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

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

He's still up there. We'll see his true level at Lagos. If he's among the best there, he could finish very high in Madrid

Lagos is a climb where the gaps could be quite small though. In 2014, there were 10 riders who finished between 1 minute of each other.

I think the Aubisque stage says it all.

Agree that Aubisque stage is much harder and the gaps should be much bigger, but my point is that we could see his real climbing level on Covadonga, nevermind the gaps.

If he's very good on Covadonga, then he shouldn't be bad on Aubisque

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

He's still up there. We'll see his true level at Lagos. If he's among the best there, he could finish very high in Madrid

Lagos is a climb where the gaps could be quite small though. In 2014, there were 10 riders who finished between 1 minute of each other.

I think the Aubisque stage says it all.

Agree that Aubisque stage is much harder and the gaps should be much bigger, but my point is that we could see his real climbing level on Covadonga, nevermind the gaps.

If he's very good on Covadonga, then he shouldn't be bad on Aubisque

Could be. But don't forget he was the best GC guy on Lagos in 2014 (together with Purito), getting some time on Contador and Froome, but he lost 1 minute on the stage to La Farrapona on those two guys.

Lagos is a suitable climb for riders like Valverde. It has steep gradients, but a lot of easier segments too. More suitable for an explosive race (attacking, holding back, attacking etc). The Aubisque stage is for the best climbers (Quintana, Froome and Contador): just riding high tempo for let's say 30 minutes.

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

He's still up there. We'll see his true level at Lagos. If he's among the best there, he could finish very high in Madrid

Lagos is a climb where the gaps could be quite small though. In 2014, there were 10 riders who finished between 1 minute of each other.

I think the Aubisque stage says it all.

Agree that Aubisque stage is much harder and the gaps should be much bigger, but my point is that we could see his real climbing level on Covadonga, nevermind the gaps.

If he's very good on Covadonga, then he shouldn't be bad on Aubisque

Could be. But don't forget he was the best GC guy on Lagos in 2014 (together with Purito), getting some time on Contador and Froome, but he lost 1 minute on the stage to La Farrapona on those two guys.

Lagos is a suitable climb for riders like Valverde. It has steep gradients, but a lot of easier segments too. More suitable for an explosive race (attacking, holding back, attacking etc). The Aubisque stage is for the best climbers (Quintana, Froome and Contador): just riding high tempo for let's say 30 minutes.

I agree, Lagos much more suits him, and he'll lose time on Aubisque to someone (preferably Quintana). But if he don't lose much, and grabs couple of bonuses along the way, he'll be within a shot. Especially if Quintana is still in the lead

 

[DBotero]

Valverde is holding up there very good If he's good on Lagos everything is possible.

 

[DBotero]

Lagos done and dusted.Even podium looks possible now.

 

[contador_attacks]

He is a beast.... I'm speechless...

 

[Arredondo]

Valverde just has to hope Contador still tries to follow and beat the likes of Quintana and Froome. Because i still think he can finish on the podium if he rides his own race/tempo.

But what a performance!! Incredible consistency! Congrats Bala!!

 

[barmaher]

Brilliant ride from Valverde. He has ridden a perfect race near enough.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Valverde still better than the GT-specialist Contador with 2 GTs in his legs against Contador's 1/3. LOL.

What a ride!

 

[Moviestar]

Re:

Valverde still better than the GT-specialist Contador with 2 GTs in his legs against Contador's 1/3. LOL.

What a ride!

After the ban of Contador they're pretty much equal at GT-level. There isn't much difference between them.

One of the strongest points of Valverde has always been the ability to tackle climbs at his own pace. I've rarely seen him explode completely, apart from some occassions. He is a expert in damage limitation. Today was another demonstration of that ability.

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

Valverde still better than the GT-specialist Contador with 2 GTs in his legs against Contador's 1/3. LOL.

What a ride!

After the ban of Contador they're pretty much equal at GT-level. There isn't much difference between them.

One of the strongest points of Valverde has always been the ability to tackle climbs at his own pace. I've rarely see him explode completely, apart from some occassions. He is a expert in damage limitation. Today was another demonstration of that ability.

You say this, despite the fact that apart from Tour 2015, with the Giro in his legs, Valverde has never beaten Contador in a GT since the ban. So that's 3-1. And would've been 4-1 had Contador not crashed in 2014, and most likely 5-1 if he'd hasn't crashed this year. Valverde has had an absolutely outstanding year, but is not on the same level as Contador in GTs if they are both in top shape. I don't think he's better here, just rode smarter.

 

[portugal11]

Contador was stronger than valverde today.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Contador was stronger than valverde today.

Too bad he can't seem to manage his efforts when he isn't the strongest anymore then.

 

[Gigs_98]

I just looked at a statistic of all rider who have ever finished all 3 gt's in one year and it looks like Valverde could be the 3rd one who finishes all 3 in the top ten and the other two guys who did that were Raphaël Géminiani in 1955 and Gastone Nencini in 1957, so that would be absolutely incredible.

 

[portugal11]

I just looked at a statistic of all rider who have ever finished all 3 gt's in one year and it looks like Valverde could be the 3rd one who finishes all 3 in the top ten and the other two guys who did that were Raphaël Géminiani in 1955 and Gastone Nencini in 1957, so that would be absolutely incredible.

Sastre?

 

[Billie]

I just looked at a statistic of all rider who have ever finished all 3 gt's in one year and it looks like Valverde could be the 3rd one who finishes all 3 in the top ten and the other two guys who did that were Raphaël Géminiani in 1955 and Gastone Nencini in 1957, so that would be absolutely incredible.

Sastre?

Sastre finished 8th, 19th and 8th

 

[portugal11]

I just looked at a statistic of all rider who have ever finished all 3 gt's in one year and it looks like Valverde could be the 3rd one who finishes all 3 in the top ten and the other two guys who did that were Raphaël Géminiani in 1955 and Gastone Nencini in 1957, so that would be absolutely incredible.

Sastre?

Forget sastre

 

[Nirvana]

I just looked at a statistic of all rider who have ever finished all 3 gt's in one year and it looks like Valverde could be the 3rd one who finishes all 3 in the top ten and the other two guys who did that were Raphaël Géminiani in 1955 and Gastone Nencini in 1957, so that would be absolutely incredible.

Sastre?

Sastre finished only two in top ten the same year:
43-4-4 in 2006
8-20-8 in 2010

 

[silvergrenade]

Re:

Valverde still better than the GT-specialist Contador with 2 GTs in his legs against Contador's 1/3. LOL.

What a ride!

Absolutely bang on!
Your Favorite riders are doing amazing.
Top ride by Nairo and Valv.
Congoz to them.

 

[Moviestar]

Re: Re:

Valverde still better than the GT-specialist Contador with 2 GTs in his legs against Contador's 1/3. LOL.

What a ride!

After the ban of Contador they're pretty much equal at GT-level. There isn't much difference between them.

One of the strongest points of Valverde has always been the ability to tackle climbs at his own pace. I've rarely see him explode completely, apart from some occassions. He is a expert in damage limitation. Today was another demonstration of that ability.

You say this, despite the fact that apart from Tour 2015, with the Giro in his legs, Valverde has never beaten Contador in a GT since the ban. So that's 3-1. And would've been 4-1 had Contador not crashed in 2014, and most likely 5-1 if he'd hasn't crashed this year. Valverde has had an absolutely outstanding year, but is not on the same level as Contador in GTs if they are both in top shape. I don't think he's better here, just rode smarter.

And now the objective story.

Sure, i don't deny that Contador is perhaps still a level above Valverde, but the difference is much smaller as you suggest.

Vuelta 2012: Contador won, but with the note that he could focus solely on the Vuelta while Valverde had already a Tour in the legs. I wouldn't call 1.16 much, but this is debatable.

Tour 2013: Perhaps the only time where both were even fresh at the same moment. Valverde had bad luck in the stage to Saint-Armand-Monrond where he lost much time on the other favorites. After that stage, Contador won 1.13 on Valverde in the mountains, while Valverde won 1.39 on Contador. So +26 sec in the favour of Valverde. Yet again there isn't much difference between them, despite the accidental time loss of Valverde.

Vuelta 2014: Contador crashed out of the Tour, could again begin fresher on the Vuelta, while Valverde went deep in the Tour for a podium place.

So i think it's fair to say that the differences between them have become much smaller than before the ban.

 

[Cookster15]

Re:

Contador was stronger than valverde today.

A weird claim.

Valverde 5th @ 28sec
Contador 8th @ 1 Min 5 sec.

No he wasn't. If you can't measure your effort than showing strength mid stage then blowing up means nothing, its called bike racing and Contador would know this better than anyone. Valverde continues to amaze considering his rides in the Giro and Tour already this season.

 

[Brullnux]

Valverde had the Tour in his legs, but he used that race as training for the Vuelta. He was in better shape than Contador at the start of that race. In 2013 they were similar but that was a very very bad Contador. Ofc Bala had his mechanical in the crosswinds but I think he would've finished behind him despite that. In 2014, Contador was in amazing shape and bala the opposite, so that would've been a spanking. The Vuelta they were fairly similar, Valverde in better shape than July but tired while Contador in worse shape but fresh, albeit recovering from injury. I'll concede valverde being in slightly worse shape.

Sure he the gap has closed but they are in no way pretty much equal.

 

[silvergrenade]

Re:

Contador was stronger than valverde today.

Funniest post Ive read in a while.
Whats the point of showing strength mid stage?
The time is counted at the finish line.
:lol: :lol:

 

[Valv.Piti]

The gap was monstrous pre bans. Post bans, it has become SIGNIFICANTLY less. Its not even, but right about now, its honestly pretty darn close. Absolutely no denying that.

So, can he podium? Wouldn't be surprised. Chaves and Contador much worse than expected here, but may improve from Aubisque and onwards compared to Don.

 

[KyoGrey]

Re:

Valverde had the Tour in his legs, but he used that race as training for the Vuelta. He was in better shape than Contador at the start of that race. In 2013 they were similar but that was a very very bad Contador. Ofc Bala had his mechanical in the crosswinds but I think he would've finished behind him despite that. In 2014, Contador was in amazing shape and bala the opposite, so that would've been a spanking. The Vuelta they were fairly similar, Valverde in better shape than July but tired while Contador in worse shape but fresh, albeit recovering from injury. I'll concede valverde being in slightly worse shape.

Sure he the gap has closed but they are in no way pretty much equal.

If there is a stage race that never was in his legs is the Tour. Never, nor young, charming Kelme-Illes-Valverde, nor killer Caisse-Valverde or robotic Movi-Valverde.

The combination of opposition and mountain is too much. Even in the 2006-2008 "cheaper" editions.