombardia and the Worlds. Sure, it was the slightly weaker half of his season - but it was still more than most top professionals achieve in their entire careers.

Froome did what? Won the Tour de France and a warm up race for the Tour. Of course that's the biggest race, but if you're going to give the award to the rider that wins the Tour - regardless of what else he did or didn't achieve - then it's essentially a waste of time.

I think Kristoff should have won it. With Bala a close 2nd.

He's certainly a contender, but not enough high quality results for me. And if Valverde's second half of the season wasn't good enough to win it, then how was Kristoff's second half good enough? Not sure how winning a couple of minor races with poor competition is better than podium in the TdF, points jersey in the Vuelta and top 5 in all major one day races.

Unless you rate winning RVV as miles higher than LBL, than I'm not sure how Kristoff beats Valverde this season. Degenkolb is the only real challenger to Valverde for me - his double was incredible, but he also disappointed in the second half of the year.

 

[ice&fire]

Re: Re:

Froome of course deserve velo d Or, althoug the best season is for Valverde.

I thought Velo d'Or is given to whomever had the best season?

In fact it is. But the logic of armchair cyclists who happen to be journalists is as faulty as the logic of armchair cyclists who post on internet forums

 

[Angliru]

Re: Re:

Froome of course deserve velo d Or, althoug the best season is for Valverde.

I thought Velo d'Or is given to whomever had the best season?

You must have forgotten who you're responding to.

 

[Moviestar]

http://vengavalverde.overblog.com/2015/11/interview-valverde-se-confie-sur-sa-saison-2016.html

Valverde understands the criticism on his new shirt as champion of Spain, but it's the sponsor who has the final word.. i really hope they'll come up with some adjustments to the shirt.

 

[gunara]

EDIT:
wrong thread

 

[Kwibus]

Only just read somewhere about Valverdes schedule.

Wether he will be able to contend with the best in Flanders is to be seen, but I love the fact he's going to try. I love the fact that he's going to try all those great races which wasn't able to compete in before because of specialism reasons. I mean the guy allready rode a *** load of races so he's not really someone who you can blame on specializing too much, so I'm not blaming him at all!
Still he wants to try M-SR and Flanders this year and ofcourse he's going for the Giro as well. I just love the man.

 

[Mr.White]

Greg Van Avermaet: Valverde is hors-categorie. If he focuses on something he can be up there and he has a chance to win. It will be hard because we are specialists on the cobbles, but no doubt he'll be there in the final, I think he'll be top 10 for sure. He's the kind of rider that if you see his characteristics, you can put Flanders on his list and he'll be there. He will ride the final, because he is the best rider in the world at the moment.

I guess the riders know the best.

 

[Angliru]

Re:

Greg Van Avermaet: Valverde is hors-categorie. If he focuses on something he can be up there and he has a chance to win. It will be hard because we are specialists on the cobbles, but no doubt he'll be there in the final, I think he'll be top 10 for sure. He's the kind of rider that if you see his characteristics, you can put Flanders on his list and he'll be there. He will ride the final, because he is the best rider in the world at the moment.

I guess the riders know the best.

What is the source? It's good to hear him get such respect from one of his rivals.

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

Greg Van Avermaet: Valverde is hors-categorie. If he focuses on something he can be up there and he has a chance to win. It will be hard because we are specialists on the cobbles, but no doubt he'll be there in the final, I think he'll be top 10 for sure. He's the kind of rider that if you see his characteristics, you can put Flanders on his list and he'll be there. He will ride the final, because he is the best rider in the world at the moment.

I guess the riders know the best.

What is the source? It's good to hear him get such respect from one of his rivals.

It was on Cycling News couple of days ago... GVA looked back at his 2015 season, and talk about some of his rivals

 

[Fernandez]

Re:

Greg Van Avermaet: Valverde is hors-categorie. If he focuses on something he can be up there and he has a chance to win. It will be hard because we are specialists on the cobbles, but no doubt he'll be there in the final, I think he'll be top 10 for sure. He's the kind of rider that if you see his characteristics, you can put Flanders on his list and he'll be there. He will ride the final, because he is the best rider in the world at the moment.

I guess the riders know the best.

Arredondo doesnt agree with Van Avermaet

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

Greg Van Avermaet: Valverde is hors-categorie. If he focuses on something he can be up there and he has a chance to win. It will be hard because we are specialists on the cobbles, but no doubt he'll be there in the final, I think he'll be top 10 for sure. He's the kind of rider that if you see his characteristics, you can put Flanders on his list and he'll be there. He will ride the final, because he is the best rider in the world at the moment.

I guess the riders know the best.

Arredondo doesnt agree with Van Avermaet

Van Avermaet's statements in the media are like his perfomances on the bike: sometimes spot on, but most of time time way off

No just kidding. Let's just wait. For sure, if there's one 'not-cobbles' rider who can do well in Flanders, it's Bala. Top-15 is possible imo, but a top-5? I will have major respect for him if he manages to do that.

 

[Moviestar]

Valverde looks already super sharp. He also trains with a little help from Batman ( batcape)

 

[robin440]

Why is he wearing that batcape?

 

[Brullnux]

Re:

Why is he wearing that batcape?

To slow him down, otherwise he would just ride away from the amateurs without even meaning to.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I actually think that Spanish outfit looks decently sharps on Valverde considering the first impression!

 

[GP Blanco]

Valverde is thinking about riding the Vuelta 2016. It seems like he is doing a real 'fanboy schedule'. Unzue is not convinced but we all know who decides in the end.

 

[Arredondo]

If he really wants to win something, it's just a stupid decision.

If he wants to become more populair, go ahead.

As a Purito fan, he can race all the races he wants. Don't hold back Alejandro!!

 

[bala v]

Re:

If he really wants to win something, it's just a stupid decision.

If he wants to become more populair, go ahead.

As a Purito fan, he can race all the races he wants. Don't hold back Alejandro!!

Oh he will win something, he always does

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

If he really wants to win something, it's just a stupid decision.

If he wants to become more populair, go ahead.

As a Purito fan, he can race all the races he wants. Don't hold back Alejandro!!

Oh he will win something, he always does

In 2012 and 2013 he also won something. But i bet it were not the victories he expected

 

[Moviestar]

He has decided to include another stagerace in his programme, Ruta del Sol.

Vuelta a Murcia (February 13), Clasica de Almeria (February 14), Vuelta a Andalucia (February 17-21), Strade Bianche (March 5), Tirreno-Adriatico (March 9-15), Milan-San Remo (March 19), E3 Harelbeke (March 25) Dwars door Vlaanderen (March 23), Tour of Flanders (April 3), Amstel Gold Race (April 17), Fleche Wallonne (April 20), Liege -Bastogne-Liege (April 24), Giro d'Italia (May 6-29), Spanish Championships, Tour de France (July 2-24) Clasica San Sebastian (July 30) Olympic Games (August 6) and maybe the Vuelta a Espana (August 20-September 11)

 

[Brullnux]

That's over 60 race days prior to the Olympics. Bit much maybe? Especially if he wants to be in good shape for all of them. If he adds the Vuelta then that's 88 race days without any extras and il Lombardia which he'll undoubtedly do.

 

[Arredondo]

Re:

That's over 60 race days prior to the Olympics. Bit much maybe? Especially if he wants to be in good shape for all of them. If he adds the Vuelta then that's 88 race days without any extras and il Lombardia which he'll undoubtedly do.

He will not do the Vuelta. He just won't. Even Valverde knows that's suicide.

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

That's over 60 race days prior to the Olympics. Bit much maybe? Especially if he wants to be in good shape for all of them. If he adds the Vuelta then that's 88 race days without any extras and il Lombardia which he'll undoubtedly do.

He will not do the Vuelta. He just won't. Even Valverde knows that's suicide.

I think so too. Much better choice would be Plouay, Quebec, Montreal, Milano-Torino and Lombardia

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

That's over 60 race days prior to the Olympics. Bit much maybe? Especially if he wants to be in good shape for all of them. If he adds the Vuelta then that's 88 race days without any extras and il Lombardia which he'll undoubtedly do.

He will not do the Vuelta. He just won't. Even Valverde knows that's suicide.

I think so too. Much better choice would be Plouay, Quebec, Montreal, Milano-Torino and Lombardia

Completely agree. Might miss out Plouay, or get invited to the Italian classics and have a build up like Nibali to last year's Lombardia.

 

[Kwibus]

Didn't Boogerd come 6th in his only Flanders try?
Not the same riders, but it's says something I guess.