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DFA123 said:Looks like it was a tactical error as much as anything today. Perhaps he incorrectly sensed weakness in Porte and tried to attack, but just blew himself up and left him vulnerable on the steep gradients.Arredondo said:One thing is clear after today: na matter how good he rides during the spring, he isn's able to follow Froome (Porte) on a proper climb in France
Now, if only he had a team-mate who can climb a bit, who he could send up the road and do the testing for him, if a similar position arose in the Tour.
C'mon mate... how many times I see bala's fanboys saying he would win le tour... just go back in this thread and you'll see a lot of posts with thiskingjr said:Someone said the hype train has crashed, I'll have to ask why there was a hype train in the first place, even at his best he will always struggle to follow the top climbers this time of the year.
Valv.Piti said:Valverde made it hard for himself, he obviously felt really strong, but I still don't know what he was thinking..Arredondo said:One thing is clear after today: na matter how good he rides during the spring, he isn's able to follow Froome (Porte) on a proper climb in France
Anyways, this is the hardest climb/stage in TdF. No worries for me!
I'm a bala fanboy, too and since 2007 I've always said that one can't realistically expect more than podium and stagewin. Unless all the pieces fall perfectly into place. I don't see it happening. I'm perfectly happy with his performance today.portugal11 said:C'mon mate... how many times I see bala's fanboys saying he would win le tour... just go back in this thread and you'll see a lot of posts with thiskingjr said:Someone said the hype train has crashed, I'll have to ask why there was a hype train in the first place, even at his best he will always struggle to follow the top climbers this time of the year.
Unless Valverde wins of courseDanielSong39 said:Guys, remember that this race is an exhibition.
Oude Geuze said:I read somewhere (maybe ITT) that he prefers feel over power meters. That just doesnt work anymore. 10 years ago, his attack would have been answered immediately and he might have endured the power spike the best and won. Riders now realize that stable power gets them to the top the fastest and they just tow people back. Get on EPO or start riding to power like everyone else. Attack on the final 500-k and get 15 seconds, then descend like a madman. Thats how you race in 2017. Love Bala though, and his attacking style
I don't think Valverde sees it like that. He wants to and tries to win every race he enters; I'm pretty sure his 'attacks' were genuine, if ill-advised, attempts to win the race, not just testing his legs. Perhaps he even got slightly carried away given his form this year and this stage will be a bit of a reality check that he still has to ride cautiously and limit his losses as best as possible on the hardest of mountain stages.DanielSong39 said:Guys, remember that this race is an exhibition.
At the Tour, this stage will be 3 times as hard.Valv.Piti said:Valverde made it hard for himself, he obviously felt really strong, but I still don't know what he was thinking..Arredondo said:One thing is clear after today: na matter how good he rides during the spring, he isn's able to follow Froome (Porte) on a proper climb in France
Anyways, this is the hardest climb/stage in TdF. No worries for me!
Red Rick said:The Dauphine Libere is the only race Valvere doesn't care about winning.
He's won it before, and the one time he did the Tour afterwards he broke down in the 2nd week.
Valv.Piti said:Didnt see the stage, but had hoped to see Valverde do better..